132 CultureShock! Egypt
Laundry
Forget laundromats—they don’t exist in Egypt. On the other
hand, getting your laundry done in Egypt is usually quite easy
and relatively inexpensive. All major hotels have laundry
service available. As a local resident, you can get laundry
services (known as makwagis) in all neighbourhoods around
Cairo. Other than doing laundry yourself, sending clothes to
a makwagi is the traditional method. Things to remember
when sending your laundry out are to communicate exactly
what you want done and make a list of what you send.
These days, clothes are sometimes dry-cleaned instead of
laundered, even underwear. So, be sure to check! If you do
not want clothes washed in hot water, tell them. If you do
not want bleach added, tell them. If you want clothes dry-
cleaned, tell them. Most clothes will come back ironed, so if
you do not want clothes ironed, again, tell them. If you do not
state precisely what you want, you may be surprised with the
results. Unless you have someone that you know who hand
washes clothes, do delicate items by hand at home. If you
have a family or expect substantial laundry needs, consider
purchasing a washing machine after you get to Egypt.
A washing machine will cost a lot, but you can probably
sell it when you get ready to leave. One of my flats had a
washing machine in it and I admit it was great for sheets. On
the other hand, it was cheap and easy to send things out, so
I definitely wouldn’t buy one for myself.Medical Care
Especially in the major cities, access to fairly good general
health care services is readily available. However, you should
do some pre-planning to ensure you won’t have to take
whatever you can find in an emergency or when someone
gets sick. Like almost everything else in Egypt, medical care
facilities run the gamut from little or nothing to a few hospitals
equipped with the most modern technology.
Just as in a move to any other new city, it may be best
for you to make contact with a physician upon arrival to
find someone you like and can trust. For example, many
well-trained and knowledgeable specialised physicians are