Interview with Houssam

by Jamila B.C. | February 2009

I met Houssam when he invited me for a ride on his donkey (though he kept referring to it as a "horse"). My fellow travelers and I had just been dropped off at the scenic village of Ait Ben Haddou in the South of Morocco, a couple hours shy of the Sahara Desert. To reach the casbah - or medieval city - a donkey ride across the river is necessary, and so I mounted his "horse" and held on for dear life. After an informative and breathtaking tour, he asked for my email address, and "the rest is history".

Where were you born in Morocco?
je suis né a ait ben haddou le 05/05/ 1983 . je suis berber sud marocain .
I was born in Ait Ben Haddou on 05/05/1983. I am Berber South Moroccan.

I don't know much about schooling in Morocco—what was your experience?
moi j'ai etudier pendant 18 ans d'etude et j'ai fait letterature arabe au lycee . et comme j'ai pas la chance de travailler a l'udication je travail guide dans ma casbah . local.
I studied for 18 years in school and I learned Arab literature in high school. Therefore I have not had the chance to professionally work. I work as a guide in my casbah.

You speak many languages, yes?
je parle bien francais espagnol allemand est peut italien et anglais . est arabe et un peut de tous .c'est bien pour gagner la vie .
I speak French, Spanish, German and a bit of Italian and English well. And Arabic and a bit of everything. It is good for succeeding in life.

How long have you been a guide at the casbah? Why did you choose this sort of work?
je travail guide a la casbah il y a 6 ans . c'est le seul metier que je peux fair car au maroc le travail c'est pas facile . mon ca va bien
I have worked as a casbah guide for 6 years. It is the only work in Morocco that I can do because work in Morocco is not easy. Mine is good.

What have been some of your interesting experiences with tourists to the casbah?
j'ai visiter tous le maroc partout il y a des gens bien et des gens mal c'est comme partout .
(Houssam thought I asked about his own experiences visiting other parts of Morocco) - I have visited all of Morocco. There are good people and bad people; it is like everywhere else.

How would you describe Morocco—the culture, people, spirit of the country and landscape?
je connais les jens partout dans le monde et maintenant j'organise un super sercuit pour le desert marocain est mes client sont tres content car je les accompagne a des endroit magnifique je suis content aussi pour ca .
I know people throughout the world and now I organize a "super sercuit" for the Moroccan desert, and my clients are very happy because I accompany them in magnificent places. I am also very happy for it.

Have you traveled much outside the country, or do you desire to?
je suis jamais aller a l'etranger et je pence pas a ca . je suis content ici . et si je vais se serais pour visiter pas plus .
I have never traveled as a foreigner and I don't think I will. I am happy here. And if I went it would only be to visit, no more.

Do you plan to always stay in Morocco? Do you have other plans for your future?
je pense a bien travailler et fair un projet a la casbah car j'ai une grande maison pres des jardin magnifique c'est la que je souhaite faire mon projet . si dieu le veux .
I plan to work hard and work on a goal here - a large house near a magnificent garden, that is what I wish to do. God I want it.

I really enjoy the photos on your blog—are these all your photos?
j'ai d'autre fotos je te les envoit plus tard promis .
I have other photos and I will send them to you later, I promise.

Your photos capture the South of Morocco as I remember it. What do you think is special and unique about this part of the country in comparison to other parts, such as the popular tourist cities of Casablanca and Marrakech?
la plus part des tourist trouvent que le plus beau endroit du monde c'est le sud car il ya des differant paysage et un super desert . et les gent du sud sont tres sympas et respectieux .
The majority of tourists find that the most beautiful place in the world is the south because there are different landscapes and a huge desert. And the people of the south are very nice and respectful.

Below: photos by Houssam of the casbah, Ait Ben Haddou, and casbah guides on donkeys in the river

Visit Houssam's blog: http://houssam2020.skyrock.com/
View photos of Ait Ben Haddou >>

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