Who are you?
I am Monika, a Pole that decided to come to Morocco for an internship. And I stayed. Now I have my blog Bewildered in Morocco.
Where, when and why did you move abroad?
It was a spontaneous decision taken in July 2013. Two months later I was already in Casablanca. I didn’t want to do like all my friends: get MA degree, get credit, work for someone 8-5… Nightmare!What challenges did you face during the move?
Moroccan paperwork and the inchalla syndrome… Which means you need to push and remind people several times to get your papers done! A real survival camp. Second thing is the men on the streets… catcalling and pshpshiiing…
Are there many other expats in your area?
Yes, there are. Casablanca is not the expat enclave though. Marrakech is an internatonal metropolis I’d say, the London of Africa.
What do you dislike about your expat life?
Come back to #3 and add the fact that I miss my mum so much!
What is the biggest cultural difference you have experienced between your new country and life back home?
Too many to list. The idea of ‘time’, the way we perceive food, life, work, relationships…
What advice would you give to anyone following in your footsteps?
Travel with your mind wide open. Explore the culture and try to understand it. Don’t try to change it.
What are your plans for the future?
Develop my company to be fully independent. And never ever work for someone!
You can follow Monika's expat adventures on her blog, Bewildered In Morocco.