Shake hands with people on every possible occasion, even people you know well and people whom you have already seen once that day or that week.Gaffes to avoid and pleasantries to observe have been noted in passing throughout this book. Here collected in one place are pointers for social conduct that will help you to blend in seamlessly with the locals.
Shake hands with people on every possible occasion, even people you know well and people whom you have already seen once that day or that week.
Kiss people of the same sex on both cheeks when greeting, multiple times if you wish, if they make a gesture to do so.
Invite Moroccans to your home as a way of returning hospitality. This is more suitable than taking a ‘hospitality gift’ with you to their house.
Take the time to exchange lengthy greetings with your Moroccan friends, inquiring about everything you can think of and answering all of their questions.
Plan to stay for some time—a couple of hours at the very least—when you are invited to a Moroccan’s home.
Be assertive, forthright and confident in all of your dealings with merchants, vendors, clerks, officials and others you meet in public. Otherwise, you’ll be regarded as a pushover.
Wear modest clothing at all times. This is particularly important for young women who want to avoid unwanted attention from men in public.
Take off your shoes when you enter a room with a carpet on the floor, and leave them where others have left their shoes.
Inquire about the health or well-being of your male friend’s wife or marriageable daughter, if you are a male. It is not suitable to express interest in this way.
Touch anyone on the face; it is inviolable personal space.
Offer food to guests or companions after you have eaten from it. Offer it before you have eaten from it.
Use your left hand to touch people, to hand over money or to touch merchandise (especially food). Do not put your left hand anywhere that is for the common use of people, such as a fountain or spring. Use your right hand instead.
Enter a mosque unless you are a Muslim.
Treat beggars rudely or confrontationally.
Reprimand or criticise a Moroccan who is your social equal in a group or public setting. If there is a problem, deal with it personally or indirectly, using other people as go-betweens.
By the same token, don’t tolerate rude or disrespectful behavior from children or from anyone who is your social inferior; this will seriously compromise your dignity.
Eat or drink in public during Ramadan.
Offer your hand to shake the hand of a gloved or veiled woman; but if she offers first it is okay to shake hands.
Sit with your legs outstretched pointing at another person. If you are sitting on the floor or on low cushions, it is best to sit cross-legged, with your legs folded under you, or with your knees drawn up.