Submitted by Maymuna Siddiquea on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Morocco sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…
With week two done, I cannot help but reflect on my time at the famous Chefchaouen nestled in the Rif Mountains. This is the first big excursion we’ve made to a small rural city where Western and European influences are not as glaring. Here, I was shocked at the spiritual and minimalistic lives the locals preferred to live. During prayer times, the bustling alleyways filled with shops are tucked away, leaving the entire medina feeling desolate. And immediately afterwards, people pour out of the copious small mosques scattered throughout the blue of the city. Additionally, the people of the medina have a total of just three ovens within the city walls, which they all share to bake warm bread, a staple in their diet. In contrast to the U.S. where the desire and need for individual property is sacred, the people here are satisfied to share resources and build a strong sense of community. It’s different, but it’s a beautiful value to witness and share with the people of Chefchaouen.
