Sunday, February 16, 2014

14 Things I LOVE About Morocco

This past Friday was February 14. To some it is simply another day on the calendar but in the United States and in some other countries around the world, February 14 is Valentine's Day!! Valentine's Day was named after an early Christian martyr and now is a holiday commonly celebrated in the 'States. On Valentine's Day, people exchange cards, candy, presents or flowers with the ones they love.


I thought it'd be fitting if I shared 14 things I've come to love about Morocco!

1) The gorgeous sunsets:

Morocco is a beautiful country with breath taking scenery! Every evening I am blessed to have the opportunity to watch the sun go down and let me tell you- it is mesmerizing! Nothing shy of perfection!

 
2) The Medina at Night:

The medina in Arabic means "city". In Morocco the medina refers to the old part of town. I love the medina in general but at night is when it really comes alive! Stepping inside the medina is like going back in time! You have merchants all over the place selling various items; from food to clothing to electronics, furniture and more- you name it, someone's probably selling it! When I first arrived in Morocco, the medina was my least favorite place due to the noise, odors, and constant harassment from vendors. Overtime I've grown to love all these things (except the harassment) about the medina and more! I often go to the medina to get natural oils for my hair (olive, coconut, almond, lavender, and argan) and for my weekly hammam trip (more on the hammam later).

3) Moroccan Traditional Clothing:
Depending on what region of Morocco you find yourself in the dress varies a little. In general the djellaba is most commonly worn traditional dress by both men and women. A djellaba is a long, loose, hooded garment with full sleeves. Djellabas come in all sorts of colors, patterns, and designs. I recently had the opportunity to design my own djellaba and here is a picture of it:

House dresses- although I don't know their name in Arabic, these are the dresses women wear around the house. When I first saw them in the Fez medina I thought they were the most beautiful things, too pretty to be worn only around the house! Here is a picture of some house dresses in Fez:

A kaftan is what women wear to weddings and the bride also wears. Kaftans are beautiful, elegant, and elaborately extravagant! I don't have a Kaftan at the moment as I have yet to go to a wedding or big celebration but I definitely want to get one before the end of the year!

 


Another article of traditional clothing (well shoes) that I adore is balghas, colorful leather heelless slippers worn by practically everyone. You can find balghas in the medina, they come in every color and unique in design.

Overall Moroccans are generally more fashionable or "coordinated" when it comes to everyday dress, something I really appreciate!

4) Hanuts: Hanuts are little convenience stores found on almost every street corner. A hanut is usually owned by a man who lives in the neighborhood. You can  get phone credits, find snacks, drinks, bread, fruit, food, shampoo, soap, etc. all in a hanut- you name it, they got it! Hanuts are super convenient for a snack and are open late into the night.

5) Beauty Salons: On average, you can find about 5 salons in each neighborhood. They are everywhere and extremely much cheaper than the ones in the U.S.! Some salons are run out of little shops or one's home (these are most common in my neighborhood) while others are big, glamorous and more European looking. Over the past 5 to 6 months I have gone to 3 different types of salons, had my hair washed and blown out 2 times as well as getting my eyebrows done every month. Every trip to the salon is a different experience but usually pleasant and cheap- it's only 10DH ($1.20) to do my eyebrows and less than $5 for a wash and blowout!

6) Importance of Family: Besides Allah (god in Arabic), family is the most important thing. This value is embedded throughout every facet of Moroccan culture and society.  On Fridays, the holy day for Muslims, shops, banks, and other businesses shut down so everyone  can go home to their for a lunch of couscous! Meals are often eaten communally around one big plate. Every night and on days when I can make it home for lunch, my host family and I eat together. The act of sharing a meal signifies more than just eating, it is a sign of love, unity, and respect. Frequently dinner lasts for an hour as it is a time when we all reconvene and talk; share our day, talk about the news, and whatever comes to mind.

When I first came to Morocco I was pleasantly surprised at how common it is for teenagers when introducing themselves to include a word about their love for their family! Back in November I, along with 2 other YES Abroad girls, taught an English class to some Moroccan students about Thanksgiving. At the end of our lesson I asked the students if they could write down one thing they were grateful for. To all of our surprise, almost every single student had the same response: "I am thankful for God, my amazing family, and education"! It is wonderful to see the love and respect most youth have for their parents and family members.

7) Accessibility of Food: You can find food anywhere and everywhere in Morocco. There are so many restaurants, snack joints, grocery stores, open markets (souks), and hanuts on every corner! In the medina you have lots of vendors selling food being prepared on the spot. Food is relatively cheap and uber delicious! Although every restaurant and hanut offers about the same thing, it's still nice to know that no matter where you are you can find something to grab!

8) Hospitality: I have found Moroccans to be very hospitable and welcoming, especially to foreigners. When you first meet someone of the same gender, you are greeted by bisous (kisses) on both cheeks. It is common that someone you've just met will invite you to their home for tea or dinner! Most people I've met here are willing to go well out of their way to help in any way they can. Once you do get invited over for a meal or simply tea, get ready you’re in for a treat! Moroccans love to shower guests with food, tea and pastries; you'll often repeatedly hear the mother tell you to "cool/cooli" (eat) in Darija.

9) Transportation: In general, it is fairly easy and cheap to get around Rabat. There are little blue taxis, white grand taxis, the Tram, cars, the bus, the train, and best of all- your own two feet. Having all these transportation means makes it very easy to get around the city and explore. I personally prefer the tram and petit taxis yet I often choose to walk instead for exercise.

10) Moroccan Mint Tea: Morocco has turned me into an avid tea drinker! I drink tea religiously, at least 5 cups a day! I start off my day with a cup or 2 of tea. If I happen to be home for lunch, I'll have another but if not I make up for it during Gouter (tea time at 6:30) or during dinner. My host Dad happens to also love tea so he frequently makes a pot for him and I. Moroccan tea is heavily intoxicated with sugar. Although I've grown fond of the sweet taste, the quantity I consume is not so healthy for my body.

11) Weather: Morocco is a northwestern African country but experiences Mediterranean like weather. For the most part of the year the weather is phenomenal, sunny, clear, and hot. All this changes in the winter, referred to as the rainy season in Darija. Though the temperature rarely drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit it can get really cold! Due to the fact that there is no central heating in Morocco, the houses are built of out concrete, and the majority of Morocco doesn’t utilize any sort heaters, it is extremely colder in the house than outside. I have to bundle up more inside the house than when I go out but hey- it's still sunny outside instead of dark and gloomy, right?

12) Languages: Moroccans are generally very linguistic and it's not uncommon to find someone who speaks at least 3 languages. Modern Standard Arabic and Berber are the official languages of Morocco but French remains the unofficial third language. Darija is the native spoken dialect all Moroccans speak. Morocco is a mosaic of many different cultures that have come to call Morocco their home throughout the centuries. English is also on the rise due to America's large influence over the media. I've come to realize that everyone speaks a little English, especially the youth. It is interesting to live in a society with so many means of communication. My language capabilities have definitely improved as I am constantly immersed in French at school and Darija everywhere else.


13) Music and Dancing: Chaabi is the popular music played at Moroccan weddings and parties.  Chaabi music is in Darija and very fast paced featuring drums, lutes, stringed instruments and sometimes electric guitars and buzuks. My host Mom loves chaabi and every Saturday night when we have family over the music is on and she and I get to dance to it! Host Mom (as she will be referred to from here on out) absolutely loves to dance and over the last few months she has taught me some moves.

14) Riads and the Home: Riad derives from the Arabic term ‘ryad’ – garden. A riad is a traditional Moroccan house characterized by having an interior garden or courtyard. I first got to see the inside of a riad on my YES Abroad trip to Fez back in October. Upon first step inside the restored riad, I was mesmerized at its beauty. Moroccans generally invest a lot of time into decorating and maintaining the home as it is considered to be ones' sanctuary or heaven on earth. The more I learned about the cultural significance of not only riads but the Moroccan home- the more I realized I absolutely loved it and wanted to know more! I have decided to research riads and the role they played and continue to play in Moroccan culture for my capstone project.

As you can see, there are a lot of things I've come to LOVE about Morocco and its culture. I am so thankful for everyday that I get to live in this amazing country, even if every day isn't "sugar and spice and everything nice"!
 


Friday, January 3, 2014

Mid-year Reflections

According to my program timeline, I've reached my mid-year mark. It's crazy to think that I am half-way done with my exchange experience! I have been in Morocco now for about four months and my, my, my has the time flown by! At first things started out great, I was on that exchange high (or honeymoon phase as commonly referred to). Everything was new, shiny, interesting, and full of mystique. After that things begin to settle down, you realize that you still have to go to school, people are still people, and life is still life no matter where in the world you find yourself. Isn't it crazy that when you think of going on exchange you never actually consider how much work and effort goes into it? I came here thinking "yeah, yeah, I'll learn Darija, be fluent in French, make lots of friends, and have a blast everyday". FALSE. It's not that easy or quite simple to be honest. It takes a lot of effort, persistence, creative thinking, and active pursuit. You find out that school is the complete opposite of what you imagined, relationship dynamics are different, communicating is more complex than you thought, and sometimes all you want to do is curl up in your pajamas and cry while watching 15 episodes of your favorite show.

My point in saying all this is not to complain about my life and issues I've faced abroad but to portray a more accurate picture of what life is like for me now. Not every day is peachy-sweet and quickens you to sing, dance, and express your love for your host country. Some days you face minor road blocks; like not being able to understand what someone is saying in Arabic, or failing to effectively communicate to your teacher at school, or even just explaining to your host family (who wants to serve you milk everyday) that you're lactose intolerant.

I've learned a lot about myself and Morocco these last four months. One thing is for sure; I don't regret taking this journey at all. I have met some of the most amazing, kind-hearted, welcoming people ever. I have had the opportunity to travel to Fez, Casablanca, Azrou, Moulay Yacoub, Oum rabbia, Meknes, Volubulis, and Khemmisett. I have seen the mountains in the Middle Atlas, the ocean (which I live 5 minutes away from), the city, and the countryside. I am so thankful to YES Abroad for providing me with this opportunity of a lifetime. There is still sooooo much I want to do, experience, and accomplish before my time here is up; but it's also nice to glance back to see how far I've come. I leave you with this quote from Gail Sheehy:

        “If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living.”
 


 

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Update/ Dear 2013



To anyone who still reads my blog, I am so sorry about my inconsistency, cough, lack of posting over the last three going on four months. Exchange is hard folks, harder than you can imagine but SO worth it in the end. In light of the New Year and updating my blog I have written a short letter to our dear friend 2013.

Dear 2013,

Wow, I can't believe how fast you have flown by, it feels like only a couple of months ago that I was ringing you in but now your leaving for good. What an insanely magnificent, invigorating, exhilarating, eye opening year it has been. The shortest and longest year I've yet to experience. If anyone would have told me a year ago this time that I would be living in Morocco on New Year’s Eve 2013, I wouldn't have believed them at all. Even when I left the U.S. back in August, I had no idea what I was getting into. This whole year has been such a journey, one I will be forever thankful for. As I reflect back I smile; at the good, the bad, and the really ugly. All the unexpected challenges, street harassment, homesickness, miscommunication hiccups (as so happens when you’re learning two languages) and our good old friend culture shock. Before you leave, I want to say thank you. Thank you for an incredible year, one I will never forget. The amazing people I've met, the stunning sights I've witnessed, and all the lessons learned. I've grown and changed in ways I didn't imagine. I've learned about determination, persistence, and how a sense of humor goes a long way! I'm sorry that I haven't had time to blog as much as I'd like but I hope to change that in the New Year. My New Year's resolution? To pursue truth, deepen my relationship with Christ, live in the moment, and love till it hurts! Oh, and learning Darija would be nice too. To your sister 2014, let her know I am so excited to meet her and see what she has in store for me!

 


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

I am in Morocco!!!

Hey everyone! This blog post is long overdue as it has been over a month since my last blog post. A lot has happened since July; for one thing I am now in Morocco!!!
On Saturday, August 31st, I said "See you later" to my family and friends in the United States to head for the Kingdom of Morocco. I met the 7 other YES Abroad students going to Morocco with me at Dulles International and together we headed off on our year long journey. After flying for what seemed like forever, actually only about 7 hours, we landed in Frankfurt, Germany for a 6 hour layover. Our layover in Frankfurt was pretty pleasant as we spent the time learning more about each other, discussing our fears and expectations for the upcoming year, and exploring the German airport which was full of wonders. Next stop on our journey was boarding Royal Air Maroc to head for Casablanca, Morocco. I can quite fondly recall all the jitters and thrills I experienced boarding the flight. All the fears of the unknown: a new country, a new city, a new family, a new school, a new language, the crazy adventures awaiting us.
The second flight seemed to be the longest flight in history, probably because I became pretty nauseous after takeoff. I couldn't wait to land breathe in the Moroccan air and walk on Moroccan soil. As you can imagine after landing I was on cloud 9; nothing could bring me down, not even nausea! Everything I saw was amazing and different: the streets, the toilets, the hand dryers, the people, and the languages! After touching down and making it through customs and baggage claim, we met our phenomenal in-country coordinator Sarah. We then drove for about an hour and a half from Casablanca to Rabat. We got to our hotel after midnight but nevertheless we were excited. That first night after Face Timing with my family back home, I didn't get much sleep; I could not contain the excitement running through my veins.
The next morning, we gathered up our belongings to head over to the AMIDEAST center, our headquarters for the year. We spent the morning doing some in-country orientation before heading out to lunch. For our first official meal in Morocco, Sarah; our fantastic coordinator, took us to this awesome restaurant called Babylon where we were stuffed to the brim with deliciousness.



Grilled Chicken with Fries and Bread. Deliciousness.

First Meal in Morocco.
 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
After lunch we got to meet our host families!!!! Usually, this is not the norm as most exchange students only get to meet their families after enduring days of orientation. Within less of 24 hours of landing in the Kingdom of Morocco, we walked into a room to meet our host families; the people that have graciously and willing invited us into their homes, families, and lives.

Our in-country organization, AMIDEAST, prefers to pair up students together when it comes to host families. My partner/ roommate/ friend is Charis Ramsing (you can find her blog on my blog list!). Our host family is amazing, everything and more! They could not be any more welcoming, kind, and courteous. From day one they have accepted us as their own children, a fact they remind us of quite often. We have a mother, a father, an older sister who is 24, a sister who is 16, and a little brother who is 10. I've been in Morocco for almost 3 weeks now so far everything has been going great. The first week we mainly spent doing orientation and exploring Rabat, it still has not sunken in that I now live in Morocco!!! There is so much more to blog and talk about but until next time!

Belinda in Arabic!!! Gift from Sarah.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

YES Abroad

 
 
As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be studying abroad for a year in Morocco through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad Program. The YES Abroad program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The original YES program was created after 9/11 in pursuit of creating peaceful relationships between the U.S. and countries with significant Muslim populations. Through the YES program, high school students from these countries are given the opportunity to study abroad for a year in the U.S.
 
In 2009, the YES Abroad program began as a reciprocal extension of the original YES program, offering scholarships for American high school students to study abroad in host countries for a year. These students act as “youth ambassadors” of the United States, forming mutual understanding and lasting relationships with their host families and communities. YES Abroad students live with a host family and attend a local high school where they learn the local language and actively engage in the country’s society and values, all while helping to educate others about American cultural values.
 
The YES and YES Abroad Programs are eye-opening and life changing; they give students from around the world opportunities to immerse themselves in new cultures while simultaneously teaching others about their own culture. I can honestly say that receiving the YES Abroad scholarship has changed my outlook on other cultures and life in general. I hope to make the most of this fantastic opportunity to delve into Moroccan culture, better my French, and learn Arabic. For more information on YES Abroad, visit their website at: http://yesprograms.org/yesabroad . I encourage anyone and everyone to apply!
                                Countdown to Morocco: 44 Days!!!
 

Friday, June 14, 2013

The Beginning



Hello! My name is Belinda and I am spending my junior year of high school studying abroad in Morocco through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad Scholarship!
On April 12th at approximately 3:33 PM, life as I knew it was forever changed. I got an email titled "YES Abroad Program in Morocco", at that moment I shrieked! I was shocked, I couldn't believe it! I'm pretty sure I stopped breathing. Just to be sure, I opened the email to find this:
"Dear Belinda,
Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a Finalist for a 2013-14 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad scholarship for study in Morocco!"
As you can imagine, I was ecstatic. All that was running through my mind was "Oh-my-freaking-gosh, I can't believe I got in!!" And from that moment, my life has been a blur of talking about going to Morocco, researching about Morocco, filing paperwork, meetings with counselors and administrators at school, and so on.

The funny thing is, if you had told me six months ago that I’d be studying abroad, I’d never believe it! I am incredibly excited and grateful for this unique opportunity. First and foremost, I want to thank God, as well as my family and friends who have supported me and prayed for me every step of the way. Y'all are truly a blessing.

I am excitedly looking forward to next year and the life-changing journey I am about to embark on. I plan on utilizing this blog to document my experiences during my year abroad and keep everyone updated on what I'm doing. In a year, I’ll be able to look back on this post and reflect on how I’ve changed and what I’ve done. But first, on to Morocco!

                                                                                                                                     ~Belinda                                                    

Rabat, Morocco