{The following is a guest post explaining the different financial and social customs in Egypt, for those planning a long-term or permanent move}
When you move to a different country, it’s important to sort out your financial affairs. However, there is more to living abroad than personal finance. You have to respect social customs too. If you are moving to Egypt, here is how to do both:
Managing Your Finances In Egypt
The chances are you will have moved there with more than a fistful of dollars. Egypt has more of a cash culture, but you will probably want to set up an account instead of keeping loads of cash in the home. If you come to Egypt to work, Egyptian employers normally set an account up for you. To open an account you’ll need a passport, a letter from the company, proof of your address and to make a first deposit.
Of course, conditions from bank to bank vary. Some banks in Egypt apply substantial charges and offer lousy exchange rates. If you want to take out a loan or a mortgage, you may find the conditions are equally unfavourable.
Incidentally, you can only work in Egypt if you have a working visa and have received a formal job offer from a company or sponsor. You may want to leave everything behind from one day to the next like in the movies, but it’s not advisable. It’s better to be hired from outside of Egypt than be hired once you’ve already moved there, since employers tend to pay expats more in these circumstances.
The Social Side
With your job and banking affairs now arranged, you will probably have the chance to socialize with your work colleagues over a drink or even to dinner at their home.
If this is the case, dress fairly conservatively. Women should avoid wearing mini-skirts or tops that bare their shoulders. You should also avoid engaging in public displays of affection your partner.
In America, when someone tells a particularly funny joke, you might slap them on the back. If someone mocks you in good humor, you may punch them lightly on the arm. Guys may clown around or mock wrestle; girls may hug each other quite a lot. This is not socially acceptable behaviour in Egypt. Although people of the same gender stand quite closely to each other during conversation — or further apart if they are of different genders — physical contact is not normal.
So you are with these people who do not know very well. How do you talk to them? Listen to the way they talk first. Egyptians find it difficult to say no, which makes them very indirect in conversation and they will avoid getting to the point. It is common for pleasant or small talk to suddenly interrupt conversation.
Oh and whereas in a lot of cultures hosts serve coffee to indicate that a relaxed conversation is starting, in Egypt this is a polite signal that the evening is closing. Be prepared to (politely) decline coffee or to accept but leave shortly after.
With these tips in mind you can worry less about banking affairs and bank loans now and concentrate on blending into Egyptian society by respecting its customs.
photo credit: Freedigitalphotos.net
