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Before this program we were emailed a guide of things to pack and what to expect of Cairo. While it was useful to some extent, there are so many things that I feel were not included or were not clear enough. So this is my list of things to pack and what to expect.

1. If going during the winter break (a.k.a. January like me) BRING SWEATERS…more than you think you would need and some jeans. I had the silly notion that  I would be rocking a t-shirt and light cargo pants because, well, this is the desert and its hot! Right?  The truth is that it is so much colder than expected here. I wear jackets inside and outside here. I wish I brought more sweaters because it is chilly all day long. Some days are warmer, sure. Especially when we go out to the pyramids and places like that. But I think many people on this trip would agree that it is much colder than expected.

2. Bring some conservative clothes, but really, you can wear anything you want. We were under the notion that baggier clothes would be the way to go…but most people on this trip still wear tight jeans and shirts and they do not get extra harrassment or anything of the sort. As long as your shirts do not expose you cleavage or more skin than necessary, wear what you would usually wear to college.

3. Bring much more cash than you think you’ll need. During days that we go on excursions to touristy places, money somehow flies. When you go shopping in the marketplaces, pounds will fly as well. You can spend up to 100 dollars or more in a day if you go shopping. Extra sights and more souvenirs, money will slip out of your hands. We were told that around three hundred dollars would be enough for food for the month…and to some extent this is probably true. But i only brought three hundred dollars extra after that and I am quickly realizing how badly I wish I had more. I brought 600 dollars, and with 2 weeks still left…I have about 150 dollars left. O_O

4. Cartouches. Some people will tell you to buy them at certain stores…but trust me when I say that is not the cheapest ones you can get. Shop around and see what you can get. The best cartouches we found were the ones that were offered to us on our tour bus in Luxor. They were amazingly cheap and beautiful [13 to 18 dollars].

5. Plan your evenings here well. most of your mornings and afternoons will be busy with lectures and classes, but you will haeva  tendency to get tired and want to spend the night in at the hotel. Force yourself to go out, make plans before hand. Ciaro is huge and there is so much to see and take in.

6. Don’t be afraid to talk to and make friends with Egyptians. Sure some people, especially if you’re a girl, will try to harrass you. But you can weed those people out. For the most part, talking to Egyptians around you will yield some interesting and maybe even hilarious stories.

7. Wet wipes, which we were told to bring lots of, are actually not that convenient. Liquid hand sanitizer is so much easier to use on the go…not to mention more useful.

8. Bring medicine for colds/flus, and stomach things. ‘Nuff said.

…This is it for now, but if I feel strongly about something else, I will add it on here.

😀