Cultural Awareness Exhibition: Egypt

Presented by Sarah Ujita and Kayla Davis

Background● Egypt is known officially as the Arab Republic of

Egypt. It is located in North Africa and Southwest Asia.

● Egypt is considered the world’s oldest civilization, dating back to 3,100 BC

● Most known for its prosperity as ancient Egypt● The Nile River/Deserts were a central part of

Ancient Egypt’s development as one of the greatest civilizations

● Egypt achieved independence from Britain on February 28, 1922

Present Day Egypt● Population: 86.7m people● Relies heavily on foreign tourism● Mixed Reports (Tense Area)● In 2013, 20.3% of refugees that came to

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Culture● The Egyptian people like to celebrate the birth of a child. It is a big deal!

○ On the contrary...● When a person dies it is a significant event and they try to bury the person the day of before

sundown or within three day.● Egyptian culture is one of the oldest known cultures

in the world and ruins brings in a lot of tourists.

● Ancient Egypt is known for developing the world’s

first government and found ways to write information

down and do mathematics.

● Ramadan is an important

month in the Islamic, where the

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Egyptian Food/Dining>>

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● Egyptian cuisine is simple, light, and does not rely heavily on spices

● Some recipes date back to ancient Egypt times● Most meals consist of vegetables and legumes

than meatsAs an invited guest…

● Bring the host quality chocolates, sweets, or pastries (NO FLOWERS!)

● Remove your shoes before entering

● Dress well/conservative● Compliment the host on the

house● Wait for the host to tell you

where to sit● Eat only with the right hand● Take seconds (Uzooma)● Show appreciation for the meal● Don’t season the food● Leave some food on your plate

The People● Life in modern day Egypt is both modern and traditional.

○ For intense, in big cities like Cario, people wear jeans and t-shirts, but some are also in more traditional dress.

● For some women modesty is still very important, so they wear clothing that covers all parts of their body.

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○ Hijab- covering for neck and head○ Niquab- covering of the face and head

However, it is not uncommon to see a woman without a head covering.

● For men, there are no religious restrictions for clothing.○ Some men still wear galabiya- a loose fitting ankle length

robe.○ Most men today wear western type clothing

■ Like: business suits at work and trousers and shorts sleeve shirts for everyday wear.

Values

Religious Values● Islam is the most widely practiced religion in

Egypt. It governs every aspect of their lives: The Quran and the actions of the Prophet Mohammed guide the religion.

● Muslims pray five times a day - dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening

● Friday is Holy Day: Many businesses close on Thursdays>>

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history and culture of their ancestors● A high value placed on the family: the

individual is always subordinate to the family or group

● Honor is an important aspect of relationships/interactions: dress, respect, represents the family

● Value morals/ethics: A man’s word is considered his bond - to go back on your word is to bring dishonor to your family!

Language and Literacy● Arabic is the official language of Egypt.● Colloquial Arabic is spoken in the streets

○ Also widely used in television and in the film industry● English and French are also spoken by the more highly educated.

In EgyptLiteracy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 73.9% male: 81.7% female: 65.8%(As of: June 30, 2015)

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NOW WE TRY!

Misconceptions● So, doesn’t like everyone travel on camels?...Nope. They

have cars in Egypt, it’s not all desert there.● Aren’t all Egyptians Arab Muslims?....Again, nope. There are

actually many Christians in Egypt (~10%) and Christianity was established in Egypt before Islam

● Do all Muslims support terrorism and violence?...Actually, no. 93% of Muslims do not support extremist views.

● Egypt treats their women poorly right?...Yes and no. While there are many inequalities between genders and ill-treatment of women still persists, they have made great strides. They recently appointed 26 additional female judges in Egypt. However, there is still a long way to go.

● The only thing to see in Egypt are the pyramids right?...Actually there is a lot to see. Ancient ruins, resorts, Mosques, The Nile River, the Red Sea Reef, and Egyptian Museums.

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Cultural Status in the US(School Setting)

● The social class an Egyptian is born into dictates their everyday life and the opportunities they will have.

● Egyptian students are used to long hours of studying and memorization for their system of learning.

● The relationship between teachers and students is formal in Egypt. Upon the teacher’s entrance to the classroom, the students stand up and greet him or her.

● Many Egyptian parents are in direct

contact with their children’s school and are

kept aware of their academic progress.

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Education System>>

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● Egypt’s educational system is superior to many others in the Middle East and North Africa

● K - age 4, primary school - 6 years preparatory school - 3 years, secondary school - technical (3-5 years), general (3 years), and vocational

● All government run schools are free● There are “wealth gaps”● As part of its campaign against illiteracy, the Egyptian

government has established 3,000 schools since 1993 for girls who are unlikely to attend formal schooling.

The Bad and The Ugly● Classrooms are often crowded● Value repetition over understanding● Lessons are often politically based● Many children have to work instead of go to school● No school transportation system● Poor Facilities● Teachers sometimes accept bribes and cut corners

Suggestions/Implications● Knowing that behavior reflects upon the family, we would be very careful when talking to

the parents of an Egyptian student. If their student had a behavioral problem, we would not want to offend the parents at all or make them feel ashamed of their child.

● We found this great website that offers lesson plans on Ancient Egypt. Being able to help students understand their culture and where they came from is a big part of creating a positive classroom environment.

http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/studying-ancient-egypt.html

#INTEGRATE

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References● http://www.mapsofworld.com/egypt/egypt-location-map.html● http://www.touregypt.net/aboute.htm● http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/worldhistory/introancientegypt1.htm● http://www.heritage.org/index/country/egypt● http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/refugees-and-asylees-united-states● https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294200-c84735/Egypt:Safety.In.Egypt.html● http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Hy-La/Irrigation-Systems-Ancient.html● http://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/table-etiquette/africa-n_dinner_etiquette/egyptian.html● http://www.alrahalah.com/2012/03/top-10-foods-in-egypt/● http://www.egypt.cl/typical-food.htm● http://www.rightleftrightwrong.com/history_ancient.html● http://acad.depauw.edu/mkfinney_web/teaching/Com227/culturalPortfolios/egypt/values.htm● http://stepfeed.com/extra-bits/cookie-jar/10-ridiculous-misconceptions-people-egypt/#.VxbnYfkrKM8● http://www.oocities.org/teacherkab/countries/egypt.htm● https://encounteringislam.org/misconceptions● http://www.ask-aladdin.com/Egypt-Travel-Tips/Ramadan.htm● http://www.touropia.com/top-attractions-in-egypt/● http://www.classbase.com/Countries/egypt/Education-System● https://carolyndanilowicz.wordpress.com/2013/02/06/modern-day-egyptian-fashion/● http://www.aworldatschool.org/global-youth-ambassadors/entry/how-egypt-education-system-works-1699● http://modernegypt.info/one-hundred-facts-about-egypt/fact/87/● http://www.indexmundi.com/egypt/literacy.html● http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/fast-facts-egypt● http://online.yfuusa.org/media/yes_lounge/Egypt.pdf●