Maybe it’s time for me to write you a bit about people in
Morocco. What to start with?
Hmmm… ok – I have a thought. Why do I feel so great here? Is it because my life seems more interesting and less boring than in Poland? Maybe because, I spend less time working and more time having entertainment? (have I finally managed to posses this mythical, unable-to-have work-life balance??) Or due to my travels, sightseeing, exploring new places? Maybe because, I’ve always wanted to try to live abroad and it’s just happening right now (and I’ve learnt how to be happy from present instead of being always nostalgic about the past). Finally, the reason may be having more interactions with people, spending more time talking, listening, sharing etc. I wonder if I were born in Morocco, would I feel the same right now? Or it’s just the fact that I come from other country and culture and that’s why I feel the difference? I think that every reason above have its contribution to the way I see things here. I wrote you a lot about travelling, partying, sightseeing etc. Now, it’s time for people.
Let’s start from the most visual and basic things. Although, Morocco is in Africa, Moroccans don’t like to be called Africans. They say they are part of
Maghreb – a region which also includes Algeria and Tunisia. (There is also Arab Maghreb Union – an agreement between Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya and Mauritania). People here say that Africans life more in south (starting from Sub-Saharan Africa) and they call themselves Arabs. Another important issue is that huge majority of people here is white (in Poland there is a stereotype that everyone in Africa must be black). Some of them have darker skin than e.g. Polish but some of them after being put in any country in Europe would never be recognized as people from North Africa. Dressing and clothes are very diversified. Generally, we can say that there are two groups. People who wear western clothes and those who wear traditional clothes. Women often wear veils (PL – woalka) that only sometimes cover whole face. Generally in bigger cities, it’s not a problem for people to wear t-shirts or shorts (or other clothes that don’t cover whole body). You should be more careful in the countryside where lifestyle is less influenced by Western World.
What is really great is the fact that people seem to care more about relations. They go out more often. They spend time in cafes, parks, squares and gardens. It’s easier to get to know people. I already have some “friends” in supermarket or bakery. When walking on the street, if you manage to establish eye-contact (which is not difficult at all) people will usually smile and say “bon jour” (good morning/good evening) or “ca va?” (how are you?). It’s easier to talk to people when travelling by car, bus and it’s almost a must to talk to the taxi driver when being in a cab.
For many people, it’s a big shock when they enter medina (the oldest part of the city) and they feel being harassed by all the shop-keepers who sometimes grab tourists’ hands and take them to their shops. There is nothing bad in such behavior. They usually don’t intend to cheat you or hurt you. If you’re not interested just say politely “no, thank you”. But it’s really sad when foreigners are so afraid of Moroccans that they don’t want to interact with them at all. People are the most valuable aspect of every country and getting to know them is a must – especially in Morocco because they are really nice here ;)
Lately, I have started wondering if I could and would want to live in this country for good, permanently. I am more and more convinced that it would be possible. I still have a lot of doubts but it the fact the I started to think about it means something. Luckily, I don’t have to take the decision now.
