One of the things I heard about most before coming to Morocco is ‘Moroccan Time’. With many jokes about Moroccans constantly being delayed to appointments and meetings, I expected it. Moroccans are notoriously late to most events, and this could be anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour delayed. (The one notable exception I have observed is the train timings. They will leave the second they are scheduled to, and arrive on time as well.)

Overall, the Moroccan culture seems to have a disregard for time. There is especially a disregard towards the consideration of another person’s time. Although it is okay to be delayed, especially in a culture where it is the norm, there does not seem to be any thought towards the people waiting for your arrival. In one case, we had planned to meet someone at 6 pm. However, we would not have been ready with the necessary materials, so we requested for the meeting to be delayed until 6:30 pm. The person we were meeting with suggested 7, which we agreed to. However, they did not actually arrive until well past 8. There was no communication that they would be delayed this much, and no explanation for it after they arrived either. The hour that was spent waiting for the person to arrive could have been used more productively if we had known that this person was going to be so delayed. Because we were just waiting, it was a waste of time and a little frustrating, since we were waiting for this person to arrive to eat dinner and complete an activity.

I have also noticed that there is little consideration for other people’s schedules when planning things. When scheduling interviews or meeting times, I will usually offer a day or two that I have time available and ask when a person is free. I am then expecting the person to reply with a few options of when they are available so that then I can agree on a time that works for me. However, when trying to plan things here, I suggest a few days and I am only given one option in return. Often this time is very inconvenient for me or I am unavailable, and it seems uncomfortable to keep rejecting potential times.

I have also noticed that Moroccans don’t seem to plan things long term. If I am ever looking to schedule anything further out than a day or two, I am told to ask again later. I am a planner, and I need time to prepare for meetings and appointments. Therefore, it is a little frustrating and very stressful to only have a few hours or one day to prepare for an appointment.

The disregard for other’s time is one of the cultural aspects of Morocco that I dislike the most. Although there is a reputation for Moroccans to be very hospitable, that hospitality and friendliness do not seem to come through when it comes to scheduling and time. Of course, this is my perspective as an outsider to the country and the culture. I am used to the strict scheduling and punctuality of the USA and of the environment I was raised in. It is most likely one of the things about Morocco that I will not get accustomed to, and one of the few things that I dislike.