A Moroccan Birthday Story

On our last night in Morocco, we had a farewell dinner at a nice restaurant in Casablanca. The dinner at Restaurant La Terrazza was included in the price of our tour. The restaurant was really nice, located on the waterfront at the Tahiti Beach Club. The view of the Atlantic Ocean from our tables was spectacular. We ordered from a prix fixe menu. The selection was limited but the choices were good and the food excellent. But this isn't a restaurant review. It is a story about the way people from different cultures can connect when they spend time together.

Our tour guide, M'Hamed was the same age as me. Roughly. He did an exceptional job of herding cats. With three dozen people from different countries and with different personalities, there is a lot to keep up with. Who has allergies, who has trouble with steps, who has signed up for this tour, what to do with those who don't go on that tour, which recommendations to make...? His day was filled with small tasks and running static. Some travelers (like me...wink) are fairly easy to get along with. Some are...let's say...needy. But all things considered, people tend to coalesce over time.

M'Hamed is one of those rare tour guides who gives fully of himself. He is an ambassador of Morocco. Maybe not in the sense of political appointments, but in the sense that he understood that he represented Morocco to us travelers. He took that role very seriously. He shared an awful lot about himself as well. Some tour guides don't open up that much about their private life. M'Hamed gave a rich history of his country with personal history woven into the details. He brought the history and culture of Morocco to life for us.

Among the stories M'Hamed told us was a personal one about his birthday. M'Hamed was born in the Mid-Atlas mountains. Before he was a teenager, the government started to record census data. There was no county courthouse where birth certificates were filed. When the government asked his mother when her children were born, she was only able to tell the time of year and an approximate year. M'Hamed was born in late Spring. However, all unknown birth dates were recorded as January 1, making it the most popular date of birth in Morocco today. The US immigration used to do that as well, it not really an uncommon practice. Anyway, M'Hamed was born in late spring, probably 1966. But his birth date is 1/1/1966.

While we were in the Sahara eating dinner one night, I mentioned that it was late spring. I said "for all we know, today is M'Hamed's birthday...we should get him a cake!" Word spread among my fellow travelers and it was decided that we would surprise M'Hamed with a birthday cake at our farewell dinner a week later. As the time drew near, travelers chipped in money and one of our group volunteered to reach out to a bakery in Casablanca to order a cake. We all met at the restaurant and had an excellent dinner.

As we finished our meals, we had the restaurant bring out our cake. We all sang "Happy Birthday" and got a good laugh out of it. M'Hamed was a bit choked up, it appeared. First, he told us "I have never had a birthday cake my entire life." He followed it with "I will celebrate my birthday on April 28 from now on." It was heartfelt. As he was still grinning and reflecting on the surprise he also said "the tour company always gives me a list of anniversaries and birthdays...so I was confused why the restaurant was bringing out a cake and people were singing." M'Hamed made our trip to Morocco special. He is an ambassador. His willingness to share, his warmth and his genuineness have a lasting effect. I am glad we were able to share some warmth as ambassadors as well. And I hope he remembers to celebrate next April 28.

Note: That is not a "9" on his cake. It is a "?"

All photos are my own.

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