Five Memories From Morocco

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Morocco as a part of IES Abroad Granada’s curriculum. Over the course of five days, we traveled to five different cities, connected with countless local students, and saw many, many cats! As difficult as it is to summarize this amazing experience in a single blog post, I’ll attempt to record my five favorite memories from the trip.

1. Riding camels in Asilah

Super touristy, I know, but who’d possibly pass up the chance to ride a camel? Although the first five seconds getting on were absolutely terrifying, the ride itself was lots of fun! The camels’ caretakers have partnered with IES Abroad over several trips, so rest assured, it’s completely safe––but maybe a little scary at first. While waiting for a turn, I had tons of fun taking pictures on the shore and collecting seashells to bring back as souvenirs.

2. Visiting a refugee center in Rabat

For our optional activity in Rabat, I elected to visit the Fundación Oriente Occidente, a nonprofit organization which aims to resettle refugees from all across Africa and the Middle East. We received a tour of the facility, were given insight as to how nonprofit organizations function in Morocco, and had the opportunity to hear from a teenage refugee about his experience emigrating from Sudan. It was eye-opening to hear firsthand about the challenges of migration, as well the impact of recent U.S. policy changes on overseas agencies. In the end, I’m glad I chose to visit the Fundación; the stories I heard here will stick with me forever.

3. Having iftar with a host family

On our second day in Rabat, my roommate and I decided to partake in the Ramadan fast. Although travelers are exempt from fasting, we wanted to fully immerse ourselves in the holiday. We woke up for suhoor at four in the morning, had some warm msemmen with honey, and promptly went to bed––only to wake up two hours later to begin our day. There was so much to do in Rabat, however, that the sun set before we even realized we were hungry. Our incredible host sister, Hanane, prepared a giant bowl of couscous that we shared with the entire family and several neighbors. The communal breakfast filled me with the sense of warmth and community I often have in Egypt, and that can only truly be found in North Africa.

4. Walking through the Rif mountains

In between Rabat and Chefchaouen, we made a pit stop in Rif to meet with a local family for lunch. Despite fasting, our hosts were generous enough to serve up some delicious couscous and tell us about life in the small agricultural village of Oulad Ali. After our conversation, we hiked up the surrounding mountains and enjoyed some breathtaking views of rural Morocco. It’s a sight I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

5. Bargaining with vendors in Chefchaouen

Coming to Morocco, I was excited to put my Arabic to the test. Although the Darija dialect is nearly incomprehensible to me, all the vendors I met understood Egyptian perfectly. I was able to bargain for two jallabiyas, the loose-fitting garment traditional to the Arab world, for my mother, as well as some tea, spices, and soap to gift my relatives. After finding out I was Egyptian, some vendors even offered me and my friends free trinkets and other parting gifts. You truly can’t find such a pervasive culture of warmth and hospitality anywhere else in the world.