Salons, Buses, Parties, and More

I have been slow to post any news this week because the events have been innumerable and exhausting.  Here are four interesting points of reference:

1) Hair salons are different from American salons in the following ways: it is not assumed that your hair is washed or that it will be washed when you go to a salon to have it styled or cut, men are not allowed in the salon unless they work there, and there is absolutely no sanitation policies.  This may be a list of irksome qualities for some people, but it is actually quite endearing.  Women feel comfortable in salons to be uncovered and to gossip.  Hair stylists are not constantly walking away from you to re-sanitize a comb during a hair cut.  You don't have to feel guilty about disliking the whole hair washing experience.  Though if you want your hair washed all you have to do is say so.  For a $5 total for a wash, cut, and style I am not complaining.

2) You do not need exact change for the bus.  A bus employee wanders the bus with a change purse and they will not only give you change, but also a cute little ticket to document your experience.  There is also no pull cord to get off the bus.  The bus merely stops at each stop, which is more than a block from one to the other.  This is a relief to the bus riders who no longer have to stop at every corner while trying to go to work or school.  There are also friendly bus employees who stand at the bus stop to answer any of your questions if you are lost.  How cool is that?

3) Yes, people have parties in Morocco.  Even though drinking is frowned upon and sexual relations outside of wedlock are illegal, there are still ways to spend the evening for the more adventurous traveller.  I attended my first party this week and was pleasantly surprised.  There was a small amount of alcohol and a huge amount of snack foods and juice.  The most enjoyable part was the music.  We were finally allowed to loosen up and get our groove on.  And to top it all off, we got to play "tea pong".  Yes, that means "beer pong" but with traditional mint tea.  Talk about a multicultural experience.  However, if you want to be safe, try not to dance with Moroccan men.  No matter what you think the mood is in the room, they still will think that one dance means love.  Proceed with caution.


4) I want to return to the idea of sanitation.  There is very little sanitation here.  One of the most surprising correlations between Morocco and Brazil is the smell of rot on the streets.  In both hair salons and cafes I have seen an extraordinary amount of American Health Code violations.  Despite all of this, I have started drinking the tap water and eat the food I am served.  I am not afraid of good germs and would prefer a strong immune system to the weak American version.  Although this might not be for everyone, I highly encourage you to take a risk and eat pastry that had bees buzzing around it and get a haircut with a dirty comb.  You'll be fine.