My Expat Story - I Moved to Morocco
By: SHIREE T.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do. Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Location selection
My decision to settle in Essaouira was deeply personal. I had previously moved there to be with a Moroccan love interest and fell in love with the place and its people. This profound connection to Essaouira made it an ideal choice for relocation.
Accommodation
I opted to rent rather than buy a home. My previous experiences and the volatile property market in the Northern Territory influenced this decision. Historically, I have preferred renting due to the high property prices in NT, which were prohibitive for a single female with a middle-class income.
Financial Stability
I am self-retired, living off my superannuation pension. Occasionally, I supplement my income by completing and selling artworks. While I am eligible to work in Morocco, I am not particularly interested in doing so at the moment.
Visa and Residency
Initially, I entered Morocco on a 90-day tourist visa. To extend my stay, I travelled to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in Africa, where I got my passport stamped and returned to Morocco with a renewed 90-day visa. I have completed this process twice and plan to do it twice more before my intended departure at the end of November.
Challenges and Solutions
One significant challenge I faced was the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted my travel plans. After spending eight months in Morocco in 2019, I returned to Australia and got stuck due to lockdowns. During this period, I bought a Toyota Coaster bus and travelled extensively around Australia, covering regions from Queensland to South Australia and Western Australia.
Reflection and Satisfaction
Despite the challenges, I am happy with my move. My travels around Australia from 2020 to 2023 were fulfilling, but my heart remained set on Morocco. The only aspects that could have eased my transition would have been the ability to leave Australia earlier and perhaps making this move earlier in my life.
Current Status and Future Plans
This is my third extended stay in Morocco, having previously spent eight months here. Currently, I am seven months into my latest visit. My plan is to return to Australia to liquidate my remaining possessions, after which I intend to return to Morocco, potentially on a permanent basis.
In Summary
My latest 1 bedroom apartment has 2 living rooms ('salons'), 2 toilets, 1 shower, 1 kitchen, and a mini terrace. Rent costs 5000dhs/month (approx. USD500). Prices here vary throughout the year and in high season - when landlords can charge more for tourist prices - many will only do short term stays. For me, this has meant that in a period of less than 8 months, I've moved 6 times.
On reflection though, despite the inconvenience of having to move around a lot, my journey from the Northern Territory to Essaouira has been marked by personal connections, adaptability, and a deep-seated affinity for my chosen home. Am I happy with my choice? Absolutely! I love it!
Worth Reading
Living in Morocco
By: Barbara Stoeltie, Ren Stoeltie, Angelika Taschen (2018)
With its mountainous and desert landscapes, labyrinthine souks, delectable cuisine, exquisite rugs and textiles, vibrant mosaics, fragrant odors, mesmerizing music, and welcoming people, Morocco is a most alluring and tantalizingly exotic destination. Digging a little deeper into the myth of Morocco, Barbara and René Stoeltie bring us this eclectic selection of homes to demonstrate all that is most wonderful about the Moroccan style: from tiled, turquoise swimming pools and lavish gardens to carved wooden furniture and jade-colored marble fountains.
With more than 500 pages featuring brand new, unpublished photographs, flipping through these fairy tale–like visions of exotic havens (ideally while sipping a steaming cup of sweet, fragrant mint tea) will instantly whisk you away.
A Guide to Moving to Morocco
By: William Jones (2023)
This guide is more than a mere handbook; it's your passport to the soul of Morocco. Whether you're an adventurer, an entrepreneur, or seeking a new beginning, "A Guide to Moving to Morocco" is your compass for navigating this extraordinary journey.
In this guide, you'll find:
Visa and Residency Insights
Cultural Immersion
Work Opportunities
Travel and Exploration
A Fulfilling Life
