Watching people’s reactions when I tell them I’m spending the summer in Rabat, Morocco, has been really amusing. First it’s surprise (not a very traditional location to say the least). Then it ranges from disbelief and concern to excitement and admiration. Some act as if willingly going to North Africa is an unknown concept. Others can only talk about safety and try to hide their opinion that I’m sure to be mugged or harassed or something. And then others (these tend to be my peers) actually think it’s a really cool experience and that I’m sure to have a great time.

This post is supposed to be pre-departure….but my job had me hard at work for the two weeks that I was actually home so I may or may not be sitting on my bed beside an open window that looks out to the Rabat skyline and the Atlantic Ocean right now…. So far, I can say that my peers are the ones who are right about this experience. But I’ll have more to say on misconceptions of Morocco in later posts. For now I’ll just give some background.

Through the open window I can hear smatterings of Arabic, French, and a call to prayer.

This program is located in Rabat, Morocco, the capital and is facilitated by IES Abroad. I will take two classes taught in French on North African Politics and Society and Migration, and one class in Darija,  the Moroccan spoken dialect of Arabic. The program includes a weeklong trip to Senegal, as another African Francophonie nation, as well as to Tangiers and Chaouen, cooking classes, and a visit to Parliament, among other things.

I chose to do this particular program because not only am I a French minor, but within my International Politics major I hope to make the North African region, particularly with relation to the EU and US in terms of economic ties and migration issues, my focus as I concentrate further in my field. I didn’t want to go to France to study French because they will often speak to you in English if they know you speak it. No so here in Rabat. I’ll be staying with a host family, so I have no excuse not to become totally immersed in the culture, language, and traditions. Wish me luck! Cheers!

Alice Greider

Location: Rue Al Basra, Rabat, Morocco