Morocco: Second week
Read my experiences during the second week below.
Monday, 23rd October 2017– Day Ten
Following the night ride we just had, I stay at home and sleep. At around 10, I leave for the hotel next door to get some work done– I have many assignments due very soon and need to get these done right away. When the clock hits 13 O’ Clock, I am on my way to the school where I teach the women a mixture of colours, greetings and introductory sentences. I also introduce basic verbs they need to describe their products– this is, this costs, and so on. After a long day of studying writing assignments, and volunteering, I go back home where we have tea and dinner all together.
Tuesday, 24th October 2017– Day Eleven
As it is Tuesday, I am not supposed to teach today. Nevertheless, I go to the session to spend time with the women and am glad I did. The teacher was sick and did not show up so I took over and gave a spontaneous session of French and English, we discuss the weather and the different words one can use to describe the seasons. At night I continue to work on the assignments that are due– this week will be a difficult one for university! I have two assignments due for statistics, one for a women’s studies class, and one for a sociology class. About this, click here to read more about studying online while abroad.
Wednesday, 25th October 2017– Day Twelve
Today goes similarly to the previous days– I teach and come back home to study.
After work, I decide to drive to the centre where I go to Starbucks and meet a really nice Dutch girl. We talk a bit and I am glad to meet a fellow international student! She will be staying here for a semester, and so far she has been having a hard time settling in and understanding the culture. Later on, I go to a Swiss Cafe where they make real hot chocolate– it’s great!
Thursday, 26th October 2017– Day Thirteen
Thursday is the day where we–the volunteers usually all go together for coffee. We go to Salé (across the river) and discover a nice café/bar. I receive the certificate of volunteering and have a bittersweet feeling– the past weeks were great, but I am not ready to leave yet.
Friday, 27th October 2017– Day Fourteen
How did this week go by so fast? The day is short– I study in the morning and teach in the afternoon. I make sure to go over all that we have covered in the past two weeks, and am saddened that I cannot stay longer. I say goodbye to the women and it is quite emotional– it’s hard to believe that one can create strong ties in as little time as two weeks! Some have brought gifts, and the goodbyes bring tears to my eyes.
Saturday, 28th October 2017– Day Fifteen
The past two weeks have been fantastic. My father is coming to Rabat today and I will be meeting him in the city centre. We meet and I show him around everything– my workplace, the Medina, the Kasbah (a big fort overlooking over the water) and we really enjoy this day. We both realised that it had been quite a long time since we had properly travelled together, so this is quite nice. We meet Sarah and at night for a coffee, and it’s entertaining to see my father struggling to find his Québec French accent again! We go home to Khadija where she prepared an amazing dinner knowing that he was coming. We bought chocolates and two headscarves as a thank-you gift for Khadija and the whole family. At night I leave with my dad with tears in my eyes, however amazing memories in my head.
Read about the remaining of the trip here.
