Today marked the start of the site visits tied to the Plus3 program. With the focus on entrepreneurship and technology, we made our first stop at the Casablanca Technopark. Here, we learned about how the application and acceptance process works for startups seeking to use the resources that the Technopark provides. I believe this detail…
Author: Blake Balthaser
Changing the Market
Today’s classroom involved a handful of guest speakers. For starters, the Anou cooperative made me realize how transformative establishing fair pay can be. In the past, the rural craftswoman who produced rugs in Morocco would only earn a sliver of profit, 4%, which discouraged many future artisans. However, with the introduction of Anou’s platform they…
Religion, Gender, Politics, & Beach Soccer
Another round of classes took place today, with a primary focus on religion, politics, and gender dynamics. As a result, I had the opportunity to learn more about the history of household dynamics and make a connection with how my host family navigates daily life compared to historic Moroccan families. The father, like many other…
2 New Languages
Today began the start of class sessions at the Center for Cross Cultural Learning in Rabat. Besides extra tips on safety, we had two core focuses for today, the Arabic language and the language of bargaining. When it comes to me, I unfortunately found myself to not be very good at either. After covering basic…
Arriving to the Capital
The following paragraph is a description about life in Rabat written by AI: Life in Rabat blends tradition with modernity in a way that feels both vibrant and relaxed. As Morocco’s capital, the city has a cosmopolitan atmosphere, with government buildings and embassies alongside bustling souks, seaside cafés, and historic landmarks like the Kasbah of…
First Impressions
Ahead of my arrival to Morocco this morning, I initially expected to find strictly traditional attire everywhere I went. I was under the belief that I’d stand out quite heavily by not being covered head-to-toe in robes. Instead, I was surprised to find that not entirely to be the case! I was able to observe…
Next Up: Morocco
Hi! My name is Blake Balthaser, and I am stoked to be headed to Morocco on the Plus3 program with the University of Pittsburgh. I am currently enrolled in the School of Business and the David C. Frederick Honors College, where I am planning on dual majoring in accounting and business analytics. Outside of the…