• this world is not my home

I've lived in multiple countries and multiple locations in some of them. There are wonderful things in each location, and things that are less than desirable to me in each. Recognizing this has shaped me and made me into a different, hopefully better, person.

One bummer with this is that wherever I go, I manage to miss something. Truthfully, I am generally content, but it is weird to sit in a wonderful Moroccan restaurant in Casablanca and wish I could order Mexican food, or to sit in a Mexican restaurant in Arizona and wish I could order Moroccan food. Don't get me started about German bratwurst and sauerkraut and how many times I wished I could find some as good as the one I ate from the Thüringer region.

On one side of the Atlantic Ocean I miss American football, good live rock'n'roll, old friends and family. I miss being able to hold a deep and interesting discussion in English with people who understand the subtle nuances of my puns. I miss easy and quick access to bookstores with a large selection of books in my native language. I miss always knowing how the plumbing works and the security of knowing that a toilet will pretty much always be available wherever I need one.

On the other side, I miss exotic smells that have now become normal, spices, streets flowing like rivers with a mixture of people, cars, donkeys, horses, and motor bikes all in the same space.I miss speaking Arabic, French, Spanish and English in the same sentence.  I miss being able to buy leather goods from the people who tanned the leather and sewed the pieces together, tapestries and carpets from the families of those who weaved or knotted them, and being around people who are not annoyed when children act like children in public.

What do you miss?

I can totally relate...in an odd way.  In the states, I go to college in a tiny town (approximately 1500 on a good day.)  I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa (approximately 500,000.)  When I visit my family, I want to get away from all the cars, lights, sounds, distractions, etc.  But when I'm home, I want to go do things that are available in Des Moines or other large cities. 

With that said, now that I am overseas I miss both.  I would take either of them just to have something familiar.  I'm experiencing a lot of new things every day-like cultural taboo's, language, etc.  At times it is overwhelming, but during those times, I'm reminded that people are people no matter where I go.  It's encouraging to know that even though I miss things about the states, there will be things I am going to miss about Morocco when I go back.  I won't even begin listing what I think they are because they are going to be different than what I assume they're going to be.

I was driving about a month ago and got pulled over by a policeman in Morocco. He asked for my vehicle registration, proof of insurance, annual vehicle tax receipt, and driver's license. As he looked at them, he asked to see something I had never heard of, "Where is your annual 'Visite Technique,' or Tech exam, statement?

I answered, "My what?"

It turns out that once a car is five years old you are required to have it pass an inspection each year to be sure it is road worthy. I think this is a great idea, but I had never heard of it in this country. I sheepishly replied, "I'm sorry. I didn't know I was supposed to do that. I've lived here seven years and this is honestly the first time I have ever heard that."

You know what? The policeman believed me and gave me grace. That was totally cool.

You know what else? I went in as soon as I could and got the car inspected...and it passed.

I have had my photos printed (and before that, developed) by the same person since I moved to this city. I walk in, he recognizes me, I give him a USB memory card with photos on it (or earlier, film) and tell him what I want, he tells me when to come back. We don't talk about price, I don't need a receipt or ticket, none of that. When I return, he has a total for me that has always been fair, and my pictures are ready. I will miss how easy this process is when I move.