Experiences in Morocco

In December 2011, my son Paul, my grandson Calvert, and I drove from Stuttgart, Germany to Frankfurt to catch a plane to Morocco. We were flying on Ryan Air and when we arrived at the gate, I got a lesson in inappropriate European airport etiquette. For example, at this particular gate you stand in line, but it doesn’t do much good because when the line starts moving, people just butt in front of you and no one says or does anything about it.


It reminds me of what it must be like to herd cats. Everyone has their own mindset and they go wherever they like. I was surprised that people didn’t throw punches, but I guess it is a culture thing and people have learned to just go with the flow. 


Another interesting event happened just before boarding. An airline attendant was measuring our carry-on luggage by having us insert it into a metal structure (box) that indicated whether or not the luggage was a suitable size to be carried on. 


I watched one young man as he tried to put his bag in this box, but he couldn’t make it fit. He was with an older man (perhaps his father or grandfather) and the next thing I saw was this older gentleman get frustrated, grab the bag from the boy, and shove and push it into the testing container. He couldn’t get it in either, so he turned the bag upside down and continued pushing and shoving it, trying to force it into the container. Finally, he was successful in getting it in but the last thing I saw as we boarded the plane was him working harder trying to pull it out so he could board. 


We landed in Rabat, Morocco at 11:15 p.m. and as soon as the plane touched the ground there was a spontaneous eruption of clapping and cheering from the passengers grateful for reaching their destination alive. I had never experienced such a thing.


We had rented a car and made reservations to stay in a hotel located in Medina which is the ‘old city’ in Fez. This hotel was 700 years old.


Because the hotel was located in the middle of Fez, the rental agency furnished us with a Moroccan driver to help us find it. We quickly realized that we really needed his help and that we couldn’t have found it without it. 


Medina was founded in 808 A.D., and it is 15 square kilometers (9.3 miles) of chaos, a twisting labyrinth of 25,000 buildings, 72,000 businesses, 350,000 residents, and 75,000 tourists who visit each day. Merchants are still doing business like they did more than one thousand years ago. 


Its streets are a maze where tourists will get lost without a guide. Donkeys are still an integral part of doing business and you see them loaded with the merchant’s products. Live chickens are found in the butcher shops and are purchased and then beheaded and handed to the customer. Peddlers roam the streets looking for travelers to purchase their jewelry or other trinkets.  


When we arrived at the hotel, we were met by an employee who led us down such a narrow street that when I stretched out my arms, I could touch both walls. When we arrived and I saw the entrance I was worried because it was unlike any hotel entrance I had ever seen. There were no windows, swinging doors, doormen, or even a front desk. I was worried about the neighborhood and our safety, and I really wondered what it would look like inside. However, when we went in it was absolutely gorgeous and all fears melted away.


 It was late and we were hungry, and we noticed that a Moroccan restaurant that was still open and it was close, so we walked to it. The building where it was located was built in 1357 A.D. and it was beautiful on the inside. 


Paul and I ordered some chicken and Calvert had a pigeon. I tasted his pigeon and it wasn’t too bad. As we sat eating our meal, we were treated to some local music from their culture played by some Moroccan musicians playing. Before long I was playing alongside them using a homemade instrument (soda bottle). People in the restaurant seemed to appreciate my efforts and the musicians played along with me. We had a great time socializing, making music,  and interacting with each other. I am certain that these musicians had never seen the likes of three crazy Americans like us but when we left, we had some new friends.


The thing I learned from this experience is that people all over the world are friendly and if we give them a chance and try to make them feel comfortable with us, we can go a long way towards creating a bond of friendship. We can make them smile and laugh and be themselves and learn from them.



Happy Failing Forward,


Calvert Cazier




PS Want to help your kids have less stress and more success at home and school? CLICK HERE to get a copy of our book, The Resiliency Toolkit: A Busy Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, Confident, Successful Children.