Caroline_afifi

Hi Masrawy,

There are a couple of points here I disagree with.

Everyone asks for the left overs to be taken away these days. It is more correct to take it and give it to a soldier or road cleaner etc. this is the norm now and viewed as good practice. Many restaurants now ask.

Babies get handed to me all the time and any woman in the world loves to have her baby admired. My husband and daughter are always beautiful baby spotting.

What do you mean by sharing food? everyone shares Mezze? do you mean sharing one meal between two?

Sorry to disagree but the purpose of the thread is to discuss these issues and reach better understanding.

da Sage

masrawy in blue:
hello to all
Here are some things on the top of my head that will drive Egyptian crazy

1.Showing the soul of your shoes.
I knew that one.
2.looking at someone's food in restaurants.
Really? I always do this, to decide what to get.
3.sharing food at restaurants.
Hm...I'm not big on this, but it never would have occurred to me that that it would offend anyone I wasn't sharing with.
4.asking for doggy bag at restaurants.
OK...any reason why? Is it just not done?
5.looking at the babies/children of people at the street (you don't know) or giving compliments of how cute they look.
Is that the evil eye thing?
6.Chewing gum.
Is that just because it makes us look American?

khanjar

I remember in UAE, when around the town, basically out in public, male attire should consist of covered arm pits and covered legs, so shorts and vest are out. I am not sure of the reason, but I agree, as who wants to see someones sweaty arm pit when doing your shopping. In fact the same is here, in the summer when I go into the populace, it is long trousers and short sleeved shirt, i.e. I change out of sports/beach /pottering around wear.

Out there, I discovered why chinos were worn in hot climates, they are superb in hot weather.

__________________
I am a dream to some...and a nightmare to others.

Kashmir

When we went to Egypt, our tour guide, who was Egyptian, strongly suggested not wearing jeans or tight trousers unless we also wore a top which covered the crotch.

Kashmir

While in Italy, all the women in our group followed the rules covering arms and legs. As a result it was a man in shorts who got thrown out of one of the churches we were visiting.

As I understand it in many parts of the Middle East Christian women do have to cover their heads - as well as Muslim men and women (especially at prayer). Men also have to cover to the knees.

Caroline_afifi

In my experience, tour guides tend to preach according to their own morals.
I have seen hot pants at the pyramids and vest tops and belly tops. Some tour guides say nothing and others add their own perspective.
Islamic approved dress covers the backside but many Egyptian girls wear tight jeans.
As a tourist, you can wear jeans no problem. If they are low rise and too tight (were they shouldnt be) then perhaps not, they would be too uncomfotable any way.

Also with reference to covering, what people do in religous practices is up to them and the requirements of the religon they follow. As a tourist you are not required to cover as a Christian. Some Christians may cover for religous practice but many do not. There is a big difference between understanding the requirements of religous practices within cultures and going about your daily business.

Mya

Thanks for this thread! I don't have anything to add, but it's really nice to get some insight into the culture of these places. Again, thanks for sharing your experiences everyone!

masrawy

Hi Caroline it is perfectly fine if you disagree with me. I have been proven wrong many times before, and learned a lot from too.

The list I made is purely from personal experience as Egyptian born and raised in Cairo until the age of 19. With this brief background I have to say that generalization is a bad thing, the points I made as well as other have made through this thread all depends on where in Egypt this situation is ,and whom you'r with.
Now for taking leftover you stand correct it is better to put it in a good use but unfortunately some Egyptian might frown when they see you asking for leftover. I have my nephew walked away from me for asking to take leftover for his dog at home we were at a local shesh kebab place.
As for babies someone in the thread have mentioned the evil eye ...yes that's it Egyptian have a firm belief in evil eye you may not notice it but they will be reciting some Qranic verses if they suspect that you have the evil eye thing going on. Furthermore they will try their best not to show it to you they are truly frightened. Having said that there is a rules of engagement in situation like that if you approach a child you need to say some words in Arabic like besmlah mashalah this may make them a lettel comfortable.

As for sharing Mezza you're right Mezza is shared. But here again it depends on where you are in Egypt. If you're in the countryside at someone home food get put on the tablia in several plates and everyone dig in. sharing is very okay in this situation, now if you are in Cairo at arestaurant that's different. Westerner might order two meals each eat half of it and then switch plates... not desirable in Egypt people will not kill you for it but they don't like it.

masrawy

Dear da Sage
# 2 and # 5 yes and yes it is the evil eye. Egyptian may not show that to you, since they think you have the evil eye thing going on in the first place, and don't know what else you can do to them. Please don't misunderstand me people are not walking around thinking this person has evil eye thing. but if they are eating food and you look at it, they may stop eating because of that ... not a good thing. Peace

Shanazel

I've never come across the custom of ordering two dishes, each person eating half, then switching plates. Ugh. I don't think I could enjoy the second half of the meal. I have come across the custom of ordering one meal and dividing it between two plates, and the custom of each person ordering a meal, then having all meals served on a turntable so each guest can serve himself a bit of each dish on their own plate. The former even has a name, which is French and that I will now proceed to get wrong: something like partegar? French speakers, please help?