The Limitations Every Young Traveler Faces in Egypt
Can you overcome them?
To begin with, this article is written to help you overcome the limitations you very often face. The limitations are tackled from both, a general perspective, as well as a personal perspective.
Being born and raised in Egypt en-roots the culture within you, your mind becomes structured in a way that reflects the norms of the culture, whereas your behavior is a reflection of the traditional beliefs held. Although a culture is a substance to be cherished by its people, it is also subject to questioning.
I had spent the majority of my life moving around Latin America, moving to Europe in 2005 and back to Egypt in 2009. Being raised abroad, in Latin America to be specific has widened my perspective of the surrounding. It has made me sensitively aware of humans and urging me to empathize with them but it has also developed my interest to constantly expose myself to different cultures and traditions. Living abroad has shaped me into a passionate traveler.
Moving back to Cairo is when my will to travel the world was distorted by a number of limitations: financial, religious or even cultural. At first, I thought this only applied to me but throughout the years I have spent here, I came to realize that these limitations are faced by all young Egyptians with the urge to travel.
What are the limitations and can they be overcome?
1.
“Traveling leads to no good, who knows what you’ll get yourself into”
This is a common response told to young and eager Egyptians when discussing the possibility of traveling. Parents, specially those raising children in the middle east, due to religious and cultural views, tend to worry more often. Their concern lies and is often directed towards ‘temptation’. As humans we tend to be driven by that which is unknown and thereby we are often tempted to put our morals, views and beliefs under the microscope.
A strategy that I had for years used and have found to be a very rational and to the point argument is to put things in perspective. Let’s face it, temptations are right around the corner. If you personally have the will to behave in ways that distort your cultural and traditional views, a flight ticket isn’t what will do it for you. If you want to behave in a certain way, you’ll behave in that certain way whether you’re back home or anywhere else across the globe. Sounds fair enough, doesn’t it? This is exactly what I told my concerned father before he surprised me with a flight to Italy.
2.
“It isn’t safe out there. I won’t let you wonder the world and blame myself when something happens to you”
There’s a number of ways you can tackle the above statement: diplomatically, rationally or statistically (Sometimes using the three ways can help as well)
Diplomatically speaking, your parents had surely raised you to be careful, cautious and rational thereby, thanks to them, you will be able to take good care of yourself when the situation calls for it.
Rationally speaking, is any country truly that safe? Every country out there has its dangers. Is Egypt really that safe? In my opinion, crime and violence is national concern so the question of whether a destination is safe or not can not be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” answer, thereby any place could be dangerous.
Statistically speaking, websites such as that of the UN offer you statistical reports of the rates of crime, violence and danger per country. If the argument gets too heated, offer them a statistical report provided by an organization that they trust.
3.
“We don’t have money to pay for your travels”
That’s usually the final shut down that your parents will use to end the argument. With no money to finance your travels, what can you do?
Work. There are a number of part time jobs waiting for you right around the corner. As a university student your urge to travel and explore the world at a young age will be magnificently high and that’s always a good thing! Want to go ahead and see what’s out there? Apply to a few jobs and get lucky.
As a student, you honestly have nothing to lose. It is those few years that you should take full advantage of, to try new things, gain diverse knowledge and simply enjoy your youth. The job you decide to apply for, does not necessarily have to be related or aiding your career but it can finance your travels and believe it or not, regardless of what it is you’ll work, you’re bound to learn a thing or two and gain yourself on hell of an experience.
When I first started working, my parents weren’t supportive nor did they ‘allow’ me to but I did it anyways and it is when I got that first pay-check that I began to have control over my own self (to a large extent). I’m now 21 and have been working for only two years and I went from nagging my parents to travel to having them ask me “what’s your next destination?”.
“Do not conform to a restricted life. Take charge and do whatever it takes to reach that destination because a whole world of knowledge and enlightenment awaits you”
