In Morocco, I give them a 95 percent for the effort they put into their initial engagement with others. It is beautiful to see how genuine they are in their initial engagement and interaction, which I believe is why people love their visits to Morocco-they feel "welcome with open arms." They have pretty much mastered the art of engagement- thumbs up to them.
In the US, people may not even ask how you are doing and we might even have the thought "do I have to ask how they are doing or do I have to say hello." If we are in a hurry, we do not like sitting and spending time with the "hellos" and "how is the family." We just want to say hello and keep moving and this is not a good way to be. For example, in the beginning of my stay in Morocco, I would just get in the taxis and sometimes say hello. Now, I always say "Salam Alikoum" to everyone when I enter into the cab. Again, we adapt to people and our environment around us. People are kind, sweet, and welcoming, and we should be the same way in return.
Upon observing the interaction phase, I spend time listening to what they say, observing facial expressions, but a significant observation is the time investment. The time investment into the engagement is impressive considering the circumstances i.e. no matter how busy people will always make time to ensure the other person is well. Sometimes it can be five minutes or more of back and forth, "Lebes, Sava, Bikhir, Hamdullah." These are all the engagement and words of peace, wishing each other well, and checking to make sure one another are fine. Instead of just asking once, "How are you?" they have to confirm that you are okay a few times over and over. They genuinely care about how you are doing and you can feel it in their voice and facial expression. It is a real interaction between human beings: the taxi driver and the passenger, the waiter and the customer, the police man and the pedestrian, the beggar and the driver in the car, etc. This is one of the only things I have mastered-these words of engagement followed by the hand over the heart...
In the US, people may not even ask how you are doing and we might even have the thought "do I have to ask how they are doing or do I have to say hello." If we are in a hurry, we do not like sitting and spending time with the "hellos" and "how is the family." We just want to say hello and keep moving and this is not a good way to be. For example, in the beginning of my stay in Morocco, I would just get in the taxis and sometimes say hello. Now, I always say "Salam Alikoum" to everyone when I enter into the cab. Again, we adapt to people and our environment around us. People are kind, sweet, and welcoming, and we should be the same way in return.
Upon observing the interaction phase, I spend time listening to what they say, observing facial expressions, but a significant observation is the time investment. The time investment into the engagement is impressive considering the circumstances i.e. no matter how busy people will always make time to ensure the other person is well. Sometimes it can be five minutes or more of back and forth, "Lebes, Sava, Bikhir, Hamdullah." These are all the engagement and words of peace, wishing each other well, and checking to make sure one another are fine. Instead of just asking once, "How are you?" they have to confirm that you are okay a few times over and over. They genuinely care about how you are doing and you can feel it in their voice and facial expression. It is a real interaction between human beings: the taxi driver and the passenger, the waiter and the customer, the police man and the pedestrian, the beggar and the driver in the car, etc. This is one of the only things I have mastered-these words of engagement followed by the hand over the heart...
When people make an effort with you it makes you want to make an extra effort with them..the beauty of interpersonal interaction.....PRIS
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