Interesting post Kerry, I enjoyed reading it. My husband is Egyptian and he's always torn between giving more than is necessary and being ripped off. Where do you draw the line between feeling bad because you have more money than they do (not always the case by the way) and overtipping and giving the impression that all foreigners/tourists should do the same. Last winter we hired a taxi for a week while we were in Cairo. My husband befriended the driver, even took him for a meal a few times and paid a hefty tip at the end of the stay. Unbelievably it still wasn't enough - the driver came up with all sorts of extras that he said hadn't been negotiated at the start, including the fact that my husband should have paid for all his meals while he was 'on duty'. It's really difficult to know where to draw the line and so often when you're overly generous, more is expected. What starts as a good experience ends up leaving you with a nasty taste in your mouth.
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