Rant Time

The other day, I ate lunch in a Western restaurant that turned out to be unnaturally popular with the local tourist trade. I sat and sipped my Diet Coke, while hoards of Americans, Germans, and other random Europeans who chose to fly all the way to Egypt sat and ate American food.

But I’m not here to berate people for their choice of cuisine - after all, I was about to have chicken fingers delivered to my table. No, I am here to rant about men and women who chose to fly all the way to a conservative country and then chose not to show enough respect to their hosts to dress accordingly. During my brief lunch, I counted more tank tops, shorts, capris, mini dresses, and spaghetti straps than I had seen in the preceding three months put together. Did these people not read a single guidebook before coming?

When I told people that they could dress as they would at home, only more conservatively, I must not have been explicit enough. Shorts that barely cover your butt are NOT conservative. And sleeves that require either a strapless or clear strapped bra also fall into the not conservative department.

For those of you who think I’m being harsh – I’m sorry but I’m not. These ill-dressed men and women are going to go to the Khan Khalili and complain about being harassed and overcharged. They’re going to go home and talk about the horrible people who were rude to them. And what they’re not going to mention is that they failed to show Egypt enough respect to not dress as if they were at a Fourth of July picnic at the beach.

I was once asked if I was Amish (true story) so maybe it’s easier for me to say that wearing longer skirts and pants isn’t a problem. But respect shouldn’t be something that people think is difficult. Next time you decide to fly half way around the world to explore a new culture, try fitting in with that culture just a little. You never know, instead of being verbally assaulted and groped, maybe you’ll be welcomed like an old friend and offered the best deals.