Some international students move into flats seeking what they expect will be a freer lifestyle in this regard, only to find a foreigner is visible in Egypt wherever he or she goes. Behavior that is not acceptable in polite Egyptian society is quickly noticed whether it occurs on AUC premises or in apartment buildings around Cairo. There are some advantages to living off-campus, such as the opportunity to become more involved in the wider Egyptian scene and doing your own cooking, to the extent that you neglect your studies while you try to get the plumbing fixed, clear up a misunderstanding with your landlord, shop for groceries, and or do household chores. Some landlords speak English, so one does not necessarily need to know Arabic to rent a flat - but it helps. Students often recommend living in AUC housing one semester, then finding a flat to share with friends you have met during that time.
Exchange programs involving homestays are rare in Egypt.
Egyptian housing and family life make it difficult for an Egyptian family to accept an unknown foreign student to live in their home. It is equally difficult for most foreign students to adjust to the intense closeness of Egyptian family life. To have a successful experience living with an Egyptian family in Cairo, an international student should already be acquainted with the family or some of its members before coming to Egypt at their invitation. Among other reasons, if it were known that AUC was helping students to find apartments, rents would rise at once. However, a list of flats recommended by previous Study Abroad students is available at the International Student Services Office along with a few general guidelines for apartment hunting.