Part of the reason I love Arabic so much is because the culture is so rich and beautiful. I have been an observer of Moroccan culture and I have prepared a step-by-step instruction manual on how to be a Moroccan.
1. Be prepared to eat so much Harira.
Harira is a Moroccan soup usually served during Ramadan. In it is everything. Meat, chickpeas, rice/pasta, onions, etc. I ate Harira every night for Iftar. This soup is also served with Chebekia, a Moroccan sweet made of honey and sesame seeds.
2. Take your shoes off before you walk in carpet.
In Egypt, this was a thing, but only for prayer rugs. In Morocco, most people take off their shoes before walking on any rug.
3. If you aren't holding the teapot above your head, you aren't pouring your tea right.
Something about pouring the tea from really high supposedly helps mix all of the mint, tea, and sugar together. This is how it began, but now it's an art form. I've seen people pour two kettles into one cup. I've heard rumors about pouring behind their backs and all kinds of craziness.
4. 5 minutes means 20
Every single time.
5. Haggling is now a sport
While my father may not be proud to hear this, I have become an exceptional haggler (in my opinion). Never take the first offer, always mention your a student, and don't be afraid to do the walk-away. You get extra points if you're called a Berber.
6. 90% of your anatomical make up will be bread and juice.
Bread in Morocco isn't bread, it's a utensil. Bread is used to scoop up meat from the dish, it's used to fill yourself up if you don't like what's for dinner, and it's always there. Juice and fruit is served all day everyday, it's not a morning thing. But pastries, Moroccan "pancakes," Moroccan pancakes, and other forms of bread certainly are.
7. Walk everywhere
My disappointing average walking distance in America was only like 3,000(ish) steps. My average in Rabat was 7,000(ish). My average in Essaouira was 13,000(ish). Walk off the bread, put yourself in Morocco, learn to rely on your body, rather than a machine.
I miss Morocco. And I think it might be because I hate calculus and I miss Arabic and yeah.
Learn something today.
Corie.
