This past Saturday, when Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 in the World Cup 2022, local Moroccans came to Center City Park to celebrate. Women and children were in the park proper. The men were off to the side, by their vehicles, beside Friendly Avenue, also celebrating. They were holding flags and some had them draped over them. It was an impromptu parade of jubilant people. The above scene reminds us of just how diverse Greensboro and North Carolina are. According to the 2010 Census, there were over 33,000 Arabs living in North Carolina. Other articles indicate that the Arab population in North Carolina has close to doubled since then. Arabic is one of the 6 official languages of the United Nations and it is now taught in some public schools in North Carolina.
Arabic is one of top ten most widely spoken of the the 118 languages spoken by Guilford County Schools students. Even if you don't speak Arabic, on a day like Saturday, a lot of gesturing and smiling got the point across. Smiling seems to be a universal language and soccer seems to be a universal sport. If you have Moroccan neighbors, now would be a good time to greet them, smile, and talk soccer!
Happy Monday!
I am French, and I really hate football...But if I'm asked, I always support the little ones, or the ones supposed to loose. So, go Morocco! And I hope the French team, all over-paid millionaires, will loose! LOL
Posted by: rob | Monday, December 12, 2022 at 07:38 AM
I have no idea of local numbers of Moroccan expatriates, but there must be some.
Posted by: William Kendall | Monday, December 12, 2022 at 02:32 PM