Egypt

Part of Egyptian humor is a love for riddles (especially during the month of Ramadan), jokes, sarcasm, and wordplays. Egyptians frequently identify with community, to the point that personal needs become secondary to that of the community.

Friends of the same sex usually shake hands and kiss each other on the right and left cheek. This process may repeat a few times if the friends have not seen each other for a long period of time. If a woman extends her hand, then a man may shake it. First names are not used unless one is given permission. To thank someone for a compliment, one may respond with a compliment of their own or they may give Allah’s (God’s) blessings.

Very good friends of the same sex may walk hand in hand in a public setting. Unless you are married or engaged you do not walk arm in arm. It is impolite to point the bottom of one’s foot at another person. Pointing at a person is impolite, as is walking in front of a praying person. It is improper for a man to touch a woman in public.

Not visiting for a long period is a sign of the relationship’s insignificance. If a gift is given, it is passed and received with both hands or only the right hand, not the left. Alcohol is prohibited by the Islamic religion, so it is not given as a gift to Muslims. Visitors to a mosque remove shoes before entering and wear clothing that covers the entire body.

Dress standards in Egypt are modest and traditional. Traditional women completely cover their hair and bodies, except their faces and hands. Men wear modest clothing and skullcaps, and sometimes grow a beard. A beard can be a sign of religious faith, but it can also express membership in certain political organizations. In large cities, modest Western-style clothing has become popular.

Egyptians eat rice, bread, fish, lamb, chicken, turkey, and stuffed vegetables. Tahina (sesame seed paste), tomatoes, yogurt and cucumbers are also eaten with meals. The Qurán prohibits the consumption of pork and alcohol. Traditional foods include fava beans prepared as foul or ta’miyya, and flat Egyptian bread. Meat is expensive and eaten only occasionally, sometimes just once a month. Bread, usually unleavened, is eaten with every meal. Tahina is a common condiment in Egypt. Konafah is an Egyptian dessert dish for feasts and everyday dining during the fasting holy month of Ramadan. Egyptian bread is inexpensive and eaten with every meal. It is so important that “Aish” translates to “life.” Sahalab is a pre-packaged spice drink, sold in powder form in all spice shops, some supermarkets, international grocery stores, middle eastern grocery stores and Indian grocery stores.

In restaurants, food is left behind as a sign of wealth.

Bread, usually unleavened, is eaten with every meal. Tahina is a common condiment in Egypt. Konafah is an Egyptian dessert dish for feasts and everyday dining during the fasting holy month of Ramadan. Egyptian bread is inexpensive and eaten with every meal. It is so important that “Aish” translates to “life.” Sahalab is a pre-packaged spice drink, sold in powder form in all spice shops, some supermarkets, international grocery stores, middle eastern grocery stores and Indian grocery stores.

In most homes, a girl is protected by her brothers and may even be accompanied by them in public. Traditionally, a man's honor is based on how well he protects the women in his care. In rural areas, a girl may discontinue her schooling when she comes of age. It is customary for extended families, including families of brothers and sisters, to live under the same roof. Increased urbanization, however, is changing this tradition toward a home with only a nuclear family. Still, close ties are maintained, and cousins are often as close as siblings. The thought of putting the elderly in a rest home is repulsive to Egyptians; children expect to support their parents in old age. Parents often play a key role in planning the future of their children, with their influence ranging from the choice of profession to the selection of a mate. Egyptians value this support as a source of emotional security.

Although attitudes toward dating are changing, dating is not widespread. Moral purity is highly valued in a woman and is usually a key requirement in the marriage contract. Traditionally, marriages were arranged between heads of families, often with little input from the couple involved. Now, however, individuals have more say as to whom they wish to marry. Because marriages join not just two people but two families, both families are heavily involved in wedding preparations.

The main form of recreation in cities and villages is socializing. People enjoy going to the bazaar, an outdoor market, to do their shopping and to visit friends. They like to sit and talk while drinking tea or coffee. In rural areas, relaxing after a hard day's labor in the fields is a favorite way to spend time.

Egyptians enjoy reciting poetry or singing folk songs. In urban areas, clubs, restaurants, and coffeehouses provide a variety of entertainment. Coffeehouses are large, noisy places where lively discussions and arguments are part of the entertainment. Many Egyptians like to argue over small matters at one moment and forgive and embrace the next.

Most Egyptians love sports and soccer is the most popular. Girls and boys from middle-class families play tennis, squash, and other sports. Films are a popular form of entertainment as are soap operas on television.

Daily habits of children and their everyday routine could vary in many ways depending on the demographics. Different areas of the country, whether rural or urban, will differ in their daily routine. Furthermore, different income classes will also lead their daily lives in different ways. Those of a lower and lower-middle class income tend to have a fixed daily diet. For breakfast, they would most probably have fava beans cooked with lemon, and sometimes garlic, as well as Falafels with Egyptian bread (similar to Pita bread but with higher fiber content). As for lunch (which is considered to be the main meal of the day for all children), they would have Koshary (macaroni, rice, and lentils all cooked together, with red tomato base sauce and fried onions), rice, and vegetables. As for dinner, they would have Egyptian bread and local cheese. Those of higher class income will enjoy a wider variety of their meals. For breakfast, their children would have many choices of bread to choose from ranging from toast to French baguette. They usually have eggs, cheese, peanut butter, jello, chocolate spread, or cereals. As for lunch, they usually have meat, chicken, seafood, vegetables, rice, or pasta. As for dinner, enjoy light sandwiches and a glass of milk. Children in rural areas usually have local bread with local cheese for breakfast. As for lunch, they usually eat vegetables and rice. And for dinner, they have bread with local cheese or honey. Children in rural areas might wake up as early as 5 O’clock in the morning to do some chores in the house or around the family farm before they go to school.

Lower-class and lower-middle-class children attend public schools because they do not require paying any tuition fees. Public schools in Egypt do not have any school buses; so students walk to school, ride a bike, or use public transportation such as metros and buses. Children who live in the countryside are most likely to go to public schools as well. Children from higher classes of income usually attend private schools. They take the school bus or use other means of private transportation to go there. Both public and private school students are required to wear uniforms.

In Egypt there are classic old school buildings with very high ceilings and spacious classrooms, most of these buildings used to be historical buildings occupied by royalties or government officials. There are also modern school buildings, but public schools tend to occupy older buildings than those of private schools. The majority of public schools do not have computer labs and audiovisual equipment. They are also crowded with minimal playing space for children. The teacher-student ratio is very high, which often results in some of the kids not getting the necessary care and sometimes becoming left out. However, a developmental plan is being executed all over the country in an effort to create the necessary facilities needed for better education. This applies to existing schools as well as newer ones being erected. This developmental plan will also include the rehabilitation of existing school staff by implementing proficiency exams and training sessions to improve their teaching skills as well as the level of teacher-student interaction. Private schools have all the resources they need, from computer labs, Internet, audiovisual equipment, and vast playgrounds. Some private schools even have basketball and tennis courts, soccer fields, and swimming pools. They also maintain a reasonable teacher-to-student ratio.

Schools usually start between 7:30 and 8:30 am and finish between 2:30 and 3:30 pm. Students usually have one to two breaks to have light snacks. They do not have lunch at school and have it at home instead. Public school students are taught their curriculum entirely in Arabic and start learning English as a second language starting from 3rd grade. Students are taught different subjects such as math, science, history, and geography, but they do not move between classrooms to take the different subjects; they stay in the same classroom throughout all the periods. Public school students have two options for secondary education: either to take the Egyptian Baccalaureate to get qualified to go to college or take a sort of community college diploma where students learn handymen jobs. The majority take the Egyptian Baccalaureate to qualify for university as undergraduate and graduate studies are becoming essential to succeed in establishing a career in modern-day Egypt. Egyptian private school students have a wide range of global secondary education syllabuses to choose from as well as the Egyptian Baccalaureate for secondary education. In this case, students are either taught their curriculum entirely in English and take French or German as a second language or they could opt to be taught entirely in French or German and take English as a second language. American Diploma, International Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate, German Baccalaureate, and the British IGCSE are many of the other high school certificates students can opt for.

After children arrive home and have had their lunch they get started on their homework. Once they are done they might watch TV, engage in sporting activities, or play with other children in the neighborhood. Children who come from wealthier families might stay home to play with toys or video games. After that, children usually have a light dinner and then go to bed.

The most popular sport among children in Egypt is soccer. Most start playing it from early ages in their neighborhoods or in youth centers. Private clubs do exist but are only accessible to those who can afford to pay their membership fees. Weekend days-off vary from one school to another. While Friday is a constant, some schools will take either Saturdays or Sundays off. Others’ only day off is Friday. Friday is known to be a family day in Egypt. The whole family usually gathers at the grandparents’ house, where they all have lunch together. Some parents might take their children out after the reunion.