Fearing the Unknown – Studying Abroad in North African (Islamic) Countries
I remember the exact moment I told my parents I wanted to study abroad for a semester in Morocco. My mom gave me her raised-eyebrows-concerned-face and said, with no small amount of hesitation, “If that’s what you really want to do …” My dad, on the other hand, demanded to know what could be so great about the country and insisted I’d probably get blown up. I told him it wasn’t as if I was going to a war zone in the Middle East. “It’s... Read More
Moving to Morocco – A Hometown Guide
My husband and I moved to Morocco three years ago where he now manages a large fruit farm, and we live in a village roughly an hour’s drive south of Agadir. The region is steeped in Berber culture and history and its people are fiercely proud of their roots. Moroccan Berbers were the first known inhabitants of the country and their numbers are still fairly significant today, with those claiming Berber identity making up 40% of the current population,... Read More
Beach Baking
For a perfectly baked body, baste flesh generously with sunscreen, place onto pre-heated sand and cook for 4 hours at 35°c Beach holidays remain a popular getaway choice for tourists all around the globe, and are often thought to be the ultimate way to relax and escape from the stresses and strains associated with our everyday lives. The warmth of the sun’s rays on our cold, weather-worn faces can be just the boost we need during the winter... Read More
Deadly Liaisons: Morocco and the HIV virus
Should you happen to be a male tourist indulging in a spot of Moroccan nightlife and not be aware of its somewhat seedier side, you could be forgiven for thinking that the cities are brimming with beautiful, single Moroccan women that just happen to find you utterly irresistible. Yet for many of these seductive women, their glamourous exteriors hide a truth that is dangerous and often stigmatised, and that many in society deem disgusting and shameful.... Read More
Tummy-Rumbling Aromas and Pungent Pongs
Morocco is a land of many pungent aromas, some of which are tantalisingly fragrant and caress your nasal senses, while others are downright nostril-invading stenches. I’m sure such an aromatic diversity exists in many other countries and in my experience I’ve found that the hotter and less affluent a country is, the more frequently you are bombarded with the foul smells that heat enhances. Ineffective drainage systems or overflowing rubbish bins... Read More
A Tale Of A Litter-Loving Hound
Back home in England in what feels like another life entirely now, I used to be a bit of a fitness junkie, quickly becoming obsessed with ‘Spinning’ classes when they were first introduced and berating myself if I didn’t squeeze in at least three sessions at the gym each week. Here in this traditional Moroccan village that I now call home, however, my exercise options are somewhat limited, and after a fitness DVD cruelly inflicted Tendonitis... Read More
A Tale Of English Charm, Donkeys and Breast Enlarging Cream
When my husband accepted a job as the manager of a large fruit farm in rural Morocco, we moved there with no preconceptions of what our life would be like, and not because we chose not to think about it, but because we really didn’t have a clue what to expect. We certainly weren’t under any illusions as to just how different our lives would be, though, and we were both prepared to make significant changes not only to our daily routines,... Read More
Marathon Tourism
Since 2006, “running a marathon” has also come to mean “travel excuse.” In fact, I cannot imagine myself running a marathon (whether half or full) in a town I’ve been to before. A race is a phenomenal reason to get to a place you wouldn’t have thought to visit and is a fantastic way to see the area once you arrive. For one thing, you notice more about a city when you are running through it–well, jogging through... Read More
Down with the Sickness
Traveling around the world inevitably means coming down with some form of illness or another. Whether it’s a simple cold picked up from fellow fliers, or the more uncomfortable experience of the local variation of Montezuma’s curse, having a well-supplied med kit is a must for all foreign adventurers. My own experiences getting sick in distant lands somehow end up being more dramatic than most people’s, with the result that almost everyone I... Read More
Toilet Entrapment
Bathroom etiquette can be one of the most challenging aspects of traveling abroad, yet it seems to be one of the least commonly discussed topics. Maybe writers are just squeamish about getting down and dirty with human necessities. Not I! I knew going to Morocco that bathrooms would be one of the many challenges I would face on a daily basis. During my research about the country I came across the term “Turkish toilets” for the first time ever.... Read More
