It's been a couple of years since Jillian moved from the USA to Morocco, where she teaches English. She shares some aspects of what it's like living in Meknes, such as the cost of living, her determination to learn the language, and the hospitality of the Moroccans.	Jillian C York

-Where were you born?
The U.S.

-In which country and city are you living now?
Meknes, Morocco

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live with my husband, whom I met here.

-How long have you been living in Morocco?
For about two years.

-What is your age?
25

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Morocco?
I studied Arabic at a university here while I was still in college, which gave me the impetus to come back someday. After a year of working, I decided it was time and sought a job in the country, eventually finding one teaching English. I had always wanted to live abroad, but never actually got around to doing it.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
A visa wasn't required, but getting a working permit is a bit of a pain - once you have a job and a contract, you have to deal with months of bureaucracy - going back and forth from the police, obtaining all sorts of unheard-of papers...

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
No, it was part of my contract, my job provides it.

-How do you make your living in Morocco? Do you have any type of income generated?
I found my job before going - at daveseslcafe.com I think. I had also e-mailed a lot of other schools in Morocco that weren't hiring. I also do some freelance writing, but teaching is what pays the bills.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
In Morocco, a dialect of Arabic is the local tongue, and French is the second language. I intentionally didn't study French in order to better learn the Arabic dialect (called "darija"), since speaking French automatically means the "locals" will speak French with you. I've been pretty successful at learning darija, but still don't speak French!

As for respecting local customs, while I think it's very important, I also think that people can go overboard. Morocco, for example, is a Muslim country, but just as diverse in thought as anywhere else. Therefore, it is possible for expats here to have widely varied experiences, depending on where they live. I find that being myself, while maintaining an awareness of customs and traditions (especially religious ones), works best for me.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Of course! Most of all, I miss my parents, but they've managed to visit once, and we met up in Europe last year. Having a husband now really helps, and we adopted a cat too. As for activities, I spend most of my time involved in work-related things, but we like to go out with our friends, even just for a stroll.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
My husband and I are planning to go to the U.S. fairly soon, as we both want to continue our education. After that, we plan to try a new country!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We rent an extremely spacious apartment in the new part of the city for about $250/month - it has a Western bathroom, but didn't come with anything else, not even a stove!

-What is the cost of living in Morocco?
The cost of living in Morocco is pretty low, fortunately. Packaged food is slightly less expensive than in the US, and fresh food is a lot cheaper, especially fruits and veggies! We don't drive, which is good because that's a lot more expensive than back home. Internet/phone is about the same, but we find that we spend a lot less money just on everyday items, so it isn't a big expense to splurge on.

-What do you think about the Moroccans?
Moroccans are some of the most hospitable people in the world! When I first came here and knew no one, many people (including my now husband) invited me home to eat with their families. Moroccans generally treat foreigners very well, but with one exception: The streets are considered to be men's territory, and any women walking alone is fair game for sexual harassment, which is really unfortunate, because some of these same men would be extremely kind to foreigners in other situations.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Morocco?
Positive: cheap food, cheap handicrafts, lots of things to see and do, public transportation is cheap, people are welcoming, I love my job.

Negative: The way men treat women in public (that's my #1 annoyance), the fact that some people try to convert you to Islam without any interest in who you are, occasional bits of closed-mindedness

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Morocco?
Absolutely! Go to Morocco with an open mind, and definitely don't forget your camera! I would also advise learning as much Arabic as possible before you go - even though the dialect spoken in Morocco is different, it's helpful to know the alphabet first.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Morocco?
The Morocco Report - This is my blog, a blog about all things Morocco, from the most recent news to personal experiences and photographs.

Cat in Rabat - an hilarious blog that will ring true to anyone who has lived in Morocco!

Africa FAQ - the best FAQ about Morocco, which also includes the most comprehensive hotel search Morocco

NewsLine - a new English-language news site about Morocco

The View From Fez - A fantastic blog from Fez, Morocco which covers all things Fassi