Morocco

It was Morocco, the first gulf war in full swing, me lost in the medina: through the tight winding streets jammed with people with purposeful movement, but me I was nearly overwhelmed. A face emerged from the crowd and spoke: "You need guide; I am a college student?" Reluctantly, I listened and was led to a shop that sold Moroccan carpets, after mint "tea, I was offered a carpet. No, no, and off I went with my guide in tow: "I know where you can get a room." It was getting near to dark. "But first we must stop at my cousins."
I had to duck my head to enter a large foyer and was met by a Moroccan man whom invited me into a room with other Moroccan men. We sat near to the floor and I was asked if I wanted to smoke hash. I said yes. So unlike Marijuana, hash is a bodily high, and especially lethal if you have not accumulated a tolerance. I was totally stoned, wanting only to sleep. I rose to get up and the initial man whom had greeted me at the door handed me a small bit of hash and said twenty five dollars. It didn't seem I had a choice, I paid the man and maneuvered my way back out onto the street. When I say street I mean the narrow passage ways that wind themselves throughout the medina. Now, it was some hours later and there was not so many people about, looking kinda of spooky. Unsure where I was going I headed off and from behind came my self appointed guide: "Now, I get you a room."
He lead me around for sometime before we enter a hotel with Moroccan men sitting around a table playing cards. After paying the hotel keeper and saying good-by to my guide, I went to my room. It was not long before I heard a knock on the door. Answering it, I came face to face with my guide whom was at least two heads taller than me. " You must pay me."
He acted for a moment like he wanted to bully me, but I just bucked up at him ready to fight, and thought better not, and thereby reaching into my pocket I gave him the hash I bought, and shoved him out the door.
The next day I shaved my head for the first time ready to confront North African.