How they live in the sleeping areas of Morocco. How people live in Morocco and is it worth moving there

Valeria (Amira)
Age: 25 years old

I was born in Kyiv 25 years ago. In order to keep me occupied with something in my teens and reduce the amount of useless pastime in the yard, my mother sent me to English courses, where I developed a love for foreign languages. Closer to the end of school, I already knew for sure that I would go to a linguistic university. During this time, I completed English courses, tried my hand at Spanish for a year, and my love for everything oriental pushed me to the idea of ​​applying to the Turkish language faculty (simply because there is Latin; I treated Arabic with disdain and, when my parents offered it teach, snorted: “Teach these scribbles yourself”).

I entered the Kyiv National Linguistic University in Spanish philology. Meanwhile, in my first years of study, I recalled with nostalgia Turkey and Egypt, where we went on vacation. There I first heard the adhan, saw Muslim women covered from head to toe. In my youthful naivety, I was sure that all Muslims look like those we see in the resort area. So it was before the trip to the UAE, where I saw Islam from a completely different angle. "The oppressed muslim women" no longer seemed oppressed to me, on the contrary, they wore their hijabs with such pride that they seemed very happy to me, and any reports of Ukrainian and Russian media about an unenviable female role in Islam - a lie. For a long time my enthusiasm and interest was limited to a couple of VKontakte groups, where I read simple and Interesting Facts about Muslim countries and Islam.

Once, a post was published in the group about the benefit to the one who reads Surah Al-Kahf (“The Cave”) on this day (it was Friday). My curiosity made me pick up a copy of the Qur'an and read it. At home we had both the Bible and the Koran, because my mother read them for comparison. So for the sake of interest, I began to read the Koran. I dreamed of going to the mosque, we have it in Kyiv, but I didn’t have a company, and I myself was afraid to go there. Time passed, and I realized that this is all really mine, I want to convert to Islam. I rummaged through the Internet in search of what was needed for this, and realized that even one intention was enough (after all, where could I get Muslim witnesses if there were none among my friends?). On my birthday, I read the shahada. This day was special for me: April 19, 2013. I was reborn. Of course, I did not have the courage to cover myself, so I did not think about the hijab as a fundamental part of my faith. In August of the same year, I met my future husband on Facebook, politely answering his question whether I really am a Muslim. One message after another, and we began to communicate. future husband became my first teacher in Islam, patiently answered all my questions. Then, after collecting my thoughts, I decided to go to the mosque. Thanks to my parents for supporting me at this moment and going with me. For me it was very important. There I began to go to classes on the basics of religion (mukhtasar) and began to teach Arabic alphabet. Now I liked him.

Since my new "acquaintance" turned out to be from Morocco, I instantly remembered the series "Clone" - part of the plot takes place in this country, if you remember. I began to watch it to understand the way of life and culture. As a newly converted Muslim woman, some points did not fit in my head: Zhadi, with covered hair and bare shoulders, did not at all look like the Muslim woman that she should have been. For all such reflections, my future husband found very logical arguments, explanations and facts. We decided to get married when he comes to me in Kyiv. I made an invitation, he bought tickets, booked a hotel near my house. Exactly 7 months after they met, he stepped off the plane onto Ukrainian soil. After 2 days we read nikah in the mosque. I remember the surprised smile of our photographer, who sincerely did not understand why we could not take each other's hand before marriage. He spent two weeks in Ukraine, and then returned to Morocco again. While my husband was in Kyiv, we applied for a visa to Morocco for the summer.

Moving was the most difficult for my parents: I only child in the family and was going to live far away. The country seemed to me colorful, interesting, everyone is so friendly, smiling. It wasn't until later that I learned that just because a person here smiles at you when you meet, it doesn't mean that they will continue to be friendly to you when you turn away.

The bride and groom must sit on the throne for the whole party, you can’t eat. The bride is only taken away to change clothes

But these nuances of mentality and upbringing did not immediately become clear to me. We were well received. The first shock happened at the wedding: we were given practically nothing. There were more than a hundred guests, and from the gifts there were two sets of dishes, three sets of glasses (we have them in the supermarket for three dollars), a photo frame and two blankets. The first shock was immediately followed by the second: gifts were presented to the husband's parents. They printed them all out, reporting only in the morning: “Look, they gave you this and this.” Whether they gave money, I will never know. I only know that some sums were given specifically for the wedding: to make it pompous. Here, by the way, the attitude to weddings, to put it mildly, is special: I have not seen such window dressing anywhere else. They will give the last penny, they can take loans and sit on milk and eggs, but the wedding will be celebrated with a change of five coats for the bride (the more clothes are changed, the higher the status of the couple).

We walked the wedding in the house of the mother-in-law's cousin. His wife studied medical in Ukraine, so she was glad to meet her. The men sat separately from the women. The women were in the salon (the salon, by the way, is the center of any Moroccan house), the throne of the bride and groom was installed there: for me and for my husband, of course. The men were celebrating in the garden. This was done for the convenience of women: they can take off their hijab and dance to their heart's content. The cooks cooked the food, the waiters delivered it. The bride and groom must sit on the throne for the whole party, you can’t eat. The bride is only taken away to change clothes. I had two dresses: I brought a Pakistani caftan from Kyiv, and my mother-in-law sewed the Moroccan national takshita for me. She is a dressmaker and only sews traditional clothes. Only when they took me to change clothes, in the room, I could eat something. Then the motorcade with the newlyweds takes them to new house, everyone follows and honks, and the next day they continue to celebrate.

My mom and dad were not at all against marriage, they supported me, only the distance scared them. My husband's parents reacted favorably to our marriage. The husband said from adolescence that he would not marry a local. He doesn't like the Moroccan mentality and now I understand why.

Moroccan women are mostly greedy and selfish. Money and gold is all they care about. The devotion to the faith of Moroccans is also in doubt, however, like all ethnic Muslim women. The fact is that a woman can wear a hijab all her life and never know why she does it. Just such a tribute to tradition or because they do it in the family. Hair sticking out from under a scarf or a scarf with tight jeans is a sad norm. Muslim women are hypocritical in religion and do a lot of things for show, not having good intentions. Of course, there are other stories, but now such an attitude of women towards Islam and material values ​​can be observed regularly.

After the wedding, we changed two houses. The first two apartments were traditional houses, usually they have four to five floors. In the first, we lived on the last, fourth, floor, under the terrace. In summer it was unbearably hot, because the terrace was heated, and in winter - wild cold. I sat at home in two wool sweaters and two pants, over which I threw a dressing gown, and it was still cold. It was possible to go outside to warm up, but since we lived on the fourth floor (in Morocco, the bill does not come from the first floor, because there are usually garages and premises that are rented out for shops), the ceilings were high, and I was pregnant, I didn’t I wanted to go down and up too often. We lived there for half a year and moved to a neighboring street, we already lived there on the second floor. It was warmer and much more comfortable. We moved into an apartment complex five months ago. There are more and more of them in Morocco. Many Moroccans spend their whole lives renting rather than buying. The rental price depends on the location: in Casablanca you can rent an apartment on the periphery in an old house for 350 dollars, and in Tangier the same apartment in the center will cost 120. Tiny economy housing in Morocco costs from 25 thousand dollars, and comfortable and large apartments - from 70 .

Moroccan life has a lot common places with Ukrainian life, but, on the other hand, many things are perceived differently here. For example, you won’t have to complain about health care if you find a good doctor: by luck or through acquaintances. Throughout my pregnancy, I was observed by a Russian woman who also lived in Tetouan. She is a doctor from God, and I am glad that my friend (she is also Russian) advised me to meet with her.

I gave birth to a Moroccan woman, on the advice of our doctor, and I was satisfied with her attitude. There are no maternity hospitals here as such, the clinics have delivery rooms, from which they are discharged the next day. So you have to be cheerful!

I don’t feel the difference in living conditions between Morocco and Ukraine now, because I live in an ordinary residential complex. To the largest supermarket in the city - five minutes on foot; there are many clothing, furniture, sporting goods stores around, and cafes are open everywhere. Morocco also has global chains: Venezia Ice, Pizza Hut, McDonald's. Non-chain establishments are usually small: coffee and snacks and a few tables. Around residential complexes there are always stalls with fruit, household goods and the most necessary products and all under your nose. I like everything here very much. In general, the feeling of life logically depends on the level of income and the conditions that you can afford. It's not always the same.

Moroccan cuisine, about which almost no one in the CIS knows anything, is very classy, ​​rich and varied. Almost immediately after I arrived, my husband taught me how to cook the traditional velvet soup - harira - and now he says that I can do it even better than his mother. Of course, he does not admit this to his mother, but she herself praises the Ukrainian daughter-in-law when she is asked if I can cook (read: am I starving my husband). Moroccans are devoted to their national cuisine, and everyone else is treated with coolness. Later, I learned how to make a fish tagine and another North Moroccan soup, baysar. But I didn’t master the couscous: it’s dreary. To the surprise of everyone, my Moroccan loves our dishes very much, so it’s easier for me in this regard. With pleasure he eats borscht, buckwheat soup, syrniki, pearl barley, but the most favorite dish he has buckwheat porridge with mushrooms and chicken breast. We have it on Fridays (buckwheat has replaced the traditional Friday couscous).

If two men sit next to each other, neither will give way to a woman - to sit next to by a stranger in Morocco is not necessary. Therefore, women often stand near their husbands.

Cities in Morocco are different, the arrangement largely depends on when they were built, but each must have a medina (the old part of the city). There are always the coolest markets. There you can find the most beautiful and interesting gizmos that will not be in any supermarket. When I arrived in Morocco, I expected something like this: a desert, along which Berber camel caravans slowly walk, kasbahs (fortresses), small ancient towns with medinas and narrow streets, but Morocco is actually much more developed and modern country and the camels and narrow cobbled streets are a tourist attraction because it's exotic.

Rabat and Casablanca, for example, have excellent tram networks with excellent equipment and beautiful carriages. There are buses in any city: you enter through the back doors, pay the fare, then exit through any. Hares are caught by controllers. If two men sit next to each other, neither one will give way to a woman - you don’t need to sit next to an unfamiliar man in Morocco. Therefore, women often stand near their husbands. There are taxis: small ones travel within the city, and larger ones transport six people at a time, and here the distance already varies. In general, it is difficult in Morocco without a personal car, because there is no public transport system that would be convenient for moving to any part of the settlement or region.

Urban and public life goes its own way. People, for example, love other people's children and always try to get into a stroller with their face in order to kiss an unfamiliar child. I understand that this is from benevolence, but as a young mother, I oppose this because objective reasons. On the other hand, there are also positive moments: if a child runs, stumbles and falls, all adults, even before he understood everything and began to cry, begin to clap their hands and shout: “Bravo!” This is a brilliant find, in my opinion. Raising children has its downsides, of course: mothers rarely go out with their kids, there are not so many recreational clubs and studios in Morocco, so often after school they just hang out on the streets. If they were not properly brought up in the family, then their behavior is appropriate. Most families in Morocco have many children, and, unfortunately, mothers sometimes do not pay attention to their children at all: they like to chat with their girlfriends on the street while the child is looking for adventure.

The Russian and Ukrainian authorities can only learn from the professionalism of local managers who lay, among other things, high-quality roads and monitor the development of infrastructure

There are few public holidays in Morocco: everyone knows that there are two Muslim holidays in general, and they are celebrated with the greatest joy. At the end holy month Ramadan - Eid al-Fitr and the end of the pilgrimage - Eid al-Adha (better known in the homeland as Eid al-Adha). The rest does not apply to religion, although in Morocco they organize festivities on Mawlid al-Nabi - the birthday of the prophet Muhammad (a very modern "holiday", it has recently begun to be celebrated) or the day of Ashura, on which heaven, earth and the first man were created - prophet Adam. They celebrate the Green March (when the Moroccans made a massive campaign in the Sahara), Independence Day, Throne Day. Youth Day is always celebrated along with the king's birthday. The king will change - the date for the first holiday will also change. The king is loved and proud of him. He is rebuilding the country. The Russian and Ukrainian authorities can only learn from the professionalism of local managers who, among other things, lay high-quality roads and monitor the development of infrastructure. In the forgotten villages and even then even asphalt. The king takes care of the historical heritage of the country, restores ancient buildings and temples. Medicine and education in Morocco are at a decent level, however, you have to pay. And the more you pay, the better. But it's like that everywhere.

There are two official languages ​​in Morocco: Berber and Arabic, French is the first foreign language. Signs are often made in three languages. Moroccans speak Darije, a local dialect Arabic and it's pretty complex. It has no writing spoken language harder to learn. Russian girls master it using homemade dictionaries-notebooks, find some solutions for writing. So far, I'm getting along with English, I only know the necessary words in Darizh. Moroccans are such people that, if they really need it, they will quickly understand you in Russian. My husband and I communicate in English, Darija is rude, hard, he somehow hurts me.

I do not regret moving to Morocco and I am perfectly happy in this country. Moroccans, like everyone else, are different: both kind and incomprehensible, the nature of Morocco is diverse and beautiful, the country has a huge cultural heritage and a long, exciting history. There is a lot of beauty here: food, customs, people, architecture, and I cannot be dissatisfied with the choice I made a few years ago.

What comes to your mind when you mention Morocco? Silk scarves, colorful carpets, mosaic-tiled fountains? An abundance of spices, teas, olives and tangerines? Desert scenery with camels? Gigantic mosques against the backdrop of incredible beautiful mountains? Yes, all of this is indeed part of the vibrant Moroccan puzzle. But to be really objective, I want to add a fly in the ointment to the Moroccan barrel of honey and show the underside of this perfect tourist facade.

A journey is not always a colorful landscape with a minimum of problems. After spending a month in this wonderful country, I saw not only the positive side. And hitchhiking and spending the night with the local population made it possible to look at the life of the Moroccans from the inside, without the artificial tourist veil, so carefully created for the rich French and other Europeans.

Housing

Moroccan houses are designed for hot weather. Indeed, ten months a year in this country is hot, but January and February are quite comparable to the European mild winter. At night, the temperature can drop to zero degrees, and there is snow in the mountains and on the passes. But this does not prevent Moroccans from building houses so that they are colder than outside. Two cold months a year is not ten, you can endure it.

The walls of Moroccan houses are thick and reliable, lined with a mixture of clay, sand and hay. Less commonly, these are large aerated concrete blocks. Instead of windows, you can often see holes in the walls. You can also find a hole in the ceiling - let the sun enter the house. And if it rains, then everything will drain through a hole in the floor.

Speaking of holes in the floor. The toilet and shower in this country is organized extremely compactly and simply - this is one room, fenced off from the living area by a conditional partition that does not reach the ceiling. There is a hole in the floor behind the toilet. For the shower - she is. Near the faucet and a bucket or scoop. The fact is that Muslims do not use toilet paper, they are washed after each visit to the toilet.

Inside the house, everything is usually tiled. The tile gives an excellent balance of temperature in the grueling heat. But only in summer. In winter, this hated tile becomes completely irrelevant, but it's only two months!

Every Moroccan house should have a portrait of the King. If there is none, think about it, maybe this is some kind of wrong house.

Everyone here loves and reveres the king, his image can be seen everywhere, even on money. This is largely due to what the king did for the people during his reign. If you believe the statements of the locals, over the past decade, tourism has actively gained momentum, which previously did not develop much. New high-quality roads are being made, on the streets the lights shine much brighter than in our domestic outbacks.

By the way, about money. If suddenly your banknote turned out to be crumpled or torn, then the Moroccan may not take that kind of money from you - this is disrespect for the King. On the this moment King is Mohammed the sixth. Prior to this, his father, Hassan II, ruled. In any Moroccan city, you can find streets dedicated to these two rulers.

The first and most important, without which it is impossible to imagine the cuisine of Morocco, is Moroccan tea. A solid bunch of mint is poured with boiling water and a large piece of sugar is added to the glass.

By the way, if you ask for tea without sugar in a cafe, then the tea itself will be brought to you, and next to it, on a saucer, there will be a small piece of sugar. You need to pour tea by raising the teapot high above the glass, allowing the stream of tea to saturate with air, and at the same time cool down until it reaches the glass. Moroccans can drink this drink for hours, from morning to evening. Men call it Berber whiskey (Berbers are the local population of the eastern part of Morocco).

Note to tourists. When you are visiting, it is considered very indecent to refuse tea. Even if you don’t want to drink at all, or you don’t like mint at all, be kind, honor traditions, otherwise they will be offended.

Moroccan breakfast is a local pastry, a thin puff pancake, olive oil and ... processed cheese "with a cow".

This European product came to their market relatively recently, but was very fond of the locals - it does not deteriorate, does not melt, it can be stored for months. The scale of buying processed cheese in Morocco is amazing. In any supermarket you can see just a huge selection of whole buckets with these cheeses. If there is no cheese in the house, then it is like there is no portrait of the King. Another culinary delight that I first saw in Morocco is canned sausage. Here is her photograph. Now you have seen everything.

Tajine is a local Moroccan dish, and at the same time the name of the dishes in which this dish is prepared. A tagine is a clay dish with a cone-shaped lid. Inside, vegetables are stewed, cut into strips. Due to the shape of the lid, moisture condenses under the lid and then flows back down. Thus, vegetables are stewed in own juice. If you stuff vegetables with lamb or beef, you get a meat tagine. Couscous - the same, but with the addition of "Moroccan buckwheat". Tajine and couscous are available in any cafe in any Moroccan city. Is always. Both are prepared in advance, in this special vessel, on coals. If there are no visitors for a long time, then water is added to the tagines so that the dishes do not burn.

Moroccans usually eat with their hands or use bread as a spoon - a small round cake, cheap and tasty. If the bread is not eaten during the day, then it is thrown away by the animals, and a new one is bought in the morning.

In a Moroccan cafe, you will not find a napkin holder on the table - after eating, hands are usually licked, why these difficulties. When traveling around Morocco, you should always carry napkins with you - both for the toilet and for visiting catering.

There is plenty of meat in Morocco, usually beef or lamb. From morning to evening, the carcasses hang upside down over the counters, or lie on the pavement. Flies are flying around and stunned, drooling dogs are running around.

Separately, I will raise the topic of smells. The smell of Morocco cannot be conveyed in words or photographs. But try to imagine for a moment the Moroccan bazaar. Orange juice is being made to your left, the smell of citrus smoothly creeps up to your nasal receptors, but is immediately interrupted by kebab from a nearby eatery. On the right, they sell ten kinds of olives in bulk, a little further - strawberries and tangerines, and immediately behind them - live chickens in cages. In the next row, grandmother with my own hands presses argan oil from the fruits, next to them they sell saffron, cumin and turmeric, behind them - silk dresses with scarves, and on the contrary - freshly caught fish. This is the real Moroccan bazaar.

The abundance of fruits cannot but be evident. Tangerines are sold here by the ton and cost about 10 rubles (4 Ukrainian hryvnias) per kilogram. Moroccans can go to the counter with tangerines, say hello to the seller, say: “I will take it?”, They say to him: “Aha!”, And the client leaves satisfied with one tangerine, immediately opening and absorbing it. Oranges cost about 15 rubles (6 hryvnias). A glass of orange juice from a street vendor costs 20 rubles (8 hryvnias). In tourist places, you may be unreasonably asked for a 200% mark-up, but if you know how to bargain, then such a monstrous deception does not threaten you.

With a limited budget, you can eat only citrus here, and this is quite enough. And those divine olives! They are sold in buckets - green, black, red, soaked in orange juice, with spices ... Cocktails and smoothies deserve special attention. Suffering from an excess of fresh fruit, Moroccans prepare delicious cocktails, sprinkled with nuts on top. They cost about 20-25 rubles (8-10 hryvnias) for a half-liter glass.

Transport

With transport in Morocco, everything is very complicated and simple at the same time. Modern trains, buses and even trams - they exist, but only in certain directions, and this transport network does not always reach the desired point. Next, you have to improvise. Instead of the usual “metro-buses-trams”, small red cars called “Petit Taxi” (from the French “small taxi”) run around the city. Three people sit here, but not necessarily at the same stop. You can go from point A to point B, a passenger gets on the road, who goes to point C, and then another one who needs to point D. Everyone is going, everyone is happy.

Grand Taxi (from French - “big taxi”) run between cities, which work according to the same scheme, only up to six passengers sit inside. These are old wide Mercedes, which have been transporting thousands of Moroccans around the country for decades. In both cases, the fare is cheap, so in this country you can safely travel by taxi even with the most limited budget.

Animals are an integral part of Moroccan transport. They are transported here not only on camels - donkeys are boldly exploited when transporting gas cylinders, trunks with clothes, and generally anything.

Horse and "donkey" carts regularly move between villages. And in the city of Essaouira there is even a "horse taxi". Slow, cheap and very exotic!

By the way, about speed. People in Morocco are usually not in a hurry. Moroccan time is a relative thing. If you were told: "in 15 minutes" - wait in an hour. If you agreed to meet at 19.00, then at 19.30 they will call you and say that they are late. Do not plan anything by the minute while in this country. Rushing is not accepted here.

clothing

The chic, beaded dresses depicted in tourist brochures can only be seen in shop windows, at most in hotels on girls working at the reception. Most typical Moroccan women wear hideous, albeit colorful, full-body robes. Children are tied on their backs with a handkerchief, if a woman has two children, then with two handkerchiefs on both sides. Wheelchairs are not accepted.

Men also wear bathrobes, but they have special ones. Sewn from a special coarse fabric, they do not let the cold through in the winter and do not soar in the 30-degree heat. They are called "dzhellaba", their hallmark is a funny pointed hood. All day long, men in djellabas can sit along the road and discuss something. Yes, due to unemployment in this country, you will be able to see not only “entrance attendants” (although there are no entrances here, but grandmothers sit everywhere on the same principle and discuss youth / prices / politics, underline as necessary).

Unemployed men out of desperation are looking for at least some opportunity not to sit idle. For example, sell by the piece cigarettes, napkins, sweets, boiled eggs. During a “working” day, a man smokes more cigarettes than he sells, but he is busy with something, he does not sit at home!

The Other Side of the Medal

Speaking of Moroccan life, one cannot help but recall the amount of dirt in which all this “luxury” bathes. Morocco is very dirty. Morocco is simply unbearably dirty, and this dirt is striking, contrasting with the wide beaches, tall palm trees and silk scarves. In cities, it is not customary to install trash cans, everything is usually thrown under your feet. In villages, it is customary to dump waste products “overboard”: over a rock, into an abyss, into a river. Mountains of garbage can be seen at stops in cities, at bus stations between cities, near houses, on beaches ... It feels like this garbage is never disposed of, not taken out and not processed in any way.

Of course, if you go to Morocco on a tour, live in a hotel, swim on cleared beaches and eat in restaurants, then you will not see all this. And positive emotions received from surfing, desert, camels and incredible beautiful nature around enough to cover all the bad! And there really is something to see in Morocco ...

As in Russia, there are two capitals, one of which is unofficial. The first and official is the city of Rabat, the second is Casablanca, the center of entertainment and shopping in the country. The cost of renting and buying real estate in these cities is almost identical.

Rent two-room apartment in Rabat will cost 500-600 dollars a month, a three-room apartment - about 700 dollars. The minimum price for renting a villa in the capital of Morocco is 1300 - 1500 dollars per month.

In general, rental prices in Rabat are quite high. The price of buying a home does not fall, but continues to grow and varies around the figure of 30,000 local Dirhams. This is approximately 3100 dollars per square meter.

Purchases

Clothes and shoes in the country are sold both in the markets and in shopping malls. At the same time, more or less wealthy Moroccans often prefer branded clothes (at least premium class). Therefore, in Casablanca and Rabat there are many boutiques of famous brands.

Food is most often bought in the market or in small shops. Small food vendors in Morocco are a very common phenomenon. It will be difficult to find a familiar supermarket or self-service hypermarket in the country. But this is not necessary, because in the market, traders offer the freshest vegetables, fruits, meat, fish and seafood, spices and much more.

The country's location on the ocean guarantees a huge variety of seafood. The main rule is to bargain. Anytime and anywhere. Without this national trait trade in Morocco is simply not possible. Local residents get a clear pleasure from the process, while many visitors are often annoyed by this.

Work and prosperity

It is difficult for a migrant from Russia to count on work in this country. There are few places, and almost every job is working with the state for little money. If professional skills allow, it is better to work remotely for a Russian or Western employer. Living in Morocco and getting low by Russian standards wages in the amount of 30-40 thousand rubles a month, you can feel more than comfortable. In Morocco, with such a salary, you can feel like a full-fledged representative of the middle class: food prices are 3 or even 4 times lower than in Russia.

And the plus and minus of an exotic country is its belonging to third world countries. The country is not rich, the standard of living is lower than in Russia, but for wealthy foreigners, Morocco can become a paradise with the ocean and excellent beaches.

National features

The national features of the Moroccans, which will have to get used to, are cunning and inaccuracy. People in this country are not inclined to specifics.

To unambiguous questions, instead of the usual answer “yes” or “no”, the unshakable “Insha-Alla (x)” is often heard, which translates as “it is the will of Allah” or our “God forbid”. In any conversation, on any topic, it is always customary to mention Allah. It does not matter whether it is a business conversation of businessmen or a casual chatter of old women. Speaking with the locals about some kind of deadlines, even about the timing of the provision of services, the locals remind that everything is decided by higher powers.

At the same time, genies can prevent the Moroccan from fulfilling his promises or obligations. The Moroccans take them very seriously. These are not the genies that live in bottles. These are the invisible creatures described in the Qur'an that live and reproduce just like humans. Every local resident is sure that you should not joke with them. It is very difficult for Russians to get used to such features. Another one local habit that cuts the ear of a foreigner is the habit of swearing with or without reason.

Like any Muslim country, Morocco honors Islamic traditions, and the Koran is the basis of the country's constitution. The locals are more supportive of Christianity than any other religion. Unbelievers in the country are not understood.

Although Islam recommends that a woman cover her head, neck, arms and legs with clothing, Moroccans tend to European style: jeans and t-shirts. However, a modern Russian woman who has arrived in Morocco will be embarrassed to wear familiar outfits. Leggings and open tops will be frowned upon, not to mention short dresses or skirts. Local men and women used to wear national clothes, although there is a desire for Europeanization. The most common attire among both sexes is the jlebe, a long loose dress. bright colors, with or without a hood.

Those who moved to Morocco will have to honor Muslim holidays in the same way as they are honored by the locals. All holidays in the country are religious.

Ramadan is observed in Morocco. Foreigners living in the country note that despite the fact that fasting is aimed at physical and spiritual purification, the behavior of local residents during this period becomes more gloomy and aggressive.

“Motorists honk nervously, people are not predisposed to communication, street fights are becoming more frequent. Cafes, restaurants, food stalls and shops are closed until the evening. During the day, there are very few people on the streets, almost no one, and this is understandable - who wants to starve themselves with thirst and hunger in such a heat. Of course, no one will force a Russian person to fast, but, in any case, one has to take an active part in it. Especially to me, as a person living in a Moroccan family. I support the family in every possible way, I practically don’t eat and don’t cook food until the evening, I manage with solitary snacks,” says Olia, who moved to Morocco after she married a Moroccan.

Features of life

In Morocco, almost all visitors have the opportunity to hire a personal housekeeper. The cost of such pleasure is quite low: from 1000-2000 rubles per month. The price depends on the conditions and frequency of cleaning your home. The women applying for this position are mostly from rural areas, which is why the price of their house cleaning services is so low.

But there are pluses: housekeepers often steal. Therefore, it is wiser for women to hire their own maid - a woman who has been tested by acquaintances and has proven herself well.

It is worth mentioning that the Moroccans eat with their hands, more precisely, with their right hand, helping with bread or flatbread. If this is a family meal, it is customary to eat from one common dish.

Education

The education system in the country is similar to the Russian one. Children study in schools, finish 11 classes and enter universities. Most often, parents send their children to study in Europe or Russia. After that, many remain abroad and start families. Studying abroad for any Moroccan is a great fortune and prestige. Young people tend to leave the country, as young people are bored in Morocco.

Leisure

If it's warm, the locals relax on the beaches. Young people prefer more active rest: sport games(football, volleyball), there are many joggers in the country. Surfing is another popular way to spend your leisure time, there are many schools in the country that teach you how to tame the waves.

Older people walk along the coast or just sit on the beach, enjoying scenic view to the ocean.

Most often, accomplished Europeans who are tired of the Western way of life move to Morocco. In the country, they buy good villas and live enjoying fresh fruits, seafood, sun and ocean.

Based on materials http://nesiditsa.ru/

Islam gives women a very modest place in society. Muslim women had no special rights assigned to them. The only exception should be considered the tradition of respectful attitude to the mother, and only because this is said in the main book of Muslims - the Koran. The situation began to change after the Moroccans gained independence. The status of a woman was first somehow defined after the appearance of a special document - the Code of Personal Status, called Mudavan. For the first time, a position was formulated on the ideal Muslim family, which was always headed by a man. A woman could marry only with the permission of her father or guardian, and her consent was not required at all. This led to the fact that in the eighties of the 20th century, women in Morocco began to actively advocate for changing their position in society. Following the example of other countries, women's organizations were created and actively involved in this work, and the result was not long in coming. Now women have access to higher education and now up to 20% of university professors are women. They also have a prominent place in medicine, teaching children, and other areas. Today, Moroccan women are also represented in the legislative bodies of the country.

The name of King Mohammed VI is associated with a new edition of the Mudavan Code, which came into being relatively recently. Now the age at which a girl can marry has been increased to 18 years. The previous age was only 15 years. The consent of the father is no longer required for marriage, and married women have the right to initiate a divorce themselves if necessary. A child born to a foreigner now received all the rights of a Moroccan subject, while before he could not count on it. The merit of the king is also considered the widespread development women's education, and co-education of children in schools. At the same time, one of the important provisions of the Koran remained unshakable - the permission for a faithful man to have up to 4 wives. This position was justified in ancient times, when many men died in bloody wars. Today it has lost its former meaning. Moreover, not all of today's Moroccan men are ready to support even two wives. It is now quite expensive for economic reasons. In addition, a man can bring a second wife into the house only with the written consent of the first, and in this case a special court decision is required to conclude a marriage. The ancient traditions of the Berbers also played a role, largely retaining monogamy even after their adoption of Islam.

2. Portraits of King Mohammed the Sixth and his father Mohammed the Fifth hang in every shop, cafe and store - and this is not a cult, but real sincere love.
3. The capital of Morocco is Rabat, not Marrakech as many people think.
4. The exchange rate of the national currency dirham against the dollar 7 MaD = 1 USD, against the euro 10 MaD = 1 EUR.
5. The Moroccan Dirham is one of the most stable currencies in the world against the dollar.
6. When it arrives new king- change the pattern on banknotes. Instead of the portrait of the former king, they put the portrait of the new one. Or both at once.
7. The population of Morocco is made up of Arabs (about 60%) and Berbers (40%). And also a small number of blacks (Tuaregs, Malians, etc.)
8. The word Berber comes from the French word "barbarian".
9. According to ancient tradition, Tuareg men are required to hide their faces. If you saw the face of an adult Tuareg - know that he is obliged to kill you, otherwise, he kills himself. It is clear that now this tradition is not respected.


10. Many children learn the Quran from the age of 5 to 12.
11. There are prayer rooms at every gas station and station.
12. The second language after Arabic in Morocco is French.
13. In addition, many speak the Berber language, whose script is almost lost.
14. Berbers and Arabs are gamblers. If you buy a thing for the price that is offered at first, no one will enjoy the deal. Boldly, brazenly and cold-bloodedly bring down the price by 5, or even 10 times. Always quote a price lower than what you would like to pay.
15. Good way get rid of the annoying "helpers" - start chattering in a language they do not understand, for example, in Russian.
16. In the markets in big cities, some merchants know Russian numerals and the word “humpty dumpty”.
17. In order for a European to get to Morocco, you only need to fill out a migration card.
18. To get to Europe, a Moroccan needs to wait several months, fill out a lot of questionnaires, pass an interview, etc. The principle of reciprocity in diplomacy does not work here.
19. In big tourist cities, locals perceive whites as money bags and do everything to make money on them.


20. Off the tourist trail local residents nothing to do with tourists.
21. Most interesting places in Morocco - exactly where tourists do not go.
22. No one really can explain why Moroccans, especially women in hijabs, do not like to be photographed. According to one version, they are afraid that postcards will be made from photos with them. Another version is related to their illiteracy (many girls in early age get married without even getting primary education), and the camera for them is a shaitan machine that can cause damage or the evil eye. In any case, you need to respect their requests and do not take photos if they have asked them not to take them.
23. Moroccans strive to provide assistance when they are not asked, and then beg for money for it.
24. On beaten tourist routes, the exchange of Berber souvenirs for clothes, equipment, electronics is very developed.
25. I managed not to exchange, but to sell my old sneakers to a Berber for money. That is, I did not give the money, but I was paid by local Berbers.
26. My catchphrase at the conclusion of the transaction is "Well, yours took, but I want that little keepsake from you."
27. If you bought a leather product in Morocco, don't be surprised by its specific smell. Just before it was made, the skin was soaked in horse urine in the tanneries of the city of Fes.
28. Shawarma in Moscow is prepared according to a similar technology in Morocco. Only in Morocco it turns out tastier and twice cheaper.
29. In general, prices in Morocco do not differ much from Russian ones. For example, dates cost the same as in Moscow. Perhaps these prices are only for foreigners.


30. Picking dates is a difficult and dangerous activity. The height of a palm tree can reach 20 meters, and there have been cases of peasants falling from palm trees.
31. In oases, honey dates fall from palm trees a little more than a yellow Kinder surprise egg.
32. The color of Moroccan houses matches the color of the soil on which they stand.
33. On the territory of Morocco in the Atlas Mountains stands Mount Jebel Toubkal (4165 m) - highest point Sahara and North Africa.
34. From late December to mid-February, you can ski in Morocco.
35. "Berber Whiskey" is a strongly brewed green tea with mint and a bar of sugar. Usually they drink it from oriental teapots and shot glasses. Pour "long" tea.
36. Some Berbers drink wine. The driver of the Defender jeep, a Berber, boasted to me that he had a powerful body and could thump all night long, and then like a cucumber. And he also says, drink "Berber whiskey" - and you will fly all day. To which I told him: "Come to Russia, drink a glass of vodka and you won't be able to get up for two days."
37. Desert wells are made of concrete by hand.
38. Water from wells in the desert - warm, with a sandy taste.
39. An average dromedary (one-humped) camel costs 1,000 euros.
40. Morocco is full of 1980s S-Class Mercedes. They are used as fixed-route taxis.


41. Most cars run on diesel fuel.
42. It is customary for six people to sit in a taxi, not including the driver. Two people in the front in the passenger seat, and four in the back.
43. Mopeds are very common in Morocco. A family of a husband, a big wife and two children can easily ride on one moped. Well, something heavy.
44. Women put on layered clothes - so they are not hot in that climate. Often the outer layer remains black.
45. Only wealthy men can afford polygamy. I have not met anyone with two or more wives.
46. ​​One taxi driver told me: “Sorry for such a tactless question… Why is Putin still at war with Chechnya? Because they are Muslims, right?
47. When they hear the word “Russia” in Morocco, they immediately say, “Oooh, Vladimir Putin!”.
48. At traffic lights in cities, everyone beeps just like that.
49. Hardly anyone wants to offend you by signaling to you. Most likely, this means: “Hi, how are you”, “Hey, I'm on my way!”, “Come in, please!”, “Peace be with you, brother!”, Or something like that.


50. Drivers never get nervous while driving (I haven't seen one).
51. Moroccan boys handle the ball no worse than our football team.
52. Football is one of the hottest topics in Morocco.
53. In Morocco, Mexican series are translated into Arabic and broadcast on television. Watched mostly by men.
54. Beggars come to the place of work by taxi.
55. In Casablanca, poor favelas coexist with snow-white palaces.
56. Wealthy houses are surrounded by thick fences and frozen into concrete from above with fragments of bottles - worse than barbed wire.
57. "Allahu Akbar!" It means "Allah is great" in translation. "Inshallah" - "All the will of the Creator." "Assalamualekum!" - "Peace to your home."