To your left is a large field of green grass. To your right is a large pond. In the air, you hear animal sounds and laughter. The park is full of many visitors. As you continue to walk, you see your friend walking towards you. Your feet are moving at a steady pace, and then they stop in front of your friend. What is the first thing you do?
Well, to have a Moroccan greeting, you first start with a hug. Second, as you are hugging, you both touch cheek to cheek and make a kissing sound. After you do this on one side, you switch and do it on the other side. Really good friends--like best friends--will do this multiple times on each cheek. Once you complete that, you spend several minutes asking questions to each other and talking about different things. And lastly, to end a Moroccan greeting, you repeat steps one and two, and part ways by saying "Ma'assalamah" (maa-ssa-lamah), which means goodbye.
Integrating into a community can be done in many ways. However, to be successful, it requires an understanding of the new culture. It can be fun and you can learn a lot in the process. When you get home tonight, or when you meet your friends or family, you can teach them how to do a Moroccan greeting!
