Trams and Taxis: Finding My Way in Rabat

"If only I lived in a city!" I used to think longingly, staring out the window of my mom's mini van as we drove from school to work to various other arrangements. My short but frequent visits to Chicago and other cities gave me a taste of the perks of city life--and the accessibility and range of options for getting from point A to B appealed to me greatly. Thanks to YES Abroad and a great amount of luck, I ended up here in Rabat, 4,000 miles away from my mom's mini van (though I do miss it!) and in the center of a city with a population of over one million. I've managed to make my way around the city via tram, taxi, train, bus and my own two feet. Though my adventures with transportation have not been without late arrivals and confusing moments, I've come to know (and mainly appreciate) the options available to find my way. They include:

Tram: I used to take the tram every day to school. I'd like to think that I've perfected the art of tram life, but my late arrivals at school would suggest otherwise. I've learned to always keep a spare ticket in my wallet, so I can simply run onto the tram if it's pulling up at the station. In the mornings, everyone is smashed together, counting the number of stops until they can breathe again. There's a mutual understanding that comes from being crushed into random strangers at early morning hours! The tram is clean, cheap, and predictable, and for this reason it's my favorite form of transportation.

Taxi: There are two types of taxis--grand and petit. 

• Grand taxi: I've only ridden in a grand taxi a few times, because they wait for five people to come before leaving. They are useful for going to destinations a little farther away--such as Sale, the city across the river from Rabat, but can be expensive. 
  
  
  
• Petit taxi: I use petit taxis very frequently. These smaller taxis can be hailed by holding one's arm at a ninety degree angle from the body. Because they can hold up to three people, the driver will stop along the way and pick up or drop off other passengers. There's a meter in the front that keeps track of the price, and the minimum fare is 6 dirhams (about 75 cents). In Rabat, petit taxis are blue, but each city has a specific color of petit taxi. In Agadir, they are orange, in Fez they are red, and so on. For the first time last week, I was able to give a taxi driver directions to my destination! Taxis are the quickest way to move about the city, but also one of the most expensive. 

Train: I've actually only been on the train once. During our first week in Rabat, we did a scavenger hunt around the city which included riding back to Amideast on the tram. In our frenzied state of mind, my partner and I ended up getting on the train instead. We quickly realized it and got off at the train station in Agdal, though I did enjoy my five minute ride. I don't know if I'll be riding the train again this year.

Bus: While bus fare doesn't cost more than 50 cents, the bus gives meaning to the saying "time is money." The bus stops aren't entirely fixed and thus a healthy sense of patience is required both when waiting for the bus and when riding it. Because it's a bit unpredictable, the bus isn't my favorite form of transportation, but it's always an adventure and thus far, I've made it to all my destinations (eventually). 

Two feet: I've started walking to school, now that it's light outside in the morning. There are plenty of other people on the street and sometimes I'll meet up with one of my friends along the way. It's a little bit of exercise built into every day, which I definitely need here! 

I've realized that no matter where you live on the planet or how you get there, you spend most of your days going in the same circles--from school, to home, to whatever else occupies your time. My challenge in the past few weeks has been keeping up my enthusiasm for the experiences that have now become 'normal' to me. It's not to say that life in Morocco doesn't stretch my limits, but rather, these challenges are no longer a question mark but a daily reality. On any given day, the reality of life can be overwhelmingly beautiful or stressful and most days, it is a combination of both. During the stressful times, I've learned to remember that there is undoubtedly a wonderful moment ahead--whether that moment is a successful conversation in Darija or the silence on the sidewalks during Friday prayers. 

Until next time, nshoufk mn bad! (see you later!)