When and how did you decide to move to Egypt ?
As a family we began discussing a move to Egypt to start a new chapter of our lives. That was around February of 2010. But we decided that if we did move to Egypt, it would only be a year's trial, then we would review our life in Egypt and see if we wanted to stay on or return to the UK. We finally made the move in July 2010, something I have been dreaming of doing since I was a little girl.
Is it complicated to settle down Egypt ?
Have you ever lived abroad before? How many countries have you visited?
I've only ever lived in the UK. I've visited a lot of countries as I love to travel. Turkey, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France, Portugal, and cities all over Egypt have been my destinations.
What do you like the most about Egypt ?
The weather, the sun almost always shines here. I also like the way Egyptians take care of each other.
Any cultural shock ?
There have been several cultural shocks…the main things were the lack of organization, the poverty, the lack of cleanliness on the streets, and the driving attitudes.
Do you miss anything from your homeland?
I miss the driving attitudes, the way things are organized and the cleanliness. I was comfortably independent in the UK and I feel that I have to struggle to get my independence in Egypt because of the cultural and language barrier. But that's just my personal experience, I'm sure it's different for everyone.
Any 'memories of an expat' you would like to share with other expat blog members ?
One of my strangest experiences would be something I wrote on my blog here: http://londoneya.blogspot.com/2011/01/day-in-life-of-hybrid-in-cairo.html
Your blog: when did you start it? For what reasons?
I started my blog last year, February 2010, because I needed a creative outlet to express how I felt about Egypt and if I were to actually move there. Now I write to reflect on the experiences I come across while in Egypt.
Which advice would you give to people who would like to live in Egypt?
Differentiate between the country and the system. Don't judge the country; it's a beautiful one with so much potential. If you want to judge something, judge the system. Give the country a chance and take one day at a time.
