I came to the understanding recently when an old friend suggested that not all adventure had to be adrenaline based. It was my goal to flashpack through Morocco, that allowed me to understand what she meant. The culture shock of landing in Casablanca at 11pm and attempting to make your way to a hotel, in the middle of a Medina, is enough to scare the living #&%$ out of most. To then attempt to set out for a late night drink, in a predominantly Muslim Country, puts new meaning on the song, ‘Beer For My Horses’. Not only did I find the local brew, I managed to polish up on my negotiating skills, study cobra charming, uncover the culture behind the knock offs, and challenge my street smarts. If your a designer, it will give you a worldly view, if your in sales, it will certainly polish your closing ratio, if your an armchair traveler, it will confirm how comfortable your chair really is.

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The resentment I had behind each instance I was tricked, was weakened by the strength of the world class skills I have added to my belt. Here is a taste of this bizarre world that I backpacked through in 5 days with a couple of my closest calls. Sometimes, backpacking is your only option, especially off the beaten path. It once again, reinforced that my decision to live each day to the fullest, was the right thing to do. When you cant use the spoken language to understand someone, you begin to read body language. The eyes, hands, and awkward movements, all become a 6th sense. The highest institution couldn’t teach me what I learned in 5 days on how to read people, ESPECIALLY THE SNAKES. All puns aside, it is a true world class skill.