Practical advice for a North African study abroad

When I studied in Morocco last semester, I was blind-sided by the differences I noticed there. Over time, I learned to be resourceful in this new culture. The following are my tips for survival while studying in North Africa.\nThe first thing you'll want to do when you get to Morocco is find a bathroom. Expect to spend the first few weeks with this as your top priority. If you're lucky, you will find a nice café or hotel where there is a western-style commode complete with bright pink toilet paper. If you are unlucky, the good news is that "squat toilets" give your thighs a decent workout. Be careful to roll up your pant legs and bring a packet of Kleenex with you because chances are there will be no paper in sight. Fill the bucket next to you with water from the spigot and flush. Remember to wash up afterward because ritual cleanliness is a must.\nNext, you'll probably want to find something to eat. The cheapest place to buy food is in the daily market. Avoid the severed goat heads, stinky fish and chicken -- if you have a hankering for KFC, you'll have to buy a live bird. Buy some fruit you can peel, some bread, some Laughing Cow cheese and a bottle of water. \nDon't bargain for prices, although that skill will be useful next door at the souvenir shops. In addition, make absolutely sure you do not eat in public during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast during the day. It is generally impolite to eat in public anyway. For a traditional meal with the host family, eat from your corner of the communal plate, using pieces of bread to scoop up vegetables and meat. I recommend the mint tea and chicken tagine. There is no word in Arabic for "vegetarian" or "vegan," so the only way to get meat-free food is to explain that you have an extremely fatal protein allergy.\nAt some point, all Americans head for the cyber café. If you have to do homework or fill out graduate school applications, be prepared for printing problems and faxes at $10 a page. The keyboards will also be in French format, so qll your ,essqges zill look like this. Moroccans use MSN Messenger or Yahoo!, but you can get AIM Express from the AOL Web site. With your e-mails sent, you'll have to find your way home. Women may encounter some street harassment on the way, but it is all bark and no bite. Don't react, don't give out your phone number and laugh about it later. It is annoying, but not at all dangerous.\nLost? Too bad! There is no accurate map of the city. You can ask for help if you speak Arabic, Tamazight or French. Just head in the general direction of where you think you live. You'll find it eventually, and in the meantime it doesn't hurt to explore.