OneWorld Study Abroad Blog

Dear OWN Morocco crew,

2006-07-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

I miss each of you already. I wish you a smooth transition back into Seattle life and good luck in accomplishing every positive future goal. Morocco was a blast for me and until next time remember to Be Yourself, Express Yourself, and Allow Others to do the Same!
Best,
Kiondra Sampey-Sagna

Last Night in Morocco

2006-07-18T13:32:00.001-07:00

Hey this is ayan hassan and its our last night in Morocco and i love this place. My host family is now my Morocco family i lOVE them and i am really going to miss them. I love everything about Morocco inshallah i will come back in a few years to visit and hopefully see my family. My experience in Morocco has been a great one because i have been taken in by a family who is shy but around us they opened us up. Oh yea i love you SAAD and Kiondra thank you for a great trip. Thank you to everyone for helping us get this far in life, i feel like crying i am really going to miss my host family.

>Ayan Hassan

I DON'T WANNA GO!

2006-07-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

-sigh- My last night in Rabat, "how does it feel?" you ask. Well, truthfully, it sucks! It's been so long since I've eaten with a fork, since I've had sausage eggs and pancakes for breakfast, since I've talked on my cellphone all night, since I've gone to the movies, since I've slept with a blanket, and since I've taken a shower...(Just Kidding on that last one). I will truly miss my host family and all of the students that I have met here in Morocco. Their hospitality is inexhaustible and their kindness unforgettable. En Sha Allah, i will return.

With love from Africa, Mojan (my Arabic name)

Friday in Morocco

2006-07-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

This week has sped by and I can't believe we only have a couple days left in Morocco. Tomorrow is the students' last day with their host families and then off to Casablanca on Sunday and our flight back to Seattle on Monday!

Our days are absolutely packed - no time for boredom. We usually start before 9am and since dinner is typically served between 10pm or 11pm, bedtime is typically close to 1am! Full days but lots of fun. The Hena party was great last night - see the photos of our Hena - even I got some done on my hand...

The silhouette photo of Andrea and Morgan was when our students were on stage teaching the Moroccan youth how to do the "Electric Slide" and some salsa lessons. The Moroccans taught us some traditional dances and songs as well. It was a five hour sweaty party of lots of dancing, super heat and fun cultural exchange!

Hope you've enjoyed the photos and blog entries! All the best, Kristin

Henna's Party

2006-07-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

OWN Photo Project with students from Sale

2006-07-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

OWN students were on TV for this joint mural project with Mococcan Youth

2006-07-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

OWN students teaching Moroccans the "Electric Slide"

2006-07-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

Let's Dance

2006-07-13T16:16:00.000-07:00

Highlighting the excusion week all that i can say is that I climbed a mountain. The hardest part of course was getting through the physical aspect of the mountain climb but after that was finished I was one of the first people down. Time goes by so slow I do not know if something happened today or last week so if i do not stay in sequential order forgive me. Today i was challenged once again to help led moroccan students in interesting activites, and i was helping in dancing. one of the dances was electric slide and crumpin`, what came of that was me at the end on the floor doing the splits, and no it didn`t hurt.

Chase

My Last Days

2006-07-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

Wow i never thought theses days would come the last days of Morocco my host famaily is great i am going to miss them. The hike was great the hot blazen sun sun burned my skin up but i made it with Keandra singing You Are Beatuiful all the way i up i am now able to say I CLIMED A MOUNTAIN IN AFRICA with my One world now famaily. This week has been commuinty service my favorite part was rocking the little babbies to sleep singning them american songs. We were not able to take pictures so a mental note will always be around goodbye for now with this french keyboard and i will see you all when i return and now its time for our henna party many more stories to come

Jackie

Moroccan Education

2006-07-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

I wonder how fast time is going by in the states because I feel like I've been here for a year! It's been so hot lately; one hundred and five degrees. I've been having so much fun, I'm going to miss everyone here. My Arabic is getting better, just when I'm about to leave. Today I learned a lot about life in Morocco and social issues. The students in Morocco have one of the toughest eduaction systems. The government deliberately makes the curriculum hard so students will fail, because those who pass the tests get a free college education. The problem is, you have people with PHDs working at McDonalds or clothing stores because there aren't enough jobs available. It makes me kind of angry because I'm being gipped of an high school education in the U.S. but I'll be able to go to a great university so it's kind of unfair. I'm not undermining or down playing the opportunities I have in the U.S. it's just not fair because I see these genius kids here with scarce opportunities.

Andrea

Moroccan Style Birthday!

2006-07-13T14:00:00.000-07:00

July 5th I celebrated my 17th birthday Moroccan style! Our exchange student friend invited us to her house for dinnerm qnd suprised us with a birthday cake! I was so excited! At first I was homesick-my mom cant say happy birthday to me...Then they (my one world now family)

Im here now with the rest of the one world now crew and a henna party, hopefully we will all come back tatooed.

Morgan

From Annie

2006-07-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

we went today to a community center in takkadoum. i did not understand any words coming out of their mouths... but i understood that they wanted us to dance with them. we showed them the electric slide and how to 'lean with it, rock with it' and they showed us some pretty amazing moves in return. it doesn't matter where you live, if you are willing to dance... you are sure to make friends.

after takkadoum, i went with hoa, kristen, and eric to a 'teachers conference'. i sat in a room with other english teachers and we talked about motivated teachers. the comments that moroccan teachers made were so similar to the feelings of my colleagues in the united states.

over and over on this trip i am realizing that we are much more alike than we are different.

Update from Kristin

2006-07-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

As you can see from the photos we have just sent, we are having a great time and a full schedule in Morocco. The 125 degree weather of yesterday passed; thank God; and life seems easier now. Our students planted trees for their community service today at a model ECO-school. Eric and I had a phenomenal Cous-Cous lunch today at Jackie and Chase's host family today. There is not really a restaurant culture here = so the best food is found at home. We are off now to Sale = the poorer part of Rabat for to teach students how to use the camera for the Global Arts Project; more later...

First Impression from Hoa of NYC

2006-07-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

Passe Duara is a long street tucked within the Medina. After 2 right turns, a left and then another right turn we get to our host family's house. There you will meet the lovelist and kind family of a hard working mother who cooks 4 meals a day, two gentle older brothers and a sister who works until 10 PM each day. They are my host family in Morocco. Last night marked my 3rd night in Morocco and after visiting about half a dozen houses in the Medina, I came to this conclusion about the folks there: they will carve out living spaces in the most unexpected places and ways and create very comfortable and welcoming homes. I am inspired to do the same when I return to Brooklyn.

hoa

Photos from the City of Sale

2006-07-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

Host Family House

Planting Trees

OneWorld Now! Guide Saad on Phone

Students of Sale

Community Service- Planting Trees at an Eco-School

OneWorld Now! Students in Action!

2006-07-11T21:03:00.000-07:00

OneWorld Now! Students After Arabic Class

Chase

Ayan and Andrea

OneWorld Now! Students at the Orphanage

Photos From the NYC Team

2006-07-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

First Impressions from Annie

2006-07-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

hello friends and family!

i am writing to you from rabat, morocco. it's absolutely amazing here. i live with a spectacular host family that doesn't understand a word i say. we smile and nod and rub our bellies when we are hungry... or full.

we worked at an orphanage today which left me with a haunting need to take a child home with me. then i was informed that in order to adopt i needed to convert to islam. hmmmm... tempting.

also had a quick arabic speaking lesson today -- this language is really cool. i will share some choice phrases with ya'll when i get home.

that's all i have time to write now... but i promise to write more later.

xoxox,

annie

In Morocco and it's Hot

2006-07-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

It's Day 2 for me and the NYC team in Morocco - and apparently = after a pleasant summer = today Rabat hit record highs as the Yahoo Weather Webpage says "Feels like 114 Degrees F" = Well, let me just confirm that it really feels that way and the feeling is HOOOOOOOOOOT and sweaty!

We spent the morning at the orphanage for our community service project and an amazing thing happened...I was at this same orphanage two years ago with OneWorld Now and fell in love with a baby that they called "Number 92" a.ka. "Feris". Well, I was on a quest to find him again, and sadly, he still hasn't been adopted, but happily, I did get to spend the morning with him - and now he's much bigger at 2 and a half years old. His eyes are still very sad and distant and he was very untrusting at first - but soon warmed up to me again. It then broke my heart as he cried two hours later when I had to leave! Does anyone want to adopt my Feris???? You have to be married and convert to Islam, by Moroccan adoption laws. I'm going back tomorrow to see him again! I can hardly believe he is still there... we were told that most of the children in the orphanage are left by single or divorced women = as it's culturally shameful to have a child on your own here.

After the orphanage we found the best way *sarcasm* to enjoy the heat = by visiting the Moroccan Ancient Ruins at Chellah. We really baked in the 114 degree weather! Our only relief was a visit to a cafe the Kasbah - overlooking the water below - where we cooled off with mint tea and Moroccan sweets! The smartest folks were swimming in the water...

The OneWorld students are taking their Arabic classes now and in an hour, Eric, Hoa and Annie and myself are going to have our own crash course in Moroccan Arabic = In Challah or God Willing...

More later - also, thanks to all of you for posting your comments, it's great to hear from you all!

Kristin

First Impressions From Eric

2006-07-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

First impressions? Well there is the shape of a really good meal etched on my brain and palate. This is not a case of tourist taste buds that could make a palmful of dirt taste like fine cuisine. No - this is just really gooood home cooking. Apart from that there seems to be a real no-nonsense ethic in the air - people moving, playing, laughing with a focus on the moment, versus on who may see me focusing on the moment. Won’t write much more as I don’t know much more. I do know that I can’t find the apostrophe on this keyboard.

much peace.
e

http://kzoo.edu/ggregg/fulpage/medina1.htm (Photos of Medina).

First Impressions From Kristin

2006-07-09T14:33:00.001-07:00

I just arrived today in Rabat with our OneWorld team from New York; Eric our Global Arts Project Photographer; Hoa the Principal from Henry Street School for International Studies and teacher Annie! After a quick orientation where we learned about eating with our right hand only; not to show our feet; why we should cover our arms and legs as women and how to use the Turkish toilets... we headed straight for the beach to cool off from hot temps. Hoa and Annie had a super lunch with their host family in the Medina, the old city, while Eric and I used our broken French to negotiate a lunch of chicken and cous-cous at a downtown restaurant. We spent the afternoon getting lost through the windy streets of the medina; see this link for photos of the medina and no; I do not know this guy = but it gives you an idea: http://people.w3.org/rishida/photos/html/0409-morocco-2.html

This place is so beautiful with such a mix of people and cultures. Morocco is one of the few Muslim countries where about half of the women are covered and the rest wear more Western clothing. However; the medina; the old city; is the more traditional part of the city where women are more covered and we were told it is best to walk with a male escort.

Tomorrow morning we are joining the OneWorld students at an orphanage for the start of our community service projects... more later:: but for now, I can say I am very happy to be in this fascinating country...

The Excursion From Kiondra

2006-07-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

EXCURSION WEEK:

Wow, we just went to Fez, Azrou, Ifrane, Ain Leuh, Tagnite, Khenifra, Marrakesh, and Imlil (8 destinations) in 6 days! The excursion was intense to say the least. We met 4 Peace Corps volunteers along the way ranging in age from the mid-20s to 57. We spent time talking to 6-7 Moroccan high school students in the YES program who all just returned from studying 1 year in the US. One YES student`s family was so eager to make us feel welcome in Marrakesh that they hosted a special gathering for Morgan`s birthday on July 5th and dinner the next night. Great Fun!

For me, the most impressive point of the trip was watching OWN students enter into a 2 room Berber village home with no electricity or running water, sit down on the colorful floor rugs, and take turns weaving on a basic loom and playing with 2 children from the family. No one complained about the heat or the flies. For about 20 minutes, the OWN students were completely adjusted to the lifestyle of people living in extreme poverty - living on less than 1 dollar a day. After visiting another community nearby, we all noticed that the Berber people seemed to be comfortable with their lifestyle and capable enough to welcome us with tea and Moroccan pancakes. OWN students taught games to about 15 community children and learned games from them. I think that everyone took something from this experience, but also gave a little, too.

Oh, and there was The Hike -the six hour hike to Oukaimeden. It was quite challenging for me and all the students. We moved through the rocky mountain terrain at our own pace drinking bottles of water and stopping for occasional and much-needed breaks. We climbed high, very high. It was amazing to stop, think about, and see where we were -on the peak of a mountain, on our way to an even higher one. The experience was a personal and physical challenge for all. We each made it to the top, and then down to the bottom.

Now, we are all back in Rabat -a sort of homecoming.

Best,
Kiondra

Group Impressions

2006-07-08T17:37:00.000-07:00

We were not used to Moroccan driving rules, or lack there of, so our bus rides were entertaining; especially on the way to Berber villages. We learned a lot about Peace Corps and a couple of us are thinking about joining the Corps somewhere down the line. We also got to hear about Morocco from a kid's point of view, that was cool. We saw another side of Morocco in the Berber villages, it was humbling to see smiling, compassionate people in conditions that we could never imagine.

Marrakesh was like the New York of Morocco, very fun. We met up with some more YES students and they were so helpful and intriguing. They had lived in America for a year so they had very good English and a lot of energy. The hike was our group's testing point. An estimated time of two hours; the hike was actually six hours! We literally climbed a rocky mountain and had two mules accompany us. Every one exerted so much leadership skills through teamwork. Some were quicker than others, some had never hiked in their life, some were afraid of hikes,etc. but we still stuck together and finished together. Top hotels, good dinner (on the house), and daily learning experiences, the excursion was great!

From Andrea

2006-07-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

The Excursion week reminded me of Road rules, I kind of felt like a Rock Star. We were at top hotels and carrying our luggage from place to place. I wasn't`t thrilled about our night in MarraKesh, I had fun all day but the night life was different. There were a lot of people in the Souka (Market) and it looked like there was a festival going on, but that was just a normal night. A lot of beggars approached me when I was eating, so I was very uncomfortable, all in all though, Marrakesh was GREAT! I have to say Marrakesh and the time on the road were my high lights during the excursion, I had a really good time.

From Kristin

2006-07-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody! From the photos they just sent posted below, it looks like everyone is having a great time. I will be in

Morocco

this weekend. Keep on checking this blog for new updates and don’t forget to post your comments.

Kristin

Photos From Morocco

2006-07-05T17:42:00.000-07:00

First Impressions From Chase

2006-06-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

I am doing well and having a lot of fun not able to write a lot since I don't have a lot of time and I am writing on a French keyboard. it is so hot/muggy i feel like i have either gained a lot of weight or have lost a lot since my host family feeds me so much, they have the most beautiful house! I have to run to change money to Durham.

Chase

P.S. I am learning a lot of Arabic and French but forgetting a lot of English…

First Impressions of Morocco From Letitia

2006-06-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

"I don’t know what time or what day it is now."
"Does anyone speak Spanish or English here?"
"Is this really Africa? I don’t see any black people..."
"Why do the cars not seem to care about pedestrians?"
"Why are they staring at me?"
"Why do they think it’s so great to be American?"

First Impressions From Rhiannon

2006-06-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

When Royal Air Maroc Flight 201 touched down in Casablanca, all of the passengers clapped for the conclusion of a safe journey. And we knew that we had left our country.

First Impressions From Claire

2006-06-29T10:04:00.000-07:00

I was surprised at how much Morocco is like America. When we arrived, the weather was overcast, and rather drab. The customs personnel were laughing at us because none of us knew what was going on. All of us were exhausted, but glad to have our feet back on the ground. On the ride from Casablanca to Rabat, the car was mostly silent, a mix of dreariness, excitement, and anticipation. Our families are wonderful and it feels like we've been here for ever.

First Impressions From Jackie

2006-06-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

My first impression was "Wow I am really in Africa" "Before the trip it never really occurred to me where I was going until we landed and entered the airport where I was looked crazy like Why are you here Once I met my host family my journey of thoughts and impressions really began"

Jackie

First Impressions From Halimo

2006-06-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

When we first got to Morocco I thought it was very beautiful. Everywhere I looked was just breathtaking. My camera ran out of batteries before I got to Rabat. When we got to the airport i started noticing the people. First I noticed that many of them did not wear scarves. That was shocking to me because it was not what I expect since it is a Muslim country. Second, I started feeling uncomfortable because everyone was staring at us. Also, nobody smiled or talked to us. Then when we got to Rabat I noticed that they drove too fast which did not make me feel any better. But from there everything got better. I was kind of nervous at first about meeting my host family. But they welcomed me and made me feel at home immediately.

First Impressions From Morgan

2006-06-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

I stepped off the plane-flight 201 on Royal Air Maroc-and I immediately said, "Why isnt it hot!" I thought Africa was the land of the blazing sun? But, then I realized that it was only 7:30 in the morning, so that was understandable. When I first got to the house that would be my home for the next three weeks, I noticed that there were windows that gave you a view of the inside...from the inside?! I could look out of my bedroom window and see the livingroom."WHAT?!" Then our Moroccan guide told me that those windows are used in order to create ones own space-like a sanctuary, and it keeps other, less fortunate people from looking in, and seeing what they do not have in comparison to what you do have. I love it here I dont wanna go back!

See you in a few weeks, Morgan (a.k.a. Morjan (my Arabic name))

First Impressions

2006-06-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

From Kiondra:

Morocco is great. The weather is perfect -not hot at all. So far, we went to the beach , Chellah, met with Moroccan youth, and today we will make pottery with a traditional kiln. Tons of Fun... the students will send their comments tomorrow and we hope to hear from parents and friends!

Airport Excitement

2006-06-26T17:51:00.000-07:00

Although the actual trip has barely begun, you can see the excitement mounting with these photos taken at SeaTac Airport (Thursday June 22nd, 2006).

It's global leadership, OneWorld style. Look out Morocco!