My featured image represents my time in Morocco the best because it shows both the strong personal connections I made on this once in a lifetime experience, as well as the cultural emersion I was lucky enough to experience in Morocco. These two things are what I took out of Plus3 Morocco the most because…
Author: AustinGilliland
Sleepy Guys and Locksmiths
Here in Morocco, we’ve already learned a lot about supporting the growth of entrepreneurship, and our site visits today to ANDD and the women center in which they help support expanded upon this theme. ANDD is focused on supporting and expanding women entrepreneurs, specifically targeting unemployed and younger women who may have an idea or…
AI no Allen Iverson
AI is something that I believe will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the world, and I think it will change our lives in ways that most people don’t even think about. The discussion about AI today reinforced this belief of mine, as hearing someone who is already extremely successful utilizing AI and continuously invests…
Be an Entrepreneur or Go to Miami and Buy a Business?
Listening to Farah’s experience as an entrepreneur was very interesting because her story was something I never would have expected. Starting off in a French school here in Morocco and constantly being pushed towards the goal of moving out of Morocco to study and work in France, seems like something that would have been very…
Straight Outta Atlas
The two cooperatives we learned about here in Morocco, Anou and the women’s, are both trying to expand the sales of artisanal products like genuine, handmade Moroccan rugs and leather goods of all descriptions, especially for Women artisans. At the same time, these cooperatives want to make sure these women artisans are getting compensated fairly…
4PM in Marrakesh
Took pictures with the cobras and small snakes with no venom over my shoulder in the main square of Marrakesh. Great lunch in Marrakesh after our tour of the city’s medina, here we just got our food and are getting ready to chow down. Some great street performers in Marrakesh playing all sorts of instruments…
Back to Casablanca
Today’s visit to Casablanca Technopark was the most valuable experience to get ready for our end of program presentation. This site visit offered my group and I a firsthand view of the Technopark and everything it’s doing to help Morocco’s growing innovation economy, information that will directly shape how our group approaches the final presentation….
Paper Chasing
Starting our morning off learning about the Anou cooperative and getting a behind the scenes look at the supply chain of Moroccan crafts, specifically rugs gave a much deeper perspective into the goods we see in the markets every day. The story of how these rugs are made and sold, with women in rural areas…
Diving In
Discussing the politics, religion, and roles of women in Moroccan society during class today made me start to think more about what I’ve actually observed so far here in Morocco relating to those topics. Learning in class is interesting, but witnessing the culture in person and being fully immersed into a Moroccan household with my…
Good Price, Good Price
Learning about the language used in everyday Moroccan life was very interesting and already useful in saying a few main words to my host family. My favorite part of the day though, was learning about Moroccan bargaining skills and how to get the best prices possible. After learning about the way to negotiate prices and…
2 Days Into Morocco
AI Paragraph: Rabat, the capital of Morocco, offers a lifestyle that blends old-world charm with modern convenience. The medina and UNESCO-listed historic sites like the Kasbah of the Udayas sit alongside contemporary government buildings and cafes, reflecting the city’s dual identity as both a cultural hub and administrative center. The pace of life is noticeably…
Straight Off The Plane
After landing in Casablanca and finally making it out of the airport, the reality that I was on a completely different continent hit me for the first time. The landscape surrounding the airport wasn’t too different from something you’d see in the southern U.S. so that was a little surprising, but as we departed and…
Wake Up, We’re Going To Morocco
Hi, my name is Austin Gilliland, and I’m super excited to travel to Morocco in a week. I’m originally from Curwensville, PA and I’m currently studying Finance and Accounting in the business school. At Pitt I’m apart of Panther Equity, Pittsburgh Management Consulting, and Alpha Kappa Psi. My two favorite past times are golf and…