Morocco

So it's been about 5 days since we touched down in Morocco. So I figured it was time to get some of my thoughts down on paper. We have been extremely busy, always in the process of either visiting something or planning our next move so free time has remained a luxury.

We arrived at the airport of Marrakesh at around 10 pm Morocco time and went directly to our hotel. Having already read about the culture, I knew that bargaining was not only suggested, but you were a full out sucker if you didn't get yourself into the game. But we were tired so we accepted the first price that the taxi driver offered. About 7 euros each so nothing too excessive. Our day was FILLED with public transportation so when we finally touched down (my first time on African soil, by the way), we were pretty wiped.

The people

Let me tell you that of all the countries that I've visited (quite a few), I would put Moroccans at near the top of the list in terms of friendliness. I'm not naive. I do realize that their nicety is often spurred on by their desire to make a buck, but I rest convinced that they are a kind, open, hospitable, and warm hearted people. We have been in Morocco for only 5 days and have already been invited into the homes of strangers 3 times! While I did read about this traditional Moroccan hospitality, it was a pleasant surprise to actually experience it. This, I cannot say for any other country that I've visited:

• The Japanese were extremely helpful and friendly with offering directions (usually accompanying until arrival) but never was I invited into a Japanese home.
• The Chinese that I worked were also very helpful, but in the 2 months I spent there, working with them, eating with them, and going out for drinks with them, did I ever see one of their homes.

One of the Visits

The prettiest site so far would have to be the Cascades d'Ouzoud, one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever seen and definitely a must see if you ever come to Morocco. I would even go as far to describe the area as 'video game-like', specifically one of the levels from Mario Kart 64. We took the trail from our Ryad to go check out the waterfall from various viewpoints.

The waterfall zooms down to a river where (unless you want to go swimming in arguably dirty water) the two banks are inaccessible from each other. The only other and far hygienic option is to take one of the boats manned by a Moroccan, who will charge you about 10 dirhams (1 euro) for the 30 second trip. We took the boat to the other side, started up the trail, and after about 15 minutes of hard uphill climbing, we were lost. We seemed to had lost all of the tourists and the only life around were the magot monkeys and probably snakes (which we didn't see thank god). We kept walking in the hopes that we would stumble across someone and finally came across a Berber house. Using my limited knowledge of the people and culture here, the Berbers are a group in Morocco that are often relegated to Berber villages given that they do not receive all of the advantages that the rest of Moroccans receive. They are given the short end of the stick.

Anyway, we asked the first person we saw and she immediately invited us in to see drink a tea and see their traditional Berber home. We sat down on deteriorating woven stools. The mother served us mint tea, bread, and butter and we spent the next 15 minutes enjoying our tea and swiping at bugs. Not much was said given the mother's lack of French or English, but I think everyone felt at ease nonetheless. Now living in a traditional house like that is something that I would have some difficulties with, given my relatively prosperous upbringing. But seeing the way that the poorer rural population live in Morocco was very interesting. We saw the daughter (who spoke French fluently), the father (who spoke French very well), and the mother (who spoke maybe 3 words). Oh, and they had about 5 goats.

After the tea, the father invited us into his 'room' to smoke with him and watch his Arabic music videos. Seriously, I didn't even smoke but his videos reminded me so much of Borat! The mustachioed, suit toting Arab men singing their traditional songs was enough to plant images of 'my wife!' and shitting in plastic bag in my mind. He smoked his hash (very common in Morocco), and we watched his video in silence. After that, he led us all the way back to our Riad. We didn't say a word the entire trip which lasted about 10 minutes over some fairly treacherous terrain. Oh, and he was in bare feet.

And perhaps most surprisingly, he didn't ask us for any compensation for his directions. Having already been assaulted by vendors in Marrakesh; having payed for a impromptu tour of the medina by someone who just started walking and talking with us; having been ordered to pay a few dirhams after taking a picture of someone; this family was a pleasant surprise. Authentic Moroccan hospitality!

Another little word on the people. Despite all of the aggressive selling; despite the gentleman who asked me adamantly to pay for a picture I had taken; and despite each outdoor restaurant at Place Jemaa El F'na literally grabbing us and stopping just short of putting our butts IN the seats; I have never felt physically threatened by any Moroccan and from all that I have seen, I am convinced that they are a warm and friendly people by nature. But who just want to make a buck like the rest of the world.

Marseille

Allez! C'est parti! Voila, mesdames et monsieurs, mon premier blog en francais. Soyez patients et comprennent que je vais faire les fautes d'ortographes etc. Mais c'est bon pour moi de pratiquer la langue qui m'a apporter ici; qui m'a donner beaucoup de plaisirs et qui m'a frustre a la meme temps pendant les dernier six mois.

La, on vient de quitter Marseille. C'etait une ville que j'avais vraiment envie to voir. Je crois que c'etait a cause de mon ancienne enseignante de francais a Nice qui a parle avec beaucoup d'enthousiasme de Marseille. En bref, elle nous a dit que Marseille etait, dans plusieurs de sens, le contraire de Paris. Paris (pas tout les quartiers) est plutot bourgeois; Marseille, acceptante. Paris est hyper tourisitique. Pourtant que Marseille devienne plus et plus touristique, elle reste la ville des Marseillais. Elle nous a aussi dit avec beaucoup d'energie que Marseille est une ville qui bouge. Elle voulait dire qu'a Marseille, le niveau de la culture, de la musique, de la poesie, de la creativite en general est tres sophistiquee.

J'ai bien aime la ville. Avant de venir, j'ai entendu de pal mal de monde que c'etait une ville violente, avec les jeunes hors controlles. Pourtant, j'ai dit que je vais me joindre avec les jeunes et les aider a bruler les voitures des flic (en rigolant, bien sur). Mais j'etais surpris. Jamais a Marseille est-ce que j'ai senti en danger. Tout le monde qu'on a demande pour les conseils etait tres prêt a nous aider. Les calanques etaient tres jolies! On a marche pour environ 6 heures. C'etait vraiment trop et on etait completement creves a la fin. Je vous jure! Mais, on avait pas le choix. Vu que quelqu'un nous a laisse la sans voiture, on avait une seule route a prendre pour s'en sortir. Six heures plus tard et juste quand stock d'eau existait plus, on est arrive.

Le lendemain, on est alle au match de foot au Stade Velodrome. Apres avoir passe plus que 6 mois en France, je me suis rendu compte vite fait que la France (et l'Europe) etait obsedee par le foot. Par rapport au basket, c'est un sport nul mais quand meme, j'aime bien. Dans ma ville au Canada, Toronto, elle vienne d'avoir un equipe de foot, Toronto FC. Je suis alle a quelque matchs l'ete derniere et vu que Toronto est un peu rempli par les immigres d'Europe, naturellement, un equipe de foot les ont attire, mais d'une force! Chaque match est rempli. Les fans, ils preparent les banderoles. Ils chantent les chansons. Ils lancent les trucs a les visiteurs. Ils mangent et boivent sur le parking avant le match. Ils voyagent avec l'equipe pour les soutenir. Bref, ils ont apporter l'esprit de l'Europe avec eux. Le match au Velodrome avait beaucoup des meme trucs, mais beaucoup plus prononce. Premierement, il y avait 60,000 personnes au lieu de 12. Il y avait plus de banderoles et les chansons etaient beaucoup plus organise et bruyant. L'atmosphere dans le stade etait incroyable. Laisse tomber! C'etait enorme! Une chose que j'ai trouve bizarre etait le fait qu'ils ont pas servi du tout l'alcohol! Bizarre! Il ont du avoir quelques incidents de violence qui etaient accentues par l'alcohol. C'est pas grave. On a bu les pastis apres le match pour 2 euros chacun.

Donc, voilà. Premier essaie en francais. Ca ne va pas etre le dernier.

INTO THE WILD

I watch a lot of films. Inevitably, I watch a lot of bad films. However, every now and then, one will come along that impresses me so much that I simply cannot stop playing it over and over in my head. A film that really hits me hard. This is a rare phenomenon and I felt compelled to write about my last experience with it.

The film, “Into the Wild”, concerns a young recently graduated guy who, fed up with society and all its hypocrisies, decides to take off on his own, actually into the wild. He meets many people along his journey, with all of these events culminating with him alone in the middle of nowhere in Alaska. The film was written and shot by Sean Penn, (sometimes a little too “Hollywood Liberal” for me) who does a fantastic job. The shots of the wild north, of the glances between characters, of the writing on the screen of the man's journal, and of the incorporation of the soundtrack into the film is something to be lauded. Eddie Vedder (frontman of Pearl Jam) wrote the majority of the songs with the film in mind, and it is safe to say that I would not be writing this had Mr. Vedder not been involved. His music and lyrics bring the movie to life and give it an isolated yet human feel. Could not have been scored better.

It is hard to say why this movie affected me in this way. Maybe it is because I sometimes feel like the main character does; sick of fake smiles and handshakes, pressures of life (both social and professional). There must be many people with these feelings, but in this film (based on a real story), our main character does something about it. Rather than adapting, he invents. Rather than tolerating, he redefines himself. Rather than living up to the expectations of his family, he creates his own.

It is truly a beautiful and touching film from start to finish. Although a tad long (almost 2.5 hrs.), the time will fly by. I was enthralled with the scenery, the characters, and the fusion of all that with the potent songwriting. I have Eddie Vedder as much to thank as I do Sean Penn. So, my friends, go “into the wild”. You may even go native.

Stereotypes re: the French

To foreigners all over the world, the French can mean a whole lot of things. The mere mention of the word is enough for some people (for better or worse) to form a sharp image in their heads. Try these on for size:

Baguettes
Bicycles
Eiffel Tower
Cuisine
Snobbishness,
Philosophy
Undersized coffees
Croissants
Cheese

These, my fellow audience, are nothing but ignorant stereotypes. Even for people who have visited France (usually just Paris) could conceivably come home with these stereotypes more strongly ingrained in their psyches. Sure, French people eat a lot of baguettes! Sure, there have been some highly influential French philosophers “a l'epoque”! Sure, there are some French snobs! As if there are not these types everywhere across the world! And yes, my friends, even Canadians!

International media (predominantly American, let's face it), portray the French as in love with themselves and stuck in their own French culture, not even bothering to look elsewhere. Need some examples? Almost every animated Disney movie has one. The candle and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast for example. The Simpsons, South Park among others do a fine job as well of including a French stereotype every now and then. Sure, Canadians, Brits, and many others suffer from the same preconceptions but I submit that the French have it worst. As the French say, these are “les conneries”!

For someone who has been in France for 6 months, a little bit all over, and (most importantly) someone who has met many different French people from all over this great country, I can tell you all that the stereotypes are mostly entirely made up. Some examples and attempts at quelling them:

The French are “inward looking”

I suppose that many groups are guilty of this but again, the French are unfairly portrayed as the kings of self-adulation. Of the French people that I have met here, there have been a majority who either have travelled extensively, or plan to. All over the world and for long stretches of time. New Zealand, Scotland, Canada, Japan, and Congo to name a few. This is made perhaps more impressive given that the welcome for French people around the world (mostly speaking about the States) would not be characterized as “warm” or “with open arms”. Not only do they travel a lot, but I have found that, to a large degree, they sincerely care and stay informed about global events from all over the often troubled and conflicted world. They are not constantly looking inward to their accordions and baguettes but rather conversely, outward.

The French don't respect the non-French

OK, this is slightly connected to the previous topic but worth a little discussion. Basically, all of the French people whom I have met (who come from all over France usually minus Paris) are supportive, helpful, warm, funny, and welcoming. They often understand what it is like to be a foreigner in a foreign land and often try to aid these people along their way. There were some who warned me upon deciding to come to France that the people would not be welcoming, that they would be so engrossed in their own French lives that they wouldn't care a lick about me. I am here to say that this has turned out to be quite the opposite.

So the question begs. Why this negative, sometimes harsh portrayal of France from many (not all) people across this world? Are they jealous? After all, France does boast a varied climate, great food, a strong socialist like government, varied scenery from the Pyrenees Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea to the French Alps. Would you leave here? And yet they do, and it is something that is not often enough discussed and acknowledged.

Bored at work

I am sure that many of you have run into this problem before. After all, many many jobs require of you a lot of um sitting around? Looking pretty? Helping people every once in awhile? Well, for me, this "once in a while" has turned into little to nothing today. Oops, just got a phone call. That alleviated my boredom for approximately 28 seconds.
But seriously, my jobs not bad. I get to practice my french all the time which is really helpful. If I was vacuuming or cleaning toilets, my french skills would remain pretty stagnant. And I also look pretty damn flashy in my suit!
Anyway, not sure if anyone reads this (haha) but a big hug to everyone out there! Spread the love! YES WE CAN! Haha. I'm a fan of Obama.
A plus!

The French

I once heard someone say that the French are a hard people to know. I mean, to really know. Sure, they'll give directions, advice, and recommendations to tourists. They may even take you into their house to offer you a meal. But the French are significantly closed in many ways. That is, unless they are with other French. I am an english speaking person living in France. My french is very much “school french”, and not practical french. Therefore, I can explain myself, express myself well enough to get by but I remain relatively lost in a pure French setting. When the french speak amongst themselves, they speak too quickly and use too much slang. Sometimes, there will be one or two who slow down for me; or who will explain things every once in awhile. But for the most part, Il s'en fiche!

Some French are more open than others of course. The more open, understanding, and accomodating ones are predominantly the ones who have travelled. It is important to understand that there are many french who have never left France. They don't completely understand the world around them. They look inward. But the ones who have travelled outside the country, a number I would peg at less than 50%, understand that the world is not French.

It is true that within France, you have a diverse country full of rich culture, great food, gorgeous countryside, dynamic cities, and a climate that offers a little bit of everything. You could argue that of all countries, France seems to have it all. The south, the north, the east, and the west are all very different. This is undoubtedly one of the reasons why the french are sometimes resistant to learning even a little bit of english. Simply because they don't need to. They have everything that they need where they are.

The common explanation put forth is that they are arrogant. In love with themselves and their language. Perhaps it is a little of both. But it seems to me that France puts forth the least amount of effort towards learning english than any other European country. And even some Asian states. The reason why is a whole other story.