Greetings from Morocco
This previous weekend, I had the privilege of touring to Morocco with my IES program, and it was a tremendous and eye-opening expertise. As a result of Morocco is so near Spain, it was surprisingly simple to get there, and it was wild to assume that after a 1-hour ferry journey, I had crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and was in Africa.
From the second I stepped off the ferry, I might inform that this journey would train me rather a lot, and it did. I obtained to expertise a tradition not solely completely different from the US, but additionally completely different from the one I’ve grown used to in Spain. I might hear Moroccan Arabic all over the place, and since Morocco is a Muslim nation, I obtained to expertise the decision to prayer and Iftar (which is the breaking of the quick throughout Ramadan).
The aim of this journey was to raised perceive the tradition of Morocco, along with seeing the sights, which I loved! From going to a Hammam (conventional tub), chatting with native college students, and consuming lunch at a household’s dwelling in a rural village, I really feel like I obtained a glimpse into Moroccan tradition along with seeing iconic ruins and locations like Chefchaoen (the “blue metropolis”).
We spent our first night time in Tangier and tried our first of many Moroccan dishes, in addition to Moroccan tea (a scrumptious, candy mint taste, which I had at principally each meal). The second day was a enjoyable mixture of experiences. From visiting a girls’s schooling heart and listening to how they’re empowering native girls by art work and schooling, to seeing the seaside city of Asilah and using a camel, we did rather a lot!
Saturday night time, we arrived in Rabat and met our host households, who met us with kindness and heat. Whereas the language barrier made speaking with our host mother tough, she made us really feel so welcome. A particular shoutout to my teenage host sister, who knew three languages, was so form, and confirmed us across the metropolis whereas her youthful brother rollerbladed!
This journey was a tangible reminder that curiosity is efficacious, and that there’s numerous energy in a smile. Whereas there have been conditions that stretched me, the journey was marked by new meals, good group bonding (together with some enjoyable new video games), and experiences I wouldn’t have been in a position to facilitate by myself.
Whereas we have been buying in Chefchaoen throughout our final night time, one of many shopkeepers stated one thing so lovely: “We’re all household.” And on Monday, as we sat in the lounge of a girl who had lived her entire life in rural Morocco, somebody requested her for all times recommendation. In that second, I used to be struck by the truth that regardless that we couldn’t speak to her with out the assistance of a translator, she’s a mother, a daughter, and a good friend. Identical to my mother. There’s a universality there that’s lovely.
I assume all of that to say, being in a spot the place the language, faith, meals, and way of life felt so completely different from what I’m accustomed to was a candy reminder that persons are extra related than they’re completely different. In case you ever get the chance to journey to Morocco, I extremely advocate it!
Right here’s to the great thing about experiencing new cultures! Shukran (thanks), Morocco!
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