Inception Part II: A Global Studies Adventure

It is hard to believe that this is our final day in Morocco, but after a full week I feel that I have learned so much about this country’s culture. Although our group has learned a lot about Morocco generally, I have been able to research my own topic. My research is centered around the film industry and how it has affected Morocco’s economy on a global, regional, and country scale. Coming to Morocco, I was not expecting to hear a lot about movies while touring and I imagined that I would be researching most of my topic back in the U.S.; however, I found almost the opposite to be true. In the first hour of our tour in Tangier, we saw the church in Inception and heard our guide talk about the area where some of Game of Thrones had been filmed. Once we entered the main square in Tangier, there was the first movie theater that I had seen in Morocco right in the middle. One half of the movies advertised were all national films, but on the other side there were American movies (The LEGO Movie 2 and The Mule) recorded in French. We then went to St. Andrew’s Episcopal church, which the priest said was in the movie Great Escape. Aside from the Tangier movie theater, the only one that I saw was in the new part of Fez. For this entire week, with the exception of this afternoon, we have spent our time in the old parts of each city, where I saw little reference to cinema. Despite the lack of theaters, film is still a part of Moroccan culture. For example, when we were in the caves in Tangier, our tour guide said that they play movies there and host other events like concerts by the ocean. Finally, at the U.S. embassy we had the opportunity to ask questions to some of the workers at USAID  They (unsurprisingly) did not have too much information about the film industry, but I did find out that Morocco is more relaxed with what they film compared to other MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries. I cannot wait to continue my research on this topic and it has been a great trip! 
-Morgan  

Why I shouldn't be allowed to cook...

Today was a good research day for me. We stopped by a university and I talked to our guide about Moroccan education. He said that it is pretty similar to education in the United States since it covers all the fundamental subjects throughout primary and secondary school. However, college (or “university” as they call it) is a bit different. Student usually choose a specific career path and either attend vocational school or travel elsewhere to attend university. I thought it was pretty interesting how much Morocco has improved their technology and how students now have access to better education. When we get back to the states I’d like to research more about the quality of education in Morocco compared to the US.

My favorite thing about today was walking through the markets and seeing all of the cool foods that they sell. Today we are making our own dinner so we had to get all the ingredients fresh from the market. Once we got to the restaurant, I soon realized that I have absolutely no chance of becoming a chef when I get older. First, I accidentally cut the vegetables when I was supposed to grate them, so not only did I waste a bunch of food but I also got shamed in Arabic. I’m pretty sure the cooking staff thought I was incompetent at performing any task. Even when I attempted to grate the vegetables, one of the ladies kept shaking her head and taking the food away from me so she could do it herself. I just stood there and watched, feeling very useless. It’s okay because Ms. Ducharme felt the same way so we just sat there laughing at ourselves. On the bright side, I now know that I should NOT, under any circumstances, become a chef. Anyways, the food that everyone else made was so delicious and it was one of the best meals I’ve had to far. We all were sitting together, laughing and cracking jokes, which made tonight so awesome. I’m definitely bummed that our trip is coming to a close, but it was nice to enjoy the last few days here. I’m excited about returning to Rabat, not only for my research purposes but also because I’m sure our last full day will be a great one.

~ AJ

Wants and Needs

Today was our second day in Fez. We walked around and learned about the local artisans ranging from carpentry to leathered goods and even naturopathic remedies. 

As a big group navigating through Fez, we struggled with pacing of our tour around the city, making most of us tired as we enter our last day in Morocco.

One of the most interesting aspects of this trip has been the conversation around what we need vs. want. We have walked many streets of Morocco noticing people’s health care and what is evident in their ailments. For instance, dental care: it is one of the most important aspects of healthcare in America and as children grow up, we were told to brush our teeth twice a day, floss, and–around our struggling teen years–we were faced with the challenge of braces (whether we followed those rules or not is a different conversation). In Morocco, crooked teeth is a commonality rather than a difference. The pearly white tint is nonexistent, and the likely hood of a dead tooth is more often than not. Furthermore, cross eyes and blindness have also been more apparent in this country than the United States. I don’t necessarily know why or how this occurs more often seen here than at home, but it is something I have noticed throughout our time here. But, again, being cross eyed is not necessary to live a productive life, just like having nice teeth and going to the dentist is not, for the most part, “necessary” for our overall health. 

We also have been noticing the lack of allergies here and food restrictions. In the U.S., allergies are completely normalized. In Morocco, however, allergies are hard to navigate because most people in Morocco are not sensitive to gluten, dairy, or any type of nut. In the U.S., being gluten-free, lactose intolerant, and allergic to nuts is commonplace, and even trendy. But, the downside to the U.S. is that menus do not have any other languages to help those who need translation. Morocco caters to it’s audience, where as the United States says, “This is who we are.” 

In recent news, we had a cooking class and watched and heard the beheading of two chickens.... as one might have guessed, I am now a recent convert to complete vegetarianism. 

One more day in Rabat and then we will be able to hug our families and tell them about our adventures. It’s been an exciting trip to say the least.

- Charlotte

The Berbers

Today was a day filled with culture in the heart of the second most populated city in Morocco, Fez. As my project is focused on Berber culture, the original natives of Morocco, I learned of many cultural aspects and practices that have lasted for over 700 years mastered by the Berber people. It was a great way to pull together the Berber influence on Moroccan culture. Throughout the trip I have been learning different aspects of the Berber lifestyle. What strikes me is how resourceful the Berbers are. They use every aspect of the animals–whether it’s to eat or make clothing–and haven’t changed their methods for hundreds of years. We walked through the market saw how you could basically buy an entire cow including the hoofs. The selection at the market was also a testament to their resourcefulness as you could buy dozens of kinds of fruits and spices. Many were grown right in Morocco. Also, they see camels as friends and never use them for any reason besides transportation and farm work. In the Berber community the importance of religion is fading especially among the youth. Mostly practice in childhood, a large population is lightening their practices or even stopping their practice in Islam all together by their twenties. Some are also switching to Judaism or Christianity. The craftsmanship of their art and production of good such as clothes and leather is perfection as the people commit their whole life to their craft. We went to a place where mosaics were made and were told the artists start in their early teens. As I continue my research I want to dive deeper into the religious aspect of Berbers and discover if that has caused any separation with the Berbers and the Arabs of Morocco. As our trip is nearing its end I have been inspired by the Berbers and their way of life. It makes me think about all the waste and misuse of natural resources in the United States. I have learned many lessons to carry with me back to the States on Saturday. 
- Clancy

Really Old Rocks

Today we traveled from Chefchaouen to see the ancient Roman ruins of the city Volubilis, which was built centuries ago when Morocco was colonized by the Roman empire. The ruins were recovered by archeologists and reconstructed to their original form. The ruins were scattered over a massive landscape with a beautiful view of the mountains in the distance. It was amazing to walk around and see structures from hundreds of years ago still standing today, and I thought it was interesting to learn that this city that existed centuries ago shares similarities with American cities such as New York City and Chicago, as they were all constructed in a grid format. After seeing the Roman ruins, we all got back into the bus and drove to Fez where we will be staying for the next two nights. We had the opportunity to take a a calligraphy class here in Fez, and got to both learn about the practice of calligraphy in Morocco and try it out for ourselves.

During my time here in Morocco I have been able to dive deeper into my research project and learn more information about my topic from speaking with Mbarek, our guide. The topic that I am currently researching for Global Studies is the younger generation in Morocco, specifically focusing on young people’s engagement in politics. Something that our guide Mbarek told me that was very relevant to my topic was that many young people choose to participate in politics through protests and other public ways of expressing their voices, rather than through political parties. He said the reason for this is because it is often unclear exactly what the political parties are supporting and trying to get people to vote for. He also mentioned was that young people are getting more involved in politics now than previous generations ever have before, as young people are more educated now in Morocco. As the lack of opportunity for education is still an issue here in Morocco, I want to learn more about how education is changing the perspectives of young people and the impact that is having on the government and the monarchy itself. Mbarek also mentioned how the leader of these protests, a man named Nasser Zafzafi, was imprisoned by the authorities for his actions against the government. I am curious to learn more about this situation and if Zafzafi’s imprisonment has fueled the fire even more for these protests, or has caused the protests to lose momentum without him at the head of the movement.

- Liv

Our Quick Trip to Rome

On the morning of Wednesday, March 13, our group was gathered in the hotel lobby in Chefchaouen as we prepared for our long drive to Fez. Right before we left, Ms. Ducharme let us know that we would be traveling to the Roman ruins at Volubilis on our way to Fez. While the drive to the ruins was long, we were able to see the beautiful view that the Moroccan country side had to offer. The narrow and windy roads were lined with massive fields, farming towns, and Tangerine stands selling fresh fruit. This drive was great for the research of many of our groups members. We were able to see why agriculture is the #1 business in Morocco, the complex irrigation systems, and the lack of water they has access too. This drive also showed us how much of a presence Islam had in the country, as almost all of these small farming towns has at least one mosque, if not more. During our car ride, we drove past 66 mosques (Peyton and I counted). 

Finally we arrived at the Roman ruins. We traveled back in time as our guide showed us around the ruins, making the remains come alive. We were able to see what was left of massive villas, a temple in honor of the god Jupiter, and the state house in the middle of it all. Along our walk we were able to see many of the tiles that were still preserved, and it was absolutely beautiful. As a former Latin student and a kid who grew up on ancient myths, this was probably one of my highlights of the trip so far. 

After the ruins, we completed our drive to Fez. We headed to a quick calligraphy class where we all gained a new appreciation for the art of writing Arabic. We then had dinner and checked into the hotel for the night. Tomorrow we will he spending the day in Fez, visiting the tannery, potters, and markets. 

-Liam

Something's gotta give...and it's me.

Today, we left Tangier and embarked on another journey to Chefchaouen. This city felt much different compared to what we have seen already in Rabat and Tangier. The women seemed more outgoing and contemporary, the colors of dyes were brighter, and there were more trash cans and fewer beggars. The project that I am currently working on for Global Studies is researching expatriate writers who have found solace in the country of Morocco; these writers range from Edith Wharton to Jack Kerouac. While the research that I was doing was mainly based in Tangier, if I were a writer looking for inspiration in Morocco, I would find Chefchaouen.

This trip has not been the easiest adjustment for me. It has pushed me past my limits of comfort by completely immersing me in a culture that I felt I had an understanding of, but I really do not. In all the complexities of this culture, it can be seen as dirty, disrespectful towards others of different nationalities, and lacking ambition among its people. However, this would only be scratching the surface of a rich and rather poetic culture. The music, the food, the way that people find meaning in religion and natural beauty surrounding Morocco is unlike any other. Paul Bowles once said something along the lines of, “If any country has been westernized that has once had a rich and fulfilling culture, it is now a wasteland.” Morocco is not a wasteland. While, yes, people can say that Morocco has been Westernized to some degree, it is not by any means found a root in Western living, which is not something I have ever experienced in my travels before.

Do I wish I could have a break from vegetarian tagines and have less bread? Absolutely. Do I wish I didn’t need to see beggars or smell anything in the streets that wasn’t pleasant? Yes. Do I wish I didn't see trash on the ground and have to step through mysterious liquids as they crawl down the streets? Definitely. But, would I change this experience in for sitting on my couch, eating a fresh salad while watching the Bachelor? It is tempting, but no. It is in our comfort that we stay the same as we always have been. I will return from Morocco with a curiosity for what else I have not seen before, and if nothing else, I will be grateful to have had this type of experience.

So, as you guessed it, I will rise another morning, excited for another excuse to eat fried bread and jam with some Moroccan coffee, feeling the only comfort of my day, until I go outside and grab life by the bootstraps and head to Fez.

Signing out,

Charlotte

The Purposeful Henna

    Today started off with two cups of coffee and breakfast on the rooftop of our Tangier hotel. At the time I thought coffee was the right move, but turns out it ruined my plan to sleep in the car ride to Chefchaouen. On the way we passed through the busy streets of Tangier where Liam and Peyton admired all the possible fast food places to eat. We also passed by a number of wind turbines, which directly relates to my renewable energy project. I was surprised by the number of turbines that were stationed throughout the mountains. For some reason it made me question if we were really in Africa. It’s pretty casual to see other energy sectors like power lines and small outhouses, but seeing renewable energy was new to me. We also passed a couple dams which could be tied back to hydropower.

     During the ride I sat next to Liam and Pey. I listened to them count out the number of mosques and Liam added, “seeing a mosque in Morocco is like passing Dunkin Donuts in New England.” I agreed and by the end of the ride Peyton and Liam totaled over 20.

     When we got to our hotel we had a little downtime consisting of me sitting in the sun trying to fight the urge to eat the cookies the hotel staff brought out. Once we got assigned our rooms, I of course took a nap, and then we headed out for lunch. We ended up at a place not far from the hotel that had an amazing view of the city!

     Following lunch we took a tour through the blue streets of Chefchaouen. We ended up stopping at an ATM and while waiting I made sure to check myself out in the bank window. After about a minute of staring at myself I realized there was a man inside watching me the entire time...definitely not embarrassing. He came out and continued to laugh as I bursted out laughing with Liv in the corner.

     One of my favorite parts of the day was our hike up to one of the Mosques at height of the city. Here we watched the sunset and listened to the call to prayer. I was actually able to sit by myself for a while and really soak in the culture and surrounding people. Don’t get me wrong, the hike up was tough! I was winded by the time I got to the top, probably because I only consumed fruit all day. It was definitely worth the struggle though. The view was amazing!!!

    We ended our day with one of the best dinners (in my opinion). I ended up ordering vegetables with couscous and some bean dip. It was pretty amazing and I would definitely recommend.

    In all, today was one of the funnier days of the trip. I got in a lot of laughs and also absorbed a lot of the surrounding culture.

-Madi

The Tangerines

We started off our morning here in Tangier with a rooftop breakfast at 9:00 am...well, actually, it was more like 9:10 am because Peyton and I didn’t wake up in time. I really enjoyed breakfast which consisted of chocolate croissants, coffee, orange juice, bread, and jam. We then had the opportunity to tour the inside of a local synagogue. The Rabbi was super welcoming to our group, and I thought it was very interesting to see the architecture and design of the synagogue first hand. One thing that I learned during this visit that I did not know before was that the men sit downstairs, while the women sit upstairs during the service.

After our visit to the synagogue we walked through the market where we observed all of the stands selling agriculture items such as fruits and vegetables, and handmade items such as pottery and clothing. I was really surprised by the amount of items actually in the market; every single stand in the market appeared to be overflowing. The part that stood out to me the most of the markets was where all the meat was being sold. It was crazy to see in person. This experience definitely made me think more about about where the food we eat comes from, especially when we never see that part of the process in America. The idea of becoming a vegetarian also may have crossed my mind once or twice after seeing all of the raw meat...

After that we visited a beautiful Anglican church which was surrounded by a large green garden. What really stood out to me about this church is how the architecture was designed to look like a mosque, as the architects didn’t want to build a church that stood out greatly from all the mosques. We also learned that the church is open to people of all faith backgrounds, and that everyone is welcome there. I thought this was interesting especially when compared with the mosque, which did not allow anyone that was not Muslim to enter.

From there we continued to walk through the streets and explore the different sights along the coast. We took a break from walking and stopped for tea at a restaurant that had a beautiful ocean view, before heading off to lunch as a group. - Liv

After spending the morning walking through the medina of Tangier, and having lunch we arrived at a museum called the American Legation Museum within the medina. This museum was a tribute to the American-Moroccan relationship and displayed how our cultures have intertwined throughout history. I was fascinated to learn how Morocco was the first country to recognize US independence. I found this interesting because our guide at the museum seemed proud of this fact, and in American schooling this fact is not displayed and our relationship with Morocco is rarely mentioned in required history courses. The museum guide explained how the building was a US "embassy" before what we know as embassies formally existed. The US gifted the building to Morocco for them to create this museum for just a dollar a month as rent. Many diplomatic meetings were held in this building over the years. The rest of the museum highlighted the artistic influence the two countries have had on each other. The rooms were covered with paintings and pictures of famous American artists who got had their art influenced in many forms such as films and literature about the country, or painters and writers who lived in the country using the Moroccan culture to shape their art. These artists became famous in both countries as Moroccans appreciated their intrigue in their country and their way of life. My favorite part was a true story of an American diplomat who came to receive a gift from Morocco, and was thoroughly surprised when Moroccan men brought him two lions and wouldn’t let the diplomat refuse the gift. Next to the museum was a small garden with a beautiful fountain and several turtles which made for a great Peyton and Liam “thumbs up photo.” Overall this was a wonderful way to wrap up our longest day so far and our last day in the city of Tangier. - Clancy

                                      

It has been very interesting exploring Morocco as American tourists because we are presented with Moroccan culture rather than immersing ourselves in it. We have received many comments, both positive and negative, about being from the U.S., but we are also not discreet about being tourists. First of all, it has been absolutely incredible learning about the wide variety of cultures and beliefs; for example, it was enlightening to meet a rabbi and a priest at the same time while in a country where Islam is the largest religion. Despite our group’s various religious beliefs, we were welcomed to both the synagogue and church as guests. Throughout the day, we made efforts to speak in either French or Spanish when talking to shop owners, waiters, tour guides, and more. I knew I didn't seem French when someone responded to me in English! One of the biggest differences between Rabat and Tangier is that the Tangier citizens seem to appreciate having us as tourists more. Today people were saying hello to us and inviting us to appreciate their work. AJ and I were able to take a picture with a man selling nougat, who we met in Tangier two years ago while on Geronimo. Just to show how kind Moroccans are, he gave us two pieces of Nougat for free. When we were at the indoor markets, it was incredible to see how hard people worked, but also how willing they were to show us what they were making and how the goods were produced. At the end of the day, we visited the American Legation Museum and learned about America’s relationship with Morocco. One of the first facts that our guide said was that the museum offers classes for women to learn languages and writing. I believe that these lessons are beneficial for the growth of Morocco, and I remembered that there are many groups of women who are also working on this effort. Overall, it was thrilling to learn about a new culture and see the differences between each city, even in the same country. I cannot wait for the rest of the trip to see how the culture evolves and changes. — Morgan

WE LOVE BREAD

Today we started our journey with a luscious breakfast consisting of bread, savory pastries, yogurt, chocolate cake, dried fruits, juice and coffee. We then quickly hit the road traveling north to Tangier. We drove through a heavily agricultural area with rolling fields of lush green. We learned that much of the coastal agriculture that we were seeing was wheat and bananas. We also saw an abundance of sheep and cows along the highway. Throughout the drive two things that surprised me were the clumps of people congregating in park areas beside the highway and the highly manicured nature of the landscapes lining the highways especially closer to cities. I (Madeline) learned that people flocked to the parks that happened to be along the highways leading away from cities because they were usually much cooler than the cities themselves.

On the way we stopped in Asilah, a small town on the way to Tangier. There we stopped for lunch at a traditional Moroccan restaurant. Liam and Clancy were extra adventurous in getting the octopus which was beautifully cooked and, I’m told, tasted amazing. After lunch we walked around the kasbah, a gated old city. Throughout the kasbah, the bottoms of the majority of building were painted blue to pay respect to the Jewish spirituality. While walking through we ran into many people trying to sell us foods, crafts, and other cool trinkets. We saw lots of handmade paintings and special northern Moroccan hats. We learned that the traditional Moroccan woven hats have two distinct patterns, the northern Moroccan variety having colored pom poms and the southern version without. We continued through and passed the Hassan II center for international affairs and another school. Many signs we saw included the three different languages of Morocco, Arabic, Berber, and French. Arabic unlike Berber and French is read from right to left, so it was interesting to compare the three very distinct and different languages. Asilah also had a beautiful view of the ocean which we all thoroughly appreciated through the walls of the city.

After visiting the kasbah we drive to Tangier. While blasting music in the car we had some amazing views of the ocean, including some camels on the beaches. We stopped to take a group picture on the beach, and Ms. Cotton, Charlotte and I (AJ) attempted to take an artsy video of ourselves doing cartwheels. It was so nice to walk on the beach and take in the view of the coast, especially after lots of driving.

Once we got to Tangier, we visited the Grotto d’Hercule (Hercule’s Cave). The rocks from this cave were used to construct many buildings in Morocco such as the medina wall. While walking through, it felt like you were going through a maze with lots of turns and hiding places. At the end of the cave there was an opening to the Atlantic Ocean, which was a super cool sight. Shortly after our cave adventures, we visited the place where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. Morgan and I (AJ) did some reminiscing, as we traveled here on our Geronimo trip sophomore year. It was amazing to see Spain on the horizon, and it reminded me of sailing through the Strait of Gibraltar and seeing Africa and Spain on either side.

After exploring the city for a while, we had dinner at “El Morocco Club.” The restaurant was a little more Western inspired, as it had pastas and seafood on the menu. Now, this is where things get interesting. As an avid bread enthusiast, I came up with a system of rating the quality of bread we have at each meal. I try to save some of it for everyone else but sometimes it’s hard because I love bread so much. I use my own expertise as well as the general consensus to rate the bread on a scale of 1-10. Three things are taken into consideration: texture, how thoroughly cooked, and flavor. Today the bread at breakfast was a solid 7.5, as it was pretty moist and had a nice flakiness to it. The bread at lunch scored a 6.5, because although it was well cooked and only a little chewy, the flavor was lacking. Thus, the dinner bread won (scoring a 8) because it had a very nice spiced flavor and was the perfect texture (not too chewy or too dry). Overall, today was a very good bread day. I am confident that this system will help us find the best bread in Morocco, and I am excited to see what tomorrow brings.

Love,

Madeline and AJ (bread enthusiast)

The Accidental Henna Tattoo

            Today was definitely what you could consider a traveling day! I began packing yesterday around 1PM with the attempt to leave my house around 2PM and get to the front circle around 2:20PM. From there we all loaded the bus and made our way to Logan for our 8:15PM flight. The plane ride was not as bad as I anticipated! Compared to my 16 hour plane ride to South Africa, it was pretty much a breeze.

       I do have to say the last plane ride was a little bumpy, and turbulence is something I don’t necessarily do well with. Before our attempted landing I actually had to turn to Liam and ask for a plastic bag, you know just in case of an emergency. We all got off the plane safe and met up with our tour guide who preceded to take us to some destinations around Rabat.

       My first impression of Morocco didn’t match my original expectations. It was more modern and lively than photos I observed in class. For some reason it gave off more of a ‘touristy vibe’ which was somewhat shocking.

      Our first destination was the Hassan II Tower. As a group we walked around observing the many staggered pillars and beautiful architecture. We even got to go inside the mausoleum to observe the amazing artistry (photo is attached below). Our tour guide talked a lot about the history of Morocco, more specifically about the ethnic  groups and some of the background on the surrounding Mosques and structural buildings.

      We then made our way to the more touristy section of Rabat. As a group we walked through this beautiful garden that was placed perfectly within the blue buildings. This was by far my favorite place of the day and the only place where I unknowingly got stopped by a woman who decided to give me henna.

      Overall, travel days aren’t usually the best but this one served some purpose. Although my exhaustion got the best of me it was cool to dive into the day and fully engage in some of the Moroccan culture.

- Madi

Day 1: Morockin the Casbah

Day 1 started off at 2:30pm in the St. Georges front circle, then ended a long 24 hours later in the Riad Dar Dar in Rabat. After a flight delay, a quick layover in Paris, and a final landing that was just a little bit too exciting, all 14 of us made it to Morocco. We got started immediately, finding our tour guide, Mbarek, in the airport and heading straight to the Mausoleum of Muhammad V. Seeing the unbelievable architecture of the Mausoleum snapped everyone out of their sleep deprived states and left all of us in awe. 

Following our visit to the Mausoleum, we headed up to the Kasbah overlooking Rabat. Upon entering the Kasbah we saw a beautiful garden with an orange tree in the center. After exploring the garden, we began to walk down the streets surrounding the garden. This experience brought to light the fact that we were tourists in a foreign country, as many of the locals were instantly able to seek us out and attempted to sell us goods. Our tour of the Kasbah ended at the main square which overlooked the Atlantic Ocean.

We ended the night at a restaurant that served unbelievable tangines, and headed back to the hotel. Tomorrow we are looking at an early morning drive to Tangier, our next stop on the trip.

- Liam

Today's the day!

In less than six short hours, three faculty and eleven St. George's School seniors will be headed to Morocco. Our travel starts at Logan Airport in Boston with a layover in Paris before landing in Rabat at 1:10pm local time (7:10am EST).

Devon Ducharme and I co-teach the Global Studies course and traveled throughout Morocco last August determining the best locations to bring the students to enrich their learning experiences. This trip, we will spend time in Rabat, Tangier, Chefchaouen, and Fez. In selecting these areas, we hope to learn about Moroccan culture, political structures, development, tourism, and environmental concerns, amongst other topics.

The students have spent the past few weeks narrowing down their research questions and conducting preliminary research. Additionally, each student has a field research plan in place in order to reap the full benefits of our week in Morocco. Each night you'll hear from two or three of them about their experiences and what they are learning.

These are some pictures from our trip last August, a taste of what's to come! Thanks for following along.

- Caitie Cotton