Choosing one photo to sum up this trip in Morocco was an easy task for me. I was terrified to go on my first study abroad trip, alone, in another country, and in an entirely new continent. I didn’t know anybody on this trip, and I was scared that I would be alone the entire two weeks. I was worried my host family would hate me or that I wouldn’t enjoy living with them. I was nervous about exploring a new culture, learning a new language, and to be suddenly surrounded by a new environment.
Everything I just said never happened on this trip. I wasn’t alone for even a second on this trip, and I never felt like I was in a scary, foreign place. I became close to multiple friends with days, and now we have an unbreakable bond. I loved my host family, and they loved me. I quickly and easily became a part of their lifestyle and their home, and they welcomed me like I was family. I became close to my two sisters who I made hundreds of new memories with, and I already miss them so much. I fell in love with the Moroccan food my host mom cooked, I can now navigate the Rabat Medina in my sleep, and I can confidently count to three in Darija!
None of this would have been possible without the people I met throughout this trip, which is why I wanted to feature my host sisters in this post. Not only did I get to know them so well, but we made so many fun memories in just two weeks, from going out to the beach together to going on a late night walk in the park on my last night. Just by observing their life and demeanor, they taught me so much about living in the present and having an appreciation for everything you have. While they don’t have a lot, they spent every night together at the dining table laughing, making jokes, and sisterly fighting. It reminded me a lot of my family and my sister, who I’m very close with, and it was a constant reminder that life is about the small things. As I laughed alongside them, often not understanding what was so funny, it also showed me that joy and laughter transcends everything. I barely even knew my host sisters for two weeks, and yet, we were laughing together at dinner nearly everyday, and I felt like I belonged even though I was a literal stranger in their house.
From another perspective, I found even more sisters through the friends I made on this trip. From the long bus drives throughout Morocco to the spontaneous evenings spent at the beach, I bonded with many members of our group and forged relationships that will continue beyond this trip. My featured photo was taken at the farewell party at the CCCL, where I got to celebrate the amazing relationships I made on this journey. My two host sisters (next to me in the photo) made my experience welcoming and fun, and my fellow classmates that I celebrated with made the entire two weeks an unforgettable time. I even got to wear a traditional Moroccan dress, which my family so graciously lent me. I truly felt like a part of this genuine, amazing community on that day.
While I personally grew to be a more open-minded and grateful person, this trip also allowed me to expand my professional and academic experiences. Morocco is significantly behind the United States when it comes to AI and business opportunities, however, they’re putting in the work to catch up and be innovative. I also noticed how motivated the people are, like those involved in organizations like the Technopark and ANDD. They are constantly aiming to push forward with their goals and expand their opportunities, and I really admired that. Despite Morocco’s lack of resources and funding compared to the US, the people are increasingly trying to improve opportunities in the professional world, and organizations like the ANDD are consistently being created. With time, their expansion will reach uncontrollable heights.
While things were different in this class academically compared to other traditional classes, I enjoyed every aspect of it. From the lectures on Moroccan culture to the daily blogs, I looked forward to each day rather than dreading the repetition and monotony of a normal lecture in college. I was excited to capture my day in the routine blogs, and I love that it’s now a digital testimonial of my experiences in these past two weeks. I know my family and friends loved reading it, and hopefully future students can be inspired be our group’s stories too. I will never forget this trip, and I can’t wait to do it again!