So I just got back from Morocco, and wow, it was an experience. Have you ever heard those people who say they went to Europe and it changed their perspective on things? Don't listen to them. You don't know change in perspective until you've gone to Africa. I can't even explain it here...but Europe is so similar to the U.S. After going to a not quite third world (probably second world) country it really makes you think and realize how similar all of Europe is to the U.S. I didn't think I'd feel all this but it was such a shock just being there. It's impossible to fit the feelings and sense on a camara- the snake charmers, the people chasing after you with monkeys, the poverty. Truthfully, I think I liked it better than Spain, although that might just be because I was only there four days. The food however was definetely better. The're alot poorer, but with what they have they make tastier, healthier, more varied and more interesting food. More interesting? yeah by that I mean live chameleons and ground up ferrets....
It also made me realize how tied to fear we all are. There were terrorist attacks and bombings in Morocco in 2003 and everyone was saying how dangerous it was and how the food is contaminated and how the people will rip you off and rob you. It is a VERY different culture, I think 98% of the population is islam, but I realized that all the people who had told me these things had never actually been to Morocco or any similar country for that matter. Everything they had told us were based off bad stereotypes and fears. With these bad stereotypes and fears they never visited these countries, so they continued believing them. When being there you notice that its a very different culture, but it's really not any more dangerous than New York or Madrid at night. With these ideas that everyone has about these people though, they don't seem human, and we see everyone of that profile as "terrorists" or "scary". No problem killing them if thats all they are. When you get there you see that the very reason the U.S. doesn't want people traveling to these countries is because they'll realize that. Our stereotypes have us bound, tied, and brainwashed.
On another funnier note, I only brought three pairs of pants to Spain. They are all a little small, so ever since october when I've been wearing them I've kept the button unbuttoned to give me soe extra space. This has of course brought some comments from friends and other people. However, I was walking down the main road yesterday after getting off the train and saw there was a new clothing store which had mnnequins posing in the store window. Upon furthey observations I noticed they all had the button of their pants unbuttoned with the zipper up, as I always have mine, fashionably showing off the first couple centimeters of their boxers. If this becomes a fashion or a fad I am going to be...I don't know what. Very surprised and entertained and probably a little disconcerted.
And for a good by I found this really good comment article in the guardian.http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,1462290,00.htmlhere are some excerpts-
"Fittingly, a government devoted to perpetual pre-emptive deconstruction now has a standing office of perpetual pre-emptive reconstruction"
"The stories of corruption and incompetence mask this deeper scandal: the rise of a predatory form of disaster capitalism that uses the desperation created by catastrophe to engage in radical social and economic engineering"
read it
And I'm going to País vasco this weekend, another "terrorist refuge" (¡oh no!) And then I believe I'll be traveling to...um, let me see...oh yeah, home! I'm excited and I miss everyone. See you all soon!
