Early on in this adventure I wrote about my desire to be the “Foreign Kid”. Coming to Morocco, I feel I have more than accomplished that goal, so here are 10 Things I learned being a foreigner:
10.) Toilet paper is a privilege, not a right. Consider this when traveling.
9.) Simple things, such as placing an order in a foreign tongue can feel like huge accomplishments.
8.) Laugher is an excellent cure for almost all of your accidental faux pas.
7.) People will stare. And catcall. And generally be annoying. Refuse to look at them or acknowledge them in any way.
6.) Eating weird food makes for great stories. (See previous entries about the snails, cow brains, and various "Fear Factor" consumptions)
5.) Don’t be afraid to travel alone (unless you’re a woman traveling in places where that is outlawed-but then you have a whole different set of issues).
4.) Don’t be afraid to ask people for help. 99% of the time they are happy to help you. Even if they don’t speak your language.
3.) Moving somewhere doesn’t equal instantly becoming fluent in the native language. There is someone who has lived here for 15 years and still speaks very little Arabic. You only learn if you are willing to work at it. However, see number 9.
2.) You will miss home. Even if you think you are immune to homesickness. (Many of you have heard my progression through the "culture shock curve"). But you will eventually realize how lucky you are that you have the chance to miss those things, and that they are worth missing.
1.) Enjoy it. Time is already flying by.
No comments:
Post a Comment