In Egypt, all family members try to stay in the closest contact
possible, and it is considered an emotional hardship when sons
or daughters go to live and work in distant cities or countries.
Parents lavish enormous affection on their children—what
Americans call “quality time” is the norm in the Egyptian
family. Then children look after their parents when their turn
comes. There are no retirement homes, and elderly parents are
taken in and cared for by the children. Aunts, uncles, nephews,
nieces, and cousins are also part of the daily scene in the Egyp-
tian household.