Programdetaljer
| Program | Start | Slut | Pris | Ålder vid ankomst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ca 6 mån, avresa vår/höst | 35 000 | över 18 år |
COMMUNITY SERVICE IN EGYPT
Egypt’s ancient temples and pyramids have lured vacationing tourists for more than two millennia. Today, the country embraces a unique social stew, incorporating ancient traditions, modern Islam and Christianity, Middle Eastern art and folk cultures, and Western music and films. Because 90% of Egypt is desert, almost everyone lives close to the Nile, and crowding intensifies the ferment. In sprawling, cacophonous Cairo, robes are as common as Levis, donkeys share roadways with BMWs, and buildings made of mud stand next to glass-and-steel high-rises. Buffeted by so many influences, Egyptians remain religiously pious, devoted to their families, hospitable toward strangers, and skeptical that economic progress—in the Western sense—improves the quality of their unhurried lives.
Typical day
The working hours in Egypt are usually six to eight hours a day. Usually, people stop working at about 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. The weekend is Friday and Saturday. In addition, there are quite a few public holidays. Government facilities and embassies have the shortest working days. In general, the public sector takes Friday off (some take Thursday or Saturday off in addition). Private sectors have a two-day weekend, usually Friday and Saturday/Sunday. During the holy month of Ramadan, the workday is shorter, to give people sufficient time to go home by sunset (fast-breaking time). Thursday night is a night of leisure for everyone. It is the time for family members to spend time together, possibly visit other relatives, and for teenagers and young people to go out. Friday is usually dedicated to family activities.
LIVING IN EGYPT
Lifestyle of the Egyptians
While Egyptian life is centered on family and religion, there remains a great difference between the rural and urban peoples of Egypt. Generally speaking, life outside the country’s major cities is in keeping with tradition. Communities are patriarchal, with men in dominant roles. Family ties are very strong and neighbors are often treated as family. People in urban centers such as Cairo and Alexandria still maintain these traditional values but to a lesser extent. They tend to follow a more modern and Westernized lifestyle.
Food
Egyptian cuisine reflects the country’s melting-pot history. Native cooks have adapted Greek, Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian and Turkish, dishes to accommodate the country’s customs, tastes, local ingredients and budgets.The dishes are simple, made with fresh fruits and vegetables and seasoned with spices. Bread is the mainstay of Egyptian diets and comes in several forms. Aysh shami, a flat, pita-type bread made with refined white flour is the most common.
