152 CultureShock! Egypt
Making the Effort
Once, some friends of mine were going out of their way, spending
money to be with me and my group that I knew they couldn’t
afford. I tried all sorts of ways to try to help with the fi nancial
responsibility I knew they could ill afford. I arranged for them to
have a special dinner and cake for their anniversary; I took presents
to their daughter—things that I knew might be outside their budget,
but wanted or needed. Once, when the wife was taking us to the
beach and had forgotten her sandals, I gave her mine, insisting I had
another pair upstairs. When I left the country, I had all sorts of clothes,
toiletries and things that I insisted she take, either for herself or to
give to someone she thought might need or want them. Use your
imagination and you can come up with all sorts of ways to relieve
your friends from the fi nancial burden of their culture’s generosity
without insulting their hospitality.Necessities Miscellaneous
Things that drive me crazy are bathroom things I don’t
have or can’t find. There never seem to be drain plugs that
fit anywhere. Bring several of the wide, flat ones (rubber
deteriorates very quickly in Egypt). In an emergency, I have
actually used plastic bags, but this is definitely not the long
range solution! Another handy thing to have around is a
small household tool kit. Include things like picture hangers,
hammer, small nails, etc.
Sometimes it gets pretty cold and a sleeping bag is a
lifesaver during winter months. It is also handy for overnight
trips to the desert. Remember, many places are not heated
and it can definitely get quite cold during winter nights. I have
been known to sleep under blankets, in a sleeping bag, while
wearing a sweatsuit and long socks on the coldest nights.
This makes it tolerable, but not necessarily cosy.
I think a small daypack is an absolute necessity for each
person (except small babies, of course). The kind that is
most comfortable has a foam rubber pad directly next to
your back. I put little combination locks on zippered waist
pouches and backpacks to insure that anyone trying to get
stuff out of them has to cut them or slash them off me. At
least, I am more likely to know it has happened than if they
just have to unzip the bag. While I am thinking about it, in
a really crowded place, you can wear your backpack on the