Known as the blue pearl of Morocco, Chefchaouen was the last stop of our Moroccan journey and also my favorite. You may wonder why on earth there’s a city dressed in different shades of blue. Some say that the Jews painted it blue – a color that symbolizes sky and heaven – after they took refuge from Hitler, while others believe the hue is purely used to repel mosquitos. Regardless of the real reason, Chefchaouen has been charming tourists all over the world and drawing them into this fantasyland that exists outside fairytales.

Getting out of the CTM bus at Gare Routière (the main bus station in Chefchaouen), we’re welcomed by a gust of bone-chilling wind that made us pull out the thickest clothing we had from our luggage hastily. Locals in the street, mostly men, were wearing long robes with pointy hoods. Sauntering along the narrow streets flanked by blue-colored buildings, they looked like elves straight out of those bedtime stories or Jedi Knights from Star Wars movie.

“How much is this usually?” My friend pointed at the robe worn by the shopkeeper at a souvenir store.

“Not in the shop…from my woman,” with the aid of a few English words and plenty of body language, the old man in a brown wool robe started explaining how his traditional costume was made. The more we showed our understanding, the more excited he was to continue his demonstration of the sewing process. Did we fully understand what the man was trying to convey? I’m afraid not, but the ten-minute interaction was full of laughter and joy.

While the old shopkeeper had the patience to share the culture of his country despite language barriers, a kid touting magnets in the street got the determination to acquire a foreign tongue to achieve his dream.

“Jiě jie, guò lai kàn yī xià!” we turned our head and saw an eight-year-old kid sitting on the steps at the corner of the street. He was saying “miss, come and have a look!” in Mandarin. Next to him was a whiteboard showcasing a selection of magnets. It’s common for locals to learn a line or two of different languages to get the attention of tourists, but this boy definitely outperformed his competitors. Not only could he make a conversation in Mandarin and sing a Cantonese song, but he also owned a notebook full of Chinese vocabularies that taught by tourists like us. “I want to be a tour guide for Chinese people one day.” With talent in languages, loveable personalities, and amazing selling skills, I believe he’d be a successful one.

“He is weird,” some kids laughed at the boy when they’re chasing each other down the street.

“They’re my classmates and they think I’m strange,” putting on a sheepish smile, he continued showing us the souvenirs in his hands. He must have experienced this situation more than a hundred times. Though we think he’s hardworking and smart, other kids just see him as a weirdo who doesn’t fit in their group. Being indifferent is difficult, especially at school when your peers are trying to get along and seek acceptance from each other. However, many extraordinary, successful people we admire today were considered unordinary in the past. This boy in the blue city may just as well be one of them.