quinn222

IT's the genius of Paddies. And yup, I spent a bit over two weeks backpacking around the country over Christmas. It's a beautiful place, some amazing architecture and countryside. But a very troubled country with so many ironies in its culture. I think most people go and stay in the real fancy hotels and see it as very 'quaint' how the Moroccans live. And i think i got a bit more of the harsh reality. I was harassed nonstop by the men there being a white western woman traveling without a man. And when i mean nonstop i mean by literally every man i passed. Police officers would say incredibly sexual things to me. Even little boys and old men will proposition you. I was followed for blocks, had people wait outside my hotel room. The kind of behavior that would get you arrested in any western country. There's no interaction allowed between men and women so men are very friendly with each other. Like its very common to see men holding hands walking down the street and kissing on the mouth, yet homosexuality is illegal. Women aren't allowed in cinemas or cafes. I try not to push my western views on other cultures but to me equality is a human right and i just found it deeply troubling.
The people are so hostile on the street but if you start talking to them they are incredibly hospitable. Like it's not uncommon for a total stranger to ask you to stay with them. Its very stange. I had the opportunity to stay with a family for a few days over Christmas and go to a family celebration for the birth of a son. Ive never been to such an elaborate banquet and it was also my first live sheep sacrifice. On one hand, everyone was so welcoming to me and they took me into their home even though i was a total stranger yet they made it very clear that i was a westerner. The friend i went with was Arabic and they'd only speak in Arabic even though they all speak french fluently. Also, there was a 15 yr. old girl in the family i stayed with and when she found out i dont believe in Mohammad she would no longer talk to me. She had never heard of Christianity and i tried to explain its not that i think shes wrong but where i grew up in is for the most part a Christian country. And she was 'Well Mohammad IS the true prophet.' And than she asked my friend why she is friends with a non-Arab. I know that's the world she is from but this was a extremely wealthy family, well educated and Morocco is one of the most Western arab countries. And if they see the world like this it just impacted me on how many incredible differences exist and how crazy what we are doing in Irak is.
But i love this series. It's interesting to watch them go to a lot of places i've been but also it gives me inspiration for places i want to go, especially South America after following their adventures there!