Lead-inOverviewBusinessknowledgeCareerskillsCasestudyLead-inUnit

7EGYPTWordtipstechnicolor/?teknik?l?/a.色彩鮮艷的dune/dju:n/n.（海濱或沙漠中的）沙丘sprawl/spr?:l/n.（建筑群）雜亂擴(kuò)展的大片地區(qū)pyramid

/?pir?mid/n.金字塔Sphinx

/sfi?ks/

n.（古埃及的）獅身人面像bucket

/?b?kit/

listn.

人生心愿清單theNile/nail/

尼羅河artery/?a:t?ri/

n.

干流adrift/??drift/a.

漂流著的monument

/?m?nj?m?nt/

n.歷史遺跡；遺址complex/?k?mpleks/n.綜合建筑群；復(fù)合式建筑pharaoh/?fe?r?u/n.（古埃及的）法老adorn

/??d?:n/vt.裝飾Questions1.WhatcanyoudoinEgypt’sdeserts?2.WhattopsthebucketlistofalmosteverytravelertoCairo?3.WhatcanvisitorsdoontheeastbankoftheNile?4.WhatmodesoftransportationcanyouusetoexperiencetheisolationofEgypt?5.WhenisthehighseasonforvisitingEgypt?ScriptsAnemptybeachwithnothingbutacandlelitcabinandateemingcoralreefawaitsyouinEgypt;thecoastalongtheRedSeahasaruggedbeautyabovethewaterlineandatechnicolorvibrancybelow.AndthereisjustasmuchspaceandbeautyinEgypt’svastdeserts.Whetheryou’rewatchingthesunrisebetweenthesanddunesortheshimmeringhorizonfromthecomfortofahotspring,Egypt’slandscapesareasepicastheyarefascinating.ToweringovertheurbansprawlofCairoandthedesertplainsbeyond,thePyramidsofGizaandtheSphinxareatthetopofalmosteverytraveler’sbucketlist.TheNileisEgypt’slifeline,thearterythatrunsthroughtheentirecountryfromsouthtonorth.Onlybybeingadriftonitswaterscanyouappreciateitsimportanceandbeauty.

ScriptsWiththegreatestconcentrationofancientmonumentsanywhereinEgypt,youcanspenddaysorweeksvisitingLuxor.WalkthroughcolumnedhallsamidthegreattemplecomplexesofLuxorandKarnakontheeastbankoftheNile,orclimbintothetombsofpharaohs,cuttingintotheThebanHillsonthewestbank.ThewallsofthetombsaroundthesteppedPyramidofZoserinSaqqaraareadornedwithsomeoftheworld’soldestartworks.Lookingatthesemasterpiecesisessentialtounderstandingwhatcomesinthethousandsofyearsthatfollow.Whetheryoutravelbyfour-wheeldrive,camel,oronfoot,foracoupleofhoursoracoupleofweeks,you’llbeabletotastethesheerisolationofEgyptatitswildest.(The)Highseasonruns(from)OctobertoFebruary.AutumnbringswarmseasandfewercrowdsaroundtheMediterranean.Withtoweringpyramidsandtimelesstemples,thelushNileValley,andtheRedSea’svibrantcoralreefs,Egyptisacountrythatcan’thelpbutbringouttheadventurerinallofus.WhatcanyoudoinEgypt’sdeserts?Watchthesunrisebetweenthesanddunesortheshimmeringhorizonfromthecomfortofahotspring.WhattopsthebucketlistofalmosteverytravelertoCairo?ThePyramidsofGizaandtheSphinx.WhatcanvisitorsdoontheeastbankoftheNile?WalkthroughcolumnedhallsamidthegreattemplecomplexesofLuxorandKarnak.WhatmodesoftransportationcanyouusetoexperiencetheisolationofEgypt?Four-wheeldrive,camel,oronfoot.WhenisthehighseasonforvisitingEgypt?FromOctobertoFebruary.OverviewUnit

7EGYPTTheCountryProfileofEgyptItsofficialnameisTheArabRepublicofEgypt.TheofficiallanguageisArabic.ThecurrencyisEgyptianPound(EGP埃鎊).ThecapitalcityisCairo.TheCountryProfileofEgyptEgyptissituatedinthenortheasterncornerofAfrica.Itisoneofthemostpopulouscountriesonthecontinent,withanoverwhelmingmajorityofitspeoplelivingalongtheNileRiver.TheancientEgyptiancivilizationlastedforthousandsofyearsandbecameoneofthemostpowerfulandiconiccivilizationsinhistory.TheCountryProfileofEgyptEgyptianstakegreatprideintheirheritageandculturaldiversity.MusicanddanceareintegraltoEgyptiancultureandarecrucialincelebrationsrangingfromweddingsandreligiousfestivalstonationalholidays.Traditionalinstrumentsaccompanyvariousdanceforms,suchasthelivelyTanouradanceandthegracefulRaqsBaladi(bellydance),eachshowingdifferentaspectsofEgyptians’lives.TheCountryProfileofEgyptEgyptisoneofthelargesteconomiesinAfrica,dependingheavilyonagriculture,manufacturing,andservices.Inrecentyears,Egypthasembarkedoneconomicreformstomaintainfiscalhealth,attractforeigninvestment,andstimulateeconomicgrowth.TheCountryProfileofEgyptEgyptandChinahaveahistoryofinteractiondatingbacktotheancientSilkRoad.SinceEgyptbecameoneofthefirstBRIparticipatingcountries,thetwocountrieshavedeepenedtheircooperationinvariousareas.KeyculturalconceptsReligionFamilyHonorReligionFormostEgyptians,Islamplaysasignificantroleinallaspectsoflifeandprofoundlyinfluencestheiridentity.Egyptianattire,dietarycodes,andregularprayerarecommoneverydayexpressionsoftheIslamicreligion.Inaddition,Islamicprinciplesregardinglaw,politics,andsocialcustomscontinuetoinfluenceEgypt’slawsandpoliticalinteractions.FamilyInEgyptiansociety,thefamilyisafundamentalelementthatlargelydefinespeople’ssocialrelationships,values,andbehavior.Itisawidelyheldbeliefthatanindividualissubordinatetotheirfamily.Consequently,Egyptiansstronglyemphasizemaintainingrelationshipswithintheirextendedfamilynetworks,andcommunallivingisprevalentinthecountry.HonorThenotionofhonorisacentralconceptthatguidesbehaviorandinteractionsinEgyptianculture.Today,anEgyptian’shonorisoftenjudgedbyhowwelltheydemonstrateandupholdthesharedvaluesofmodesty,loyalty,honesty,andhospitality.BusinessknowledgeUnit

7EGYPTBusinessknowledgeBusinessetiquetteBusinesspractices

BusinessetiquetteGreetingsNamesandtitlesPunctualityGiftgivingCommunicationInEgypt,greetingsoftenoccurbeforeanysocialinteraction.Egyptian-stylegreetingscanbelengthy,ofteninvolvingconversations

abouteachother’shealthandwell-being.GreetingsWhenmeetingwithyourEgyptiancounterpartforthefirsttime,you’dbetterwaitforthemtoinitiatethegreetingduetothevariousgreetingcustomsinEgypt,whichdifferaccordingtogender,class,andreligion.NamesandtitlesInEgypt,namesandtitlessymbolizestatureandareasourceofpride.ItiscustomarytoaddressyourEgyptiancounterpartbytheirtitlefollowedbytheirsurnameuntilyouareinvitedtodootherwise.PunctualityDonotgetupsetifyourEgyptiancounterpartislate.Egyptianpeoplegenerallyhavearelaxedattitudetowardtime,andpunctualityisnotconsideredatoppriorityintheirbusinessculture.However,youareexpectedtoarriveontime,evenifyourEgyptianbusinessassociatesmayarrivelate.Gift-givingGiftsexchangedduringbusinessmeetingsaresignsofappreciationandinterestinestablishingorenrichingarelationship.Small,company-brandeditemsaregenerallywell-received.It’simportanttoavoidgiftsthatmayconflictwithIslamicprinciples,suchasthoserelatingtoalcohol.CommunicationEngaginginsmalltalkisvitalwhenyouinteractwithEgyptiansinabusinesssetting.RemembertorefrainfrominquiringaboutyourEgyptiancounterpart’sfemalefamilymembers,openlycriticizingEgyptianpolitics,orexpressingopinionsabout

religion.

BusinesspracticesStructureandhierarchyinEgyptiancompaniesWorkinghoursMeetingsBusinessnegotiationsBusinessrelationships

StructureandhierarchyinEgyptiancompaniesEgyptianbusinessesarecharacterizedbyhierarchicalstructures,anddecision-makingisadeliberateprocessthatmayproceedslowly.AgeandexperiencearehighlyvaluedinEgyptiancompanies.WorkinghoursAtypicalbusinessdayinEgyptusuallyrunsfrom9a.m.to5p.m.AfullworkweekinEgyptisgenerallyconsideredfiveworkdays,fromSundaytoThursday,withweekendstartingonFriday.MakesureyourmeetingsarescheduledoutsideofRamadan(齋月),aspecialmonthofprayerandobservanceforMuslims.MeetingsInEgypt,itisessentialtoscheduleappointmentsinadvance.Theseappointmentsshouldbeconfirmed,eitherinwritingorbytelephone,approximatelyoneweekpriortothedesireddate.Itisalsoadvisabletoreconfirmtheappointmentadayortwobeforethemeeting.BusinessnegotiationsWhenyounegotiatewithyourEgyptianbusinessassociates,itisimportanttomakeeyecontactwiththem.Duringnegotiations,itisadvisabletoapproachthesubjectgraduallyratherthanaddressingitinadirectmanner.RefrainfromforcingorrushingyourEgyptiancounterpartintomakingquickdecisions,assuchhigh-pressuretacticswillproveineffective.BusinessnegotiationsinEgyptarelengthyandslow,sopatienceisthekey.BusinessrelationshipsNetworkbuildingisconsiderednecessaryinEgypt.Familymembersareexpectedtosupporteachotherinbusinesssettings.Egyptianpeoplepreferdoingbusinesswiththosetheyarefamiliarwithandrespect.ItisstronglyadvisabletoengageanEgyptianrepresentativewhocanactasaliaisonorintermediarywithyourcounterpartinEgypt,asthishelpsspeedupthebusinessprocess.

Pitfall1CrossyourlegswhensittinginfrontofyourEgyptiancounterpart.InEgypt,itisimpolitetopointyourtoe,heel,oranypartofyourfoottowardsomeone.Moreover,showingthesoleofyourshoeisconsideredoffensive.Therefore,youshouldkeepyourfeetonthegroundandavoidsittingwithyourlegscrossed.

Pitfall2Cleanyourplate.IfinvitedtoanEgyptian’shomefordinner,leavesomefoodonyourplatewhenyoufinisheating.Otherwise,theywillkeeprefillingitforyou!Leavingsomefoodonyourplatesymbolizesabundanceandcomplimentstothehostfortheirgenerosity.

Pitfall3Showyourangerinpublic.Egyptianpeoplearerenownedforbeingexpressiveandpassionate.Theirstorytellingislively,filledwithwordplayandhumor.Theyopenlyshowhappinessandgratitude;theyalsoexpressgriefandsorrow,especiallywhenmourningthelossofalovedone.However,publicdisplaysofangerarediscouraged,astheymaybeconsideredinsulting.CasestudyUnit

7EGYPT

Casestudy

1WangNan,abusinessrepresentativeofaChineseforeigntradecompany,wentonabusinesstriptoEgypt.HeattendedawelcomedinnerhostedbyalocalsalesmanagernamedAmrMahmoud.WangNanarrivedattherestaurantontime,butAmrwasnotthereandexplainedoverthephonethathewascaughtinheavytraffic.WangNanacceptedthisexplanationandwaitedpatientlyfor20minuteswithoutcomplaint.Whentheyfinallymet,WangNangreetedAmras“SirAmr”andinitiatedafirmandquickhandshake.Duringthedinner,WangNanreceivedthefoodservedbyAmr,usinghisrighthand.Findingitdelicious,hefinishedallthefoodonhisplate.WhenAmrofferedtoservehimmore,WangNanpolitelydeclined,statingthathewasalreadyfull.

CaseanalysisProperbehaviorsinclude:WangNanarrivedattherestaurantontimeandwaitedpatientlyfor20minuteswithoutcomplaint.WangNanreceivedthefoodservedbyAmr,usinghisrighthand.Improperbehaviorsinclude:WangNangreetedthemanageras“SirAmr”.(InEgypt,namesandtitlessymbolizestatureandareasourceofpride.Wangshouldaddresshimby“Mr.”followedbyhisgivennameorsurname,dependingontheirrelationship.)WangNaninitiatedafirmandquickhandshake.(InEgyptianbusinessculture,handshakeshouldbeheldlightlybutprolonged.)WangNancleanedhisplateandpolitelydeclinedAmr’soffertofillitupforhim.(Leavingsomefoodonyourplatesymbolizesabundanceandcomplimentstothehostfortheirgenerosity.)

Casestudy

2SophieEvansisaninternationalbusinessrepresentativefromashippingcompany,attendinganimportantbusinesseventheldinEgypt.Duringherstay,herlocalcontactAhmedHassaninvitedhertovisithiscompany.ThinkingthatEgyptianpeoplegenerallyhavearelaxedattitudetowardtime,Sophiearrived10minuteslate.ShebroughtasmallgiftbrandedwithhercompanylogoforAhmed,believingitwouldbeappreciated.Aftertheygreetedeachother,SophieinitiatedsmalltalkaboutEgyptianfoodandexpressedherappreciationofthediversityofEgyptianculture.Inordertofostermutualtrustandbuildacloserelationship,SophieaskedquestionsaboutAhmed’sfamily,includinghiswifeanddaughters.Astheconversationprogressed,Sophiefeltrelaxedandcrossedherlegs,inadvertentlyshowingthesoleofhershoetoAhmed.

CaseanalysisProperbehaviorsinclude:SophiebroughtasmallgiftbrandedwithhercompanylogoforAhmed,believingitwouldbewell-received.SophieinitiatedsmalltalkaboutEgyptianfoodandexpressedherappreciationofthediversityofEgyptianculture.

Improperbehaviorsinclude:ThinkingthatEgyptianpeoplegenerallyhavearelaxedattitudetowardtime,Sophiearrived10minuteslate.(Peopleareexpectedtoarriveontime,eveniftheirEgyptianbusinessassociatesmayarrivelate.)SophieaskedquestionsaboutAhmed’sfamily,includinghiswifeanddaughters.(OneshouldrefrainfrominquiringaboutyourEgyptiancounterpart’sfemalefamilymembers.)Sophiefeltrelaxedandcrossedherlegs,inadvertentlyshowingthesoleofhershoetoAhmed.(InEgypt,pointinganypartofthefoottowardsomeoneandshowingthesoleofone’sshoeareconsideredimpoliteandevenoffensive.)

Casestudy

3HanYang,a30-year-oldsalesrepresentativeofaninternationalelectronicscompany,wasresponsibleforanimportantbusinessmeetingheldinEgypt.GiventhatEgyptiancompaniesvalueageandexperience,HanYangrequestedhiscolleague,a50-year-oldsalesrepresentativewithrichexperience,toattendthemeetingwithhim.Toshowtheirinterestinbuildingalong-termrelationship,HanYangandhiscolleaguedecidedtobringtwobottlesofexpensivewinefromtheirhomecountryasgifts.Adaybeforethemeeting,HanYangcalledhisEgyptiancounterpart,OmarGamal,toconfirmtheirappointment.Whenthemeetingbegan,HanYangpresentedhisproposal,withthoroughresearchsupportinghisclaims.ThenegotiatingprocesstooklongerthanHanYangandhiscolleaguehadexpected,buttheyremainedpatientandavoidedrushingtheircounterpartsintomakingadecision.Asthemeetingdrewtoaclose,thetwopartiesdiscussedthenextmeetingdate,andHanYangproposedthefollowingFriday.

CaseanalysisProperbehaviorsinclude:HanYangrequestedhiscolleague,a50-year-oldsalesrepresentativewithrichexperience,toattendthemeetingwithhim.Adaybeforethemeeting,HanYangcalledhisEgyptiancounterparttoconfirmtheirappointment.HanYangpresentedhisproposal,withthoroughresearchsupportinghisclaims.Egyptianpeoplevalueathoroughpresentationofinformation.ThenegotiatingprocesstooklongerthanHanYangandhiscolleaguehadexpected,buttheyremainedpatientandavoidedrushingtheircounterpartsintomakingadecision.Improperbehaviorsinclude:HanYangandhiscolleaguedecidedtobringtwobottlesofexpensivewinefromtheirhomecountryasgifts.