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Welcome back! Get ready for a long blog post this week – I have endless things to say about my trip to Morocco.

Where to begin! This weekend’s trip was nothing like the traveling I’ve been doing so far, and it actually reminded me a lot of the trips I’ve taken over the past five years to Central America with School The World, so I immediately fell in love. I visited the North African country of Morocco this past weekend with a large group of other BC students, which our study abroad program coordinated. We spent time in both the city of Marrakech and the mountain village of Amizmiz over a four day weekend.

We flew into Marrakech late Thursday night, so we went straight to our hotel and to bed since we had lots planned for the day ahead. Friday was our first full day in Morocco, and we started with breakfast and a discussion with a group of Moroccan students around our age about the Moroccan culture. There was so much I didn’t know beforehand, and so much that I wasn’t even aware I didn’t know. Being able to openly ask questions and talk about life with these students was so educational and so eye-opening. I went into the weekend thinking I had a pretty good idea of what life was like, but I had only scratched the surface.

These students then walked with us around the Medina and Souks, which are the smaller streets and markets/shops in Marrakech. We saw so many textiles, paintings, spices, jewelry, and other market goods which we could barter for. We then headed to lunch at Cafe Clock where we could try so many traditional foods, like couscous, hummus and pita, falafel, and even camel burgers (glad I tried one once, but I don’t think I would do it again).

After lunch we were given a tour of the Bahia Palace, the Mellah (the Jewish quarter of Marrakech), and the Koutoubia Minaret, which is the largest mosque in the city. I always love learning about the culture and history of the cities we visit, and seeing the different landscapes and architecture that is famous there. That afternoon we had some free time, so we walked back through the markets (this is when I actually did my shopping), and we got dinner at a nicer restaurant in the square where our hotel was. We tried more couscous, as well as chicken tagine, a traditional North African dish. Walking all day was a great way to get around and see different parts of the city, but the 100ºF weather made it very tiring!

Saturday morning we had another conversation with the Moroccan students we had met the day before, this time about religion. I had learned about Islam in classes both in high school and in college, and I had actually done an entire research project on Morocco during my sophomore year at BC, but this was all surface level information. I went in with very basic knowledge about the principles of the religion, and the general practices Muslim people followed. In talking with the students, I learned so much more about what daily life is actually like, and how both culture and religion are changing through the generations. Just like I see in the US, religion is practiced on a spectrum in Morocco. There are those who are entirely devoted and follow all teachings of the Quran and the Hadith, and there are others who follow just the parts they feel compelled by or responsible for. We discussed why some women choose to wear the hijab while others don’t, and how that is seen by their families, their peers, and others on the streets. We talked about how women are treated, how husbands and wives interact with one another, and how older generations interact with younger ones. Over these two conversations, I felt so much closer with the students and the culture, as I learned there are so many parallels with my own culture and religion that I was missing, while still so many interesting and unique differences that I could learn about.

After finishing our discussion, we headed toward the mountain village of Amizmiz, where our trip leader had served while in the Peace Corps. On the way, we stopped shortly to ride camels, which was a cool activity, but also made me sad to see the conditions the animals were living in. After about an hour drive, we arrived in Amizmiz where we split off with different host families to enjoy lunch in their home. Here we were able to continue our conversations about both Moroccan and American culture, and bond further with the students.

That afternoon we visited the Women’s Association, where a group of hardworking women make and sell couscous, and open their doors to other women in need, typically those divorced and widowed. We saw how the couscous was made, and listened to them speak about their mission and experiences. Next, we walked to the local Hammam (public baths), where we spent lots of time getting clean!

Saturday night is by far one of the most memorable and heartwarming nights I’ve had while abroad, and honestly in my life as a whole. We went back to eat dinner with our host families, where we spent time sharing music, talking about our lives at home, and learning more and more about one another. We then all joined up again for a party with all of the families. We dressed in traditional Moroccan clothing, tried henna tattoos, and sang and danced for hours. There was something so special about everyone coming together that night, from opposite sides of the globe, and spending time together like lifetime friends and family, that I will never forget. I met some of these people the day before, and made such deep, genuine connections with them. We were welcomed so kindly into their homes, and everyone forgot about any issues or differences in the world, and just laughed together while we danced to Moroccan and American music alike.

Sunday was our last day in Morocco, so we woke up early and hiked through the Amizmiz mountains, which were so beautiful and so peaceful. At the top, we visited the Quranic school of that region, were we had a rooftop breakfast and listened to the Imam of that school speak about his role and connection with the students there. Being able to meet so many amazing people and be so personally immersed into the Moroccan culture was so special, and it’s something I wouldn’t have been able to do had I just traveled there on my own.

That afternoon we headed back to Marrakech, and we had a very late flight, so we had lots of free time to spend back in the city. We visited the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and the Majorelle Gardens, which were both so beautiful and so inspiring. We then went back through the markets one more time to do some last minute shopping, and got a quick dinner of shawarma and fries at another local restaurant in the square. We landed back in Madrid around 5AM on Monday, so I am still catching up on sleep from the weekend before I fly out again Thursday morning.

Among all of the takeaways I have from this weekend, the one I want to stress the most is that people all over the world are such amazing people, and you can’t truly experience a culture without them. Immersing myself into a more rural area and spending time with local students and families is what made this trip so memorable and worthwhile, and my perspective on the world is forever changed because of it. Getting outside of one’s comfort zone is so crucial in order to stay educated about and and comfortable with the world around them. Some of the greatest experiences I’ve had and the kindest people I’ve met are those countries away from my own, and I wouldn’t trade these connections for anything. I am so lucky to have had these amazing experiences, and I hope more people can enjoy them too, because we are all neighbors in humanity and we all love each other at heart.

See you all next week!

xx,

Megan