120 CultureShock! Egypt
run the risk of having it ruin. A proper Egyptian hostess will
thank you for the gift and set it aside for opening later (as is
the custom with most gifts). If you are hosting and people
bring you gifts, you should follow the same practice.
Another category of gifts relates to children. It is acceptable
to bring gifts for young children if you know the people well.
I like to stock up before leaving home with colouring books,
coloured marking pens or crayons, and little toys that may
not be available in Egypt to give to children of my friends. Be
careful not to take anything that has a religious connotation.
A final category of what may be considered gifts are the
items you take along to give to people you may meet along
the streets or when visiting tourist sites. For some reason,
inexpensive writing pens and lighters seem to be premium
gifts. Poor children everywhere will often hold out their hands
asking you to give them pens. They seem to especially like
the ones that click, though any pen can cause furious rivalry
within a mob of children. With adults in tourist areas, these
small items can often be used as bargaining aids as well as
for tips. It is probably best not to take candy or chewing gum
for these occasions. Many poorer people do not get their
teeth fixed and may have dental cavities, so candy or gum
hurt their teeth.