Culture Shock! Morocco

I enjoyed reading this book for my upcoming travels to Morocco. I did receive valuable insight on the the vast cultural differences in addition to learning how to effectively negotiate deals in the market; however, for traveling purposes there was too much superfluous information on living in Morocco. So, if you are going for a short visit pick up Rick Steve's Morocco instead.

My wife and I came to live in Morocco, in Rabat, two years ago after I retired from the practice of law in Chicago. I recently reread the book. I enjoyed it even more upon rereading it. The authort approaches Morocco with sympathy and understanding. But at the same time, he does a terrific job of explaining the ways in which Moroccans behave differently from people who have come from an Anglo-Saxon culture. Those differences can be very frustrating for us "Anglo-Saxons." His insights into Moroccans' attitudes and customs are excellent. The analysis he gives is very much in accord with our experiences during the last two years.

After reading this book, now I'm all the more excited to go to Morocco. Hargraves paints such a vivid picture of the people, the culture. It is a complicated society, very foreign to my understanding and experience. And yet, as I read through it, so many times, page after page, I realize that the culture is so familiar, so like my experience. Most of all, I now understand that it will take a lifetime to learn to adapt to Moroccan culture. I am eager to see how the words lift off the pages and into reality. Almost every page has nuggets and key points to learn and understand, and my copy is mostly yellow from highlighting. One aspect that I wish were different, though- Hargraves appears too often to accept the stratification in Moroccan culture, and the mistreatment of the lower classes, as par the course, and something Moroccans accept, and therefore something that we should accept, and something culturally neutral. There is so much good in Moroccan society, but, just as in any society, some that is not as good as well. But that's only one small detraction in an otherwise great text. Particularly interesting is the quiz at the end of the book, where you test one's knowledge gained through reading. I've never seen this in any other culture or travel book, and it should really be more common! Hargraves doesn't just repeat information here either- rather, he asks the reader to intuit the answers not yet given, from the information that he's previously provided- and then of course, he provides all the possible correct answers. I want to learn how to live and eat and talk and think, Moroccan. I want to see what it means to be a Moroccan who is so adept at adaptation to so many different cultural situations. I want to learn to engage in real Arab relationship, and to learn how to politely refuse a request, and how to be a good guest, and a good host. I want to learn how to serve the Moroccan peoples. If you're interested in this as well, then this is a book you need to get.

I have spent 3 summers in Morocco and 5 years with my husband who is Moroccan and this book clarified a lot aspects of Moroccan life for me. No matter how objective one may be about cultural differences, it helps to have a neutral party explain what is happening in a given interaction. I didn't even realize how much I suffered from culture shock until I read "Culture Shock!" Particually helpful were the author's comments on the difference in Western and Eastern concepts of personal space, public space and privacy.

I wish that I had a copy of this book five years ago! My wife is from Morocco, I've traveled there several times and stayed with her traditional Moroccan family - and lived elsewhere in the Middle East a total of four years. This book really could have made me worry less about committing cultural blunders had I had it sooner. Unlike many "insider" guides, this book's author really knows what he's talking about. His insights, observations and advice are keen and accurate - unlike so many other books that deal with the often misunderstood cultures of the Arab/Muslim World and are so often plagued with ignorance and stereotypes. I would highly recommended this book to anyone traveling to Morocco who is going to be dealing with Moroccans on a personal or business basis. The book covers everything from the religious views and mentality of the people to their sexual attitudes and about everything else in between - including just general good manners. I especially like the "test" section where the author describes a difficult situation that one may be caught in (such as your host continually demanding that you eat more) and then gives three or four multiple-choice options. The situations were so well chosen and the answers so accurate and well thought-out that my wife and I actually got a good laugh out of most of them. I could almost say that a typical tourist could probably do without this book, since much of it deals with situations that most tourists who stay at a hotel, and just go shopping and sight-seeing, will never encounter. However, after witnessing first-hand all to often the cultural insensitivity of my fellow American countrymen and women, I think that reading this book could certainly promote more open-minded thinking and understanding. At the least, it will certainly enhance one's understanding of Morocco and its people. I was so impressed with this book that I plan on getting copies for my sister and any other relatives who plan to visit Morocco with me. It'll certainly help them out.