I arrived here in Morocco 2 weeks ago today and I'm now into my last week here. I have fallen in love with this beautiful, colourful & exotic country, with it's friendly people who are brimming with character, tradition & customs.
The weather is crazy hot here now. It usually is 23-25degrees at this time of year in Rabat...but because I am here it's 37-40degrees!! Haha. Having said that I'm pleased to report that I'm still coping with the heat really well. I think that one of the great things about being here for 3 weeks I don't feel the need to be rushing about trying to fit a lot of things in, so I'm living at an easy pace - which to be honest fits in with the pace of life here. The only crazy fast thing around here is the bloody traffic. These people seriously cannae drive. My uncle summed it up really well the other day about how they sometimes go about things. Traffic lights for example: "It's like someone took a photograph of traffic lights and thought 'yup, this is a good idea, let's use them' but without finding out how they are meant to work!". So true. You're standing waiting to cross the road, the green man appears, so you would expect to be able to cross the road without the fear of cars driving right at you....WRONG! The traffic that you are crossing directly in front of are stopped (well are meant to be), but the traffic that's turning the corner are on green....so it's like a giant game of chicken as to who's going to be able to cross...pedestrians or the cars!!! Brilliant!
There is no such thing as queuing around here. I remember when I first arrived in Rabat at the train station. I said to my uncle that I needed to go to the ladies. He was about to come and find me because I was taking so long!!! Why? Well I went to the ladies and stood in line....except NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE observes a queuing system here (seriously, how British do I sound??). They have absolutely no worries about pushing either right in front of you or directly into you to move you if that's going to be more effective. Being British and a bit dim, I just kept re-queuing until this big burd stood on my foot in her haste to move me out of the way and I thought "ah f*ck this" so counter-pushed her out of the way and got the next cubicle!!! No one takes it personally...it's just how things are around here. Trying to get service...you have to be rude (or perhaps 'assertive' would be a better word) to get served!! I have to admit that I'm a wee bit worried about coming home - it'll probably take a bit of time to re-adjust to the British way, because I have really got into the swing of things around here. It really is survival of the fittest...and I've decided that I'm darn well gonna survive!!
Oh and by the way - there is no such thing as bins around here. Everyone just throws the litter on the ground!!! I still can't do it and still gasp in shock when I see someone doing it....and then proceed to tut. Hahahahaha. Really, it should've been the British that colognised Morocco rather than the French, they'd be in a better shape, I'm sure!!! (JOKING!) I found out the other day that the reason there are no bins out is because some eejit decided, a few years ago, to start bombing places up by putting bombs in bins ~ unfortunately killing people in the process.
So to sum up so far, you take your life into your hands every time you step anywhere near a road, you need to be assertive to get served or want to go to the loo and it's ok to throw your litter on the ground....and yet, despite all these things going against how I live back home, I love it here (and by the way I'm not saying that we don't have non-queuers/mental drivers/people that throw litter on the ground back in Britain- it's just not to the same extent). I feel that when you come to Morocco you get to meet Morocco warts and all! There is so much to fall in love with here. I can't even begin to adequately describe how generous, friendly and warm the people are whom I've been lucky enough to meet whilst here. There is amazing architecture, stunning scenery - especially if you go up into the mountains - and you're surrounded by such rich culture and history...I can't see that it would be possible to not fall in love with Morocco and its people.
P.s. It helps if you keep a good sense of humour & a smile on your face if you decided to go around the medina in Marrakech.
P.s. It helps if you keep a good sense of humour & a smile on your face if you decided to go around the medina in Marrakech.
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