viiAbove all, I thank the people of Egypt who are patient with my
questions, share their lives with me, are kind and generous,
and who always make me feel welcome. Much of the data
gathered for this book results from directing two fi eld schools in
Egypt sponsored by the University of North Texas, Institute of
Anthropology and the Study Abroad Program. Special thanks to
Dr David Keitges for helping make these fi eld schools happen.
Thanks to all my students who went to Egypt with me. Their
remarkable incidences of culture shock showed me that culture
shock is not just a long-term response, but one likely to clobber
even those aware of the phenomenon and who are there for
short periods. Their questions and observations reminded me
of what Egypt looks like when you are ‘new’ to its environs,
no matter how ‘cool’ you think you are. A special thanks to
Violet Sparks and Michelle Robicheaux for their assistance and
support throughout the fi eld schools and subsequently. Also,
a special thanks to Cynthia Talbot for suggesting that I write
this book, and for her help.
I would also like to thank my Egyptian and Chinese students
in Egypt at ESLSCA’s (Ecole Supérieure Libre Des Sciences
Commerciales et Appliqués), Advanced Management Institute
in Mohandasin. It is entirely possible that I learned more from
them about cross-cultural communication than they learned
from me.
Over the nearly 20 years of my Egyptian experiences, two
people have been there with moral support, understanding,
humour and kindness: Ambassador Hussein El Kamel
(International Co-operation Senior Advisor, Prime Minister’s
Cabinet Information and Decision Support Centre) and Mr
Medhat A-Monem (Egypt’s greatest tour guide. Call Medhat
on his mobile phone at tel: 012-367-6574). They helped me
in more ways than I can think to mention and I am forever
in their debt.
Thanks to Her Excellency Dr Amal Osman and her staff
whose hospitality made possible visits to special schools and
NGOs in Egypt. I especially thank my friends and colleagues
Mr Mohamed Dahawi; Mrs Riri el-Aasser; Dr Khalid Dahawy;
Mrs Amany Khalil; Mr Amr Dahawy; Mr Mortada Mohamed; Dr
Nabil Mansour, Dr Mahmoud M. Amr and Dr Ali ElMaligui.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CS! Egypt.indb vii 3/14/11 10:48 AM