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oppps, i got lost, what can I do now??
Have you ever said this sentence before???
I am sure you have said it many times while driving your cars, heading somewhere or even hiking around your neighborhood.
So what should I do?
Actually, it depends on which place you are in!!
At certain Cities, asking people about directions is not needed at all since there ARE enough trafic signs in the street that WILL help you re-direct towards your right destination.
But at some specific cities, where ,if-found,  the signs may be out-of-date or has been set long time ago that the street of which they suggest perhaps got closed for maintenance or any other reason, such as Cairo, where you have no other solution but asking people or Taxi Drivers about directions!!
As for the Egyptians, people with the Native Arabic tongue or at least have a good deal of Arabic sentences, this matter will be less complicated as it would be for foreigners.
Since the language will stand as a cultural barrier in communication when asking about directions, Especially in The City where districts' names seem closely similar.
Yet, Non-Arabic Speakers have to be familiar with at least the Names of Places, streets and addresses they usually Use or Visit and pronounce them correctly.
Any Egyptian friend would love to help you how to pronounce it right, so feel free to ask your friends before you intend to go somewhere alone or with non-Arabic Speaker Company.
Having considered the POINT of language that is seen as the most important part in this approach; then we have to handle the way you ask.
First, when you tell a taxi driver where he should take you, just be brief as long as you are heading to a well-known place for Egyptians, like saying "Opera Square Please!!"
They often take you without asking any further questions to the destination you seek.
sometimes, you may hear" excasue me, this place does not exist!!!"; then you may pronounce wrongly or the driver is ignorant about the place since NOT all of them are professional Drivers.
Where it's to be a less known place you gotta know how to mark your place with landmarks that should be carefully kept in your memory as you will be the guider not driver.
One of the most vital requirements that Taxi Driver should meet with, is to obtain a professional Map in their minds and be aware of different ways that they can go through upon your request(the cost may vary, depending on how long it is), as the city usually be too crowed, especially in rush hours, that you need to go through the Circular Street to reach the other side of the city in no time instead of going through the inner crowded streets.
I recommend you to take the white Cabs using Meters, so the journey KM's fee will be recorded on the panel.
Kindly, Be Noted that 2.5 LE is the initial Cost for the trip and increases till the Taxi stops.(pay only the appaering fee on the panel)
In case you are driving your own car, and heading to first-time visit destination, and have to ask someone about direction, then you have to be introduced to the Adopted Egyptian Strategy regarding that matter.
First, never count on only one person's description of direction; as it's nothing but setting the main direction on the map like going East, West, North or South.
Bear in mind that no less than TEN people should be asked for the same direction as to come up with the final correct one.
3 out of ten will be the same which is the criterion here, while the rest will vary from ignorant replies to misleading ones.
Still, you have to keep asking people the closer you are approaching your destination, lest that you may take the wrong way or miss the right return which is a big trouble that may double the required time for your way.
Try to observe prominent signs on your way forth, so when you come back you won't need to ask for help again.
Finally, you need to know that" all roads lead to your destination" once you have the road sense that will be gained shortly after you get to know the city.


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Abdullah Emam