Study report Cairo Ilias Luursema
1. Your study programme or your internship programme
In Egypt I had a programme consisting of 5 points media Arabic, 10 points Egyptian Arabic, 5 points migration, 5 points archaeology and 5 points gender in contemporary Egypt. This was the standard programme in our year, however there also was an option of doing 30 points Arabic.
The migration and archaeology courses organized several trips, these included going to an archaeological site in Cairo and going to the Egyptian museum. The lessons were given at the Institute on Zamalek and included presentations and speaking exercises in the Arabic lessons.
Every course also provided work to do outside of the lessons, this mainly consisted of reading articles and preparing for the next lesson.
2. Language
The institute is located on the island of Zamalek, a wealthy part of Cairo. Most people on Zamalek know some English and most of the lessons are also in English. The Arabic lessons are however mainly given in Arabic, the teachers do keep it simple enough to follow and will also speak English when needed. In other parts of Cairo people often do not speak English and it is convenient when you speak Arabic. For example when taking a taxi it is useful to bargain in Arabic as this might prevent you from getting scammed, the taxi drivers often like to have a little conversation and this may help you practice your Arabic as well. When shopping or sightseeing it is also fun to communicate in Arabic as most Egyptians are pleasantly surprised when they hear a foreigner speak their language.
3. Finance and other conditions
In Egypt life is cheaper. If you shop smart you can save a lot of money, it is however often easier to just order something or go to the supermarket. While this is also less expansive in comparison to the Netherlands the difference is not that great in the more expensive parts of Cairo. In Zamalek for example prices are close to those in the Netherlands and it would be wise to go to a market in a less wealthy part of Cairo instead. It is also advised to keep your eyes open as some shops offer sandwiches for as little as 3 Egyptian pounds while in other shops the same kind of sandwich is being offered for 40 pounds. It is therefore advisable to take a little effort when looking to buy something in Cairo, also don’t be afraid to negotiate for a lower price.
4. Preparation and contacts with the faculty before, during and after your stay
Before my arrival in Egypt I had to contact the institute in order to get a scholarship, I was also informed by the institute that they had a list of brokers which could help me find housing in Cairo. During my stay no further action was needed. After returning to the Netherlands I contacted the institute one more time for a stamp that I needed for my scholarship.
5. Housing
Finding a suitable residence with clear agreements proved somewhat of a problem in Cairo. The institute does offer a list of brokers on arrival but this did not prevent some of the students from experiencing troubles. The broker might try to get a service fee but you should abstain from giving them one as this should be handled through the landowner. You might also want to make pictures when moving in. If you want to stay a few more days on top of an agreed on amount of months make sure this is negotiated and noted clearly. Fortunately the housing in Cairo is cheaper than in the Netherlands. The most expensive housing is on Zamalek, the neighborhoods around Zamalek offer cheaper alternatives but further away from the institute. It should also be taken into account that buildings in Cairo are often not as clean as those in the Netherlands.
6. Culture
Egypt is mostly an Islamic country, expect to see a lot people praying in public but also for example in restaurants and shops. People do not work on Friday but visit the mosque, on Fridays Cairo is less busy, most people are either at home or in the mosque. It is also customary to take of you shoes when entering somebody’s home and to give people small tips for provided services.
7. Free time
There is a lot to see in Cairo, there are some beautiful parks and mosque’s you can visit and enjoying shisha and tea in one of Cairo’s many café’s is also a pleasant way to spend your free time. Taking calligraphy lessons or joining a sport class or gym is also a possibility or you could visit one of the many markets.
8. Travelling
The institute might provide a trip for its students but when travelling alone or with friends there are also a lot of options in Egypt. Personally I can really recommend visiting Luxor, Alexandria and the fajoum dessert. While many pyramids are located around Cairo other pharaonic buildings like many temples and graves are located near Luxor, it is possible to take a train from Cairo or fly there. Alexandria is closer to Cairo and also accessible by train, it has nice beaches and many interesting historic buildings, the city is very different from Cairo. The fajoum dessert is also a very beautiful location not far from Cairo, you can take a trip with Bedouins, see oasis’s and sleep in the dessert. Egypt has many beautiful places that you should visit while studying in Cairo.
9. Other
Many Egyptians like having contact with foreigners and they are very friendly, expect to be invited to many things.
