It's the final week now in Morocco and I can't believe the time has gone by so fast. This past weekend we went to Chefchaouen and Tangier in the northern part of Morocco and it was a lovely weekend. Chefchaouen is my favorite city, being a blue color and mountainous city. I love the blend of Spanish, French and Arabic culture in Morocco and in the north you can see that the most when you are so close to Spain. The shrimp tagine was delicious and the Spanish chocolate was yummy. I had been looking forward to both and wasn't disappointed. We also hiked up above the city to the mosque that overlooks it. Even though I had been there before it was still just as beautiful. I was also able to find a jacket that I had been on the hunt for since the first week with some help. All in all, I love Chefchaouen more than any other city that I've been to in Morocco and I'm glad I was able to return. Now I'm off to prepare for my final exam and presentation on American politics.
Janice I can say that the third week was my best week for shopping! Although this trip is not ALL about shopping I did continue to learn alot about myself, the culture, and the language itself. I loved the little mini trip we took to Casa on Friday. I was able to walk the boardwalk and I had some of the best ice cream I've ever had in my life. Saturday morning we left for Tangier. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have been able to splash around in the Mediterranean Sea! After Tangier we set off for Chefchaouen. Chefchaouen was such a beautiful city, aside from the fact that everyone called me Mother Africa/Jamaica. I did most of my souvenir shopping here, and got some great things that I can't wait to give to my family. I truly enjoyed my time this past week!
The third week has been a great one but also a realization that it is coming close to the end. This weekends excursion was one of the best one yet. First stop was Tangier and although we didn't stay long it was a blast. I got to swim in the Mediterranean for the first time in my life and we could also see Spain from the beach. After that we set off to the beautiful city of Chefchaouen. This was by far the most beautiful city yet. It was great to walk around and see all the shops and the blue everything. But the greatest part was hiking up to the Mosque to have the amazing overlook of the city. We spent a ton of time looking around in the shops but I, as usual, didn't buy anything except for food. Overall it was a great week and now I'm have to start preparing for my final and presentation at the end of the week.
My third week in Morocco was kind of sad because it has reminded me that this trip is nearly over. It does not feel like I have been here for almost a month. I returned to the beach this week with more friends, where we watched local moroccans play soccer and swam in the ocean. Apparently it is not normal to bury your friends in the sand like it is in America, because we got laughed at a good bit for that. I returned to the Souk with improved bargaining skills and actually managed to buy a plethora of souvenirs for my family. I was proud of myself for talking high prices down to low ones. We got to do another service activity which was at the center for children with special needs. I bonded with a girl and taught her how to say and spell my name in English. I gave her a keychain with my name on it and we drew each other pictures to keep. My favorite part of the week was going to Chefchaouen, "the blue city." The view of the city from the mosque was breathtaking. I did not buy anything at the markets, but I did drink a lot of espresso and juice. I liked the hotel we stayed in because it seemed very unique and traditional. I had a minor setback due to the loss of a dear friend back home, but still managed to have a nice time in a wonderful city given the circumstances. We visited the Tangier beach, which was cold but exciting because it was my first time swimming in the mediterranean sea. Ma'salamu! Shianne
My third week in Morocco was kind of sad because it has reminded me that this trip is nearly over. It does not feel like I have been here for almost a month. I returned to the beach this week with more friends, where we watched local moroccans play soccer and swam in the ocean. Apparently it is not normal to bury your friends in the sand like it is in America, because we got laughed at a good bit for that. I returned to the Souk with improved bargaining skills and actually managed to buy a plethora of souvenirs for my family. I was proud of myself for talking high prices down to low ones. We got to do another service activity which was at the center for children with special needs. I bonded with a girl and taught her how to say and spell my name in English. I gave her a keychain with my name on it and we drew each other pictures to keep. My favorite part of the week was going to Chefchaouen, "the blue city." The view of the city from the mosque was breathtaking. I did not buy anything at the markets, but I did drink a lot of espresso and juice. I liked the hotel we stayed in because it seemed very unique and traditional. I had a minor setback due to the loss of a dear friend back home, but still managed to have a nice time in a wonderful city given the circumstances. We visited the Tangier beach, which was cold but exciting because it was my first time swimming in the mediterranean sea. Ma'salamu! Shianne
This third week in Morocco definitely didn't disappoint. Tuesday, we went to the marina and ate dinner on the boat there. The salmon that I had was very tasty, and I tried creme brûlée for the first time also. Wednesday was probably the funniest day of class we've had so far. During club, the group that I was a part of reenacted Titanic in Arabic. It was hilarious, and everyone was laughing at our production. Thursday, we went to a school and volunteered with children. I worked with three small girls, and tried to teach them some words in English. They were adorable, super sweet, and seemed eager to learn. Friday, we went in a small group to Casablanca. We walked on the boardwalk, went to the mall, and ate some delicious icecream! It was a pretty great week. Our excursion for the weekend was Tangier and Chefchaouen. In Tangier, I knocked an item off of my bucket list by swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. The water was freezing cold, but the beach was beautiful and it was worth every frigid second. In Chefchaouen we went on a hike, and saw amazing views of the blue city. Chefchaouen was the most beautiful city we've visited in my opinion. I also like the shopping there a lot more than any other place we've been to. The people were extremely nice, and I impressed myself with my bargaining skills. Thursday we will have our final exam and Friday we will have presentations. I am nervous about both, but Mariam has been an awesome teacher, so I'm sure I will be prepared for what is to come. As my time here comes to an end, I keep thinking about the things that I have learned here. Morocco has had a large impact on much more than my Arabic skills. This trip has made me think a lot about myself and what I want out of life, and it has made me set more goals that I hope to accomplish in the future!
I'm falling more and more in love with Morocco everyday. The people here are some of the nicest and happiest people I've ever met.
Our third week has been exciting, but also a little distressing, because that means the end of our program is almost here. I don't ever want to leave, but I'm making the most out of the time I have left.
Earlier this week, after some shopping, few of us tried this restaurant on a boat at the marina. The food was good, and the company was great. The next day, we visited the Kasbah and although a few of us forgot to iron our shirts, we still had a good time!
Thursday was our second service learning, and we went to a school and visited with some kids to hang out with them and teach them words in English, play games, and draw. Each of us got a keychain with our name on it to give to a kid, and they were all so happy with their presents. I also have a girl a bracelet (sorry Meg), and the look in her eyes gave me so much happiness. These service learnings have been truly an eye opening experience for me and made me realize that I like kids a lot more than I thought I did. I'm definitely looking forward to hopefully going somewhere this week. That night, I had pizza with some of my favourite people and laughed until I was crying. The friends I'm making here are some of the best people I could ever have hoped to have this experience with.
This weekend has probably been one of my favourites, which is hard to say because every weekend has been beyond extraordinary.
On Friday, a few of us went to Casablanca and got to shop around a little bit in the mall before we went to get ice cream. And Saturday morning, we left for Tangier. We went to the beach in Tangier, but I didn't have my swimsuit. However, I did walk into the Mediterranean, so "technically," I swam. After the beach, we departed to Chefchaouen. The drive was fun, and the scenery along the way was breathtaking. Some things you can't capture on camera, especially if your camera isn't the most amazing. The hotel we stayed at was pretty nice, but Sarah almost got possessed by djinn...we really gotta stop attracting them.
On Sunday, we walked through Chefchaouen and hiked up a mountain. Honestly, the hike wasn't that bad (even though I was dying the entire time) and the view of the city was worth one hundred hikes. I'd definitely like to visit again.
Afterwards, we got some free time for shopping in Chefchaouen and I bought a couple souvenirs for my family. I also bought some more souvenirs today in Rabat, and I'm beyond excited to give my friends and family their gifts. I'm not good at keeping surprises a secret, so these last few weeks will be torture for me because I'm not going to tell everyone what I bought for them.
This trip is getting better the more time that passes, and my willingness to leave is decimating. I'm excited to be able to stay an extra two weeks, but also disappointed that I can't stay longer. I'm going to try my best to come back again next summer (inshallah), and eventually look for a job and move here. I can't believe how much I have fallen in love with this country, and I know I'm going to feel lost when I have to leave.
It's my last week in Morocco. This past week was very busy. As a class we went to the souk and I bought spices. We also went to a school and sat in on a disabled student's classroom and spoke to the children. As a facilitator for the trip, it really made me look at the volunteer in a different way. Instead of being able to interact with one child in the room, I was able to watch all the children in the room interact and bond with our students. This weekend we went to Chefchaouen, and it was possibly the best thing ever. The color of the city makes me happy on it's own, but the people and the rest of it were also super awesome. Not only did I buy the entire city in under $50, but I had a lot of fun using my Spanish and Arabic to do so. The Blue Pearl has easily been my favorite location, maybe one day I will be able to come back and spend more time there! This upcoming week is hopefully going to be packed with our final favorite memories of Rabat and Casablanca! So sad to be leaving!!
It's on to the final countdown and I only have a few more days left to enjoy this beautiful country. I can honestly say I am really not ready to go back yet and there is no way it feels like we've been here a month already. This week was pretty awesome though. We all got to visit some more kids this week and I liked it better this time because we could actually talk to them and they seemed pretty eager to learn whatever random english words I could think of. Tangier and Chefchaouen were simply amazing. Tangier was so beautiful even though we weren't able to stay very long. Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea is now something I can knock off my bucket list and even though I never went to Europe, seeing Spain was incredible. My favorite city so far, the Blue City, was beyond anything I could imagine and far beyond what the google pictures could prepare me for. The whole city was a maze of blue winding streets and with one wrong foot you were lost. It's sprawling streets, which encircled the heart of the city, were breathtaking and I cannot wait to visit this city again on my own someday. I'm so excited to see what this next week brings. Riane
This weekend we went to Tangier and Chefchaouen. In Tangier we went to the Mediterranean and got to swim in the sea. That was my first time going to a sea. The water looked so blue and beautiful and made me wish the waters back home could be this clean. The water was really cold but after being in it for a while you get used to it. Only a handful of us got in the water and even fewer stayed in. We were in the water for about 10 minutes before everyone decided they were done and got out. Once I was out of the water I was walking along the beach to find some cool rocks. I found some basalt, marble, limestone, and a red one that I’m not sure what it is. Later I finished off my coke and went into the water to fill it up. I was surprised how clear the water was. Then I added some sand so I have the Mediterranean Sea with me to take home. The next day we went to Chefchaouen. We did a walk through the city and then a hike up a trail to a mosque up a small peak. I must say I heard so much about how pretty the blue city is but I was a bit disappointed because it didn’t seem that blue. There are famous streets that are known for their beauty but we didn’t go to any of them. I guess I saw the wrong part of the city. The hike wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. After climbing the Rockies every day for a month last summer I was prepared. There was only one time that my legs started hurting and I was wondering if I had reached my limit. But after stopping for a minute to take a few pictures I was ready to go again. Once we came down from the mosque we had a chance to go shopping. I got a couple of daggers and a long horn. That was my first time seeing one of those horns so I had to get it. It comes in three pieces so if I’m correct I can change the sound by not adding one of the sections. When I get back to the states I’m going to see if I can announce the king and queen for court with the kingdom flag hanging off of it.
We are starting our fourth week in Morocco! I can't believe we've already been here for so long. This past week was interesting. A bunch of us got henna done. I went to the hammam. Over the weekend we went to Tangier and Chefchaouen. We stopped at the beach in Tangier on the way to Chefchaouen to swim. I didn't swim because I forgot my bathing suit. I did put my feet in the water, however. The water was super cold, but the beach was beautiful and I could see Spain from the shore. Unfortunately, we didn't stay in Tangier for very long. I'm sure there is much more to see there. Chefchaouen is beautiful. I love that everything is blue. We hiked up a mountain which was so much fun. We also went shopping and I got plenty of gifts for my family. I'm so glad I got to hang out in the city for a little while. I hope to go back there someday. I look forward to our fourth week here in Morocco!
This is Faatimah again, my third week here in Morocco wasn’t what I expected, I was a little sick throughout the time and ended up missing class for a day but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the excursions and activities we participated in. We had another service activity in which we spent time with and taught English to special needs children. I had a better time helping one boy learn some English words. He was eager to listen and followed along well, I really didn’t look at him as though he was a special needs child. We had snacks and drinks with all the kids and as different activities were happening around us, I was able to point to things and tell him the word for it in English and spell it out. That turned out to be a fun and rewarding experience at the NGO. Our trip to Tangier I enjoyed as well, it was nice to go swimming in the Mediterranean just to say that I actually did it, and the view of Spain across the waves was an amazing sight. After spending time in Tangier, we headed to Chefchaouen and the hotel we would be staying in. The hotel contained some really mix of colors and geometric shapes on the walls and in our rooms. In the morning we went hiking up the mountain to see all of Chefchaouen. Our hike was better than I thought it would be, I thought it would be difficult and a steep walk but it ended up being quite fun, and some of us tried to beat the others to the top. We all also did some shopping while we were in the blue city, I bought gifts for my family members and friends like a few bracelets with their initials on them. Hopefully my last week in Morocco will be just as nice if not more.
It is Savannah here again. Week 3….what can I say? This has definitely the best weeks so far. Not that I didn’t have a fun first 2 weeks, just this week as been the most calm week to me. Some of us went in groups to Casablanca for a few hours after class. It was very interesting. We only went to the mall (it is the biggest in the country and the continent of Africa, WOW), but hey it was still cool to see the biggest city in the country of Morocco. We passed by a HUGE Mosque. It can fit 2,500 people in there, which is crazy! The mall was pretty awesome. It was 3 stories high, and it had an IMAX in it and also had an aquarium in it also. I know it doesn’t sound that exciting, but it is way cooler in person. We also went to Chefchouen and Tangier for our weekend trip. Both cities were very pretty. I liked Tangier a little bit more only for the fact it is more modern plus it is bigger and seems like it has more to do there over the other. I also got to see an old friend of mine in Tangier that use to go to Georgia Southern. When we were in Chefchouen, we climbed up a mountain (it was not extremely huge) and got to look down on the city. It was so pretty to see the city and the mosque on top of the hill (the walk up is a whole different story). I thought it was interesting to have a mosque on top of the mountain though. It was never used, because when Spain took over Morocco for a little while they built a mosque for the Moroccans. They didn’t want to use it simply, because Spain built it. Kind of like if a country takes over the US and built a mall for us to shop in. Would you shop in it? Most would say no, but anyways. Ramadan is starting tomorrow, so I excited to see how that goes and how different the atmosphere changes
This has been another amazing week in Morocco. Getting to explore a little bit of Casablanca, Asilah, Tangier, and Chefchaouen has been so much fun. Every weekend here seems like the best one yet. I could have spent all day in the Mall of Morocco and the ice cream we had there was the best I think I have ever had. I am really looking forward to going back this weekend and getting to see more of the city. The view in Asilah from Cafe Hafa was so gorgeous. It was so great to be able to stick my toes in the Mediterranean sea in Tangier, even though the water was way too cold for me! Chefchaouen was my favorite city so far. It was so beautiful, and I had a really good time interacting with the people there. Everyone was so nice, the sellers were a little pushier than other places we have been, but even still they were very kind and helpful and willing to work with us on the prices. I got a bunch of really great gifts there and I can’t wait to bring them home to my friends and family. I can hardly believe the last week of the program is already underway. Even though I am staying an extra month, I am sad to see it come to an end because it means I have to say good-bye to most of my fellow Eagles. I know this week will be packed full of even more memories and new experiences that I will never forget.
This third week is a one of mixed feelings not because something negative has happened this week or the the entire trip, but because I realize my time in Morocco is quickly coming to an end. Earlier in the week we visited a primary school in a smaller town that integrated their special needs students in with regular student body. It was a serious moment of refection about education in America being so focused on formal learning rather than informally introduce the concept of equality in our classrooms. The trip started of well with the stop in Asilah, a sleepy beach town on still on the Atlantic side of the Moroccan coast. After that, we headed to Tangier and I got the opportunity to swim in the Mediterranean for the first time. It was a blast but was not really feeling the low temperature. We finally arrived in Chefcahouen and I have to admit I was a little underwhelmed by the experience. Yes it is a beautiful place but its magnificence was greatly exaggerated. As Ramadan begins I have to prepare for my last week of such an incredible and life-changing journey.
It's the final week now in Morocco and I can't believe the time has gone by so fast. This past weekend we went to Chefchaouen and Tangier in the northern part of Morocco and it was a lovely weekend. Chefchaouen is my favorite city, being a blue color and mountainous city. I love the blend of Spanish, French and Arabic culture in Morocco and in the north you can see that the most when you are so close to Spain. The shrimp tagine was delicious and the Spanish chocolate was yummy. I had been looking forward to both and wasn't disappointed. We also hiked up above the city to the mosque that overlooks it. Even though I had been there before it was still just as beautiful. I was also able to find a jacket that I had been on the hunt for since the first week with some help. All in all, I love Chefchaouen more than any other city that I've been to in Morocco and I'm glad I was able to return. Now I'm off to prepare for my final exam and presentation on American politics.
ReplyDeleteMeg
Janice
ReplyDeleteI can say that the third week was my best week for shopping! Although this trip is not ALL about shopping I did continue to learn alot about myself, the culture, and the language itself.
I loved the little mini trip we took to Casa on Friday. I was able to walk the boardwalk and I had some of the best ice cream I've ever had in my life. Saturday morning we left for Tangier. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have been able to splash around in the Mediterranean Sea!
After Tangier we set off for Chefchaouen. Chefchaouen was such a beautiful city, aside from the fact that everyone called me Mother Africa/Jamaica. I did most of my souvenir shopping here, and got some great things that I can't wait to give to my family. I truly enjoyed my time this past week!
The third week has been a great one but also a realization that it is coming close to the end. This weekends excursion was one of the best one yet. First stop was Tangier and although we didn't stay long it was a blast. I got to swim in the Mediterranean for the first time in my life and we could also see Spain from the beach. After that we set off to the beautiful city of Chefchaouen. This was by far the most beautiful city yet. It was great to walk around and see all the shops and the blue everything. But the greatest part was hiking up to the Mosque to have the amazing overlook of the city. We spent a ton of time looking around in the shops but I, as usual, didn't buy anything except for food. Overall it was a great week and now I'm have to start preparing for my final and presentation at the end of the week.
ReplyDeleteMy third week in Morocco was kind of sad because it has reminded me that this trip is nearly over. It does not feel like I have been here for almost a month. I returned to the beach this week with more friends, where we watched local moroccans play soccer and swam in the ocean. Apparently it is not normal to bury your friends in the sand like it is in America, because we got laughed at a good bit for that. I returned to the Souk with improved bargaining skills and actually managed to buy a plethora of souvenirs for my family. I was proud of myself for talking high prices down to low ones. We got to do another service activity which was at the center for children with special needs. I bonded with a girl and taught her how to say and spell my name in English. I gave her a keychain with my name on it and we drew each other pictures to keep. My favorite part of the week was going to Chefchaouen, "the blue city." The view of the city from the mosque was breathtaking. I did not buy anything at the markets, but I did drink a lot of espresso and juice. I liked the hotel we stayed in because it seemed very unique and traditional. I had a minor setback due to the loss of a dear friend back home, but still managed to have a nice time in a wonderful city given the circumstances. We visited the Tangier beach, which was cold but exciting because it was my first time swimming in the mediterranean sea. Ma'salamu!
ReplyDeleteShianne
My third week in Morocco was kind of sad because it has reminded me that this trip is nearly over. It does not feel like I have been here for almost a month. I returned to the beach this week with more friends, where we watched local moroccans play soccer and swam in the ocean. Apparently it is not normal to bury your friends in the sand like it is in America, because we got laughed at a good bit for that. I returned to the Souk with improved bargaining skills and actually managed to buy a plethora of souvenirs for my family. I was proud of myself for talking high prices down to low ones. We got to do another service activity which was at the center for children with special needs. I bonded with a girl and taught her how to say and spell my name in English. I gave her a keychain with my name on it and we drew each other pictures to keep. My favorite part of the week was going to Chefchaouen, "the blue city." The view of the city from the mosque was breathtaking. I did not buy anything at the markets, but I did drink a lot of espresso and juice. I liked the hotel we stayed in because it seemed very unique and traditional. I had a minor setback due to the loss of a dear friend back home, but still managed to have a nice time in a wonderful city given the circumstances. We visited the Tangier beach, which was cold but exciting because it was my first time swimming in the mediterranean sea. Ma'salamu!
ReplyDeleteShianne
This third week in Morocco definitely didn't disappoint. Tuesday, we went to the marina and ate dinner on the boat there. The salmon that I had was very tasty, and I tried creme brûlée for the first time also. Wednesday was probably the funniest day of class we've had so far. During club, the group that I was a part of reenacted Titanic in Arabic. It was hilarious, and everyone was laughing at our production. Thursday, we went to a school and volunteered with children. I worked with three small girls, and tried to teach them some words in English. They were adorable, super sweet, and seemed eager to learn. Friday, we went in a small group to Casablanca. We walked on the boardwalk, went to the mall, and ate some delicious icecream! It was a pretty great week.
ReplyDeleteOur excursion for the weekend was Tangier and Chefchaouen. In Tangier, I knocked an item off of my bucket list by swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. The water was freezing cold, but the beach was beautiful and it was worth every frigid second. In Chefchaouen we went on a hike, and saw amazing views of the blue city. Chefchaouen was the most beautiful city we've visited in my opinion. I also like the shopping there a lot more than any other place we've been to. The people were extremely nice, and I impressed myself with my bargaining skills.
Thursday we will have our final exam and Friday we will have presentations. I am nervous about both, but Mariam has been an awesome teacher, so I'm sure I will be prepared for what is to come. As my time here comes to an end, I keep thinking about the things that I have learned here. Morocco has had a large impact on much more than my Arabic skills. This trip has made me think a lot about myself and what I want out of life, and it has made me set more goals that I hope to accomplish in the future!
Angel Perry
ReplyDeleteI'm falling more and more in love with Morocco everyday. The people here are some of the nicest and happiest people I've ever met.
Our third week has been exciting, but also a little distressing, because that means the end of our program is almost here. I don't ever want to leave, but I'm making the most out of the time I have left.
Earlier this week, after some shopping, few of us tried this restaurant on a boat at the marina. The food was good, and the company was great. The next day, we visited the Kasbah and although a few of us forgot to iron our shirts, we still had a good time!
Thursday was our second service learning, and we went to a school and visited with some kids to hang out with them and teach them words in English, play games, and draw. Each of us got a keychain with our name on it to give to a kid, and they were all so happy with their presents. I also have a girl a bracelet (sorry Meg), and the look in her eyes gave me so much happiness. These service learnings have been truly an eye opening experience for me and made me realize that I like kids a lot more than I thought I did. I'm definitely looking forward to hopefully going somewhere this week. That night, I had pizza with some of my favourite people and laughed until I was crying. The friends I'm making here are some of the best people I could ever have hoped to have this experience with.
This weekend has probably been one of my favourites, which is hard to say because every weekend has been beyond extraordinary.
On Friday, a few of us went to Casablanca and got to shop around a little bit in the mall before we went to get ice cream. And Saturday morning, we left for Tangier. We went to the beach in Tangier, but I didn't have my swimsuit. However, I did walk into the Mediterranean, so "technically," I swam. After the beach, we departed to Chefchaouen. The drive was fun, and the scenery along the way was breathtaking. Some things you can't capture on camera, especially if your camera isn't the most amazing. The hotel we stayed at was pretty nice, but Sarah almost got possessed by djinn...we really gotta stop attracting them.
On Sunday, we walked through Chefchaouen and hiked up a mountain. Honestly, the hike wasn't that bad (even though I was dying the entire time) and the view of the city was worth one hundred hikes. I'd definitely like to visit again.
Afterwards, we got some free time for shopping in Chefchaouen and I bought a couple souvenirs for my family. I also bought some more souvenirs today in Rabat, and I'm beyond excited to give my friends and family their gifts. I'm not good at keeping surprises a secret, so these last few weeks will be torture for me because I'm not going to tell everyone what I bought for them.
This trip is getting better the more time that passes, and my willingness to leave is decimating. I'm excited to be able to stay an extra two weeks, but also disappointed that I can't stay longer. I'm going to try my best to come back again next summer (inshallah), and eventually look for a job and move here. I can't believe how much I have fallen in love with this country, and I know I'm going to feel lost when I have to leave.
It's my last week in Morocco.
ReplyDeleteThis past week was very busy. As a class we went to the souk and I bought spices. We also went to a school and sat in on a disabled student's classroom and spoke to the children. As a facilitator for the trip, it really made me look at the volunteer in a different way. Instead of being able to interact with one child in the room, I was able to watch all the children in the room interact and bond with our students.
This weekend we went to Chefchaouen, and it was possibly the best thing ever. The color of the city makes me happy on it's own, but the people and the rest of it were also super awesome.
Not only did I buy the entire city in under $50, but I had a lot of fun using my Spanish and Arabic to do so. The Blue Pearl has easily been my favorite location, maybe one day I will be able to come back and spend more time there!
This upcoming week is hopefully going to be packed with our final favorite memories of Rabat and Casablanca! So sad to be leaving!!
It's on to the final countdown and I only have a few more days left to enjoy this beautiful country. I can honestly say I am really not ready to go back yet and there is no way it feels like we've been here a month already. This week was pretty awesome though. We all got to visit some more kids this week and I liked it better this time because we could actually talk to them and they seemed pretty eager to learn whatever random english words I could think of.
ReplyDeleteTangier and Chefchaouen were simply amazing. Tangier was so beautiful even though we weren't able to stay very long.
Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea is now something I can knock off my bucket list and even though I never went to Europe, seeing Spain was incredible.
My favorite city so far, the Blue City, was beyond anything I could imagine and far beyond what the google pictures could prepare me for. The whole city was a maze of blue winding streets and with one wrong foot you were lost. It's sprawling streets, which encircled the heart of the city, were breathtaking and I cannot wait to visit this city again on my own someday.
I'm so excited to see what this next week brings.
Riane
This weekend we went to Tangier and Chefchaouen. In Tangier we went to the Mediterranean and got to swim in the sea. That was my first time going to a sea. The water looked so blue and beautiful and made me wish the waters back home could be this clean. The water was really cold but after being in it for a while you get used to it. Only a handful of us got in the water and even fewer stayed in. We were in the water for about 10 minutes before everyone decided they were done and got out. Once I was out of the water I was walking along the beach to find some cool rocks. I found some basalt, marble, limestone, and a red one that I’m not sure what it is. Later I finished off my coke and went into the water to fill it up. I was surprised how clear the water was. Then I added some sand so I have the Mediterranean Sea with me to take home.
ReplyDeleteThe next day we went to Chefchaouen. We did a walk through the city and then a hike up a trail to a mosque up a small peak. I must say I heard so much about how pretty the blue city is but I was a bit disappointed because it didn’t seem that blue. There are famous streets that are known for their beauty but we didn’t go to any of them. I guess I saw the wrong part of the city. The hike wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. After climbing the Rockies every day for a month last summer I was prepared. There was only one time that my legs started hurting and I was wondering if I had reached my limit. But after stopping for a minute to take a few pictures I was ready to go again. Once we came down from the mosque we had a chance to go shopping. I got a couple of daggers and a long horn. That was my first time seeing one of those horns so I had to get it. It comes in three pieces so if I’m correct I can change the sound by not adding one of the sections. When I get back to the states I’m going to see if I can announce the king and queen for court with the kingdom flag hanging off of it.
We are starting our fourth week in Morocco! I can't believe we've already been here for so long. This past week was interesting. A bunch of us got henna done. I went to the hammam. Over the weekend we went to Tangier and Chefchaouen. We stopped at the beach in Tangier on the way to Chefchaouen to swim. I didn't swim because I forgot my bathing suit. I did put my feet in the water, however. The water was super cold, but the beach was beautiful and I could see Spain from the shore. Unfortunately, we didn't stay in Tangier for very long. I'm sure there is much more to see there. Chefchaouen is beautiful. I love that everything is blue. We hiked up a mountain which was so much fun. We also went shopping and I got plenty of gifts for my family. I'm so glad I got to hang out in the city for a little while. I hope to go back there someday. I look forward to our fourth week here in Morocco!
ReplyDeleteThis is Faatimah again, my third week here in Morocco wasn’t what I expected, I was a little sick throughout the time and ended up missing class for a day but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the excursions and activities we participated in. We had another service activity in which we spent time with and taught English to special needs children. I had a better time helping one boy learn some English words. He was eager to listen and followed along well, I really didn’t look at him as though he was a special needs child. We had snacks and drinks with all the kids and as different activities were happening around us, I was able to point to things and tell him the word for it in English and spell it out. That turned out to be a fun and rewarding experience at the NGO. Our trip to Tangier I enjoyed as well, it was nice to go swimming in the Mediterranean just to say that I actually did it, and the view of Spain across the waves was an amazing sight. After spending time in Tangier, we headed to Chefchaouen and the hotel we would be staying in. The hotel contained some really mix of colors and geometric shapes on the walls and in our rooms. In the morning we went hiking up the mountain to see all of Chefchaouen. Our hike was better than I thought it would be, I thought it would be difficult and a steep walk but it ended up being quite fun, and some of us tried to beat the others to the top. We all also did some shopping while we were in the blue city, I bought gifts for my family members and friends like a few bracelets with their initials on them. Hopefully my last week in Morocco will be just as nice if not more.
ReplyDeleteIt is Savannah here again. Week 3….what can I say? This has definitely the best weeks so far. Not that I didn’t have a fun first 2 weeks, just this week as been the most calm week to me. Some of us went in groups to Casablanca for a few hours after class. It was very interesting. We only went to the mall (it is the biggest in the country and the continent of Africa, WOW), but hey it was still cool to see the biggest city in the country of Morocco. We passed by a HUGE Mosque. It can fit 2,500 people in there, which is crazy! The mall was pretty awesome. It was 3 stories high, and it had an IMAX in it and also had an aquarium in it also. I know it doesn’t sound that exciting, but it is way cooler in person. We also went to Chefchouen and Tangier for our weekend trip. Both cities were very pretty. I liked Tangier a little bit more only for the fact it is more modern plus it is bigger and seems like it has more to do there over the other. I also got to see an old friend of mine in Tangier that use to go to Georgia Southern. When we were in Chefchouen, we climbed up a mountain (it was not extremely huge) and got to look down on the city. It was so pretty to see the city and the mosque on top of the hill (the walk up is a whole different story). I thought it was interesting to have a mosque on top of the mountain though. It was never used, because when Spain took over Morocco for a little while they built a mosque for the Moroccans. They didn’t want to use it simply, because Spain built it. Kind of like if a country takes over the US and built a mall for us to shop in. Would you shop in it? Most would say no, but anyways. Ramadan is starting tomorrow, so I excited to see how that goes and how different the atmosphere changes
ReplyDeleteThis has been another amazing week in Morocco. Getting to explore a little bit of Casablanca, Asilah, Tangier, and Chefchaouen has been so much fun. Every weekend here seems like the best one yet. I could have spent all day in the Mall of Morocco and the ice cream we had there was the best I think I have ever had. I am really looking forward to going back this weekend and getting to see more of the city. The view in Asilah from Cafe Hafa was so gorgeous. It was so great to be able to stick my toes in the Mediterranean sea in Tangier, even though the water was way too cold for me! Chefchaouen was my favorite city so far. It was so beautiful, and I had a really good time interacting with the people there. Everyone was so nice, the sellers were a little pushier than other places we have been, but even still they were very kind and helpful and willing to work with us on the prices. I got a bunch of really great gifts there and I can’t wait to bring them home to my friends and family. I can hardly believe the last week of the program is already underway. Even though I am staying an extra month, I am sad to see it come to an end because it means I have to say good-bye to most of my fellow Eagles. I know this week will be packed full of even more memories and new experiences that I will never forget.
ReplyDeleteThis third week is a one of mixed feelings not because something negative has happened this week or the the entire trip, but because I realize my time in Morocco is quickly coming to an end. Earlier in the week we visited a primary school in a smaller town that integrated their special needs students in with regular student body. It was a serious moment of refection about education in America being so focused on formal learning rather than informally introduce the concept of equality in our classrooms. The trip started of well with the stop in Asilah, a sleepy beach town on still on the Atlantic side of the Moroccan coast. After that, we headed to Tangier and I got the opportunity to swim in the Mediterranean for the first time. It was a blast but was not really feeling the low temperature. We finally arrived in Chefcahouen and I have to admit I was a little underwhelmed by the experience. Yes it is a beautiful place but its magnificence was greatly exaggerated. As Ramadan begins I have to prepare for my last week of such an incredible and life-changing journey.
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