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calexander
Joined: 16 Mar 2012
Posts: 15
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 Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 1:51 am Post subject: British School Egypt, anyone heard of them? |
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Just wondering if anyone has any information on BSE in Cairo?
What area of Cairo is it located? The website doensn't list a physical address- only shows a map of the school and surrounding streets in arabic
Thanks! |
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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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| Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 4:09 am Post subject: |
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| Can you provide a link to the web site? |
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calexander
Joined: 16 Mar 2012
Posts: 15
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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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| Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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| It's in Sheikh Zayed City, which means it's in Giza, not Cairo proper. |
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calexander
Joined: 16 Mar 2012
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks! So out near 6 October City. Are you familar with the school? If you are in Egypt now, could you tell me a little about how things are on the ground there? |
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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 6:08 am Post subject: |
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| calexander wrote: |
| Are you familar with the school? |
No, I'm not familiar with the school.
| calexander wrote: |
| If you are in Egypt now, could you tell me a little about how things are on the ground there? |
Could you be more specific? |
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calexander
Joined: 16 Mar 2012
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I'm just wondering about the general state of affairs in Cairo. What is the status of foreigners currently? I know in the past westerners were welcomed and afforded a certain amount of status amongst the locals. Does this still hold true?
How's inflation?
The real estate market?
Is there a sense of optimism or dread or indifference on the street?
Any observations would be appreciated! |
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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 3:37 am Post subject: |
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| calexander wrote: |
| Well, I'm just wondering about the general state of affairs in Cairo. |
I don't live in Cairo, however I can tell you that, generally, life goes on, in Cairo and the rest of Egypt.
| calexander wrote: |
| What is the status of foreigners currently? I know in the past westerners were welcomed and afforded a certain amount of status amongst the locals. Does this still hold true? |
Egyptians are, as a whole, warm and welcoming. That has not changed.
What has changed is it's now nearly impossible to come and live here for years on end on a tourist visa.
| calexander wrote: |
| How's inflation? |
High. Very high. For example, in 2009, I was paying 2.5 LE for a kilo of tomatoes. Now, it's 5 LE. For me, in my little corner of the world, that additional 2.5 LE won't break my household budget, but then I'm not trying to feed a family on 120 LE/month.
| calexander wrote: |
| The real estate market? |
There has been a construction boom, with entire buildings being torn down and replaced as well as apartments piled high on top of each other. There's a mad dash to get them finished and occupied before a new government is solidly in place. This, combined with the lack of tourists, has brought the price of rentals down.
| calexander wrote: |
| Is there a sense of optimism or dread or indifference on the street? |
Indifference? No way. For the first time in their lives, folks now have the right to express their political opinions, and they do.
If you're thinking of coming for the next school year, my advice would be to wait until the end of June, after all of the political events (elections, Mubarak's verdict, the handover of power to a civilian government, etc.) have worked their way through the calendar, see what happens, and decide what you will do. Egypt isn't going anywhere any time soon. |
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calexander
Joined: 16 Mar 2012
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 3:56 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks! Great insight. I am considering Cairo, but as you said I will wait and see what happens in the next couple of months. BTW, whereabouts are you in Egypt? |
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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 5:29 am Post subject: |
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| calexander wrote: |
| BTW, whereabouts are you in Egypt? |
Alexandria. |
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White ice
Joined: 28 Aug 2012
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:44 am Post subject: |
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| So why is it now much harder to stay in the country on a tourist visa than it used to be? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:44 am Post subject: |
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There is a new law. In the past, one could renew a tourist visa for as long as one could stand dealing with the Mogamma. I knew people who had lived there for over 20 years ... renewing that tourist visa once a year. Now the max is - I believe - just one renewal... so just a couple months. They want the foreigners out. Although few of us were taking jobs from Egyptians, that is moot. That has been the main excuse, jobs...
BTW... this started before the revolution, but has been strengthened since...
VS
(justcolleen can correct me if I'm wrong here) |
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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:17 am Post subject: |
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Yep, you're right, it's about jobs - and employers/employees not paying in the proper taxes.
They're not even renewing tourist visas for people who bought property in Egypt, which was a qualifying condition before the revolution. Showing documents that prove outside income (pensions, etc.) doesn't seem to sway officials, either.
My (new) employer applied for a work permit and that is moving along at the speed of not moving along at all. I may be leaving next month, which makes me sad as I'm quite happy here.  |
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