Hmmm... so my sights that were set on KL because of my significant other are now looking toward Egypt.
Sounds dicey there at the moment. Can people confirm? I've lived in "dangerous" countries, but maybe not DANGEROUS countries.
Also, I get the impression that there are some truly rock bottom schools in Egypt. And, I also have the impression that a tier 3 school in, say, SE Asia would be far more pleasant than a tier 3 school in the Middle East. Is this true? '
(Hmm... perhaps I should get back to grading one hundred essays instead of killing time on this forum.)
Egypt
Re: Egypt
It looks dangerous, but it's not really. The other day a fellow teacher mentioned that everyone he meets who's worked in Egypt says it was ok, but they wouldn't do it again. I think that is a fair assessment.
Social life is what you make of it. I know people who have stonking social lives, but they've worked on it over several years. I also know people who barely ever went out. Culturally it's interesting, but that only goes so far. Life can be a bit of a struggle sometimes, it's hard to get things done. Egyptians are a bunch of corner cutters, so expect most things not to work or function properly. That means things like appliances, as much as it means transportation and government offices. Another negative is......Egyptian students are nuts.
Positives are; fantastic weather, easy access to great beaches as reasonable prices, easy access to Europe and Africa, a salary that is way, way, way above the national average.
Social life is what you make of it. I know people who have stonking social lives, but they've worked on it over several years. I also know people who barely ever went out. Culturally it's interesting, but that only goes so far. Life can be a bit of a struggle sometimes, it's hard to get things done. Egyptians are a bunch of corner cutters, so expect most things not to work or function properly. That means things like appliances, as much as it means transportation and government offices. Another negative is......Egyptian students are nuts.
Positives are; fantastic weather, easy access to great beaches as reasonable prices, easy access to Europe and Africa, a salary that is way, way, way above the national average.
Response
Its as bad as it sounds, there isnt gunfire in the street, but your an American in a Muslim country in Africa, were the enemy. Thet said you wont get gunned down in the street. The worst and its fairly common is petty theft (pick pockets) and your significant other will at most get grouped on occasion.
The culture is pretty boring, you can see all the tourist stuff in a week. The people arent all that friendly and the ones that are, are trying to distract you while someone picks your pocket. I know of no one with a decent social life and there is far to much work involved getting around too many rules with too little fun.
Students and admins are nuts, really Egypt and the ME is a dumping ground for everyone and anyone who cant make it elsewhere, thats why those schools are ALWAYS recruiting. The students are all entitled little emperors, you pretty much have to give them all As and if you dont parents will just have admin change it or direct you to change it. School is literally nothing more then daycare with a transcript.
Yes your making a lot more than the national average, but the national average sucks, third world, and the only thing your salary will let you do is get out of Egypt for a while.
I wouldnt say the weather is anything near fantastic, its generally hot and dry, so unless your elderly and need Arizona weather then no not fantastic. There is much easier access to beaches at really cheap prices in Thailand, and if you have the money Singapore is practically one big beach, a little less money and you have HK and JP, and if you need cheap Guangzhou in China is pretty cheap. Also the social life is WAY better in all those places. You have easy access to Africa, but the only place worth going (unless you want to Safari) is on the opposite side of the continent in Johannesburg, otherwise your already in Africa. You have even better access to Europe living in Europe.
The culture is pretty boring, you can see all the tourist stuff in a week. The people arent all that friendly and the ones that are, are trying to distract you while someone picks your pocket. I know of no one with a decent social life and there is far to much work involved getting around too many rules with too little fun.
Students and admins are nuts, really Egypt and the ME is a dumping ground for everyone and anyone who cant make it elsewhere, thats why those schools are ALWAYS recruiting. The students are all entitled little emperors, you pretty much have to give them all As and if you dont parents will just have admin change it or direct you to change it. School is literally nothing more then daycare with a transcript.
Yes your making a lot more than the national average, but the national average sucks, third world, and the only thing your salary will let you do is get out of Egypt for a while.
I wouldnt say the weather is anything near fantastic, its generally hot and dry, so unless your elderly and need Arizona weather then no not fantastic. There is much easier access to beaches at really cheap prices in Thailand, and if you have the money Singapore is practically one big beach, a little less money and you have HK and JP, and if you need cheap Guangzhou in China is pretty cheap. Also the social life is WAY better in all those places. You have easy access to Africa, but the only place worth going (unless you want to Safari) is on the opposite side of the continent in Johannesburg, otherwise your already in Africa. You have even better access to Europe living in Europe.
Re: Egypt
PsyGuy's opinion is fairly accurate, and will be how a certain percentage of teachers view living in Egypt, however I wouldn't put it in such negative terms. The weather is great and is better than Thailand, certainly on a functional everyday basis. Dry is better than humid any day, particularly when you are at work or doing your grocery shopping. Beaches are not as nice as Thailand, but that doesn't mean they aren't nice.
We weren't aware of petty theft, and didn't hear much about that. In contrast, in our current location in China we've had one motorbike stolen and been exposed to two scams (which we avoided). We've been here since August.
Sexual harassment of females is fairly common. Over a two year contract a single female can expect to be sexually harassed. They harden up, they have to. That said, I can name a half a dozen single females who have worked in Cairo for five years plus.
It's not perfect by any stretch, and I certainly wouldn't work there again, however, it is a good stepping stone on to other jobs.
Just a note, I lived in Cairo for three years, PsyGuy stayed long enough to collect his first pay check and then did a runner. My experience ended in June 2014, his experience was a long time ago.
We weren't aware of petty theft, and didn't hear much about that. In contrast, in our current location in China we've had one motorbike stolen and been exposed to two scams (which we avoided). We've been here since August.
Sexual harassment of females is fairly common. Over a two year contract a single female can expect to be sexually harassed. They harden up, they have to. That said, I can name a half a dozen single females who have worked in Cairo for five years plus.
It's not perfect by any stretch, and I certainly wouldn't work there again, however, it is a good stepping stone on to other jobs.
Just a note, I lived in Cairo for three years, PsyGuy stayed long enough to collect his first pay check and then did a runner. My experience ended in June 2014, his experience was a long time ago.
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chilagringa
- Posts: 335
- Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:19 pm
Re: Egypt
Thank you for your responses. We'll see what happens.
I have heard that Egyptian students are pretty badly behaved. That is not particularly appealing. I think I have pretty darn good classroom management in an "average" classroom. (You know, 20% bad eggs, 20% keeners, 60% could go either way). In really difficult classrooms, though, I can deal with it but I find it pretty draining. I have one of those classes right now, and it's exhausting. My other classes are great, though, so it balances out. Not sure I would want ALL my classes to be difficult.
Also... I'm not American :)
I have heard that Egyptian students are pretty badly behaved. That is not particularly appealing. I think I have pretty darn good classroom management in an "average" classroom. (You know, 20% bad eggs, 20% keeners, 60% could go either way). In really difficult classrooms, though, I can deal with it but I find it pretty draining. I have one of those classes right now, and it's exhausting. My other classes are great, though, so it balances out. Not sure I would want ALL my classes to be difficult.
Also... I'm not American :)
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chilagringa
- Posts: 335
- Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:19 pm
Re: Egypt
Sorry, the "I'm not American" part was in response to PsyGuy.
Reply
@chilagringa
Most of them are just lazy and entitled. They rally have no motivation to apply themselves and have no challenges. They are going to go to school, get as prestigious a degree as money can buy and either go to work in the family business or the business of a family friend.
I apologize I didnt intend to classify you as American what I should of wrote was westerners, really all us westerners are the same to them.
Most of them are just lazy and entitled. They rally have no motivation to apply themselves and have no challenges. They are going to go to school, get as prestigious a degree as money can buy and either go to work in the family business or the business of a family friend.
I apologize I didnt intend to classify you as American what I should of wrote was westerners, really all us westerners are the same to them.
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chilagringa
- Posts: 335
- Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:19 pm
Re: Egypt
No worries... some of my favourite people are Americans :)
Comment
@chilagringa
Outside of school I know no Americans or have any American friends. Mine are all Aussies or Britt's, with a couple Canadians sprinkled in, I do know one Kiwi, and she really hates it when I refer to her an Aussie.
Outside of school I know no Americans or have any American friends. Mine are all Aussies or Britt's, with a couple Canadians sprinkled in, I do know one Kiwi, and she really hates it when I refer to her an Aussie.
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chilagringa
- Posts: 335
- Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:19 pm
Re: Egypt
It seems to be my lot in life to always make friends with Americans. I must be a Yankee at heart.