| By :
Tomer Harel
If you are considering a move to Egypt, you have many wonderful things for which you can look forward. First of all, you will find a people with amazing energy, friendliness and openness. Egypt is a safe place to live with little crime. It is also very inexpensive to live in Egypt and there is work available for those who are looking. Egyptians are very friendly people who readily accept Westerners. They are proud to have you in their country and they will consider themselves as your hosts. Cairo is a fascinating view of modern life in the Middle East. It has also been the heart of the Islamic world for 1,000 years. Huge and vibrant, the city is the largest in Africa and the Middle East. There are approximately 16 to 18 million people living in Cairo. The city contains a great variety of culture. Many of the educated Egyptians know English very well. Many people have moved to Cairo and found it to be a wonderful place to live successful, happy lives. This includes, but is not limited to, lawyers, administrators, editors, teachers, consultants, journalists and development workers. If you plan to live and work in Egypt, you may find yourself getting paid through local currency or through foreign currency. People who work locally get paid local currency and they generally get better pay. If you arrive in Egypt needing to find a job, you will most likely receive a job paying local currency. Costs are low in Egypt so it's not expensive to live there. A large 2-bedroom apartment may only cost $250-$500 and it's only thirteen cents for a ride on the subway. Kushari is a mix of lentils, pasta and tomato sauce that only costs 25 cents for a bowl. When you enter the Cairo Airport, you will automatically receive a one-month tourist visa for a few pounds of Egyptian money. This can be exchanged for stamps that you can buy at the currency exchange window before you show your passport. If you need to stay longer than a month, you must go to the heart of Cairo to the Mogamma on Tahrir Square. There will be an application to fill out a day or two before your 30-day visa expires. You will need a photograph and pay a small fee to the people there who will need a couple of hours to process your information. As you make your plans to move to Egypt, get started as soon as possible. You have a lot of work to do if you are making such a big move. One of the first things to do is decide what you want to take with you when you move. It's tough to make such decisions, but important as you think about making such a big move. Going through one room at a time, decide what you want to keep and what you can get rid of before moving. You actually have several options when it comes to your belongings. Anything that has sentimental value needs to go to Egypt with you. Look into the cost of furniture in Egypt. Many rentals are furnished so you may not need to move all of your furniture. Another option is to have a sale and make some money on items that you don't want to move. A local charity or second hand store would gladly take your unwanted items. Another option is to put items in storage. A storage shed is relatively cheap and may give you some peace of mind about some items that you don't want to sell. Last, but not least, you can certainly throw away items that are broken, outdated or worn out. Don't be afraid to throw away things, as it's actually quite therapeutic to actually get rid of things and make real progress in your moving endeavors. You might also want to consider studying up on Egyptian culture before making your trip there. Things are very different than Western culture, so it's good to know what to expect. Unlike some of the other Muslim countries, Egypt is a little more accepting of others and does not require such strict dress and head coverings. However, they will not tolerate extreme immodesty. Read about their food, transportation, housing and education. Moving is never easy, but you can make it more simple by taking the time to get prepared and staying organized. Be sure and keep track of important names and phone numbers as you apply for your visa, arrange a international moving company for shipping your items and take care of banking. The more you do, the easier you will find your move and transition to your new country of Egypt!
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