life balance...anyone?

[chocolate_monkey]

Hey all,
bit of a random question, but what are your thoughts on life balance.

1)Religious balance:
Living in the UK, everyone doing what they want,but you wont(cant). I have to consiously make choices like where to eat,what time it is,how am i acting

2)Culture balance:
Too moroccan for the english, too english for the moroccans. Like most english/moroccans my arabic is about 85% of what it should be Language is a big deal if you want to feel at home in morocco. If you cant Flirt, Argue and Translate in the language then you cant say that you speak that language.How many can do all 3? (how do you flirt in moroccan without sounding like a leech/prat?)

Only feel totally comfortable around people like yourself i.e. same background, upbringing, cultural references etc

Just sometimes feel like an outsider,

Thoughts?

[Abdel_X]

Nice to see you Monkey, this place is desperately short of sensible posters.
Personally I'm a white Anglo-Saxon, born in the U.K. and I feel like an alien most of the time. I feel more comfortable in Morocco, I get on with the men and the women there and even though I can't properly flirt, argue or translate very well I haven't had many language problems.
As for life balance I just make my decisions as they need to be made without reference to cultural or social expectations.
My philosophy of life is " Phuck 'em if they can't take a joke"

[chocolate_monkey]

hey man, nice to see you too,
About the language thing, language is very important to me,so much so that if i cant express myself fully (in arabic sometimes) i just wont even bother,

how long did it take you to learn the lingo?

Decisions for me have to be based on at least some cultural reference, its all i have to draw on, its basically who we are,
there are times when you cant help but notice the difference between yourself and pretty much everyone else around you.
Im just interested in the balance / sacrifices people make everyday, whether knowingly or unknowingly
nice poster by the way (sup dog? )

[Abdel_X]

Hi Monkey,
I lived in Kenitra for a few years, not many English speakers there so I had to learn fast, I'm far from fluent in Dareeja but manage to fill the gaps with a bit of French and Spanish so I talk a melange. Most Moroccans can understand me if I keep it simple.