Morocco vs. Pakistan

No, I'm not talking about a soccer match - it's just that ever since I've set foot in Morocco, I've been comparing this country with Pakistan, one of the countries where I grew up. Of course, it's been ten years since I've even been in Pakistan, so my observations are probably not accurate now. Anyway, here they are in no particular order -

1. Pakistan is much more densly populated - more cars, more beggers, more people, more hassling, more animals, etc.

2. Less staring here - OK, OK - I'm not 17 anymore, but seriously, Moroccans seem quite used to pale-faces around and I feel far less conspicuous than I did in Pakistan.

3. The form of Islam here is much, much more liberal - most evident in women's dress and the amount of alcohol available. The minarets here are all square - in Pakistan they are domed.

4. Both countries have fascinating histories with ancient sites all around - I am convinced this is one reason I love history so much having grown up in a place rich with it.

5. The old cities - both countries have them, but Morocco's are much more noticeable being surrounded by huge, fortified walls and gates.

6. "Mountains" in Morocco are 5,000+ ft. high. "Mountains" in Pakistan are 20,000+ ft. high. And, related to that - people in the States often seem surprised that either country has mountains and cold weather at all!

7. Both countries always have people always walking along the road no matter what the weather is, and abundant flocks of sheep, goats and cows are always randomly crossing the road (in SW Kansas, a stray cow makes the newspaper!).

8. The people in both countries are very hospitable, though in Pakistan more so.

9. I saw camels all over Pakistan - here? I haven't seen one! I think they are in the south.

10. Moroccan food is not spicy, but flavorful. Pakistani food is hot and delicious.

11. My favorite Pakistani/Afghan crafts are the rugs, cloth and pottery. Rugs here just don't match up - but I love the lighting, pottery and painted wood here.

12. We feel very safe here. The terrorist attack in Casablanca several years ago was met with such a nation-wide outrage that there has not been one since. In Pakistan, it seemed people almost got used to the violence/bombings (in the NW, anyway).

13. Pakistan drives on the left, Morocco on the right.

14. Morocco's proximity to Europe is evident everywhere. Not so in Pakistan.

15. There seems to be a great deal more wealth here. Malls, superstores - you name it - almost everything is available here in the major cities (not in Ifrane!). Having said that, the villages look a lot like Pakistan's - there is a huge discrepancy between the poor and the rich.

16. There is actually a Jewish population here, though much smaller than it used to be. I don't feel the anti-Jewish (or anti US for that matter) sentiments nearly as strongly in Morocco.

17. Everyone's second language here is French - in Pakistan, it is usually English - Why? The French colonized Morocco, the British colonized Pakistan (India at that time). Along with language, the evidence of colonization is very evident in both countries.

18. Morocco has a king, Pakistan is a federal democratic republic (yes, I had to look that up) with a president.

19. Both countries have refugees - Pakistan's are from Afghanistan, Morocco's are from sub-Saharan Africa - but Pakistan has had many more refugees for a much longer amount of time with constant unrest/war next door, affecting the entire country's resources.

20. Both countries have a disputed territory with ongoing issues - Western Sahara for Morocco, and Kashmir for Pakistan.

21. Being a mom here is a lot harder than being a kid there - my respect for my mother has increased!

22. Speaking of kids - I need to go!

Oh - one last thing - I love both countries!