Something that has been on my mind the past few weeks is the concept and practice of respect. The Oxford Dictionary defines respect as “a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements” or “due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others”, but I think it is a really difficult concept to define. Respect is almost an emotion, and it is something very different and personal to every individual.

Personally, I feel as though I am a respectful person. I have been raised to be respectful to my elders. I try to be aware of how my actions affect the people around me. I will be polite even with people I don’t particularly like. Everyone has something to offer in the world and it is important to keep that in mind. This does not mean that I am perfect of course, and I think this trip had made me realize how much I need to improve.

Surprisingly, the tram is one of the best places to see respect. There is standing and sitting room on the tram. People sitting in seats will leap up and offer their spot to anyone who they feel deserves it more than they do. The elderly, the young, women, the disabled will all be offered several seats as soon as they step on the train. Even if they try to refuse, people insist that they take their spot. I am amazed at the attentiveness of the tram-riding Moroccans. I am usually so occupied with conversing with my friends, or looking outside, or thinking about my ‘to-do’ list that I will not really be paying attention to who is entering and exiting the tram. By the time I do realize that someone boarding the tram may need my spot, they have already been given one by several other people. I wonder if this makes me seem rude?

I am also amazed at how instinctive and casual these interactions are. I feel like if someone were to give up their seat on a busy tram in New York or another big city in America, they would immediately be posting about it on social media or looking for praise. Instead, in Morocco, I see such interactions several times a tram ride, and it is completely second nature.

 

There is also a lot of respect towards the disabled. Although the roads and buildings are not always accessible (especially those ramps and sidewalks!), I feel like people are more helpful and friendly towards the disabled. Frequently, there has been an elderly man in a wheelchair who boards the tram near the IES center. As he is trying to board, there is a slight incline, and his strength is probably not all that it used to be. He struggles to wheel himself from the platform onto the tram, but people will immediately give him a gentle pull or push into the tram. One of my friends told me about how once when she was riding the tram, there was a man sitting down and holding two crutches. The tram stopped at his station, and he was struggling to stand and get out of his seat. Immediately, people made sure the doors didn’t close and helped him get his things and stand. There is such a big concept of independence in America, that sometimes it leads to an ‘every man for himself’ situation. I wonder how these situations would have played out differently in the States. I think that there is a lot to learn from Moroccan culture, and it is important to take the good away from anywhere you go.