Egypt has existed since 3000 BC. and has beautiful sights such as the pyramids and the museum with Tutankhamun. But Egypt does not only consist of sights, it mainly consists of friendly people. People who care about their families and children who you can send a message to. The family where fun is found at home and not in bars or dance halls, people with norms, values and traditions. A hospitable country where you always feel welcome.
Friendly people
On the street you hear, welcome to Egypt, twenty times every day. Whether you are in Cairo for the first time or whether you have been coming every year for ten years, it doesn’t matter, they will continue to welcome you kindly. The neighbors are happy when the balcony doors open and they see you again after a year. How are you and how are you doing? Hammieléé and abarrakéé ? To which you then respond with an elhámdulila , which means, thank God, good. Here in Egypt everything always goes well, thank God, even if you have just broken a leg. Because as long as you are still alive and can answer, you are doing well and you have God to thank for that, so thank God you are doing well. The children shout at you: How are you? What is your name? Do you speak English? That’s very funny because when you ask them if they speak English, the answer is usually no. But they are friendly, they always have a smile for you.
Lost family
Because the parents are divorced and the children live in Greece, they have not seen their cousin for sixteen years. The little boy was six when the family in Egypt last saw him, but it makes no difference, as soon as they see him they know this is one of theirs. The little boy, who is quite a man these days, allows himself to be hugged and wonders in surprise how they recognize him. The answer comes from his uncle: You will never forget the one you love. Once you are family you are family for life, they will be there for you when you need it. The farewell was difficult, during his stay the lost cousin regularly went out with one of his Egyptian cousins. When saying goodbye, this urges him to come back and also to keep in touch via Facebook. A lot of new friends were made on Facebook this time, all family.
Greetings and kisses in Egypt
Aunts and their cousins can kiss each other when greeting just like uncles and their nieces. Women also kiss each other when greeting just like men do. But sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law do not kiss each other, nor will cousins kiss each other when greeting. The reason for this is that men and women who could marry each other do not kiss each other. Nieces and nephews are allowed to marry each other. For example, you could also marry an ex-sister-in-law. You will understand that there is no kissing during friendships between boys and girls. Even when friendships develop into a serious relationship, there is no kissing until the couple is married. Aunts and uncles are not allowed to marry their nephews and nieces, nor are stepparents allowed to marry their stepchildren. If a nursing mother has suckled children, these children may not marry each other, even if they are not related. Parents are also not allowed to marry ex-sons and daughters-in-law.
Guest at the table
Cool cool , eat eat, is a word you will hear at the table throughout the meal. A table full of all kinds of different Egyptian dishes that the company cannot possibly finish. So you get the suspicion that they will eat the same thing for days afterwards. The guest should not lack anything and he does not. In Egypt it seems to be the custom to constantly refuse what they offer you and then, after much and long insistence, to give in and consume what is offered. The chicken legs are also passed from plate to plate, the hostess puts a chicken leg on your plate and if you don’t want it, you simply put it on someone else’s plate. After which he in turn moves him to another board. Until the chicken leg is consumed or ends up back on the plate until the next meal. Fortunately, after ten years they have discovered that the undersigned dares to take whatever she wants from the table, but that ‘no thank you’ really means no and that insistence does not change that.
Family life
There is a lot of fun within the family, there are jokes and a lot of laughter. When the family comes home after a busy day, they eat together. In the evening they all sit together in the family room, there is also a chic living room, which is used when there are special visitors. The television is always on in the family room with or without sound. The children are asked to do all kinds of things, nothing is too much for them, from a glass of water to picking something up from the store. They do this with great pleasure and will never say no or make a problem of it. They make tea with love, get water and groceries, carry your bags and bring you what you requested, always with a smile. They don’t have a nightlife like in Europe here, there are bars and dance halls, but the average young person never goes there. The boys do go out to hang out with friends. Girls and boys sometimes also go to a shopping center to meet friends and shop. But usually they are at home and having a nice time there. Sometimes music is played, danced and sung.
Shop
In Cairo the shops are open until late, you can still shop at eleven o’clock at night and the supermarket does not close until late at night. Fresh eggs are sold in a shop where they only sell eggs, the eggs are displayed in containers with straw. You will receive the purchased eggs in a plastic bag. Bread is still baked until late in the evening, and at twelve o’clock at night rolls are still fresh from the oven. In small shops, really no more than a large hole in the wall, freshly squeezed juice is sold from fruit, vegetables and also from sugar cane. You can drink it straight away and if you want to take it with you, they put it in a plastic bag that they tie with a straw in it. You can buy chicken at the market, guaranteed fresh, you point to the chicken you want and they slaughter and pluck it right in front of you. The same goes for ducks, turkeys, pigeons and rabbits.
Population
Egypt has more than eighty-three million inhabitants, and around eighteen million people live in Cairo alone. You can imagine that in a city with millions of inhabitants there is a lot of waste, but unfortunately many people simply throw this waste on the street. Even though there are street sweepers everywhere, there are plenty of places where waste accumulates and remains. But otherwise my experiences with Egypt have only been positive. The country is really worth a visit.