Budget Medical Care

Every now and then, there are still what I term "absolutely ridiculous Moroccan moments" here. For example, this morning, Gabe and and I were drinking coffee outside of our hotel in Meknes (Hotel Toubkal - total crap, don't stay there) when I saw an ambulance coming up slowly past us. The reason it was moving at such an incredibly low speed was because it was being pushed along by the guy riding shotgun, with the driver half-heartedly giving the ground a few shoves with his left foot while he attempted to steer the vehicle (not much of a challenge at his speed) through the streets of Meknes. Watching them edge into the intersection (and upon noticing, thankfully, that nobody was in the back), I couldn't help but start laughing, despite my better judgement. It was really the sheer absurdity of the situation, watching an ambulance being pushed through the streets (thankfully the driver didn't take it upon himself to simulate siren noises) at a snail-like pace that prompted it.

Gabe, upon viewing the same spectactle, had an identical reaction to the whole thing. After being here in Morocco for a certain amount of time, and after passing through what one terms "culture shock," there are still plenty of moments, where despite what you know and accept about another culture, that are just plain absurd. In these cases, they're all in the details, encompassing what else you know about the culture to comprise the full effect.

For example, in this case, I know that Moroccans don't really maintain their cars as well as they should, and rely more on fixing stuff when it breaks than regular maintenance. Additionally, instead of getting a tow truck, or anything along those lines, it'd be easier to just push the car back to the hospital, or wherever it came from than to wait around for others to help you.

Anyways, now that I've totally broken down and overanalyzed a previously funny situation, I'll leave it at that.