Worst experience, please help.

Hugs brother... its my point as well...

I will write more later.. and thank you for the civil dialog....

My background is similar to yours...

So nice reply

I’ve had similar experiences at first, I’ve survived in Egypt for a decade by keeping myself to myself and trusting a very few close circle of friends. I was lucky to be working in a field  of highly educated and ambitious Egyptians mainly from the medical and dental field, but I would say these are the best people that any society can offer and not people that you randomly come into contact with off the streets. I learnt not to engage with people in general in Egypt and to keep everyone else at arms length. Eventually it changes your personality and at times you can feel resentful to everyone. As a foreigner you will naturally attract the worst of the worse in Egypt. Not everyone is a bad person in the country but Egypt has a lot of social problems unfortunately. I do hope the country improves in the years to come

I am very sorry for what I have read in your words but I am convinced that in every country there are people who are honest and others are not. Of course poverty and the behavior of certain Europeans does not make things better. Never forget that here a lot of people don't have the same opportunities with which we have grown up and I am not talking about material things but formation, education. I have been here only for a short time but the only person which has so far cheated me was a Russian girl who continued talking negatively about the Egyptians and how dishonest they are. Actually it was her who hasn't given me back the money I have lent her.
To come ot the point: I think we can do a lot ourselves. If you continue to treat people with respect and try not to go against their rules and habits but try to understand their motivations maybe also by telling them that you know they are cheating you. When a taxi driver asks me more than he should I start negotiating, mostly they laugh and tell me I am worse than Egyptians. In the end I get what I want. I would advise you not to go out thinking negatively, which doesn't mean ingeniously but see their positive sides. At least that's what I do. You are in a wonderful country with a lot of wonderful people but if you want to stay, you must adapt and learn their language , habits and treat everyone with respect. I have live 34 years in Italy and there are still things I don't accept as a German but not agreeing does not mean that my way is the right one. I wish you all the best

What was the Russian girl name of you don't mind me asking, was it: Aks... These are the first 3 letter from her first name, if it is the same I might be able to help you retain your money if you wish without causing her any problem or you...
Dr. A

no it were not these letters

Hello dear .. I'm really sorry for how you feel, but as much bad Egyptians you've met I believe that a 100 million country can hardly be judged by someone's personal experience whether it turned out to be bad or good, so my simple advice is to try your best to pick and choose whom to know, whom to trust, whom to be-friend or deal with cause wherever you go there is always the Good the Bad and the Ugly and it's only you who pick and choose.
Wishing you all the best and to meet someday who prove to you that good Egyptians do still exist.

@Guest987456  I’d say just move. I’m here and I hate every bit of it. It’s not about the lying and ripping me off (although that too) but it’s the sexism really. I’m planning my exit bc I can’t take it anymore, and having been in an abusive relationship here it’s been mentally and emotionally taxing. Don’t stay if you’re miserable. I’m telling myself this

Best of luck x

Hello Razibus,

Guestposter is no longer on the website.

Sorry about your bad experience.

Regards,

Bhavna

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. It's shameful how Egyptians see all foreigners as walking wallets some to trick and scam.  There are very few whom you can trust. I have seen them try to steal the apartment of my Belgian neighbour who entrusted his offer to 'manage' the property in her absence. Instead he changed the locks stole the contract and lived like a pig. She had to change the locks and threatened him with the police. His friends begged her no to and made her sign a contract that she would not take action against him as it would 'affect his elderly mother. The guy 's family owned two hotels. Never tell an Egyptian you own  a property they will do their best to scam you out of it. I have had taxi drivers try to scam me swearing they were given the green 5 piastres note when they were given 50 pounds. I have seen hotel staff as guests for 'loans' that were never repaid. Don't trust any of them.  Overall it is not a good country to live in. Just go on holiday occasionally. Living there is continual stress.

Anyone who has ever purchased a property in Egypt will confirm just how corrupt everyone associated with it from the developer to the recommended lawyer. I have yet to meet an honest lawyer in Egypt. they will take your money and official documents and do nothing. Absolutely nothing.

They will then go to the person with whom you have the issue and take money from him also hence they will not act against him. It is just crazy that such a system is allowed to exist but they seem thrive on scamming deceit  and theft. I do not know if this has been the way for thousands of years but it is prevalent these days.  And it will inevitably will have a knock on effect if enough ex pats get scammed. For a Muslim country it is quite shocking the level of fraud and theft that is happening on a daily basis. There is extreme poverty in India but people work extremely hard there for little money and do not prey on foreigners to scam them as they do in Egypt.

@Guest987456 very well written and on point thanks for a more balanced argument and point of view. I’ve been here nearly three years and love it but yes there are issues with liars and cheats and unreliability but you find that almost everywhere in the world but thyre just a bit more subtle! Deffo agree with hanging out with the middle class, although they can have these traits. Like someone said in their comments before thyre very cultural and yes very very nationalistic and ,proud so I put this attitude down to the reason of their lying. If you ask for directions and they don’t know it rather than say this they’ll give you wrong directions as it’s dishonourable to them to not help! lol having said all of this I’ve met some very very nice Egyptians who I’m still friendly with and don’t want or need anything from me. You just need to remember your in their country not your own and respect them irrespective but don’t forget your principles as a result of any thing you see you don’t like.  Keep your standards high!

@Miranda4 I fully agree to all what you are saying (unfortunately I can give your post only one like - it deserved ten or more!). I've been here almost five years and have very good Egyptian friends I can rely on 150%.

By the way: the guest poster (Guest987456) is no longer on this website (see Bhavna's post further up).