Morocco is a very diverse country which is modern in many parts, but at the same time there is an overwhelming sense of tradition and belief. It is this diversity that draws people to the country every year, and many who visit then decide to make it their full time home. With gorgeous scenery, a good climate and friendly people, it is not surprising that Morocco is now home to many British people too.

The culture difference and language barrier may be the hardest thing to deal with when you first move to Morocco; however there is no reason why, in time, you can’t fully integrate into the local community. Taking classes in the language is a must, and you will find that you feel more and more at home, then better you become at speaking Arabic (main Moroccan language). Taking a course before you move will greatly improve the speed at which you pick it up once you are there and the Moroccan people will try to help if they can see that you are trying and making an effort to speak their language.

The culture will take a bit of getting used to and it is important that you understand and respect the Moroccan culture. It is much more conservative than the UK, and some actions and ways of behaving that are acceptable in the UK, may be frowned upon in Morocco so it is important to know how things are viewed, especially for women.

It is always important not to forget about the ones you leave behind in the UK, and Skype is a great way of keeping in touch. It allows you to video call other computers and have a conversation as though that person was in the same room as you. E-mail is also important and instant messaging and social networking sites will help you to stay up to date with things going on in the UK.

Morocco is only a couple of hours away from the UK by plane; therefore visiting home again will not be too difficult. It is handy too in case there are any emergencies which require you to go back to the UK with little or short notice. Emergencies aside, it is a good idea to plan a trip back to the UK every so often. This will give you something to focus on and look forward to, and if you are feeling homesick, the knowledge that you will be visiting soon will help ease the pain. If you know you are susceptible to homesickness then it is a good idea to keep busy and have lots of different things to focus on so that you can’t dwell too much on feeling down.