Morocco Orientation

Did I say I wouldn't be posting for a while? Oops, oh well. My phone needs to charge for just a little longer, so I figured I would post (again) before bed. Hokay, so. Today was my orientation for my morocco trip, which is Friday. For those of you who don't know, Morocco is at the North West (top left) corner of Africa, just south of Spain:

see? I told you, it's right there on the top left

Now that we've got our geography lesson over with, here's basically what's going down. Today I got a bunch of facts, rules, suggestions, and words crammed into my poor little midterm-meltdown brain, which led me to take copious notes the entire time. In fact, I have 2 pages, plus the 2 sheets of paper (one with more notes) that Javier, the IES director gave us. 

The first day of the trip is in Gibraltar, the 'only place in Spain where people's first language is Spanglish.' Sounds like I'll fit in just fine. I can also apparently use the 29 quid I have leftover from last spring, or I can get the cool Gibraltar Pound, which is sort of like the Scottish pound: legal tender, only made in one place, and deemed sketchy by most Brits. I think I'll probably hit up an ATM, just so I can at least get a fiver to take home as a souvenir. There, we also get to climb the Rock of Gibraltar, which apparently has a lot of monkeys? 

Once in Morocco, we get to stay with host families (Dad if you're reading this, don't worry. They have never once had anything bad happen on one of these trips), go to a Hammam (Arab bath), get henna, eat our weight in couscous and oh, yeah, RIDE CAMELS. No big deal. I'm totally not excited to do that last one. 

During orientation, Javier clued us in on a few rules that we have to follow during our 4 days in Morocco

1. Don't take pictures of people, unless you get their permission first. They are offended by it, except kids. They like photos

2. Don't make physical contact with boys, unless you're shaking hands upon meeting or if they are pre-pubescent. 

3. Don't wear shoes on rugs

4. Eat, touch people, and give alms with you RIGHT hand. In Morocco, they don't (usually) have toilet paper; they have a 'dirty hand'

5. Giving a beggar your spare change is good and normal. 

6. You're going to eat from a communal dish, but only take what's in front of you. No stealing your neighbor's couscous. 

7. Don't talk about homosexuality

8. Don't question the king's authority, decisions, or lineage

9. Be very careful when talking about international politics, Western Sahara, or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

10. Dress like you live in Utah: no shoulders, chests, upper legs, or tight clothes

11. Leggings are NOT pants (oh, how I love this one)

12. Don't drink

13. Don't buy the weed in Chenchaouen. The dealer is probably working with the cops, and you'll spend the next 20 years of your life in a Moroccan prison. (yes, Javier actually said that out loud to us)

So that's pretty much it. I'm fairly certain this will actually be my last post until next Wednesday-ish. Next time you hear from me, I'll have been to Africa!