Submitted by Winston Leslie on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Morocco sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…
I had no idea what to expect hopping off the plane in Casablanca, Morocco. Despite my deep dives into readings upon readings of the country’s traditions, culture, people and food; I still felt uncertain as to the experiences that would lie ahead. Nevertheless,nine students, most of whom had never crossed paths outside pre-departure meetings, set out on what would become an amazing first week in Morocco.
The Hassan II Mosque marked our first stop. Overlooking the coast in Casablanca, it is the largest mosque in Africa and the third largest in the world. Its ambiance was astonishing. Never had I seen something so giant yet so detailed. Along with its structural precision, the sense of piety gained from being in a spiritual place of that magnitude was beautiful.
After this stop, we continued to where we would be staying for the first weekend: Rabat. The capital city of Morocco, Rabat is home to many important government buildings and officials. One of my majors is Political Science, so being in this city gave me a fruitful perspective into a different political system. We were able to do so many different things in the city. One of my favorite activities was our time in the Medina. A Medina is a distinct part of many cities in North Africa that are walled off from the rest of the main city. A defining feature of the Medina are the unique markets packed throughout it. From porcelain pots to street food, everything sold inside the walls is authentic and beautiful.
After our three days in Rabat, we traveled north to the coastal city of Tangier. Following a short train ride, we were able to meet our host families. Up until this point, I was extremely nervous to meet them; however, when our host mother picked us up, all of those fears dissipated. The family was so welcoming and kind. Arriving at our house, we were greeted by extremely energetic 5-year-old and 10-month-old boys. Every day we speak a combination of broken English and Arabic to play with Legos, race cars, etc.
Tangier is located on the northern tip of Morocco. A short five minute drive around the city allows us to see both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. On the second day in Tangier, we were able to watch the sunset overlooking them both at the historic Cafe Hafa. There, we drank mint tea in the same seats that accommodated the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and many other celebrities who commonly visited Morocco. The view was as beautiful as the tea was delicious, and being able to sit in such a remarkable place with such a stunning view was incredible.
Since Morocco is a fairly small country, it is easy to travel to different places in a fairly short amount of time. This has allowed us to take multiple day trips after classes. Two excursions have stuck out to me. The first was to the Hercules Caves in Tangier. Both a man-made and natural wonder, the caves are remarkable in appearance. The second was to the coastal city of Assilah. There, we were able to meet with the former Moroccan Ambassador to the United States and the current Mayor of Assilah, Mohamed Benaissa. Hearing his experiences and chatting with him was extremely insightful and captivating.
I could write on and on about all of the incredible experiences I’ve had thus far, and it’s only been one week! I am looking forward to our trip to Checheoun this weekend and the weeks ahead!
