-Where were you born?
I was born in London, England.

-In which country and city are you living now?
I am now living in Marrakech, Morocco.

-Are you living alone or with your family?
With my husband - our two grown children are in London and New York.

-How long have you been living in Morocco?
We have been living here permanently for two years, having visited often for ten.

-What is your age?
58

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Morocco?
We used to come to Morocco every spring and fell in love with the sunshine and the people.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
We still maintain visitors visas and have to leave for one day every 90 days - we mostly visit family and friends.

Yes, you can get a residency permit if you supply various documents.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
We do not have medical insurance. I think it is quite possible to get it. Medical fees seem reasonable here.

-How do you make your living in Morocco? Do you have any type of income generated?
I am a freelance journalist but most of my income comes from the US. My husband is a painter. I have done some substitute teaching here.

-Do you speak Arabic and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
We are learning the local dialect of Arabic. It is really important to learn simple shopping words and social greetings. It's quite difficult but really worth the effort. People smile at you and applaud your efforts. We try to be very respectful of local customs. We are visitors in their country and as the old saying goes....when in Rome do as the Romans do.......

It is important to wear modest dress - not good to look like a UK or US pop starlet either! Some middle-aged tourists really do not seem to understand this!

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I miss having a dishwasher! They are available but we have a small house.

With the internet I am able to keep in touch with family and friends very easily. I would be lost without it.

In the evenings we visit friends, restaurants, watch pod casts and read. You can get Oprah and Dr. Phil on the TV, also CNN but we are happy without.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
We are happy here but may well live in Italy in the future.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We have bought a small 500-year-old house with a courtyard. Very ancient - very charming and very inexpensive by British or US standards

-What is the cost of living in Morocco?
Lower than the US, much less than Europe but getting more expensive.

Wonderful fruits and vegetables are very inexpensive.

Household help is also much cheaper - and the people need the work.

Heating and lighting are cheaper than in Europe.

-What do you think about the Moroccans?
Local people are very welcoming. It's harder to get to know local women who tend to be quite private.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Morocco?
Morocco is a most beautiful country with wonderful people. It is young and energetic and looking to the future.

On the negative side there are far too many mopeds which cause pollution - on the other hand they are a cheap way for people to get around.

Bargaining can get tiresome sometimes. I prefer things to be price fixed. However some people love this..........!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Morocco?
Be aware that Moroccan expectations are different than in the US or UK.

People take life at a more leisurely pace. It is no use being in a hurry all the time.

It is amazingly diverse, colorful and beautiful

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Morocco?
For much more detail and lots of pictures of our life here in the Medina go to thehouseinmarrakesh.blogspot.com. This has lots of pictures of life in Marrakech - note spelling with an 's' in Marrakech.

or

The House in Marrakech (ewix.wordpress.com)