Morocco: Learning and Exploring
By Frank Trombino
Morocco is undoubtedly different from anywhere else in the world that I’ve ever been. There is something mystical about this place that cannot be captured in words, but rather necessitates a first person experience. Our arrival in Rabat was my first introduction to this mystique, and the day spent after our meeting with the British Council and Young Arabian Policy Analysts certainly assisted in my comprehension of this strange place. At the meeting our discussions divulged information about policy making in Morocco and helped frame the notion of sustainability from outside a western lens. This meeting also granted students the opportunity to discuss and inform Moroccans a glimpse of sustainability through the framing learned at ASU.
After some very thought provoking discussions, we hopped our coach back to the hotel to enjoy the day and explore on our own accord. This really helped to establish the feel of the culture and topography. Our hotel which has dimly lit hallways, rooms, and a beautiful courtyard decorated in distinct mosaic stands apart from the developing city. A mix of traditional and contemporary Moroccans line the boulevard. From my balcony, the lively city street sinks into a backdrop of Islamic Mosque towers, resident roofs lined with satellite dishes, and a small glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean less than a 10 minute walk away. Outside, the street hustle and bustles with the sounds of cars and scooters honking their horns and weaving in between people haphazardly crossing the roadway. For the most part, there are no traffic lights in this city and the right of way is granted to whomever feels they have the space to go first. Surprisingly, traffic and people move along smoothly without issue.
Across the street is the Medina, which is the crowded and narrow market often depicted in movies. Our group decided to walk through the Medina and head to the beach. On our way, we noticed street vendors set up shop seemingly out of small bags. A variety of crafts, traditional Moroccan clothes of countless colors and patterns, and rugs comprised the Medina walkways. We poked around in various shops as people reached out to us in Arabic or French to highlight their bargains. Some students bought some items, but I decided not too because I was told by my Moroccan friend Hakim to wait until Marrakech or Fez.
As we exited the Medina doors that are traditionally arched, our group arrived at what looked like a castle over looking the Atlantic waters. We figured it might be a private area and decided not to enter. Later on a guided tour, we were to learn it was actually the first settlements areas in Rabat. We hiked down a path that led through a large cemetery with burial sites and gravestones dating back to the 1700s. We then emerged on a beach, where nearly no women were located (due to modesty in the culture) and many males gawking at the females that decided to join us in our beach visit. To my surprise, many Moroccans were surfing in the water an simply hanging out like most Americans would do. We hopped in the ocean and enjoyed the waves until we exited again. There was a small incident where a male got sexually aggressive with one of the girls, and was trying to profess his enamored being to a girl on the program. We had to move away so nothing bad would come of this we headed back to the hotel at 4pm, where we hopped back on the coach to explore the King’s Palace area, an ancient Roman inhabitant site, the royal mausoleum where former kings were buried, and a few other historical spots. The areas were so enriched with a history and culture that I was unfamiliar with that it was hard to completely comprehend. Certainly, the sights were beautiful.
We made an attempt to get food without a guide or group at a nearby restaurant, and we struggled to speak clearly to the server taking our orders. We did however successfully eat and pay for our meal, but it wasn’t without difficulty in every aspect of the meal. The language barrier is so large, and many people of the area do not speak any English at all. All the menu items are either written in Dijeran Arabic, or in French. It is obvious that the legacy of colonization is still completely prevalent. I ordered grilled shrimp with fried (cervettes et frites), and they were delicious!
As the sun set, the sound of prayer resonated over the whole city from the prayer towers. An echoed yelling of praise can be heard from almost everywhere. Upon nightfall, we had to pack up our bags for the 5 hour journey Marrakech in the desert we had the next day. Just as I’ve gotten to know the city of Rabat, we are forced to continue our nationwide trek to a new location to better understand sustainability, development, culture, and ourselves. Such is the experience of life on the road, and Rabat will forever be remembered for its antiquity and originality.