I tried to respond to your post the other day, but it didn't look like it made it. I lived in Egypt for 4 1/2 years, the last two with my wife. I'm happy to try to answer any questions you might have.

1) How much Arabic do you speak at this point? One thing you might want to consider is ordering an Egyptian colloquial coursebook/dictionary and trying to learn at least a little Arabic before you go. I think AUC puts on a two week "survival Arabic" class for study-abroad folks, which might not be a bad investment. Particularly if you are looking for an apartment, the extra two weeks is good. Are you going to be living in the AUC hostel or in an apartment? Study Arabic while you're there--without Arabic, you don't get 95% of what's happening.

2) As for dress, take light cotton clothing with you--long sleeve shirts are key. You can wear a loose long-sleeved shirt over whatever you have on and then take it off when you get to AUC (where the clothing norms are radically different than everywhere else.

3) To live reasonably, given that room and board is largely paid for, you can easily get away with about $50 a week (if that much) if you are willing to live on the cheap. I would take some extra for splurges (nice meals, day trips) and I would make sure that you have enough money to travel around Egypt (unless you've already spent a lot of time there--there's a lot worth seeing outside of Cairo). The $50 is sort of a minimum basic expenditures budget--for shopping, etc., you'll want more.

4) For transportation around Cairo, see if you can live near a Metro (subway) line--they are very convenient and there's a women's car in which you can ride (I'm assuming you're a woman, which may be incorrect). Cabs are okay--if you don't speak much Arabic, it can be tough at first, since some (but by no means all) cabbies can turn on the "khawagah (gringo) meter" and try to charge you more than they should. Buses are hard to figure out (the bus lines are numbered in Arabic and the destinations are written on the side in Arabic as well--once you read quickly enough, you can figure out what's going where) and very crowded. There are some more upscale, air-conditioned lines (when I was last there, to the pyramids and the airport, among other things). Walking can be tough until (and I know this will sound silly) you learn how to cross the street. Every time I go back, it takes me a couple of days to remember how to dodge traffic in Cairo.

5) As for must-know customs and traditions, there are too many to name, but I would suggest getting a good guide book (AUC press puts out a pretty good guide to living in Egypt, not a tourist guide--they also have a good map book, which is extremely useful). If you're going to be there in the fall, Ramadan will, I think, be starting fairly soon. It's a great month to be in Cairo (although, late afternoon, you will discover that low-blood sugar makes everyone pretty testy). You could, if you wanted, try to fast (I never did, and people really don't try to force it on you).

6) I might start reading al-Ahram Weekly (English version) or the Cairo Times (I think that's still on-line) to begin getting a sense for what's going on in Egypt. Al-Ahram Weekly in particular will have discussions of books, movies, etc. that are current, as well as of Egyptian politics. Al-Ahram Weekly also provides a weekly list of lectures at the various cultural centers around the city. For someone who wants to learn more about Egypt, those lectures can be great and a good way to meet people. (Yaqoobian building sounds like a decent book (and film)--anything controversial in Egypt is worth reading, since "neutral" is usually boring). There is a ton of Egyptian fiction worth reading (if you're at AUC, I highly recommend an Arabic or Egyptian literature class). Anthony Shadid, a Pulitzer prize-winning reporter for the Washington Post, put out a book on Egypt a few years ago. I know him, and he's a very decent guy--writes well (though I haven't read that particular book).

I'll leave the advice to those who've lived there (looks like you've gotten some great advice already), but just had to post to say CONGRATULATIONS!!! I will live vicariously through you!

I'm so jealou....happy for you! :-) Seriously, congratulations. I'm excited and it's not even me going to live there.

TB08

Hello,

First of all congratulations for getting the Scholarship, well done.

Do not know which will be better for you - the new campus or the old one in Zamalek, I found this link about the new campus :

…aucegypt.edu/ncd/…stuhousing.htm

I think that you will have to ask AUC about this subject, would they give you free transportation to get to the New Campus ? or would you have to pay, and - what would it cost and how long does it take ?

Also if staying at the new campus is there any transportation in the evenings ?

Zamalek is a good area to be in, so to get to know the city I guess you should be there, but the new facilities are for sure better, touch choice really.

New Cairo would be quieter and cleaner, but it is not actually in Cairo, so that is the main choice you would be making.

For walking around Cairo conservative clothes will aways be the best way to go, but within the University the students wear a wide range of things - in both extreames.

Expenses in Egypt are now much higher, petrol has just been increased in price by about 35% (approx) so this has caused the price of food and other items to also increase, but if you a wise you should be able to keep your expenses down. Taxi's will be you best way around town and the real public transport is very overcrowded. As mentioned by another member (above) the underground system is good and cheap but it is limited where you can get to on it. The CTA buses do go to the Pyramids and the airport, and are cheap, but yet again very limited destinations.

You will learn about local culture while you are here, so do not be worried. The Yacoubian building shocked a lot of Egyptians, as they did not want to know/acknowledge some of the things which are really going on in Egypt, and prefer to close their eyes to it.

AUC bookstore has the best selection of books in English about Egypt and also novels by Egyptian writers, so you can get these - and the AUC has a very good library so by using that you will actually save money as well.

Well that is all I can think of for now.

Good luck

Wendy

Thank you SO much for all your advice!

I don't know yet if I'll be living in New Cairo or Zamalek. There's housing for only 400 students in the new campus, so I think I'll most likely end up in the Zamalek residence. I THINK AUC will be providing a free shuttle.

Oh, and about the Arabic, well, I'm going there to actually study intensive Arabic for a year! So they won't let me enroll in the survival Arabic course. I'm enrolled in the Arabic Language Institute (ALI) of AUC. Sooo yeah =p I guess I'll just have to practice some words with you guys! =p WHo of you happen to have Skype? Maybe we could communicate through that program and I could learn some basic Egyptian Colloquial before I get there! =)

You should know I'm very jealous of you.

Get out and explore!!! There is a life time of adventure and amazing sites to see.

Have a great time in an amazing place.

Congrats indeed! You will have an amazing year. My daughter spent a semester at AUC and I think it is safe to say it changed her life. You will learn first-hand (the best way) about the customs and traditions. Be ready for a roller-coaster ride.

As far as spending money, my daughter was very frugal. I think she generally spent less than $50 per month on the extras, except for traveling. (Yes, per MONTH!) And that was without a residential meal plan. She bought and used (creatively) an electric rice cooker practically every day.

I recommend Naguib Mahfouz, a Nobel-prize-winning Egyptian author.

$50 per month!? WOW! That is great, then! I can save the extra money I have in my savings to travel the region! =) About the author, any specific book you recommend?

I would allow more money than that, prices have been increasing steadily for quite some time, for example now 1 liter of milk costs about 6,50 LE, and the dollar is worth about 5.30 at the moment. All prices have risen, including a very big increase in the price of petrol earlier this month, so allow more that this, but for sure it you want to be in a low budget it can be done. Transportation will take a large part of your money, and if you are going to pay entrance fees they can add up. Eating out for a sandwich and coffee, can cost 40 LE easily, so it all depends of your life style and what you want.

Regards

Wendy

40 LE? Wow. Well, I might be able to take the free shuttle from the new campus to downtown for free and, once in downtown, can I walk to most places? If not, what mode of transportation would be best for a student in a budget? I don't drive, so I don't plan on having my own car or anything while in Egypt

Eating out can get expensive, but it is up to you to choose the place, so how much you want to spend it really up to you. Transportation is not too bad inside the city, and you have to get used to the normal prices, once you have got used to the areas you will know yourself what is ok to pay and it will become second nature, you will become a "local" and not a short term tourist.

Taxi's and maybe the underground will be the best options for you.

Regards

Wendy