Q and A: Safety

“Do you continue to make smart choices with your safety in mind?”

Yes, I think I’m safe. I’ll answer this in three parts- the role of my parent org Peace Corps, what I’ve done and do to protect myself and how I feel others decisions have affected me. I’ll veer off course too.

First, I play it smart when it comes to my safety, but even if I didn’t, PC Morocco has many safety policies via Washington lawyers to keep us in check. “Safety and security” is the slogan here, and the preferential treatment it receives I believe often overshadows the IGOs role as a development agency. I disagree with this, but can understand the reasoning.

I think the safety restrictions are overkill, but I’m also not responsible for the lives of other volunteers. There are a few countries, Morocco included, that I feel PC is in for diplomatic reasons first, development second. Jordan and China are two others. To clarify, Morocco is a 2nd world country, 3rd world in some areas. It has real needs, but I consider these infrastructure improvements, not like in some areas of sub-Saharan Africa. This diplomatic role pleases me and I think development and good will are synonymous.

In my site, I feel completely safe. I’m someone’s neighbor, friend, or brother and I know I now have people looking out for me, much less watching me with curiosity. I’m more afraid of mentally unstable dogs. In my market town of Jerada, I am fairly safe, although I’ve got some hard looks. It is a tough place, a burned out mining town. However, the best defense I’ve found is well timed eye contact and a smile. Beyond that, being male helps.

The biggest safety risk here is transportation. Thailand has tuk-tuks and Vietnam has riskshaws. New York has yellow taxis and London has black ones. Morocco has the white 1985 Mercedes Benz 240 SL, or “death on wheels.” It’s not the vehicle, but the drivers ambitions and a lack of law enforcement on the highways that make for a fast, reckless ride on the highway. Seven people die of automobile fatalities everyday in Morocco. My Grandpa Collins once said that when riding a motorcycle, you should sing “Near My God to Thee.” Maybe that applies to my taxi rides.

Finally, I want to reflect on how international politics effects on my life here. But I want more time with this and will return to the question later. I’ve been boning up on Arab and Islamic history as well as reading “idea” books on global politics that are applicable. I’d like to do as as W.B. Yeats said, "to hold in a single thought reality and justice."