The Cairo Gyro

That there says “welcome” in Arabic. Welcome to Cairo. The second most populous city in the Arab World and Africa.

It is very important that you read and take heed of the advice that is to follow. Three females have been mugged right in in front of Fajr Center in the past two months (all separate incidents). They were just walking to school with their handbags when a car pulled up, yanked their bags off of them and drove away!

It’s not a common occurrence but it DOES happen. I have lived here for almost a year now and alhamdulillah I haven’t encountered any crime however, hearing of these stories made me realize that foreign students are an easy target. I dress simply and try to blend in so I’m always mistaken for a local (yes folks, even my Converse shoes don’t stand out because - believe it or not - they’re just as popularly worn here as they are in the states!)

1. Don’t wear big fancy handbags that attract attention/ that are easy to grab.
2. Don’t take your wallet with you every where. Only take as much money as you think you’ll need and a little extra in case of emergency. Always leave your Bank cards and passport at home (unless in case of necessity)
3. Don’t bring a fancy mobile phone/cellphone with you - come with a simple unlocked quad-band phone that will serve it’s purpose and not attract attention
4. Don’t wear gold on the street
5. When walking on the street, walk as far away from the cars as you can and stay closer to the buildings.
6. Be aware of your surroundings, keep a hand on your bag and make sure it’s always closed tight and close to you.
7. Walk with confidence, don’t look vulnerable. Avoid speaking other languages loudly (apart from Arabic). Don’t tell people you’re lost or that you don’t speak Arabic. It’s better if they just assume you’re a rude snob who doesn’t want to talk to them vs. them figuring out you’re a foreigner. It is crucial to familiarize yourself with some local words…which is why I highly recommend buying the Lonely Planet’s Egyptian Phrase-book before coming.
8. Don’t give money to any random beggar. This may surprise you but trust me, some of them will stalk you or send their family members to follow you home and harass you for more money (this has happened to me and many people I know) - So since you will be unable to distinguish the good from the bad, just avoid it altogether. There are other safer ways to give charity (such as to the Egyptian National Food Bank, Masjids, Islamic Relief.)
9. Don’t DRESS like you’re in your home country. Come on, you’re in Egypt. Do you really want to wear clothes that say “Hi, I just arrived from America and I’m loaded with dollars. Come mug me.”
10. Don’t pull out your camera everywhere you go and look like a tourist.

I hope this post doesn’t put anyone off coming to Cairo to study. Pick-pocketing and mugging happens in all major cities across the globe. You just have to be extra cautious whenever you’re living in an unfamiliar place. Overall I feel very safe in Cairo alhamdulillah and if you follow my advice, I’m sure you will too!