سلام وعليكم
Bonjour! Salam Walakum! Hello!
Greetings from Morocco! I've now been in Casablanca for just about a month. School starts on Wednesday and I am teaching 4th grade. I'm starting to get to the point where it doesn't just feel like a vacation and its settling in that I actually live here. My French and Arabic are coming along slowly, although I did give a taxi driver directions entirely in French and we didn't get lost the other day. It was a major victory for me.
I'm excited to continue learning about the culture but here are some initial observations for you all to enjoy.
1. Relationships are very important. Moroccans are incredibly hospitable and always want to offer you more food or drink. (I'm beginning to worry that my pants wont fit by christmas...) But it is considered very rude to snub someone you know on the street or in the hallway. So imagine if you stopped and had a five minute conversation with everyone you meet on your way to the copier, it takes a while.
2. Honor is everything. And it is crucial to Moroccans that they preserve their honor.
3. Casablanca is quite the metropolitan city. It's almost like it can't decide if it wants to embrace modern dress and habits or not. So you will walk down the street and see a few people in traditional dress, the jellabah, then the next person you meet will be decked out all in Gucci. It certainly makes for an interesting city dynamic
But all in all I'm loving it, although I miss all my friends from home. Hope you all are doing well and excited about what this next chapter in our lives has to bring!
Bonjour! Salam Walakum! Hello!
Greetings from Morocco! I've now been in Casablanca for just about a month. School starts on Wednesday and I am teaching 4th grade. I'm starting to get to the point where it doesn't just feel like a vacation and its settling in that I actually live here. My French and Arabic are coming along slowly, although I did give a taxi driver directions entirely in French and we didn't get lost the other day. It was a major victory for me.
I'm excited to continue learning about the culture but here are some initial observations for you all to enjoy.
1. Relationships are very important. Moroccans are incredibly hospitable and always want to offer you more food or drink. (I'm beginning to worry that my pants wont fit by christmas...) But it is considered very rude to snub someone you know on the street or in the hallway. So imagine if you stopped and had a five minute conversation with everyone you meet on your way to the copier, it takes a while.
2. Honor is everything. And it is crucial to Moroccans that they preserve their honor.
3. Casablanca is quite the metropolitan city. It's almost like it can't decide if it wants to embrace modern dress and habits or not. So you will walk down the street and see a few people in traditional dress, the jellabah, then the next person you meet will be decked out all in Gucci. It certainly makes for an interesting city dynamic
But all in all I'm loving it, although I miss all my friends from home. Hope you all are doing well and excited about what this next chapter in our lives has to bring!
Thats awesome Jon! Thanks for the update!!!
ReplyDeleteAww Jon that sounds amazing!!! So glad you're learning so much! Also, how has it been a freaking month already!? Time flies...
ReplyDeleteJon it's so nice to hear from you!! I'm so excited about this new chapter in your life. It sounds like you are learning a lot and gaining some truly valuable experiences! Send us some pictures including your class and your students!!
ReplyDeleteJon I'm so happy for you and I loved the update! Congrats on speaking French to the taxi driver, I had no idea they spoke French in Morocco but I'm sure it is easier to learn than Arabic. You have already learned so much and I know once school starts (tomorrow!!) you will learn even more. Send us pictures!!! :)
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