Eight Things I Bet You Didn't Know...

So, since being here, I've noticed that Moroccans and Colombians have some striking similarities. I've compiled a list... Perhaps you could call it..

8 Ways that Moroccans and Colombians are Similar

1. Walking barefoot = sickness
   Yes, this does seem odd, does it not? But Colombians and Moroccans from the older generations have this notion that if you walk barefoot, you will get sick.
2. Excessive hellos Many of my group members tease Moroccans for how long their greetings are, but I feel like I can't really join in. Of course it takes several minutes to say hello. No, a simple "hello" will not suffice. In Colombia we ask about how the person is doing, how their family is doing, how their dog is doing, what they've been up to, etc. In Morocco, we find three or four ways to ask "How are you?" Labess? Labess.
3. Cheek kisses Oh, the kisses! Kisses all around, ladies and gentlemen! In Colombia we kiss on the right cheek once. Here, we kiss everyone on both cheeks several times. There isn't really a set number. Sometimes just twice, sometimes three times. Sometimes the kisses can go on for a long time. In Colombia women kiss men and women, while men only kiss the women. Here, everyone kisses everyone. Such affection :D
4. Men pee in publicYup. I must say I've seen men peeing on the sides of dirty building walls here too. Sigh. Too bad I couldn't leave that in Colombia.
   
5. Cat-callingNow, I can't decide if there is less cat-calling here, it is less offensive to me or I just understand it less. Maybe its a lot more; the girls who understand French are extremely annoyed and angry by the constant cat-calling on the streets. I usually don't understand anything, so I keep walking. But yes, being a Western-looking woman certainly draws as much attention here as it does in Colombia.
6. A proverb for everything. Moroccans have little sayings and "proverbs" for every situation. I wish I could learn them all. They remind me of home and all the Colombian dichos. I want to be able to recite them and drop them at the perfect moment. I want to capture cultural values in a little sentence and be like, "Ah-ha! I get this cultural value!"
7. Carbs at EVERY SINGLE meal.So here we eat bread at every meal. I would estimate that 90% of my meals have included bread... in some shape or form. My Colombian meals? Yes, bread is common. But if not bread, we'll have rice or potatoes or plantains or yucca or any other starchy kind of food to serve as a filler. Mmm... I miss rice.
8. Food as a way of welcoming guest.I feel that I haven't been "formally" welcomed into a Moroccan home unless I've been offered food of some sort... or mint tea :) And as in Colombia, I cannot refuse it without the host persistently asking me to eat more or take more or have more or please... just have a little more.