Mid-Terms Exam

I cannot believe Im already two weeks into my Moroccan experience, but alas it is true.

I've had a couple of experiences in the past few days that were especially testing, and it feels a lot like midterms.

I went to the clothing market to buy some sunglasses. I looked around for a half an hour before finding a vendor with which I could communicate well in French. Then began the negotiations. Before I left I read a few books on Moroccan culture and traditions and most of it has been completely useless. The only exception has been the haggling with prices for which I picked up several useful tips:

1)-Never give the first number, and never look like you're trying to buy what you actually are-
I come up and ask how much the "rolex" watch is. He starts selling me hard on watches and then after I get a feel for how he negotiates, happen to notice the sunglasses. I catch him off guard and get him to give the price: 60 durhams.

2)-A common strategy for lowering the price is pointing out imperfections and implying that it is of low quality. The vendor will refute these claims. Cite other vendor's prices as significantly lower-
"60 durhams for this piece of crap? Look here it's scratched, this breaks sooo easily I could snap this with one hand."
"No no look at this one it's better, it looks better on you."
"This one? The guy across the street has these same glasses for 30 durham." (which was a lie)

3)-They will pretend like its a done deal even if you dont consent, never hold a product in a bag-
"30 durham? No its not possible, Here 40 Durham that's good price" [he starts to put them in a bag"
"No, no deal, I'm not paying 40 durham. 25."
"25? I sell these [gestures towards kids glasses] for 25. Here 30 durham."

Now while my travel guide got him to cut the price in half (to what I wanted to pay), I pulled out some Tony Passarello car buying advise:
4)-Dont be afraid to physically walk away-
"Oh now you sell for 30? No. 25."
"Not possible, no, no, 30 as low as I can go"
"Fine I'll just by from the guy across the street, he didnt try to cheat me" [I turn my hips and walk away]

25 durhams light, I am now the proud owner of a pair of Ray Dans.


Also fitting with the theme, I proctored an Arabic exam, and by proctored I mean sat in the front of the room and pretended like I knew what was going on. Given the fact that I dont speak Arabic I dont think I was qualified to answer questions regarding the test, and given I dont speak Darija I dont think I was qualified to answer questions like "can I go to the bathroom." Luckily there were neither.

I hop in the grand taxi and remark how unremarkable it has become. I throw around the 7 Darija words I know like they're nothing. I get back to the appartement, make myself some lunch and a pot of tea. I realize that I dont have anything planned for the weekend so I quickly look up the train times to Rabat. I now have plans for the weekend.

I meet Imad at 6 for some tea. Imad is being a really good host and I very much appreciate the social contact. That, and the man knows where to get a tea with a view:
I had planned to go see a movie tonight, but I opted for sleep instead. That and the guy at the theater really pissed me off:
"Hello I would like one ticket for the 21h30 showing"
"Im sorry that's not possible"
"Oh is it sold out"
"What movie?"
"The only one showing at 21h30, Fleur de Mal"
"No that's showing on Saturday"
[I leave, check the movie times and come back]
"Nope, it's playing at 21h30 tonight"
"....oh"
If you work in the ticket booth of a movie theater that has 2 movies, ya think you'd know when they are?
(I heavily debated putting that in all caps despite my dislike for all caps writing)
I thought it might be a language problem, but I keep replaying the French in my head and it was grammatically correct. Now I recognize that my French accent isnt the best in the world but c'mon man.