1) DO SOMETHING NEW EVERY WEEK!
Take advantage of every day that you are there. You do not have to fill each days with museums or excursions, but don’t waste your time in Morocco. This could be as simple as taking a new route to class every day or trying a different cuisine for lunch. As a personal example, for the first few days after classes, I would head to the Starbucks across the street to get work done. While the Starbucks had incredibly fast and reliable wifi, I decided to local cafes or study spaces instead. For instance, my friend and I would head to a new cafe to study and try a new dessert or food every afternoon. Often after finishing our readings, we would explore the neighborhood that we were in.some ideas:
- explore the city alone!
- see different neighborhoods
- practice haggling in the souks
- visit museums and learn about niche topics
- listen to local music or dance performances
- talk to locals
2) KEEP A JOURNAL
Everything may seem so vibrant to you while you are there, but it can be difficult to remember all the little memories years (or even days, if you are a pro at memory erasure) later that brought you joy or frustration or anything in between. I kept a travel journal in which I made a 7-minute drawing or watercolor painting of a key moment from the day. Journaling is a great way to digest the experiences and situations unfolding around you.
3) LEARN THE LANGUAGE!
Don’t avoid speaking to people just because you don’t speak Arabic well! Learning the language is something that complemented my study abroad experience extensively. l Honestly, I had no idea that Arabic was read from right to left before classes with Ustad Abdullah (bless him). I’m quite amazed that I’ve learned the entire alphabet, from being able to sound out words to being able to read and write sentences. It was like being in kindergarten again, and it was the most joyful kind of learning! Speaking schwia (a little) Arabic takes you so far in Morocco. When street vendors or random people that I run into find out that I’m learning Arabic, they break out into the hugest smiles and it’s so easy to make friends and to learn about their lives!
Here are some relevant phrases:
> Salaam Alykum: the pure classic, it means peace be upon you!
> Labas?: how are you?
> Shwia: A little
> Inshallah: God willing
> Waaw!: wow
> Mgdega dega mra mra, Darija: I get tired from time to time
> Al Hamdullilah: praise be to God
> Shukran! - Thank you
> Iyyeh or Naam: Yes
> ndank ndank: slowly or watch out (alright, you got me, this is actually in Wolof, a language spoken in Senegal. My roommate who studied in Dakar while I was in Morocco taught me this. And I had to throw this in here because it’s also a CLASSIC.)
4) STAY HEALTHY!
Believe me, it’s no fun being ill while you’re abroad, or in general. It’s important to know your limits and not become overwhelmed with it all. This means getting enough sleep, exercise, and healthy food each day.
5) TRAVEL AROUND MOROCCO
Each city in Morocco has its own unique atmosphere- Essouira, Fez, Marrakesh, Casablanca, Tangier, etc.
