Day 86: National Library, Rabat, Morocco

With the end of the semester has come a lot of homework, so over the past few weeks much of my time has been spent at the National Library. The library is brand new, has reliably speedy wifi, can constantly provide coffee and French Fries via an attached cafe, and is conveniently located right on the tram line I take to get home. The only problem I have is this library rule that doesn’t allow any bags inside the library. All items you wish to take in must be carried. For Moroccan students, this is not a problem. For us American students, it is. Why?

Because the list of what Moroccan students need to study looks like this:
1.     Textbook (1)
2.     Writing Utensil (1)
3.     Cellphone (not necessary but frequently seen)

The list of what American students need to study looks like this:
1.     Laptop
2.     Notebook
3.     Textbook (2-3 if writing a paper)
4.     Writing Utensil (3)
       a.     Pen
       b.     Pencil
       c.      Highlighter
5.     Laptop charger
6.     Adaptor
7.     Headphones
8.     Cell phone
9.     Water
10. Snack
11. Chapstick

Obviously, rather than change our study habits, we just try to carry all of these items into the library with us, drop something on the way to our study spots (making an obscene amount of noise in the silent library and drawing attention to the fact that, in case you missed it, we’re foreign!) and look completely ridiculous. Luckily, I accepted my own ridiculousness long ago. I wouldn't have lasted this long in Morocco if I hadn't!