A Part-time Prostitute V

One evening I heard footsteps on the corridor, heels to be exact from two different pair and female voices. Well, my room was next the main door, so yeah I heard basically everything. Anyways, it was bit unusual given that only two people live in that flat, me and her. My parents don't have time to visit and her family never visited her, so I got curious.

The very next morning, I went to buy some supplies and the shopkeeper briefed me, of course. 

" - I heard that your flatmate has visitors?

- Really? I don't know.

- Yes, I saw them yesterday around 8, all high-heeled and with huge suitcases.

- Aha.

- I can't hide it but they look suspicious.

- Aha. Are you done?

- Yes, I mean it is not my business, but you see we live in this conservative neighborhood with families and stuff. It is just.., those girls are suspicious."

I bit my tongue to stop me from asking him about the girls he keeps bringing to his apartment every night. Because guess what, he lives in the apartment upstairs. I bit my tongue to stop myself from busting him. Because guess what, I saw him tiptoeing up the stairs one night. Whatever!

I had quite a busy week. I didn't get the chance to meet with the visitors nor chitchat with my flatmate. By Saturday, she came knocking on my door around 9 in the evening, and inviting me to her room to introduce me to her friends. I wanted to refuse but well, I went. 

Two girls, one my age and another younger, smoking like chimney. Fake nails, hair-extension, lowest V-necks ever and jeans about to bust open. The girl my age was white, with vision glasses, black hair and cute smile. The other one, dark-skinned with a hoarse voice, long black and light-brown hair, tie and dye style, rather pretty and appeared to be rude. We greeted each other and conversation flowed. The dark skinned happened to be my flatmate's bartender friend's daughter  and the other girl is her friend; both are living in Turkey and coming to Morocco for vacation; both working in bars as waitresses. That explains a lot. They summoned me to inform me that one of the most famous nightclubs in Tangier sent them an offer and they needed company: one free liquor bottle of their choice for a bunch of 5 girls. Three of them, me and some other girl we should find/invite asap. 

I just phased out from the conversation, making a mental list of the reasons I won't join them. 

1. I have mid-terms to study for and two presentations to prepare;

2. I don't drink/smoke;

3. I am broke;

4. I have nothing to wear (that's gonna be a lame reason, bearing in mind the amount of clothes scattered over that room, on the sofas, on top of the suitcases, on the floor...

5. My hair is a mess;

6. I don't have any other female friend into clubbing.

So I opted for excuse 1 and 6. They hated me for that but well. 

I stayed for a cup of tea and it was really interesting. The way they interacted with each other was strange to me. They acted like sisters and enemies. My first impression was proved. The girl with the glasses, with her naive features and petite physique, is the actual brains. The rude-appearing one was actually sweet but her appearance would made it hard to appreciate her for herself. They started talking about guys, cheating, sugar daddies and a lot of concepts I never heard of until then. And of course, they made fun of my non-drinking non-smoking character.

Morocco, Moroccans and Sub-Saharan Illegal Immigrants

Once again, the issue of the Sub-Saharan immigrants resurfaces. Moroccan society is truly and literally divided over this issue, especially after a clash between Moroccans and illegal immigrants in Casablanca a couple of days ago. Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Safi, Essaouira and other Moroccan cities have known a significant flux of illegal immigrants from countries down South, along with Syrians refugees. Those aim at crossing the borders to Ceuta or Melilla or reaching the greener side, Europe. Some are still waiting for the so-longed for opportunity to cross or reach; some have reached the greener side, got caught and were repatriated while others, unfortunately, died trying.

 

©Mathiew Willcocks, World Press Photo

A significant number of Moroccans think that the government and the authorities should repatriate any individual from African Countries, as they are not welcome into Morocco due to their behaviors, difference or simply race that tarnish the image of Morocco worldwide. Their argument is that many of those illegal immigrants stuck in Morocco are working as drugs dealers, beggars, pickpockets or running prostitution networks. "We don't want those “Aawaza” (blacks) in our country", one old woman said in taxi conversation, "I fear that there will come a day when they would colonize us and claim our lands as theirs. What would happen then to us and to our children". "Look around us, 'Africans' are everywhere", added the taxi driver, "they don't do us any good, and after the King's order to regulate their situation and to issue residence permits to them, they will be empowered more than they already are".

Such un-educated opinions are a combo of racial, religion and other differences mainly. "They don't respect us, neither respect our religion, culture and traditions", said one Facebook comment, "you know why that incident happened (in reference to the clash between Moroccans and illegal immigrants), it happened because one or many of them harassed one Moroccan girl in the street and two Moroccans interfered to help her; the harassers got backup and the girl called backup, her family and neighbors, and things got out of hands urging police intervention". "The government is to blame. When they saw Euros, they agreed to take those immigrants blindly without considering the aftermaths. We don’t know who they are, they might be rapists, criminals, or killers escaping justice." One comment in a Moroccan online newspaper stated. Some go as far as refusing to rent houses to 'Africans', simply because they are 'Africans or because they are 'loud', 'dirty' and tend to overcrowd the houses.

 

Credits: le360.ma

On the other hand, aside from any racial or biased prejudices, many citizens think that Morocco has its hands full with the current interior conditions. “As much as we want to welcome our brothers and sisters into our country, as much as we fear that with the increase of unemployment and illiteracy, difficulties facing the educational system, stumbling heath institutions, and the like, the country would fail both of us ”, stated a comment on Facebook.” As a matter of fact, Morocco is bound by many partnership and cooperation agreements with European countries, mainly Portugal, Spain, France and Italy regarding illegal immigrants coming from Morocco and other African countries. In fact, most of these agreements appoint Morocco as a border "guard" to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into Europe and to abort any attempts to reach the other bank by fighting against illegal immigration mafias.

 

©Sergi Camara - The Guardian

Such mission forces Morocco, its government authorities and security services to deplore plenty of its resources to ensure the "guarding" mission. In addition, depending on each agreement, Morocco is not only expected to guard the borders but also to receive and welcome the repatriated immigrants into its territory, not only Moroccans, but also immigrants from other African countries and ensure their rights and reintegration. That alone will take all Morocco's focus, concentration and resources, as NGO's, Human Rights organizations, and binding treaties and agreements are regularly supervising and monitoring the situation.

European aids and funds to carry such "guarding" mission only are not sufficient. Such issue needs strategies and methods that Morocco is not capable of making. Take Germany and other European "developed" countries for example, they have had their hands full when managing the flux of refugees; Then what would Morocco, a country under development, do? As a result of the lack of such strategic and well-built approaches ensuring a suitable life for those immigrants, many citizens strongly recommend that Morocco itself should repatriate the immigrants to their home countries for public benefit.

[ 

Credits: Fondation Orient - Occident[

It is not like there are not any illegal Moroccan immigrants in Europe or elsewhere - or at least Moroccans who used to be illegal immigrants before the regulation of their situations. In this regard, I share with many the belief that society, associations and individuals should take part in the reintegration of those illegal immigrants, through organizing events to introduce the Moroccan culture, traditions and lifestyle, to establish mutual understanding of each other’s differences and to help improve the lives of those immigrants, interacting with them without prejudices and treating them right, after all, notwithstanding color, language, faith or status, they are human beings.

Foundation Occident Orient is a great illustration of such reintegration. It provides assistance and help to immigrants and refugees. It provides a platform for those immigrants to reintegrate society and to meet with, discover and exchange with Moroccans. Another example of this integration is the African Cultural Center in Rabat that promotes African culture in Morocco and the exchange between Moroccans, Sub-Saharan immigrants and non-Moroccans residents through organizing cultural days, souks (markets), art exhibitions and so forth.

I personally have come across many immigrants who integrated the Moroccan society. Some have earned their residence permits, found jobs, married Moroccans or brought their wives from home, even learnt Darija (Moroccan Arabic) and started a living in Morocco either by working as musicians, dance teachers, sellers, journeymen, beauticians, laborers and sadly beggars; some are still waiting for the regulation of their status while others, unfortunately, are still pursuing the dream to reach the other side.

 

©Walid Bendra, Instagram

If you visit the Twin Center, you will find beauty shops owned by non-Moroccan Africans. If you go to Bab Chellah in Rabat, or Rue Rabat in Safi, you will witness with your own eyes the interactions between Moroccans and non-Moroccans. My Shea butter supplier is a Senegalese. My sister's hairdresser is Congolese. And I even learnt the "tchiiip" from an Ivorian beautician.

In sum, I agree with the worries of Moroccans regarding public safety. I believe that Morocco and other African countries should bind their efforts to manage this issue, especially now that Morocco reclaimed its seat back in the African Union. And If Europe appointed Morocco to do the dirty work in exchange of funds and aids, other African countries need to lend a helping hand to find solution, be it the governments or NGOs. Immigrants, legal or illegal, repatriated or stuck in Morocco are human beings who left their home countries escaping wars and hardships looking forward to better life conditions. They need assistance and help. They need to enjoy their rights as human beings as well as assume duties. They not only need to obtain legal status but also need to have access to social security, to education, and to health care. Morocco, unfortunately, cannot achieve such accomplishments alone.

A Part-time Prostitute IV

"I think I am in love!", she said one evening. Dreamy shining eyes, silly smile on her lips and a cigarette between her chubby fingers. "I think am in love, girl. No, I am in love".

Oh no! 

"But wait, lemme open the window, I don't want my hair to stink."

"Do you remember the guy I told you about once. The high school teacher that I met in the bar where my friend works back in Meknes? The guy I ignored most of that evening? I remember telling you about him.

It turned out that he really liked me that evening and later on, he requested my phone number from my friend and started calling me. I didn't think about him seriously, neither liked him back then; He is not my type and younger than me."

"Then what changed?"

"I don't know, it just happened. When you were away for the holidays, I got really lonely. We talked a lot, day and night, and he grew on me. We have lot in common. We, both, are away from our family. We, both, bore responsibility at early age. We both are single obviously. So yeah! 

"So he is living in Meknes?

"No, his family is in Meknes but his work is located in Taounate, so he only visits his family during holidays or given weekends. So we hit it off. Talking over the phone and texting. Here, let me show you his picture.

Me: "humm he doesn't look his age!"

"No. So when you were away for the holiday. We decided to meet in Meknes. So it happened. We met at the same bar, drunk together and chitchatted and agreed to meet again. When he knew that I love red wine, he ordered a whole bottle. He invited me to visit him in place and I agreed."

Me: "So you are going all the way to visit him?"

"Yes, it's an opportunity to meet him outside, you know, to get to know him better."

"Your work?"

"I'll take Friday and Saturday morning"

"Ok then, be save"

What to tell her? The woman already made up her mind, her bag was already packed.

-----------------------------

Knocking on my door, still carrying her bag, just got back from her trip. 

"Giiiiirl, come, come I got plenty to tell you! And I brought nougat! I know it's your weakness.

This weekend. It was the best of my life. It was just peeeeeeeeerfect!

So, when I arrived to Taounate, I found him waiting for me at the taxi station and everything. We headed home. It was dark. Nobody saw us, I think. Anyways, when we got in, the lights were on. And guess what? He prepared dinner and bought wine. RED WINE, my fav. Can you believe it?, he remembered. 

"يا باخلا بالوصل"

"يا من هواه أعزه وأذلني

 كيف السبيل إلى وصالك دلني

 وتركتني حيران صباً هائماً

 أرعى النجوم وأنت في نوم هني

 عاهدتني أنْ لا تميل عن الهوى

 وحلفت لي يا غصن أن لا تنثني

 هبّ النسيم ومال غصنُ مثله

 أين الزمان وأين ما عاهدتني

 جاد الزمان وأنت ما واصلتني

 يا باخلاً بالوصل أنت قتلتني

واصلتني حتى ملكت حشاشتي

 ورجعتَ من بعد الوصال هجرتني

 الهجر من بعد الوصال قطيعة

 يا ليت من قبل الوصال تركتني

 أنت الذي حلفتني وحلفت لي

 وحلفت أنك لا تخون فخنتني

 لما ملكت قياد سرى بالهوى

 وعلمت أني عاشق لك خنتني

ولأقعدن على الطريق فاشتكى

في زي مظلوم وأنت ظلمتني

 ولأشكينك عند سلطان الهوى

 ليعذبنك مثل ما عذبتني

 ولأدعين عليك في جنح الدجى

 فعساك تبلى مثل ما أبليتني"

............................ سعيد بن أحمد بن سعيد

I مرفئ آخر

وها قد رست سفني في مرفئ آخر. وهذه المرة، ليست بهدف الدراسة ولكن من أجل "طرف" خبز. حي جديد، بيت جديد، سرير جديد، كل شئ جديد إلا أنا، البالية. لا الطريق كانت سهلة ولا الرياح صبا.

بعد طنجة، رجعت إلى الديار، إلي حضن أمي الدافئ وإلي درع أبي الواقي وإلي تصابي أختي المتصابي وإلى حجرتي الفتون وبيدي ورقة، دبلوم لم يختزل من عامي المعانات والحراك والبؤس والفرح والجروح التي مافتئت تندمل إلا نجاح. لما لم يذكروا الليالي البيضاء؟ لما لم يذكروها؟ لما لم يذكروا العاهرة ليلا والعفيفة نهارا؟ لما لم يذكروا الدموع والركوع؟ لما لم يذكروا الليالي الحمراء والخمر والميسر ودم العذراء؟ لما لم يذكروا الكتائب العسكرية والطاكتيك وحراك البؤساء؟ لما لم يذكروا اللقاءات والعناقات والآمال المعلقات؟ لما لم يذكروا الصداقات والصفقات والوعود الخذل؟ لما لم يذكروا الأمواج واعوجاجها تحت أعيننا الدامعة؟  لما لم يذكروا الحب وهل تعرف ما معنى الحب وموت الحمار؟ ورقة وحفلة وصياح بأسماء وتصفيق وضحك ذقون.

رجعت إلى الديار وعرضت علي وظيفة وسميت الله وقبلتها. وظيفة لطالما مدحوها لي ومزاياها وما سأتعلم منها. وبالفعل كان ذلك. تعلمت الكثير وربما فاتني أكثر. وضعت كلما تعلمته تحت الاختبار ولم يخب فيﱠ الظن. وأصبحت جيبا وقت الضرب على الأجيب ولجامي بين يدي أول الشهر وتعاستي بعد كل يوم ثاني كل شهر. أوراق أوراق أوراق. أصبحت خبيرة في شؤون الزواج ومساطر الطلاق. -- أنصح كل مقبلة على الزواج، لا تفرحي بالزغاريد والحناء وتشبتي بمؤخر الصداق والنفقة والمتعة واجعلي مالك ملكك باسمك قبل الكتاب ووياك ثم وياك أن تثقي بابن حواء، ففي فقلبه أربع حفرات والشرع أعطاه أربع طلقات فإعطه العصمة وتصبحين واحدة من زوجات 'متولي' الأخريات.—وتعلمت كيف تبتى ملفات الزيجات المختلطة والخطوات والأسئلة المطروحة خلال لقاءات الحصول على التأشيرات واطلعت عن قرب على وثائق من العم سام والعديد من البلدان الأخرى وعلى شهادات الوفاة والازدياد والتجنيس والعزوبة والبطالة والرصائد البنكية والميزات المدرسية والمواريث والملكيات و و و وأصبحت أخشى الوصوصة.

ومضت الأيام متشابهة لدرجة أن البقال المجاورللعمل يُحضر لي طلبي حالما أقبل عليه، لدرجة أن زميلي في العمل يسألي كل صباح كيف لم أمل من فطور خبز الزرع والجبن والعسل وعصير الموز بالفواكه الجافة دون سكر وغذاء المقرونية واللحم المفروم والجين ووجبة خفيفة الفول السوداني وقطع الشكولاطة السوداء، كل يوم لمدة سنة ونصف أو أكثر. أغير بعضا إلا الفطور، لا أدري لما لم أمل من ذلك الفطور. ربما كنت أحاول التعود: أكل، شرب، نوم، عمل، أكل، شرب، نوم، عمل، أكل، شرب، نوم، عمل، أكل، شرب، نوم، عمل........ حتى نصحني أحدهم بالرياضة، لا لأنني أعاني من السمنة أو الكسل، بل لكسر الروتين ليصبح أكل، شرب، نوم، عمل، رياضة، أكل، شرب، نوم، عمل، رياضة، أكل، شرب، نوم، عمل، رياضة،......  حتى قررت ذات آخر أسبوع أن أسافر إلا طنجة أزور بعض الأصدقاء. لم أنم ليلتها فرحا، كأنني سأسافر للأول مرة، كأني سأطير لأول مرة، وكل المرات الأولى. عند الوصول، فضلت المشئ، فالتاكسي سيطير بي إلا الوجهة وأنا أود الاحتساء جرعة جرعة. أحسست عندها بالحرية والفرحة والحياة والنوستالجيا،.....بعد أشهر من الرقود والضمور وأكل، وشرب، ونوم، وعمل، ورياضة.

........................................................................................................................يتبع

  

A Sola Backpacker - Part V

My first step on the national road, l found a little seahorse, totally preserved and dried up by the sun. I examined it, it still has those little rough edges. I wondered how it arrived there as the port is quite far away. A seahorse,  I was thrilled. That was my omen: That my trip is going to be dream-like. A seahorse!

Anyways, the road was fine, full of cars, trucks, motorbikes, not a single walker. Deep down I was expecting the worse to happen. A girl by herself on a road. But this didn't discourage me. After all, I knew it is going to be so. The only issue is that I was afraid to take my phone out of my pack and check the map to verify if I am still on track as I passed by many roads, to do the counts to know how much more road ahead. The only helpful thing is the marking of the remaining distance to Essaouira. That helped do the counts. To arrive to Tamraght, my first stop,  I had 16Km. Following my pace, I did 2Km per 30min. After a while I passed by Inza, without stopping. I continued to Aourir. 

Aourir, the city of bananas. I passed by shops full of banana from roof to bottom, drooling over them like a minion at banana sight. The monkey in me could not resist, so I stopped to have some of those small overly-sweet tasty bananas and of course pack some more for snacks. The seller was a heavily-wrinkled old man, wearing a faded brownish djellaba and a knitted hat. I salam'ed him and I asked him for the price of 1kg without really caring about his answer, yet it is the custom in here; asking before buying. He rose from his chair and started looking for his knife to cut me some from those tens of hanging banana branches. I watched his hands, dirty. not disgustingly dirty, but proudly dirty, wrinkled, sun-burnt in here and there with swollen fingers, because of the cold I guess. I told him that whomever passes by Aourir without stopping to taste Aourir's ripe bananas has eventually and unfortunately lost a lot; their life is senseless. His eye lit up and he granted me with a big smile from a nearly toothless mouth and said in Berber-accented Arabic "ayah" meaning yes. He then asked me if I spoke some Berber, I shyly said "Imik s'mik" meaning a little. Honestly, I only know a few.  

Upon resuming the walking, I asked some locals about how many hours/Km to arrive to Tamraght, one of them said that I have about 5Km to go. Off I went again.

A Sola backpacker - Part IV

Monday February 2nd, 2017, today, finally, I hit the road.

According to my trip plan, My departure is from Agadir. I decided to arrive to Agadir on Monday afternoon, spend the night in Agadir so I could rest from the 7-hours trip from Salé to Casablanca to Agadir and start the journey early in the morning.

Silly me, I thought that watching backpackers videos on YouTube will make me get my pack right but nooo. From the start, I didn't have the necessary clothes and equipment so I had to buy things. I stopped in Casablanca to get supplies. As I was in a hurry, I didn't arrange my clothes as I should have. I just stuffed them into my pack.

Once I arrived to my hotel room I decided to arrange my pack. I have noticed that I've packed things I might not use. Useless things mean extra weight, mean lower pace and fatigue given that I will be trekking all the way up to Taghazout, about 20km on foot. I had an extra pair of hiking shoes, pretty heavy and pretty worn out, 4 books and a notebook (kept the notebook and one books), cosmetic products (what was I thinking?) I had three options: throw these things, give them away or send them to my hometown. As they were pretty special to me, first thing in the morning, I sent them home. They weighted 2.5kg, imagine! 2.5kg off my back. That matter delayed me about 1:30 from the time I have set. Lesson learnt.

Anyways, at 11:30am, I was on the national road. Though Google maps pointed out the way, I had to ask around, policemen mostly, to get it right. And off I went.

Ps. I am still growing my backpack