Programme details
| Programme length | Start | End | Price | Age on departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFS year programme (academic year) | August 2009 | June 2010 | $10,750 + $250 visa | 15 - 17 |
| AFS semester programme (5-6 months) | July 2009 | January 2010 | $8,650 + $250 visa | 15 - 17 |
Egypt’s ancient temples and pyramids have lured tourists for more than two million years! Today, the country embraces a unique mix of ancient traditions, modern Islam and Christianity, Middle Eastern art and folk cultures, and Western music and films. Because 90% of Egypt is desert, almost everyone lives close to the Nile, which means there is over-crowding. In the sprawling capital city Cairo, robes are as common as Levis, donkeys share roads with BMWs, and buildings made of mud stand next to glass-and-steel high-rises. You may find Egyptians are sceptical that the economic progress – in the Western sense – improves the quality of their unhurried lives.
Family life
While Egyptian life is centred on family and religion, there remains a great difference between the rural and urban peoples of Egypt. Communities are generally patriarchal, with men in dominant roles. Family ties are very strong and neighbours are often treated as family. People in urban centres such as Cairo and Alexandria still maintain these traditional values but to a lesser extent. They tend to follow a more modern and Westernised lifestyle.
School life
Subjects can usually be chosen freely, depending on the school. A school day usually starts at 8am and ends at 3pm. The school year goes from September until May with a two-week holiday in January.
All students are expected to attend classes on a regular basis, to complete the work assigned in and out of class and to show effort to the fullest potential. Students will be expected to wear a school uniform.
AFS Egypt does not accept graduates (i.e. students who have finished year 13), smokers or vegetarians.
