Help with Egyptian men for a Muslim American woman?

Q: Assalaam alaikum! Hi! Let me start my introducing myself. I am 23 years old, American, Muslim, and wear hijab. My family and I just moved to Cairo, Egypt to study Islam and learn Arabic. I am the oldest of six kids. We have been here for two weeks already, and it's been quite a ride! There are many things I don't understand though, and I'm hoping, if you all don't mind, to find some clarity here. :) My first question is pertaining to Egyptian men. The other day I was out by myself, and this guy came up to me and started talking to me. I didn't really think anything much of it, it seemed like he just wanted to ask me about my phone, they don't have this kind over here. And then he started asking me where I'm from, and saying I was beautiful, and then he told me I love you! Why would he say something like this!? I don't understand. I was so shocked, I just met this guy. I was under the impression that an Egyptian man would not come up to a woman and start talking to her because he didn't want to offend her honor or something. Is what he did something that would have been offensive to an Egyptian woman? Should he have not done that? He kept standing there talking, and I didn't know how to leave. I was there for maybe 20 minutes. It's not like he was creepy or anything, he seemed to be a perfectly nice guy, but I think I maybe I should not have been standing there talking to him? In America, it wouldn't have been an issue me talking to him, but over here I don't know. What would the people who saw us talking think? Are they going to think that I'm a bad woman now? lol, I never had this problem before. In the US, when people saw me with hijab they thought I was the best of women, I enjoyed an elite status, but over here, now I'm just like everybody else. And lastly, what does it say about him that he would do this? At the time I didn't think any of this was a big deal it's normal where I come from, but now thinking about it, I'm worried. Anything you could tell me that could inshallah clear things up for me, would be greatly, greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! Thanks for all for your help! I really appreciate it! His English was not very good, so hopefully he just meant I'm cool lol. I went back to the supermarket where he works and I met him. It was so weird! It was like everyone who worked there stopped what they were doing and started watching me and smiling at each other! I felt like there was a spotlight on me. It was like they were watching a soap opera. Anyway, I think someone told him I was there and he came and he didn't really smile or anything, and he said entee feyn? I didn't know what that meant. You where? Was he trying to ask me where I've been? He tried to ask me a few more times but I didn't understand what he meant, and then his manager called him and he looked at me and told me tomorrow and left. I think he was a little mad. That was on Tuesday, and I haven't been back. What is he thinking? What is he going to do when I do go back? I don't understand what's going on here. I really appreciate all of you input! Thank you!

A: I am Egyptian and My Analysis: 1) "this guy came up to me and started talking to me" That is not a normal behaviour in the street. I guess you may have been in social place, like a Club or something, then I would not be surprised. 2) "and saying I was beautiful, and then he told me I love you" Maybe his english is not so good and he just wanted to say that you are cool, or he is Naive to tell a girl never knew before something like this. He will never do this to an Egyptian girl, she will usually show him the size if her shoes if he did that to her !! :) 3) "Egyptian man would not come up to a woman and start talking to her because he didn't want to offend her honor or something" This was the case last time I was there before I left in 2002 4) "Is what he did something that would have been offensive to an Egyptian woman? Should he have not done that?" Yes 5) "he seemed to be a perfectly nice guy, but I think I maybe I should not have been standing there talking to him?" You are abolutely right ! 6) "What would the people who saw us talking think? Are they going to think that I'm a bad woman now? If you think too much about what people think in Egypt, you will leave very soon !! 7) "when people saw me with hijab they thought I was the best of women, I enjoyed an elite status, but over here, now I'm just like everybody else" Remember, your Hijab is not for peopel. You do it for Allah (SWT) 8) "And lastly, what does it say about him that he would do this?" What he did was wrong. I can't really judge him more than that. 9) "I'm worried" don't. You will learn with time. It is a different culture and you will enjoy after a while. Just be yourself and learn the about people and their way of life. It doesn't mean you have to do exactly the same. If you have any other questions, we will be happy to help you. .

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