Welcome to the first post in a new series in which I discuss some places you could go if you are looking to leave the country due to your high student loan debt. Of course, I do not recommend this practice, as IBR should be able to save you. However, if you are smart, you will still, without hesitation, pay your loans through IBR while possibly living in a cheaper locale, where the dollar goes a lot further. With that said, I plan on paying my entire student loan balance, realizing that IBR is a fallback in case I do not find the high paying job of my dreams. I also am considering a possible jaunt overseas if my income does not stretch far enough to pay for a very frugal life in the United States.
EGYPT
I have been to many countries now, and as I post this I am in Cairo Egypt. I have just visited the Egyptian Museum and I must say, I am going to miss it here. Last night was what may be the start of the second revolution and the streets were packed. Many people have left, but I must say I did not feel the need to. Sadly, my plane ticket was purchased a few months back, and it was the morning of July 2nd that I chose to depart on. So, with that said, the question becomes: would I live in Egypt?
It takes a while to get used to Egypt. At least, it did for me. At first it's a place that is very unlike the United States. It is dry, hot, and full of dust. Cairo has more pollution than many people in the United States are used to. The housing in Cairo and other cities is very old and rarely fancy. There is virtually zero rain. No humidity. There are a lot of touts. English, however, is spoken widely and it's not hard to find the things that you may need. The cost of living is also much, much lower than in the United States.
It takes a while to get used to Egypt. At least, it did for me. At first it's a place that is very unlike the United States. It is dry, hot, and full of dust. Cairo has more pollution than many people in the United States are used to. The housing in Cairo and other cities is very old and rarely fancy. There is virtually zero rain. No humidity. There are a lot of touts. English, however, is spoken widely and it's not hard to find the things that you may need. The cost of living is also much, much lower than in the United States.
Cost of Living in Egypt
In fact, eating local street food, such as falafel, fuul, or koshery would set you back only a few dollars a day total. Water has to be purchased, but is cheap and will clock in at about a dollar fiddy a day. Did I say fiddy? I meant fifty. Room and board comes in at a VERY small amount. An apartment can be rented in Cairo for a couple hundred a month. For a little more you can live like a Sultan. Transportation costs are very cheap, even transportation to the other side of the country. All the creature comforts of home, such as internet, cellular phones, television, and World of Warcraft are all available here. Skype is free, which will allow you to call your mother back home and tell her that you love her and miss her home cookin' and basement life.
In fact, eating local street food, such as falafel, fuul, or koshery would set you back only a few dollars a day total. Water has to be purchased, but is cheap and will clock in at about a dollar fiddy a day. Did I say fiddy? I meant fifty. Room and board comes in at a VERY small amount. An apartment can be rented in Cairo for a couple hundred a month. For a little more you can live like a Sultan. Transportation costs are very cheap, even transportation to the other side of the country. All the creature comforts of home, such as internet, cellular phones, television, and World of Warcraft are all available here. Skype is free, which will allow you to call your mother back home and tell her that you love her and miss her home cookin' and basement life.
Finding Employment in Egypt as an Expat
I am not sure about finding a job here, but I do know that there are jobs in teaching English as a second langauge, as well as jobs in coastal resort areas such as Dahab and Sharm el Sheikh as diving instructors. A diving course in order to become certified as a dive master will set you back around $800-$1000. Pay for divers is not that great, however.
I am not sure about finding a job here, but I do know that there are jobs in teaching English as a second langauge, as well as jobs in coastal resort areas such as Dahab and Sharm el Sheikh as diving instructors. A diving course in order to become certified as a dive master will set you back around $800-$1000. Pay for divers is not that great, however.
If you are entrepreneurially-minded, you may be able to make an income in Egypt by writing books (such as Derailed at My Law School: The Story of a Terror-Stricken Third Year Law Student
) or import and resell cheaper local items, such as blankets, scarves, bags, perfumes, and other handicrafts, into the United States.
Finding Legal Employment in Egypt
There are lawyers in Egypt, but I am not sure how hard it is to get into the legal profession here. I would consider e-mailing some and asking if they need help. Many international lawyers may be interested in English speaking attorneys, especially in the resort areas. There are lawyers who advertise in Dahab and Sharm el Sheikh who help with real estate matters and international transactions.
If you want to pursue an LLM, graduate programs abound that allow you to study online. Yes, you can study while in Egypt and enjoy the lower cost of living that Egypt entails.
) or import and resell cheaper local items, such as blankets, scarves, bags, perfumes, and other handicrafts, into the United States.Finding Legal Employment in Egypt
There are lawyers in Egypt, but I am not sure how hard it is to get into the legal profession here. I would consider e-mailing some and asking if they need help. Many international lawyers may be interested in English speaking attorneys, especially in the resort areas. There are lawyers who advertise in Dahab and Sharm el Sheikh who help with real estate matters and international transactions.
If you want to pursue an LLM, graduate programs abound that allow you to study online. Yes, you can study while in Egypt and enjoy the lower cost of living that Egypt entails.
Quality of Life in Egypt
In Egypt, you will enjoy a high quality of life for less money than you are used to in the United States. You will have a variety of locales in which you can visit while still making a living. Most areas of the country can be reached in less than a day from Cairo. You can lay in a hammock in Dahab and swim in the cool waters of the Red Sea for under $10 a night at places such as Sindbad Camp. You can camp in the desert in Sinai and explore the wilderness there for about the same price. Activities such as windsurfing, sandboarding, and sailing can be done for a smaller sum than found in the US. Cheap flights to Europe are plentiful.
Cons to Living in Egypt
Diarrhea comes to mind, but is easily cured. It takes time to get used to the different foods here, and your body will need to adjust to the water. Travel back to the United States to visit family is expensive, and an air ticket will set you back $800-1200, round trip, depending on the time of year. There are few Americans compared to Europeans and Russians in Egypt, and this may bother some. Also, the heat can be unbearable, the same with the dryness. If you are used to living in your parents basement, living so far from the comforts of home may be tough. Arabic may be hard to learn for many. Also, there is visible poverty in many areas and people will sometimes ask you for a little financial help -- then again, this is not so different than most places in the world. The political situation is also somewhat unstable at the moment, but not as much as you may have been lead to believe by the media.
Conclusion
I would say that Egypt is a country that you should consider if you are looking for a place that offers quite a bit of bang for your buck. It is an exotic place that offers something for everyone. The Egyptian people are very nice and welcoming, and you will probably make a ton of friends here if you give it time. There is so much to see and do here that this may just be the place you want to flee to.
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