Morocco Angela De Vega Morocco Capital Rabat Language

Morocco Angela De Vega

Morocco • Capital: Rabat • Language: Arab • Legislature - Parliament: Upper house House of Councilors, Lower house House of Representatives • Total area - 446, 550 km 2 • Population - 32, 644, 370

Currency • Moroccan dirham – $1= 9. 55

Culture • Hospitable • Very tolerant • Take of your shoes when entering the house • Eat the given pastries that were offered • If a foreigner were invited by them, they must use their right hand since the left hand is used for the toilet.

Culture • Kisses on the cheek is a form of greeting • Declining to eat meat is considered rude • Liver is the sign of love not the heart • Women takes care of the household

People • Ethnic Groups – Arab Berber: 99. 1% – Jewish: 0. 2% – Other: 0. 7%

Berber • a member of an indigenous people of North Africa. The majority of Berbers are settled farmers or (now) migrant workers . • there are 12 to 15 million Berber speakers in morocco. 40 to 50% of the population

Religion • • • 99% are Islamic Christian: 1. 1% Jewish: 0. 2% Pray 5 times a day Fridays are holly day and everything is close • Ramadan – It occurs 10 days each year – No during the day • Drinking • Eating • Smoking

Time • 5 hour difference from U. S. • Ex. – America: 9 a. m. – Morocco: 2 p. m.

Communication • Official Language: Arabic • Business Language: French • Others: Berber,

Business Attire • Need to dress formal and conservative – Men • Dark colored conservative suits – Women • • Elegant business suits Must be carefully covered appropriately Skirts and dresses must cover the knee and sleeves must cover the arm Avoid wearing expensive accessories

Business Meeting • Its traditional to handshake as a greeting between individual sex • No schedules on Fridays between 11: 15 a. m. - 3 a. m. • Be on time

Gifts • Bring sweets pastries, dates, flowers for the hostess if invited by a Moroccan’s home • Gifts are can't be opened when you just received • Small gift for the children is seen as a token of affection • Gifts are not usually brought to a first business meeting

NOT TO DO • Wearing revealing clothing may not be obscene in and of itself but it may provoke some obscene reactions. • Never eat communal food with your left hand. • Eating or drinking in public during Ramadan is extremely rude.

Resources • http: //www. moroccan-moments. com/culture/ • http: //www. factmonster. com/ipka/A 0855617. html • http: //www. factrover. com/people/Morocco_people. h tml • http: //www. nationsencyclopedia. com/Africa/Morocco -ETHNIC-GROUPS. html • http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Demographics_of_Moroc co • http: //www. roughguides. com/destinations/africa/mor occo/culture-etiquette/