The first thing I love about the Egyptian Culture is the closeness of family. I love how our family members are so close to us and to each other. There’s a sense of love and care that you feel when you’re around family here, sort of like a warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s true that we do get too noisy and dramatic at times, but it’s heart warming how family members -even distant ones- worry about our future and share our moments of sadness and joy. Family gatherings tend to get a little crazy sometimes, but I wouldn’t give them away for the world.
I love knowing that a large group of people has my back wherever I go. I love knowing my brother will always look out for me; I love how my parents care about even the smallest details of my life. I’ve tried life without this closeness and saw how families in other cultures don’t have the same warmth and realized how blessed I am to have people who care so much about me. I love that family is sacred in our Egyptian community.
The second thing I like about the Egyptian culture is the friendliness of the people, especially with strangers.
Ever notice how we Egyptians like to talk to people around us, even if we’ve never met them before? If you’re standing in line somewhere or waiting for something to happen, people around you will almost always be willing to engage in conversation, even about the most trivial of things. Even if you’re not in the mood to talk, you’ll smile and nod anyway because the old man complaining about the country’s current situation and the lady telling you about her son’s wife are too cute to ignore or shut up. I love our sense of humour. I love how -most of us- would help a stranger on the street if they need it. I can’t forget to mention food always brings us all together 😊
In Egyptian house you don’t knock. Very often the doors aren’t closed. The mother would never knock when she’s entering her child’s bedroom. You are never alone. And traditionally, it’s considered to be a bad thing to be alone. People always want to make sure that you’re never lonely. That you’re always surrounded by other people. Because being surrounded by other people is the right way of being, and it’s considered to be also good for you, psychologically speaking.
Finally, Egyptian culture is a rich and diverse blend of ancient traditions and contemporary influences, shaped by the country’s long history and interactions with other cultures. It is characterized by strong family bonds, hospitality, a blend of Islamic and Western influences, and a strong emphasis on religious and cultural festivals.
