chgoeditor

LLM, what language were you learning in Morocco?

OffToOz

Hi all,

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. It all makes a lot of sense. ^ I can't see myself enrolling in a class as I think I'd feel a bit restricted with time that way. I like to pick 2 or 3 specific goals I have for a trip (Sydney Bridge Climb, hold a koala, etc.) and then let everything else kind of fall into place depending on where the day leads. Another one of those little things that divide the way people travel. The irony is that I'm a planner and a list maker. I love my lists and research before a trip - that part is just as much fun to me. But mostly so I can know what my options are. That way, I can pick one of those things to do, but if I don't get to it this trip, no big deal.

I also completely agree about planning a small trip to figure out compatibility before jumping into something longer. The friend I referred to in the OP and I actually met playing an online game. We did a girls' weekend in Toronto to test the waters and then went from there. Our longest trip was one just under 3 weeks to Australia.

Nice! Anything specific on your list at the moment?

I was actually in the Bay area for almost 2 years, but we're in SoCal now. Just a hop, skip and a jump away though. Do you ever get to the LA area?

As far as I can tell, it's just travel in general. I understand this as he used to have to travel a lot for work, but even now that he doesn't as much, he's still not interested. This ranges from just plain not liking the actual travel part of it to being without "his things." His idea of a vacation is sitting on the couch with the TV, DVD, Xbox, and PS3 remotes all within reaching distance. When I mention seeing the world, he responds with "What is the difference between standing in China to look at the Great Wall and just seeing a picture of it? The way high definition is today, it's not going to look any different." So yeah, we both think the other just doesn't "get it." LOL

Thanks again for all the responses. The wide variety just goes to prove how very different we all are in our approach to travel!

Pooch

Sounds like you're all sorted! I've been travelling solo for years ... works well for me and gives me the freedom to change plans at any point ...

Since joining FT I've met up with some terrific people which adds something kind of nice to a place you've never visited before ...

Enjoy your next trip!

LLM

My class was in media Arabic (newspapers). I'd already taken four semesters at community colleges here. But they speak French, too, so anyone can manage signs and general communication.

chgoeditor

Oh, I know! My Mom grew up Morocco, attending French school. I figured you were probably taking Arabic, but hoped you'd surprise me and say that you were attending a French Immersion school. I'm looking for a good French school, and can always use an excuse for a Moroccan vacation. Then again, I'd also love to improve my Arabic. Hmm...

LLM

No reason you can't do both. I went to school in Fez but they have good schools in Rabat and Marrakesh and other places, too. And anywhere you are just speak French. I often spoke a strange mixture and no one laughed. After all, other Arabs can't understand the Moroccan dialect and even one of our school teachers had to speak English in Egypt! I was in a railway carriage with two gentlemen from Essaouria who spoke Moroccan and two Syrian ladies; we three could not understand these guys so they spoke French. But they got into some complicated discussion of evolution and we didn't know their vocab so the Brit had to translate into English. Too funny. PS: except for the sheep dogs in the countryside, the dogs all "speak" French and won't answer to Arabic!

chgoeditor

LOL...that actually requires that I know some French, which is my problem! Despite having a Mom who grew up speaking French and a boyfriend who is French, I actually know very, very little French. I need the very basics. But I know what you mean about the Moroccan polyglots. Last time I was there, our group spoke an interesting mixture of Arabic, French, Spanish and English. In many cases, having a conversation with someone required both parties to rely on a second (or third, fourth or fifth) language. But we made it work!

LLM

Ooh la la, I do not speak French, either. I had ONE year in HS, because German 4 was the same time as Spanish 3. My French 1 teacher was a funky lady who did not let us have books for two months and made us speak no matter how silly we sounded. So to this day I have no shame even if I can only talk about tennis or how much I need to see the docteur. How kind, even Parisians did not snicker at me. Certainly not Moroccans....but one of the desk clerks at my student hotel in Fez did snicker whenever I used "new" (to me) Arabic words. He was the same one that thought it was hilarious whenever the electricity was out and it would be "barad zidad" that night with no heat.

Kate_Canuck

LLM - I could trade you French lessons (and recommendations for schools and course materials) for Arabic. I've been studying French on and off for years and now feel relatively comfortable in the language (Mr Canuck and I just moved back to North America after two years in Paris). Arabic, on the other hand, defeated me the first time I tried to learn. (Note: Probably not a good idea to take Intensive Arabic with an incredibly keen prof just after relocating to a new country, with a new apartment and a new (very demanding) job.) Mr Canuck and I are going to try again this fall, though, and hope to take an immersion course, either in Fez or Al Ain in 2009.

LLM

You'll have fun. In Fez it turned out I was the only one in my three week class so I was tutored, as were the other two students doing separate three week classes. Worked out great. With the fun teacher we worked on media vocabulary, read articles and had fascinating political discussions. With the stuffy one I did two more chapters in my textbook. They t-a-l-k r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w so you can understand them. My talking, OTOH, was and (still is, frankly) so bad they were amazed that I could read and write properly.

You can also schedule private lessons for just a week or two.

tburden

You may want to consider www.travelchums.com to find a travel buddy.

Tamara Zacks

Hi I can appreciate your post. I am looking for someone to travel with me on an amazing trip to India late August early September, my friend backed out. It is a very luxury and experiential trip I have great BC airfare and great rates as I work in the travel business. ANyone want to go??

Michelle112

I once heard this saying, if you are able to travel with your friend/companion without any argument, it proves that you guys can be really best friends forever. I kind of agree with it, as travelling requires a lot of tolerance with each other; there might also be habits that you need to adapt with each other.