Cultural Issues

Traveling abroad, as I am wont to do, often entails some cultural adjustments to make the trip run smoothly.  In most hotels in which I have stayed in Europe, breakfast is included in the price of the room.  In addition to the normal breakfast foods such as eggs, cereal, juices, rolls, breads, butter, preserves and toast, you may also find cheese, seasonal raw or grilled vegetables, yogurt, dried meats, pastries and  local produce such as figs, dates or melons.  Try something new while you are there.  Grilled tomatoes in the British Isles and  Ireland are an interesting addition to breakfast, as is herring in Scandinavia and communally shared baked eggs and beef in Morocco. 

Traveling by train is also an interesting way to go.  I have been on trains in Belgium, France, Germany, England and Scotland, and have found them to be an efficient way to get around.  In England, especially, I have found the trains to be a great way to travel.  I usually buy a local newspaper and sit in a quiet spot.  No one bothers me, except the occasional person who asks me for directions.  And that has happened in more places then you  think: Galway, London, Amsterdam and Dublin, to name a few places.  I guess I blend in except when I open my mouth to speak.

Some European and North African hotels require you to insert the key card to a flat wall holder to activate the room's electricity.  Bring any credit card sized card, such as a Metro Card or library card with you to insert in the slot while you are out.  That way you can re-charge your electronics while you are out, or even set the air conditioner on low to cool your room upon your return ( got that tip from a fellow traveler on this trip).




On this last trip I faced some unusual cultural barriers as a Western woman traveling in North Africa.

Prior to my trip I spoke with several friends and acquaintances as to what the proper attire would be for both walking through the local market and visiting a mosque, since both activities would be included in my trip.  I also took to stopping random Muslim women in the mall to ask them the same questions.  Everyone of them was happy to give me advice, and I am grateful to them all or sharing  their thoughts with me. I learned the following:

1. If possible, wear a wedding ring even if you are
unmarried. I found my Mother's wedding ring and wore it on the trip.  I was told this would make any interaction with a male: merchant or scholar, just easier.  And it did.

2. Try not to have bear arms or wear shorts or capri pants....Since I don't have a pair of capri's...it did not make any difference. I did have shorts to wear under a long abaya (traditional long dress) provided by an Egyptian friend that would allow me to be more comfortable walking around on the streets of Casablanca, Marrakesh or Fez without the uncomfortable glances Westernized dress can bring on the street.

3. If you wear pants in North Africa, try to top it off with a tunic.  You will not be calling attention to yourself and, just as a tip, bring a hat.  The sun at mid-day  is intense, and a hat will help with personal ventilation.

4. You don't need to cover your hair except if you are going into a Mosque...and you might be able to do that if it is NOT time to pray...which happens five times a day, so keep an eye on the time!

As an American woman who is also a clergyperson, my experience entering mosques was interesting.  Since my luggage remained at JFK missing the plane, (got it back the next day) I had to go out and find something appropriate to wear to the mosque. I was able to find an very nice light green abaya to wear to the Al  Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca for a private tour given by a member of the local Ministry of Islamic Affairs.  The imam's wife, who we were traveling with, helped me to get my hair covered with a traditional hijab.  I  looked like  any other Muslim woman going into the Mosque. I felt very safe and comfortable...and absolutely invisible.

 

El Hassan II Mosque 

I began to notice that the man leading our group did not look directly at me when I asked a  question. I was left out of any conversation he initiated.  He would begin talking before I got into the group circle, and as he led us into the craftsmen museum, he actually left me behind twice.  Other men I encountered on this trip talked over me, skipped over me on lines, and replied only to my questions when they were repeated by a male in my party.  A professional woman I met told me that as a religious Muslim woman,  her first duty was to be a good wife and mother, and then pursue her chosen profession.  I wondered where that left me as a widow whose children are all grown and on their own.  It seems I would be living with family members and not necessarily involved in much more.

Well, it was an interesting trip.  It gave me a new appreciation for the acceptance of diversity and the ability of all members of our society to pursue their individual hopes dreams without societal restrictions.