As of today, Wednesday, September 18, I have officially been in Morocco for a week. It has been one of the best experiences of my life, and I’m so excited to talk about it. After arriving at the Casablanca airport, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. But now, looking back to that first day in a new country with new people, it seems so far away. Morocco already feels like home, and strangers I just met already feel like lifelong friends. We were given this first week to travel and play tourist, which quickly familiarized us with not just the culture, but also each other. After seeing Moroccan beaches, mountains, waterfalls, cities, mosques, and palaces over the span of just a few days, I can safely say that I’m falling in love with this place.
Casablanca
Wednesday morning, I found myself on the shuttle from the airport to the hotel in a situation that would typically make me frozen with anxiety– an unfamiliar situation with four strangers. However, my fear of spending the initial adjustment period alone pushed me to step out of my shell. I surprised myself by initiating conversations, asking questions, and genuinely connecting with my new peers. I think our shared experience of being in a new country with no preexisting relationships broke down my usual social barriers. Everyone around me were feeling the same excitement and anxiety, which I believe made us all more open. It was a small victory, but it made me realize how much I’ll grow over the next three months.
After settling at the airport, the five of us along with one of our program directors, Oussama, went out for our first Moroccan lunch. I ordered the lemon chicken tajine, and it was so heavenly that tajine has been my go-to meal since. I was also immediately struck with the Moroccan warmth, nonchalance, and hospitality that I’ve now come to adore. When the restaurant owner came to our table and started giving Oussama a shoulder massage, I was so sure that they’d known each other for years. I later found out that they’d never met before.
That night, five of us set out to find the model of Rick’s Café from the movie Casablanca. When we looked up directions, Google Maps said we could save time walking by just cutting through the old city medina. We learned very quickly that one does not ‘just cut through’ a medina. We wandered around the labyrinth, walking from one dead end to another, taking in the chaos of vendors and motorbikes. When we finally found an exit– it was the exact place we’d entered hours before. A very eventful first night, even if unsuccessful.
The next morning, our guided tour of the white city took us to churches, squares, and right outside a palace of the current king. After knocking on the massive door– where, unfortunately, nobody was home– we headed off to the Hassan II Mosque. I wish that the pictures that I took could capture how magnificent it was– the intricate architecture, the stunning ocean overlook, and the sheer scale of it left all of us in awe. Easily one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in my life. Even from our walk along the beach, it looked other-worldly.
Marrakech
That evening, after a three-hour bus ride to Marrakech, the eleven of us were thrown into to the heart of the city: the Jemaa el-Fnaa square. At night, the square was, in one word, chaos. It was full of street performers, food vendors, and identical juice stands competing with one another for your attention. Our group was immediately unintentionally separated into pairs or trios. Despite being there for hours, we couldn’t find each other for the rest of the night. The end of our Marrakech tour the following morning brought us to the square once again, but it was entirely unrecognizable. There were a couple people walking around selling sunglasses, a few surrounding restaurants, and some kids kicking around a soccer ball. The transformation was honestly kind of hilarious. In all, this city was so much fun, and probably my favorite in Morocco so far.
Ouzud Waterfalls
Another three-hour bus ride (sensing a pattern here…?) brought us to the incredible Ouzud Waterfalls. I’ve hiked in some pretty spectacular places throughout Colorado and Utah, but this was something else. The drive through the mountains was beautiful, but the waterfall itself was jaw-dropping. It was a stark contrast from the bustling urban cities we’d been exploring. Fair warning though: that water was COLD. As in, “freak out because you can’t breathe” cold. While the view left us in awe, that jump into the freezing water left us very–put nicely– awake and refreshed.
Beni Mellal
We were in this small city very briefly– only staying overnight before the last leg of our trip. We still managed to play tourist one last time, embracing our identities as ‘dumb Americans’ before moving into our home city. We wanted to swim in the hotel pool but forgot that Moroccans like to eat dinner much later than we do here. So, when we emerged in our towels and bathing suits, we had quite the audience waiting for us in the outdoor dining area. Did that stop us? Nope. We jumped in anyway– some of us choosing the diving board and others choosing the pool rim– and after a while the people didn’t seem to care. Or if they did, I guess we didn’t care.
Meknes
After yet ANOTHER three-hour bus ride (I’m beginning to think that everything in Morocco is three hours apart), we finally unpacked and settled into our home for the next three months. When my three roommates and I first walked in, we were greeted by our housekeeper, who had just cooked us a massive Moroccan feast. It. Was. Delicious. We spent that evening rearranging furniture, hanging decorations, and really making this place feel like our own.
As I’m reflecting, I’m surprised by how much we’ve experienced. I saw some of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen in such a short period of time. The friendships we’ve cultivated, and my love of the culture have progressed rapidly, kind of like we just took a crash course on Morocco. I think I’ll always treasure this past week and all its highlights: tasting new foods, navigating unfamiliar streets, becoming close to complete strangers, and slowly understanding a culture vastly different from my own.
It’s a cliché thing to write, but studying abroad really does force you to escape your comfort zone– learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. While there have been times where I was nervous, scared, or embarrassed, there have been so many more that I’ve felt amazed, brave, and completely elated. As cheesy as it sounds, I’ve already grown to adore this random group of people I’m stuck here with. I can’t wait to see what other adventures and memories are to come. Even as I’m finishing this blog post, a week after moving to Meknes, we’ve already created so many more. Here’s to the next three unforgettable months in Morocco.
DU Abroad 