It's been a long time since I've taken the time to sit down and reflect what's been going on. Morocco really is an enchanting place, there are always new friends to make, new things to try, new things to do and see. I've literally only been on my computer less than ten times this entire month to check my email and to skype occasionally, aside from that I've refused to let myself escape from my Moroccan surroundings and not let myself hide away and sit on my computer. I want to experience being here.
In the past month I've traveled a fair amount, seen an abundance of history, tasted various and delicious Moroccan dishes, and have had the time of my life. I already can't believe that a whole month has gone by. I've made so many friends and they've shown me so much here. They've brought me to to see new places (so far my friends have taken me to Rabat, Fez, and Assilah), they've opened my eyes, and made me try new things that I know otherwise I wouldn't have if I didn't have them.
My first week of school was a bit rough. I showed up here without any schedule and everything for me was malfunctioning, I guess I was just unlucky. My room door couldn't lock, my shower was broken, my email password wasn't working and had to be reset, and I for some reason didn't have a student account until later on into the first week and got some of my classes late. It was really hectic given that at Al Akhawayn University you are only given one week for the add/drop period. Since I got my classes late I only had three days in which I was able to communicate with my home universtiy about credits and such. After the first week I finally got settled and situated. I've met a lot of new people and many who've become dear friends already. Sharing food is a huge part of social events or just welcoming people to their home or out and sharing food. This got me so stoked, and from these experiences I've tasted so many amazing dishes.
From classes to going out in the town or just meeting new people from mutual friends, everyone has shown me something new. The people here are so kind. Nearly everyone I've met has welcomed me into their homes and everyone takes such good care of each other. Just like in many parts of Europe, they do the kiss greeting here. It feels just like home in Italy. Actually there are many parallels from Morocco to Italy. Here I feel really at home, and I guess because of the parallels I'm not having an as intense culture shock as I did when I studied abroad in Italy 4 years ago. The warmth people have and the sense of time. It feels just like Italy.
September 5th-7th: RABAT
My second weekend in Morocco one of my friends from school took us to his home town, Rabat, and we stayed at his home. He showed us the old Medina, which is the old city, the market, Hassan II (where the Royal family is buried), a Roman archaeological site called Chellah, and then we went to the beach. It was the most perfect first weekend. We saw so much and everything was so beautiful.
Chellah, Rabat
Rabat market
Bouznika Beach, on the Atlantic Ocean
Chicken Tajine and Salad
In the evenings our friends brought us to nice restaurants and pubs. Loud music was always playing and people were dancing everywhere, it was such a cheerful atmosphere. The people weren't afraid to dance all out, it was just people dancing having fun.
Our weekend in Rabat was so amazing, they took such good care of us, looked out for us in the streets, fed us like royalty and it was the best. I love the food here. I love the people here. I love Morocco.
At the end of the weekend when we returned, it was homework time. School here seems to have similar expectations in terms of assignments and attendance as my home university so I'm not really finding it too challenging. In terms of the quantity of homework I'm finding it much less here, so during the week I end up having more time to hang out with friends than being stuck in some room studying all day like I how I am back in the States at my home university in Oregon.
At school I have five courses, and I've already had one paper due, two quizzes, and one presentation due. It's a fair amount and school is going well. I'm content here, it's the perfect amount where I feel I have enough that I'm still learning and it's not just "studying abroad and not doing school" like many other programs are, but that it's not too heavy of a workload that I can still have the time to experience being here. To experience Morocco.
The following weekend we went out Thursday night and rented a house to stay at. People do this all the time here because the university has a midnight curfew (applicable only for week nights). To work around this many people live off campus of rent apartments and houses whenever they want to go out at night. We went to the club in town which for me is average but it's something to do. It was fun.
September 13th : FEZ
On Saturday, me and two of my American friends and a bunch of Moroccan guys went to Fez, one of the oldest cities in Morocco. It has the largest old Medina. You could spend the entire day in there and get lost. Literally there are local people jut hanging around in the Medina waiting for someone to ask them to direct them somewhere, and they direct you and bring you there. This is their real job that they get paid for, it's crazy. By now I've gone to Fez 3 times and every time we have to pay someone to help us find our way. But getting lost in the Medina is enjoyable anyways because all the architecture is so beautiful. You could turn any corner and find markets, or find yourself at the front door of a palace. While in Fes in the Medina we went to see three main touristy sites, the world's first leather tannery, where Moroccan Argan Oil is made, and how the famous carpets, blankets and rugs are made. These were such fascinating factories to visit, to see the processes the material goes through. The people working there use such basic techniques without any machinery.
Entering the old Medina walls in Fez
Casual working donkeys in the Old Medina of Fez
The leather Tannery (Pigeon crap is used, so before you enter the tannery the guides always offer you a handful of mint to cover your nose and cover the smell. It's so strong!!)
Allll the Argan Oil
Here are the women grinding the Argan seeds to make the various Argan oil products
How they make the rugs and blankets
Delicious appetizers. In Morocco it's common to be given appetizers before your meal. Often times it's lentil soups and olives :) All the food!
Fez overall has been an amazing and beautiful city. It's busy and full of different people and I could get lost in it over and over again. I'm so grateful that I live so near it (about an hour away) because Ifrane (where my University is) is so small, there's nothing to do. Fez is a really great place to escape, it's what a foreigner would typically imagine Morocco to be like. I love it!
September 19th-21st :ASSILAH
This weekend me and a group of friends, half international students and half Moroccan students, all took a trip to Assilah. It's a small beach town to the west of Tangier, the furthest north city in Morocco, you can take a 30 minute ferry boat from Tangier to Spain. It was about a four hour drive north from Ifrane, but well worth the drive. When we arrived at our apartment Friday night, all I could think about was crashing on a couch. Instead there were at least 6 bedrooms and it was the most beautifully decorated home. It was in the middle of the old Medina and there was a view of the Atlantic Ocean from our bedroom window.
Middle of the Old Medina in Assilah
In front of our apartment standing on the edge wall of the Medina overlooking the beach and Ocean
The upstairs balcony of the apartment One of the main living rooms of the apartment
Friday night most of us ended up crashing. The next morning we woke up and headed straight for the beach. It was the most perfect day, a bunch of us together drinking beer on the beach on a sunny day, playing soccer, a family of camels walking around, horses and donkeys to play with, and lots of rocks to climb and go exploring.
The beach at Assilah
Camel family and horses on the beach
We swam for some of the time there but a I ended up going exploring and climbing all the rocks. Turns out there was an area in the rocks where you could find clay that was apparently good for your skin. I'm not really sure if this is true but we saw numerous people walking around covered in green clay. We decided to partake in covering ourselves as well.
Clay body paint party
The day at the beach was one of the best days I've had here so far in Morocco. But it was a long day and we all needed a nap. We headed back, cleaned up, many of us took naps but I headed into Tangier for the night for dinner (about a 40 minute drive from the apartment we rented in Assilah) Tangier seemed like a hectic city. In fact when we went to the one of the shops, inside was so crowded I waited for my friends outside. As I was waiting outside someone tried to steal my purse by tugging on the strap. It was being pulled from behind me with great force so I couldn't see who it was and my strap was choking my neck. I realized what was happening gripping tight onto my purse, and all three of the guys that I was with chased after him. He ended up tearing the strap but he didn't steal anything and I was fine. My friends and the police caught one of the two guys that were involved, I guess the other escaped.
It was an interesting experience. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before. It kind of shook me a bit but I was really grateful that I was okay, and that I had my friends there, and that nothing ended up being taken. I was really lucky. I'm usually always very careful about watching my stuff, but I guess it was a lesson that you can never be too careful. Always hold tight onto your belongings and be aware of your surroundings especially in busy areas.
Before heading back we had dinner. From the balcony where we ate dinner we could see city lights from Spain across the sea. It was absolutely stunning. I loved it there and wanted to stay all night. Instead, after dinner we ended up heading back to the apartment in Assilah and partied the night away with everyone. I can honestly say it Assilah overall was the best time I've had. I already miss it. It was a great group, with beautiful weather, and the most relaxing and enjoyable time. I want to go back right now.
September 26th-28th : Chillin' at home in IFRANE
Last weekend was a chill weekend. I ended up staying in Ifrane for the weekend, just relaxing, hanging out with friends here, and saving travel money for next weekend ( Next weekend is a holiday in Morocco, kind of like their version of Thanksgiving or Christmas. Everyone gets together with their family and each family slaughters a sheep and they eat it. Sounds cool kind of, like it would be a once in a life time opportunity to experience it. But I know that if I was present for this holiday I would become vegetarian..). Thus, me and my main two girls are going to Barcelona, Spain for the weekend of October 3rd-6th.
Anyways, this last weekend we spent here in Ifrane. Mostly hanging around all day, watching movies with friends, eating a lot, and going out to the bars, clubs, some house parties, and just hanging out at friends houses. It's fun to travel and see the rest of Morocco, but it was also a really good idea to spend the weekend here, relaxing and with friends from school. It was a successful weekend I'd say.
September 29th
Today was a usual weekday. Morning classes, afternoon classes, and early evening classes. My first class of the day was French, then Popular Cultures in Africa, then Islamic Art and Architecture. This morning in French we had a quiz and an oral presentation. I think it went really well and in general I think my French is improving a lot. People hear speak a range of languages, most commonly Moroccan Arabic (which is Arabic mixed with a lot of French), French, Berber, English, and some people speak Spanish. It's crazy! And I am insanely jealous of them. I wish I was born and raised in an environment where the need to know multiple languages was absolutely necessary. It is my goal in life to be able to speak at least 4 languages before I die. I'm workin' on it! English, Italian, getting French down, and can understand 80% of Spanish. I came here with the mindset that I will learn to speak French fluidly while I'm here. It's not quite there yet, but it's significantly better than when I was at home in the States. Just having the opportunity to utilize it more is helping me so much!
Although the languages that are spoken around me day to day vary, I'm still hearing a lot more French than I do at home. Just from this I'm learning to understand everything better, and learning to pronounce things how they should be pronounced. Also because many people are afraid to speak English and some do not know any at all when I go out into town (on campus, because lessons are taught in English, whether or not people are comfortable speaking English, they know it) my French has been coming in handy a lot lately. I'm really proud of myself and I hope that it will improve over the remaining time I have here.
I can't believe a third of my time here has already passed by. The time really flew by and I'm having the time of my life. I can't even wait to see what these next two months hold for me.
If you've made it this far, I applaud you. I will try to keep up with my blog better. Life really has carried me away here. Sorry I can't help it! For now, A' plus tard!
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