Pre-Departure Reading: A Few Words on Moroccan Customs

Dear families & students,

As you pack for our trip, take a moment to read the following. We hope you’ll find it helpful!

1. Politesse. Living in the northeast, we occasionally forget that our way of interacting with people can sometimes come across as a little gruff. On our travels, always greet someone (« Bonjour! », « As-salamu alaykum »!) before asking for something. Moroccans tends to be warm and friendly, so please reciprocate such courtesy. Additionally, always ask before taking a picture of someone.
2. Meals. Since we are visiting during Ramadan, our evening meals will be late. Additionally, restaurants that might normally be open may be closed (especially on Fridays). If food is to be taken by hand, please use your right hand and not your left. Tipping is customary in Morocco at restaurants; feel free to leave 5% to 10%.
3. Call to prayer. Islam stipulates prayer five times a day. If this is your first time in a Muslim-majority country, know that you will have the pleasure of listening to the call to prayer projected from the mosques. It is a beautiful melody!
4. Haggling. In the souks, haggling is the norm. While negotiating a price takes some practice, a few ground rules will be helpful. Firstly, never accept the price first proposed, as it is likely exorbitantly high. When you counter, start low (it is not unreasonable to start at 25% of what they have asked), as it would be poor form to then try to go lower. While you should be prepared to walk away if you and the merchant cannot agree on a price, you might find that proposing a deal (something similar to a “BOGO”) would make the seller more amenable to your desired price point. Should you walk away (and remember to always be prepared to!), you may be chased down should the shop keeper really want to make a deal. Below is a rough idea of what you should expect to pay (divide by 10 for USD)… Leather slippers : 60 MAD Leather poufs & bags : 200 MAD Baskets : 100 MAD And we’ll have a longer conversation if anyone is thinking of buying a rug… Bring space in your luggage.

One more day of class….

MM. Herath & Jean