On the Friday marking the beginning of Spring Break, twenty-four IHS students and five chaperones began their trip across the Atlantic; our destination was Morocco, a country in North Africa that borders the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
The plane landed in Casablanca, a port city in western Morocco, where we visited the Hassan II Mosque; because Morocco is a majority-Muslim country, seeing mosques and hearing the call of prayer quickly became a familiarity. The Hassan II Mosque, in particular, showcases wonders of Moroccan architecture that reflect a Moorish influence. Visiting the largest mosque in Africa and being able to enjoy some sun and a clear sky was a great way to start off an eventful week.
Our first stop was Rabat, the capital, where we were to meet a group of students from Beni-Mellal, a city located in the interior of Morocco. Before the trip, we had already spent an afternoon Skyping with the students, sharing personal interests and aspects of our respective cultures. Because of this, we felt as if it was not our first time meeting. From the moment we met in person until the moment we said goodbye, we chatted about everything from opera to politics.
While exploring the Kasbah of the Udayas and local souq—or marketplace—I was happy to find that mosaics, floors made of stone/marble, and sculpted plaster moldings were not exclusive to mosques and could be found all over Morocco. The dinner we shared on the first night introduced us to staples of Moroccan food: tajine, slow-cooked stew served with bread, and couscous, which never fails to disappoint.
At the end of our time with our friends from Beni-Mellal, we shared our thoughts about the past two days together. The most memorable comment came from a Moroccan, who said he was pleased to find that we were civil people because “most of the Americans on television are bullies.” There’s no question that mainstream media contributes to people’s preconceived notions of those from other cultures. One of the reasons I found this trip to be so important was that it allowed us to challenge cultural and societal misconceptions. I went to Morocco without any assumptions of West African and, more specifically, Muslim culture, and I came to the realization that our two cultures are not all that different.
The city of Meknes was our next stop, where we met another student group that some of us had been speaking with on Edmodo. A majority of our time there was spent in schools; presentations on fashion, home, and high school life, as well as a game of charades, acted as ice breakers for us all while visiting the local high school. Meknes was the only time while in Morocco that we had the opportunity to participate in homestays. Seventeen of us spent our nights with Moroccan families while the remaining seven stayed at a beautiful hotel in the middle of the city.
Our next activity was at the Arab-American Language Institute. There we learned the basics of writing in Arabic and how to prepare ghriba, a coconut shortbread cookie baked in a community oven. Although there was a noticeable language barrier between us and the Arabic professor, we were able to connect and even converse in German. The ghriba was paired with tea and a conversation regarding higher education in both America and Morocco. We learned that many Moroccans move to France for college because there are better educational opportunities there.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, we attended a lecture at the local university. The professor began by asking what being open and open-minded meant to the audience. Most everyone described being open as staying honest and true to yourself while being open-minded meant being able to accept the differences of others. The questions started an open discussion covering religious freedom, race, mental health, and stereotypes. Both Moroccans and Americans voiced their opinions, making for an inspiring end to our time in Meknes.
On the way to our final destination, we stopped at the Roman ruins of Volubilis—thinking about being in a place founded in the 3rd century BC was just as exhilarating as the view. But the view from our final destination, Chefchaouen, was absolutely breathtaking. The “blue city” sits 1,850 feet above the Rif mountains, which in addition with the azure hues of Chefchaouen’s buildings, makes Chefchaouen the most beautiful city I have ever seen. Most of our money was spent in the Souq, where we could buy anything from soap to jewelry, rugs, and clothes. (As a result, many of us have become experts in bartering.) The farewell dinner in Rabat consisted of lots of music, dance, and food. I could think of no way more fitting to end the trip and I am so grateful for the opportunity to experience the sheer amount of beauty and hospitality Morocco has to offer.