The Culture in Morocco

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    The culture in Morocco has so far been very different from what you find in the US. Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country and the majority of its people are of Arabic origin. While they might belong to a different culture, Moroccans are still generally very friendly and inviting people. Over the start of this trip, we have been lucky enough to meet many of the locals. The more formal interactions almost always started with a cup of mint tea and Moroccan biscuits. This is considered a sign of respect and a way to greet people. Mint tea is a staple of Moroccan culture and has been something that we have commonly seen throughout Morocco. The biscuits are an assortment of sweet snacks that are made often with nuts, dates, honey, and chocolate. The people on the streets and workers at the hotels have also been very gracious to us. They all have been excited to meet us and were interested in the fact that we were American. At the hotel where we stayed in Rabat, we meet two Moroccans working in the restaurant the same age as us. They were very kind and we talked for a couple of hours about the US and what it was like for them living in Morocco. We ended up playing pool with them at the hotel and then they walked around the city giving us a tour. 

    
Another thing I felt was interesting about Morocco was its government. The country's main leader is their king, Mohammed VI. Morocco has been led by a monarch for centuries, but their modern government was established in 1962. On the federal level, Morocco also has a parliament that is made up of elected members from different regions of the country. While the country is a monarchy, it is one of the most progressive Muslim countries in the world, and very relaxed laws compared to other Muslim countries.







References

“Political System.” Morocco Embassy, morocco-emba.jp/about-morocco/political-system. Accessed 30 May 2023.

Comments

  1. Brant ChancyJune 1, 2023 at 10:56 AM

    Great post Jacob! I have also enjoyed how friendly the Moroccan people have been to us. I had no idea what to expect before coming here. I have also enjoyed the hospitality of the Moroccans because of how they are always wanting to have a conversation with us and of course the mint tea. The culture is very different in Morocco than the U.S. because in our country we are not nearly as welcoming to people from other countries. The Moroccans willingness to help us with whatever we need without any hesitation has really changed my perspective on their culture.

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  2. Geovani "Geo" AyalaJune 1, 2023 at 12:03 PM

    The monarchy system has certainly been an interesting aspect of being in Morocco. The respect and love that the people have for King Mohammed VI is almost inspiring. I appreciate that everywhere we go, people tell us a fact about him and his family. The government and views of the government are so different from the United States.

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