Morocco was unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life. It was literally a different world. This was definitely the trip where I had to go the furthest outside of my comfort zone because it was just so completely different from any place I have ever been. When I first told my Senora that I was going the first thing she told me what, "Whatever you do, don't drink the water. It will make you sick". Other than that she said, it would be a great experience (and it definitely was). The way of life is just completely different. Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country and is also mostly Arab. They speak Arabic and French in Morocco which made communicating difficult at times but a lot of people knew English as well. Most women dress very conservatively and also wear hijabs, which are the scarves that Muslim women wear to cover their heads. Obviously not everyone was dressed that way but the vast majority were. There were also lots of people my age who were dressed just like people in the United States so I guess it really just depends (but I think the younger generations are just more rebellious and not as traditional with their clothes). I wanted to dress conservatively while I was there, just to be respectful of the culture so I made sure to wear maxi dresses and shirts with sleeves the entire trip. I also was very excited to wear a headscarf around, even if it was just for fun/to block the sun. While in Morocco my friends and I stayed in an amazing hostel. I will admit I did have my doubts when we first booked the hostel, but it was absolutely wonderful. When we first arrived they made mint tea for us while we settled in and also made us breakfast since it was early in the morning. Everyone that we came across was just so friendly and welcoming, which I think it just a part of the culture. I think places like Morocco sometimes get a bad reputation because of the media, but in actuality you can't generalize any culture or place.
Morocco was honestly one of the best places I have ever visited. The people were so nice and just genuinely welcoming. My friends and I sat and had tea with some of the most interesting people. From exploring the souks to riding camels, I had an amazing time in Morocco and it really made me want to go back to visit other parts of Africa. The palm trees and hot weather also made the trip that much better. The souks were interesting to say the least though. It was this huge part of Marrakech where all the markets were, but it was like its own little village. We definitely got lost a few times because it is impossible to navigate without a map and/or a guide. Moroccans love to haggle, which made buying things such a hassle. Yea it was fun at first but you end up wasting so much time just trying to negotiate prices. The main thing that I wanted to buy in Morocco was fabric, for my sister Rachel, which I ended up finding after much searching through the souks. The only way I can think to describe it is as a huge maze with all different twists and turns. One day my friends and I got particularly lost and ended up on a long dirt road that literally looked like a billboard for a 3rd world country (dust everywhere, tons of people on bikes, donkey's pulling carts, the works). When I say a different world, it literally doesn't even do it justice. We ended up turning around and finding our way back but it really hit me in that moment how different life can be depending on your circumstances.
Morocco has such a unique culture I really just wanted to take it all in while I was there. What I got out of Morocco was a completely different perspective on how people live. Life is so different in Marrakech where I visited, but just because it's different from my own culture doesn't mean one is better than the other....they're just different. There are probably people who live in Morocco who would come to the US and think it is the weirdest thing in the world....It's all about perspective ;)
xo
Morocco was honestly one of the best places I have ever visited. The people were so nice and just genuinely welcoming. My friends and I sat and had tea with some of the most interesting people. From exploring the souks to riding camels, I had an amazing time in Morocco and it really made me want to go back to visit other parts of Africa. The palm trees and hot weather also made the trip that much better. The souks were interesting to say the least though. It was this huge part of Marrakech where all the markets were, but it was like its own little village. We definitely got lost a few times because it is impossible to navigate without a map and/or a guide. Moroccans love to haggle, which made buying things such a hassle. Yea it was fun at first but you end up wasting so much time just trying to negotiate prices. The main thing that I wanted to buy in Morocco was fabric, for my sister Rachel, which I ended up finding after much searching through the souks. The only way I can think to describe it is as a huge maze with all different twists and turns. One day my friends and I got particularly lost and ended up on a long dirt road that literally looked like a billboard for a 3rd world country (dust everywhere, tons of people on bikes, donkey's pulling carts, the works). When I say a different world, it literally doesn't even do it justice. We ended up turning around and finding our way back but it really hit me in that moment how different life can be depending on your circumstances.
Morocco has such a unique culture I really just wanted to take it all in while I was there. What I got out of Morocco was a completely different perspective on how people live. Life is so different in Marrakech where I visited, but just because it's different from my own culture doesn't mean one is better than the other....they're just different. There are probably people who live in Morocco who would come to the US and think it is the weirdest thing in the world....It's all about perspective ;)
xo
