مع السلامة المغرب

My last post seems like it was a million years ago and yet it was only 11 days ago. The last week of classes went by fast and I didn't do much else besides visiting the weekend souk and loading up on delicious popcorn, drinking all the soda I could that they don't have in the States. taking a trip with my "class" (all three of us) to Azrou for last minute shopping, finishing watching Grace and Frankie, raiding the campus store to use up the rest of the money on our ID cards, and spending our last night in town with my friends eating ice cream and buying matching rings. :)

At the end of the week, we talked with our professors about our improvement. The second four weeks were more frustrating and it felt like I wasn't learning and absorbing as much material and vocab. One professor explained that you learn 90-95% of things in the first semester and after that the learning curve slows down. This helped because we felt like we were somehow getting worse!

It was weird packing up all my things and everything just barely fit in my bags. We had our final test on Friday and then the graduation ceremony. Every class did some sort of performance at that and Kevin and I did a play and then sang the chorus of a song. Hoping to find a video of that but it seemed to be well liked by everyone watching. Our play was changed three times and I think the final product showed how much we have learned as well as incorporating humor that everyone could appreciate. We had to leave graduation early because we had a taxi scheduled to come and bring us to Casablanca. We had received our certificates earlier that day.

I rode with three friends to Casablanca Friday night even though my flight was on Saturday afternoon. There was no one leaving at the same time as me so I decided to ride with some friends! I stayed at a Moroccan friend's house which was really nice although I was not a very good guest and didn't eat as much food as I should have. :) I also got to explore Casablanca a little bit. There was some beautiful architecture and I was so happy that I got to see Hassan II Mosque, it was breathtaking!

My friend took me to the train station and that's when things started to get interesting...

I bought my ticket (first class this time... going up in the world. It was only $2 extra...) and threw something in the trash and managed to lose my ticket. I checked everywhere and I couldn't find it so I just said, whatever, I'll buy another one. My friend was really concerned and tried to get the guy print me another one. He wouldn't so I bought one and proceeded to go to my platform - down and up a few flights of stairs. Luckily Amina was there to help me with my luggage. She then asked the conductor about getting a refund and I think they had found my lost ticket so I ran back to the ticket desk to get a refund. Meanwhile, my train is due to arrive any minute. Finally, I get money back and run back to my luggage and Amina who is telling me to hurry. I get on the train and plop my stuff down. I was sweating profusely. Sorry, girls don't sweat - I was glowing. I sure got an exercise.

I get to the airport and this is the beginning of my traveling where I have to carry all of my things. And everything is heavy. Casablanca had many checkpoint security lines but none of them were very thorough. I show my passport and travel itinerary to an officer to get into the airport and then put my luggage through a screening machine and I walked through a metal detector. I checked in and got rid of my luggage (which bounced between 22.9 and 23kg :) ). I started to go to the security and passport control line and I spotted a scale with a man checking people's luggage. There was no why he was checking the weight of my bags! If he took one look at my trembling shoulders he would know that they were way too heavy. Luckily, he was busy doing something so I buzzed past him. Went through security but took nothing out of my backpack and realized later that I had coins in my back pocket. Swiftly continued on... Got through passport control and onto my gate. There was another screening before getting to my gate. Somehow my name was on a list and I got to go in a faster line. They searched my bags and only questioned my Saharan sand. Was pat down and then was able to stand in a line for the shuttle to bring us to the plane. Finally got on the plane and ended up moving twice for a family to sit together. From there, I was able to relax and sleep occasionally, whenever there wasn't a screaming child.

It feels weird to be home and not have a lot to do. There are lots of things I could be doing but relaxing has been good too. It has been nice knowing that there will always be toilet paper everywhere, drinking tap water, using a normal sized shower, speaking to employees in English (I was in a daze in Starbucks when I was having a conversation with the barista in English), having air conditioning, not standing out as a foreigner, being able to text and call people even when I'm not home, and sleeping in my own bed.

There are things that I miss though... Like good quality coca cola, non humid weather that's cooler at night, all the friends I made both American/Canadian and Moroccan, guaranteed coffee breaks at 10am every day, using words like mumkin, mescine, mumtaz, ayna, and fii haqeeqa every day, and getting lovely tan lines.

There is a place in my heart for Morocco and I am grateful for all that I did while I was there and all that I have learned both in class and in immersing in the culture.

Fun fact: The root of the word for Morocco in Arabic, المغرب (Almaghrib), means sunset. Almaghrib got its name because it is the farthest west Arab country and so it is the last to see the sun go down. There is also the Maghrib prayer that takes place at sunset.

Update on My Life

I know it’s been a long time since I’ve updated but there’s been a lot going on. I have decided to use this 12ish hour bus ride to write a post – there’s only so much sleeping and playing the Bejeweled app that I can do. J

Class has been interesting because there are now just two of us in class for this second semester of the program. If one of us doesn’t go to class, the other is all alone! This has happened a couple times. It’s hard to know how much we have learned because we are past the steep learning curve but we have gotten used to class and become closer to our professors.

I forgot to mention in my last post, but when we were in Erfoud, on the way to Merzouga, I bargained for the first time. It was in English so I don’t know if it counts but it still happened. I figured out that it works well to tell them that you only have so much (even if you have more) and you can often get them down to your price. Just a little tip. J I was surprised though, sellers tend to be pretty annoyed when you start to bargain and are stubborn and won’t change their prices. For some this seems to be part of the game and for others they literally won’t budge. It’s always helpful to have locals with you too so that they can help you determine the real value of what you’re buying.

I traveled to Rabat and Marrakech during the Eid holiday. We had three days off school and most people traveled. Rabat was more modern (probably because it’s the capital) and kind of reminded me of Lebanon. We ate at McDonald’s on Eid because it was the only place open! Our Airbnb host was the best and was super accommodating and helpful. After two days in Rabat, we trekked back to school and then on to Marrakech. Most people traveled before and met us in Marrakech so the bus was nice and empty. Marrakech is a very touristy city and I really liked the souk/market there. I bought a lot of things. AND THERE WAS A STARBUCKS! To be honest, that was the first place I went and it was great. I think the drink sizes were biggest and I think it was cheaper, but then again, everything is cheaper here. We visited a palace and a couple other sites. I really love Moroccan architecture and designs. The tile work is always beautiful and the ceilings are incredibly decorated.

It has been crazy here since Ramadan is over. Everyone is happy and the streets and restaurants are lively during the day. It’s totally different and I don’t really remember how it was before.

This week, things were changed up, in two ways. First, we traveled to a different city for a whole week where classes were held and adventures were had. (I know that’s passive, sorry to my high school English teachers…) Second, we traveled to a different city than what was on the original schedule. Let me explain…

So, we were supposed to go to Tangier which is in the north and really nice, breezy, and close to other cool cities. AUI’s contract was breached with the corresponding school in Tangier that we would stay at. This was two days before we were supposed to leave. Somehow, they found a new school quickly and we were informed that we were going to Agadir which is the deep south. Not only would it be a lot longer drive, but it’s not as nice as Tangier and we were all looking forward to Tangier. However, there is nothing we could do. Agadir is a beach city so that was nice and the coast was quite pretty. The humidity was unreal though and I think that the heat was one of the causes to my several headaches. We visited the beach, the Kasbah, the souk (because I really needed to buy more things..… but it was very cheap! It’s also the largest souk in Morocco, I believe) and a relative of the director’s house for dinner. Other people went on more adventures but I was lazy and stayed at the university a lot.

However, I bargained again at the souk in Agadir (all by myself) and in Arabic also! It wasn’t a huge drop in price but it was a win in my book regardless. What I was bargaining for was a gift for my brother but, knowing him, he’ll think it’s stupid and he won’t want it so I might end up keeping it for myself.

This week, it felt like we were all living in a lot closer proximity because we were all basically in one building. I talked more with other professors and I think I became a little more comfortable talking. Two of the women professors here are the cutest ever and beautiful and so nice. They are also both single so we have been trying to be good matchmakers. J

So, I have a confession… The Arabic title of this blog was generated from google translate. Pure copy and paste. I opened up my blog yesterday, you know, as you do… Just to check to make sure it’s still there…? And I look at the title and I understood what it says! I don’t know why it was so exciting for me but I don’t think I’ve tried to read it since I started the program so it showed that I have progressed somewhat!

I can’t believe we only have one week left… It feels like I have been here forever but it also feels like it’s flown by. Currently stressing over if everything will fit in my suitcase and how I will get to the airport. It is crazy that we have to think about that already. I think I’m ready to be home though. Looking forward to food that isn’t tajine, being able to drink tap water, knowing there will always be toilet paper, having strong wifi and being able to sync my fitbit, and being able to eat healthily and go to a normal gym.

Fun fact: There was a disastrous earthquake in Agadir in 1960 and the new city is located about two miles away from the old one.

Mid-Program Thoughts

Here is another blog post that I wrote for my school:

.السلام عليكم! انا اسمي فيونا. انا ادرس في حامعة بنتلي ولكن الان انا ادرس اللغة العربية في جامعة الاخوين

(Hello! My name is Fiona. I study at Bentley University but now I am studying the Arabic language at Al Akhawayn University.)

I have survived a whole semester’s worth of Arabic! It took some getting used to being here, but after a week or two I was in the swing of things. I live in a double room on campus with a Moroccan roommate. The university is situated in a small town in the mountains called Ifran. The weather here is warm but there is usually a nice breeze. We take it for granted while we’re here, but when we travel to other cities we look forward to returning to school for the cooler weather!

These past four weeks have been particularly unique because of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan has had a significant impact on the international students because, off-campus, there is little food available during the day and the restaurants on campus have limited hours. Although this was frustrating at times, being here during this time has helped me learn more about Islam and the culture of an Islamic country. For example, we often ate the breaking of the fast meal with our program and would wait to eat until the Maghrib prayer, professors and other speakers would talk to us about Islamic practices and particularly the ones observed during Ramadan, and we would think twice about eating and drinking in public. It will be very different in the coming weeks since Ramadan is over, so I look forward to experiencing a different side of Morocco!

My remaining time here will also be different because my Arabic class has shrunk from five people to two. Hopefully, we will learn more at a faster pace but the individual attention is also very intense and exhausting. Monday through Friday, I have class from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. We have a much needed thirty-minute coffee break in the morning and some days we have clubs/experiential learning and lectures. After class, we eat lunch and then do homework/recover from class. The most exciting part of our week might be a walk (or taxi drive) into town to the market or to the sushi restaurant for dinner. J

On the weekends, we either have scheduled trips as part of the program or we travel ourselves. So far, I have visited Fes three times, Merzouga (the Sahara desert), and Azrou, which is a small town nearby. We have days off for Eid al-Fitr (the celebration of the end of Ramadan) and I will travel to Rabat, the capital, with friends and then to Marrakech, a big touristy city that has a Starbucks, with the program. The program is very good at immersing us in the culture.

Moroccans are very hospitable, and some girls that we just met brought us to a celebration in the market and helped us put on traditional dresses and get our makeup and henna done. It was the equivalent to preparations for getting married and was a lot of fun!

I can’t believe my time here is winding down. A lot will happen between now and when I fly home. I look forward to our trips and seeing the progress I have made in Arabic – despite struggling through hours of homework and drowning in pages of vocab words!

Fun fact: Most shops and restaurants display a picture of their King, Mohammed VI, prominently.

The classic Moroccan mint tea!

Breaking the fast with a fancy ftour

Gateway into the old city of Fes

Pottery shop in Fes

Calligraphy club

Getting the low down on all the different types of carpets and how they are made

Beautiful Al Akhawayn

Sun setting on the sand dunes

Our tents for the night in the desert

Spices in the souk

Enjoying the view!

Riding a camel!!

El Bouanania School in Fes

Calligraphy in the stone

The school courtyard

Fes tannery

Moroccan woman making Moroccan sweets

Most of our program in Fes

A Play-By-Play of Everything Merzougan

I have been meaning to write a post about my trip to Merzouga (the desert) for a while now - it's been two weeks. Now that I've done my laundry from that trip, I think it's finally time to write about it. :)

We hopped on an Al Akhawayn University coach bus (fully equipped with footrests and comfy chairs but no toilet or WiFi) at approximately 2:24pm which was surprisingly early considering we were supposed to leave at 2:15pm.

Drove through rural Moroccan landscape and occasionally saw men randomly sitting by the side of the road or on a rock nearby.

There were small huts every once in a while surrounded by the rocky terrain.

Most of the time there were several huts in a clump.

Even though the huts were small and mainly made from carpets and/or wood, there was often a brightly painted white (with various other colors) mosque.

We stopped at a "reststop" which consisted of a small cafe-like place and gas pumps.

We were allowed one "free" drink (paid for by the program - mum and dad this is your money being spent well!).

I ordered a Moroccan mint tea.

It was time to go and my drink still hadn't come out...

Told me it was ready and they would bring it out to-go.

They hand it to me in a plastic cup with no lid.

I knew it wasn't going to last long on the bus with the bumpy roads...

Had two sips, burnt my tongue and threw it away (okay, so maybe your money wasn't well spent, but don't worry I got a drink on the way back and played it safe with a trustworthy coca-cola).

Learned all about ROTC and army programs from the guy sitting next to me.

Also learned the difference between shooting and hunting.

Probably took a nap.

Six hours later we arrived at our hotel in Erfoud.

Some people fled to the bar as if they were having alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

We ate dinner and hung out.

My room was a double with two beds and a bathroom.

I think the layout of this hotel was sort of like a resort but I don't know because I've never been to one (literally just googled "resort blueprint").

All the rooms were accessed from outside (like a strip mall) so it was basically like we had our own little house.

There was a nice pool and pretty flowers everywhere.

Oh, and a bar. Did I mention that already?!

The next morning, we ventured out to the town and bought some things at the souk.

There are traditional desert scarfs that the Berbers in the Sahara tie around their heads to shield off the sand.

I bought one as well as flowy pants.

From there, we traveled to Rissani, got a tour of the old medina/city and got information about various types of carpets made throughout Morocco.

They brought out jewelry too but I really had to stop spending money so I didn't buy anything.

From there we visited a tomb/mosque of Moulay Ali Cherif and there was a nice courtyard and beautiful mosaics.

We came out and there were 4x4's waiting for us and they brought us out to the desert.

They were driving on the road and then all of a sudden turned onto the sand/rough ground.

Who knows how they knew where they were going!

Some people were daring and sat out the window.

I was comfortably enjoying the breeze in the very back.

We arrived to our "hotel" called Kasbah Hotel Sahara Garden.

Just tried googling it and finally found it.

Apparently we (the students) stayed in "bivouacs" which is described on the website as "a determined encampment made with tents or improvised shelters. It is also commonly used to describe a variety of improvised camp sites such as those used by nomads in Sahara Desert. Nomad tents are specifically prepared to be able to be dismounted and taken from place to place during camel caravans."

There ya go.

Also, "[their] tents are made from traditional materials and create unique atmosphere around the dunes where our bivouac complex is located. Tents are made of camel wool, the perfect material for Sahara Desert tents as their thickness protects the sun and the heat from coming in, plus, its dark color creates shade. While it rains, the wool itself gets bigger, producing a water-proof material."

"Standard tents offer you the regular decorated nomad tent, where you'll spend the night inside a true Sahara ambiance." I guess that's what my friends got with all the ants in their beds.

Now you know more than you ever thought you would about Saharan tents!

Or at least the ones that tourists sleep in.

We then went on a camel ride into the sand dunes.

I named mine Majid.

He had a really big hump so he was a little uncomfortable to sit on.

We watched the sunset and it was beautiful.

When it got dark, we ate dinner and danced with a traditional musical group.

I got a lot of steps on my fitbit this day.

I choose to sleep in the tent so I could actually sleep.

A guy told me the sun would rise at 6am.

I woke up then, saw that it was already bright outside and went back to sleep.

We ate breakfast and left.

At this stage, we were all worn out and just wanted to get back to Ifrane.

To our own beds and to the coolness (the desert was HOT).

We stopped at the souk in Rissani on the way back and all forty of us walked together.

We didn't stand out at all...

We were brought to various shops and people bought a few things.

I bought a cold drink.

And another at the rest stop (remember the coke?).

After a nap, we got back to campus.

I don't think all the sugar was good for me...

Plus there were very windy roads through the mountains.

I didn't feel great but luckily I had finished all my homework.

I went to bed super early.

This was such a cool trip and I'm so glad we got this experience even though it may have been a bit touristy.

Since then, I have bombarded my brain with more Arabic, broken my headphones, bought new headphones, taken another trip to Fez, written an Arabic essay, drank way too much soda on a daily basis, given in and bought scissors and tape, started watching Grace and Frankie on Netflix, made ghetto flashcards out of notebook paper, celebrated my 21st birthday without a drop of alcohol, burned slightly and reiterated lovely tan lines, gone to the gym once, decorated my room, still haven't experienced a non-western toilet, and made lots of memories with friends!

Fun fact: The Moroccan national language is the Moroccan Arabic dialect, Darija, but the languages used on a daily basis are Moroccan Arabic, Berber, some Standard Arabic, some French, and some Spanish (and Darija is largely a combination of them all!).

Disclaimer: pictures are not necessarily in order chronologically.

Largest oasis in North Africa

Photoshoot at the hotel in Erfoud :)

Caitlin and me rocking our "camel" pants

Tour guide in Rissani

Yes, I have made human friends

Everything here is called "cafe restaurant" and I'm not sure why...

Tomb/mosque

Sun setting

Spices in souk

Camel parking lot 

Pool at hotel in Erfoud

Ramadan Kareem!

I can't believe I've already been here for almost a week. Time flies when you have four and a half hours of Arabic every day!

Just like every time I travel, I questioned my life decisions of coming here during the first few days and really missed home. Now that I am getting over my cold and have pushed through jetlag, I am a lot happier!

It has been an experience being in a Muslim country during Ramadan and I have learned so much. Everyone else is probably a lot more educated than I am - I tend to learn about things when I come in contact with them and don't have the general knowledge most people have. This is probably a weakness of mine but I wanted to share things I have learned in class and from others about what happens during Ramadan:

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting for those who are Muslim. From sunrise to sunset, they are not allowed to eat, drink, smoke, or engage in sexual relations. This is a cleansing month and in the Quran it is stated to help Muslims become healthier as well as become closer to God. This time is set apart to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.

All Muslims should fast except those who are traveling, sick, or pregnant among a few others. Also, children are not required to fast.

Muslims have suhur (the pre-fast meal) before dawn which, in Morocco, happens before 3:30am. Either they will stay awake until this time or wake up so they can eat and drink.

Luckily, the weather in Ifrane is mild and breezy as we are in the mountains but the cities can get quite hot. When I arrived, a woman at the Casablanca airport asked me where I was heading and when I told her I was taking the train to Fes, she says, "ah, but we don't go to Fes at this time of year - it's too hot!" Imagine not being able to drink water during this extremely hot weather! Many Moroccans will take naps during the day and keep themselves busy so they don't think about food. One Moroccan told me that the campus is a lot quieter than usual summer sessions because people don't want to have to take classes during Ramadan.

The marche and shops are bustling with people in mid-afternoon who are all buying food for their feast later. My Arabic professor brought up an interesting point. He asked us if we think people spend more or less money during this month. We weren't really sure but he mentioned the saying that says "never go to the grocery store hungry." This is what Muslims have to do so they end up spending more, perhaps even double. The marketplace is even busier in the last 10 days of Ramadan as Muslims are buying new clothes for the end celebration.

At about 5 or 6pm the downtown is empty and shops are closed as shopkeepers are also preparing food. Around 7:30pm the call to prayer sounds and people make their way to the mosque to pray. A cannon sounds and this is the signal that people can eat again.

The breaking of the fast meal is called iftar and starts with consuming dates which is how Muhammed ended his fast. The traditional places I have eaten also serve hard boiled eggs, with cumin and salt, and chebakia which is a Moroccan sweet made of deep-fried dough covered in honey syrup and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Ramadan lasts 29 - 30 days depending on when the crescent moon is sighted, both at the beginning and the end. Apparently, Morocco likes to be different so they generally start Ramadan one day after most other countries start. :) Here, Ramadan started on the 7th of June and will end on the 5th or 6th of July.

Each country has a different time for when they eat suhur and iftar because it is all about when the sun rises and sets. Some countries will have over 20 hours of sunlight and in most cases, they will agree upon a set amount of time when they will fast because over 20 hours isn't too feasible.

Devout Muslims will also spend time reading the Quran and praying during this time as well as giving to charity. I attended a dialogical Bible study last night where we looked at texts from the Old and New Testament as well as the Quran. It was very interesting to compare and contrast the different traditions regarding fasting.

I didn't expect to write this much but maybe now you know more about Ramadan than you ever thought you would. :) Hopefully, including Moroccan specifics was interesting too!

The food places on campus are open during the day, mainly for the international students who are not observing Ramadan. It is still important to be respectful and not blatantly eat and drink in public. I will be traveling to Fes tomorrow which will be another fun adventure!

Fun fact: Each year, Ramadan is 11 days earlier than the year before so it isn't always on the same dates. This is due to its lunar nature.

I Want to Adopt a Moroccan Boy

I don't know how often I'll have time to post updates but I have free time now, and nothing else to do... Sometimes it might just be some of my thoughts that I decided to write down. Other times it may be a list of things I did. Depends on how much I do and how often I allow my mind to wander. :)

This was my whole journey to get to Al Akhawayn in Ifrane, Morocco: Drove  to JFK airport, flew to Casablanca, took a shuttle from the airplane to the airport, followed the crowds through the airport through passport control and to baggage claim, took a short train ride to Casa Voyageur, took a longer train ride to Fes, was picked up by AUI people and drove in a van to the Fes airport, and drove in the van to school. Obviously, it was tiring and long but I found out other people's itineraries were a lot longer and more complex! So, I have nothing to complain about.

Even though I thought the plane ride would be a breeze, it was probably the worst part of my trip. The guys next to me put all the pillows and blankets on my seat and left me to deal with them some how. They didn't seem very approachable so I put them at my feet leaving me with very little leg room. It was also hard to find a position that was comfortable to sleep in. This is my first time traveling without Randall since we have been dating (which is hard enough) plus it was so hard to resist the urge to rest my head on the guy next to me's shoulder! There was also a screaming two-year-old in the row in front of me so that made sure it was impossible for me to sleep for very long periods at a time.

It was relatively easy to get through the airport and get a train ticket even though this was what I was most scared/nervous/stressed about. Everyone in the airport spoke English and things were going well. Once I got on the train everything was in French and Arabic but I managed to figure out what to do by following everyone else. Sometimes men would try to help me with my suitcase up and down stairs which was super nice but in the beginning I was afraid they would ask for a tip and I wouldn't know what to do. After a while, my arms started to hurt though so I gave in. It was just a little nerve wrecking traveling by myself and not knowing exactly what to do. When I got on the train to Fes, though, I was glad I had gotten that far and knowing that people would meet me at the Fes train station was comforting.

The best part of the trip was being on the train to Fes. I was in a carriage by myself at first but then a young boy and his mother joined me. HE WAS THE CUTEST FREAKING CHILD EVER. He sat there quietly and obediently and then would giggle every once in a while. I could go on and on and on about how cute he was, but I'll spare you. At one point, he was curled up on the seat with his head on his mother's lap and he tapped his leg and she put her hand there and asked if that's what he wanted and he nodded. It was adorable.

The scenery was also very pretty and vastly changed from fields and huts to cities with tall houses and hustle and bustle. I was so in awe of the landscape but I dozed off a couple times because I was so tired. I felt a bit more rested after the train ride though.

I have yet to meet my roommate or have any official introduction to the school and classes etc. Classes start tomorrow at 8am so I guess I'll figure it out there! Some of the other students who got here last week have showed us around a bit and even brought us into the town to the market which was cool! I got sunburned, but what's new...

I have had a headache since we got here which might be in part due to weird eating habits and not drinking enough water. I think it's gone now, though, inshallah, so we shall see what tomorrow brings!

I'm giving up with the internet now... It is being so finicky so I'm not even going to try and put in pictures!

Fun fact: Morocco is slightly larger than California.

Pre-Departure Thoughts

I was asked by Bentley to write a series of blog posts about my Moroccan adventure. Who knows if they will end up posting them anywhere but I decided to post my first one here as well. Maybe I'll be fancy and add a link to it if they end up posting it! Don't worry, mum edited it so it should be free of error... Other things I post on here, there's no guarantee. :)

This year, unpacking my belongings from school was a little more complicated. After I realized that having a staring contest with totes full of my things wasn’t going to unpack them, I finally started to take things out and sort out what I would need for the summer. Not only was I trying to keep the essentials, but I also needed to think about what I will need to bring with me on my trip abroad. I haven’t fully realized it yet, but I will be spending June and July taking an intensive Arabic class in Ifrane, Morocco.

I figured I should probably keep some stationery to write home, a notebook for class, a plug adapter, and warmer and conservative clothing. So as soon as I thought I was finished with unpacking, I started thinking about packing things up again. Luckily, this time I’ll bring fewer things.

My love for travel must have begun at a very young age. Growing up in Ireland gave me the chance to travel some in Europe and always to the States in the summer. My passion for the Middle East region, in particular, intensified three years ago. I headed out on my own to Beirut, Lebanon as part of a gap year program I participated in after high school. After considering all the places I could go, Lebanon was the place that stood out to me as different and exciting. I taught in an English school, picked up some Levant Arabic, and fell in love with the people and the culture.

Ever since then I have longed to go back, and just looking at pictures makes me very nostalgic. I have done a lot since then, though, and Bentley University has given me a great education so far and I have continued to grow. Part of my Liberal Studies Major (LSM) requires me to study abroad and take two levels of a language. I was eager to continue in Arabic, and it seemed like a perfect fit to be immersed in the language while studying abroad in an Arab country. I chose the summer program so I can focus on Arabic and I also don’t want to be away from Bentley for a whole semester!

Al Akhawayn University (AUI) offers the exact program I was looking for and I am looking forward to exploring a new country that has African, European, and Arab ties. It has been hard to know what to expect because Bentley students have not gone to Morocco in a long time, and that also made communications with AUI rocky in the beginning. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to this incredible experience and slightly nervous about what to expect, and my parents are glad that I’ve chosen a safer country than Lebanon. But I’m ready. I’m ready to embark on this new adventure.

Fun fact: The movie Casablanca was not filmed in Morocco.