Program Description | Host Family & Community | Host School | Travel | Orientations & Activities | Eligibility
Program Description
Egypt, the “cradle of civilization,” embodies a unique mixture of ancient and modern. In sprawling, cacophonous Cairo, robes are as common as Levis, donkeys share roadways with BMWs, and buildings made of mud stand next to glass and steel high-rises. Most Egyptians practice Islam or Christianity and are proud of their national and cultural heritage. Because 90 percent of Egypt is desert, almost everyone lives close to the Nile; whether along the banks of the river in Cairo and Alexandria, in its delta, or along the Suez Canal.
As with all AFS high school programs, you will be placed with a volunteer host family who will provide you with lodging, meals, guidance and support. Egypt has active hosting chapters in Alexandria, Cairo, El Fayoum, El Menya, Giza, Ismailia, Port Said, Tanta, and others. Most placements (approx. 90%) are in urban or suburban areas. Please note that your host community will be chosen for you by AFS Egypt.
AFSers in Egypt spend one academic year living with a host family and attending school. Some classes may be taught in English, others in Arabic, and subjects can usually be chosen freely, depending on the school.
Language
The official language of Egypt is Arabic, with many regional dialects spoken all over the country. English is also commonly used and is taught in schools starting with first grade.
Host Family & Community
Family in Egypt is very important and plays a major role in people’s lives. The term family here includes not only the nuclear family (father, mother and children) but extends also to grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and cousins of cousins.
Host families in Egypt, like all AFS host families worldwide, are volunteers and are not paid. They open their homes to students in order to share their community and culture as well as to enrich their own family lives.
The Egyptians
While Egyptian life is centered on family and religion, there remains a great difference between the rural and urban populations of Egypt. Generally speaking, life outside the country’s major cities is in keeping with tradition and communities are more patriarchal, with men in dominant roles. Family ties are very strong and neighbors are often treated as family. People in urban centers such as Cairo and Alexandria still maintain these traditional values, but to a lesser extent. They tend to follow a more modern and Westernized lifestyle. Due to scarcity of land, most families in urban areas live in apartments.
Shopping at outdoor bazaars, shopping malls, going to the cinema, spending a day in a sports club and visiting relatives are favorite family activities. For the most part, Egyptians are extremely patriotic and are known for being helpful and friendly.
Teens
In their free time, Egyptian teenagers meet their friends to go to cafés, sports clubs, the cinema or to shopping malls. Although teenage boys and girls sometimes mingle at schools and at universities, there are certain "rules" that need to be followed within the teen social strata. It is, for instance, not very common for a girl to go out with a boy on her own; it is more common and accepted for boys and girls to go out together as a group.
The concept of dating for teenagers is usually not accepted by most families in Egypt. Often times even open-minded, “modern” host families are not comfortable with the idea of their teenage children having boy/girlfriends, and the same applies for their hosted son or daughter.
Meals
The Egyptian diet is typically rich in beans, bread, rice, vegetables, and fruits. Breakfast normally consists of bean cakes and eggs, while lunch is the most significant meal of the day and tends to be high in starches. After lunch is a “siesta,” or afternoon rest, and dinner is usually a lighter meal.
Here a few examples of some traditional Egyptian meals that you will most likely try and hopefully enjoy:
- Aysh shami - a flat, pita-type bread made with refined white flour
- Koshari - a mixture of rice, lentils, and macaroni
- Roz de laban - a pudding made with short grain white rice, full-cream milk, sugar, and vanilla, dusted with cinnamon
Host School
The school year runs from September until May, with a two-week vacation in January. Most students will attend private language schools and wear uniforms. Some classes may be taught in English, others in Arabic, and subjects can usually be chosen freely, depending on the school. Attending school is integral to your experience and is the best way to make friends and enjoy life as an Egyptian teen.
In schools that run on the Egyptian system (private and experimental schools), students choose between two sets of subjects and take the required courses for that subject. International schools use the same structure and system as in the home country (for example, American international schools use the US system) and therefore offer similar classes. If AFSers are placed in international schools, they will be placed in a school that runs on the American system.
Check out the Host School FAQ (.pdf).
Travel
You will receive a Travel Notification email about 6 weeks prior to international departure with your international flight itinerary and detailed instructions for when to arrive at the Gateway Orientation site in New York City. At that point, you may arrange your domestic travel. In New York City, you will join other AFS-USA participants for an overnight Gateway Orientation before you travel together to Cairo, Egypt.
International airfare is included as part of the tuition,but it is your responsibility to get from your home town to the Gateway Orientation site.
Your Arrival
After the Gateway Orientation in New York City, you and other fellow AFSers will travel together to Cairo, the capital city, where AFS staff and volunteers will be waiting for you at the airport. Your group will then be taken to a 2-day welcome orientation, where you will get a chance to meet other international AFSers and learn important safety tips and cultural etiquette. After the orientation, you will travel by local transportation or train to your host community.
Your Return
Right before your departure, there will be a final AFS orientation to prepare you for the return home. You will then fly from Cairo back to Los Angeles with the other AFS students living in Egypt.
Orientations & Activities
In addition to the orientations that you will participate in domestically (the locally held Pre-Departure Orientation, the Culture Trek online orientation, and the national Gateway Orientation), you and your fellow AFSers will have several orientations while abroad. These orientations give you a chance to gather important information about your host country, to meet other AFS teens from around the world, to share experiences and make friends.
Arrival Orientation
The first orientation will be two days long and will take place upon your arrival in Cairo. This will be an international orientation and will give you an opportunity to meet other AFS participants from around the world. In addition to covering the rules and safety tips, there will be an emphasis on approaching your experience from an intercultural learning perspective.
Mid-Stay Orientation
Approximately six to eight weeks after the start of your program, you will have a small get together with other participants and volunteers. This orientation will last two days and is dedicated to discussing your first impressions about your new home, explaining any “awkward” experiences you encountered and answering any enduring questions. The purpose of this orientation is to discuss with you what it takes – based on your experience now – to make the best out of your stay in Egypt.
End-of-Stay Orientation
Finally, there will be an evaluation camp in the weeks prior to departure. This is your chance to reflect on your experience and to share with other AFSers. You will also prepare for the cultural readjustment that is a part of returning home.
Optional Activities
In addition to the orientations, many local chapters organize activities for students and host families throughout the year. These will vary from chapter to chapter but may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Egypt. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are at the student’s expense.
Eligibility
To participate in this program, you must:
- Be within the age range upon departure (located in the ‘read more’ drop-down)
- Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Be mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy in accordance with AFS Medical Evaluation Policies
- Have a U.S. passport at the time of application. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the program end date
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Participation Notes
AFS Egypt may be able to accomodate vegetarians but we do ask that you be as flexible in your diet as possible.
AFS Egypt does not accept high school graduates.
While there is no language requirement for this program, we strongly suggest that you learn as much Arabic as possible prior to departure.
Attidues are changing, but Egypt remains a country where smoking is tolerated. AFS cannot guarantee a non-smoking environment.
