Culture Shock! Egypt - A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette

146 CultureShock! Egypt

Internet

Wow! If you’ve been to Egypt before 1998, you won’t believe

the communication transition! Mobile phones and the Internet

have changed the complexion of Egyptian communication

with the rest of the world. Egyptian Internet usage is one of

the fastest growing in the world. A few years ago, few outside

the government or universities had webpages. Now, even the

famous Khal-el-Khalili has a website for ordering via a secure

webpage! (http://www.virtualkhan.com)

It was late in 1996 when Internet Café pioneered cybercafés

in the Cairo area, opening two Internet cafés—one in Garden

City and one in Maadi. Now, cybercafés and Internet services

are available throughout the country. Cybercafés have popped

up in most major cities (which is really great for an Internet

junkie like me!) and are now on just about every corner (it

seems!) in Cairo and the major cities. I don’t believe you are

more than a few minutes’ walk from an Internet café any

where in Egypt; and it seems as if everyone you meet has

Communications: A Brief Recap

„ Forget snail-mail—particularly for packages—as duty

rates are astronomical for seemingly everything! The

best way is ask friends who are travelling to Egypt to

bring what you need!

„ Get a mobile (cell) phone.

„ Many flats and houses already have a landline

installed. Landlines have improved over the years but

are still lacking in outlying areas.

„ You can buy prepaid phone cards which can be used

all over the country.

„ International calls can be made from mobile phones,

phone centres or at most of the ‘better’ hotels.

„ Commercial faxes can be sent from the business

centres of ‘major’ hotels.

„ Internet connection is free, but slow. Faster service is

available for a reasonable price.