Culture Shock: Mo-rockin' My Mind

Thursday, June 10, 2010: Marrkech, Morocco

Before I arrived in the North African country of Morocco, I didn't have many expectations. I knew that we had planned a camel riding trip on the beach about three hours from our destination of Marrakech, and that was enough for me to want to go. However, as soon as we stepped off the plane around 8am on Thursday, June 10, I was overwhelmed with culture shock. As I took a whiff of the dirty-smelling African air and walked along the rocky brown ground, I looked at my other ten travel companions, and we all shared a look that said, "Where ARE we?!"

The eleven of us got on the bus with our travel guide to take us to our hotel. The ride was far from smooth-- I felt like we were riding through an earthquake and that our bus would collapse and/or explode at any given moment. Despite this brewing fear and growing concern for our safety, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. With every sight we passed, my jaw continued to drop. This was completely different from any place I had ever seen before.

Marrakech, the former imperial capital of Morroco, is also known as the "Red City," and for an obvious reason. Nearly every building is pink mud-brick, reflecting the ground and landscape seen all over the city. This was one of the first things I noticed when we finally arrived at our hotel, situated in the middle of narrow alleys and run-down markets with no street signs in the medina quarter, or old city. We immediately decided that we would be attached-at-the-hip to our guide-- there was no way we would risk getting lost in the streets filled by malnourished cats and dogs, beggars of all ages, and desparate venders trying to sell us their goods. After some research, I learned that a medina quarter such as the one we lived in is common in many North African cities. They are usually walled with winding, narrow streets. They were built by Arabs (Morrocans speak Arabic and are mostly Muslims) around the 9th century to hinder and puzzle invaders. This site explains and lists other medinas found in North Africa: http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/510065.

Our first tour of the city was of the largest traditional market and one of the busiest squares in the world, the Djemaa el Fna. Walking through the "souk" markets resulted in sensory-overload: there was so much going on, I didn't know how to react to the various sights, sounds, and smells. It would be impossible to recount everything we experienced walking through the square, and equally difficult to express how it impacts a person. This website, however, gives a good background for the square: http://www.marrakech-cityguide.com/en/sightseeing/street/jemaa-el-fna.shtmlreet/jemaa-el-fna.shtml.

The square is representative of the geography of Morocco, as the venders, artists, and performers display the goods found in the area, as well as the various cultural aspects of the city. We passed countless food venders selling fruits, vegetables, seafood, and meats all found within the district- particularly olives and livestock. Because the city isn't far from the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea, and since Marrakech is surrounded by mountainous regions, these foods reflect the geography and economy of the area. In fact, 44.6% of Morocco's economy is based on agriculture (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.htmlww.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.html). However, none of these things were displayed the way we are used to seeing them sold in America. The food stands were an oasis for flies and other insects, and entire animals were hanging from the roofs of meat stands, giving a whole new meaning to "fresh." Outside the souk markets, the crowded square was filled with snake charmers, monkey tamers, acrobats, and musicians playing traditional Moroccan music.

After going through a rug store filled with thousands of luxurious hand-made carpets and browsing through various jewelry and woodwork shops, we stopped at, in my opinion, the most interesting shop in the market of herbalists, the Moroccan version of a pharmacy. There we learned that most people in Morocco don't use "common" forms of medicine, such as Tylenol or Aspirin, but rather rely on herbs and plants to cure a wide range of ailments, including acne, headaches, sinus infections, and dry skin. All of the herbs they used are found throughout the country, again indicating the geography of the land. We got to sample many of their products, including "black rice." In order to do this, we had to put the black seeds in paper, rub it to get the chemicals, and then inhale them through our nose. The 11 of us all giggled because we generally associate something like that with drug use. It was the strangest sensation as I inhaled: my eyes began to water as I stifled a cough. However, my sinuses were instantly cleared. Although we thought many of these practices were "weird," they are very common in Morocco. This is an interesting study I found where researchers studied the use of herbal remedies for diabetes in Morocco: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/24/3/608.2.full.

We continued to walk throughout the souk markets and the square, and later continued the day visiting gardens and seeing acrobatic performances while being treated to a VIP-style Moroccan dinner. The next day we visited a coastal city and rode camels on the beach. Overall, my experience in Morocco was by far the most educational and eye-opening experience that I've had this summer, and one of the most amazing times I've ever had in my life. Although I was completely out of my comfort zone, I loved every minute of our 48 hours in the country. I learned so much about a completely foreign culture and was able to apply several geographical concepts to my experience. Even if you don't get the chance to explore Morocco, another African country, or somewhere similar, I highly recommend learning more about lifestyles completely different from the ones we live in America. You might be shocked, but you won't regret it.

You can learn more about the culture and geography of Morocco here: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.html