I will try to explain. We spent the first day wandering around Fes-- more specifically we got to experience the most famous Medina in the world. I felt overwhelmed walking around the tiny, dirty, and sometimes dark alleyways. There was a ceiling covering the majority of the allies-- making an air that was nauseating to breath in. There was fresh fruit, right next to camel meat; and a fish market, right next to spices. There were stray animals (mostly cats) wandering around, searching for their next meal, and many mules-- a primary work animal in Fes (and probably in a lot of the world.)
There were hardly any women to be seen. The streets were disturbingly filled with an overwhelming amount of men. Many of whom would compliment a girl in our group by suggesting the number of camels he would give for her. We learned about how many men have multiple wives. Although I know, in large part, it is because of the way I was socialized, I was extremely turned off by the way that I felt women were referred to as objects. The women that we did see were covered head-to-toe in clothing. Well, all of the women except for the belly-dancers. Yes, that's right: belly dancers. We went to a traditional Moroccan show at night. I wonder why women must cover their entire bodies with garments, or else completely exploit them in what some would call a form of art. Maybe I'm too much of a feminist to be able to appreciate these differences in culture. Maybe I'm close-minded. I don't know, all I know is that I had an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach the entire time I was in Fes.
Thankfully, our excursion in Morocco didn't end there. We proceeded from Fes to the Sahara Desert! After surviving a sandstorm, many hours on a bus, and an intense four-by-four ride to our campsite, we were finally there! Due to the sandstorm, our tents had been saturated in sand! It was a little messy but we quickly learned to embrace the beautiful creature that somehow was EVERYWHERE! We had to wait for awhile to eat that night, but the Moroccan food did not disappoint. It was my favorite cuisine I have had since being abroad. It reminded me the fantastic cooking of my Vegan sister: Leah!
The next day, we woke up early to see the sunrise! It was amazing how fast it rose-- the dunes began as shadows and in what seemed like only seconds later, they were immersed in a radiating light! It was pretty cool. I also had my first experience with a Berber this morning. "Berbers" are a group of people who live in Northern Africa. I have studied them in my history class in Spain so it was really cool to get to meet them. Interesting fact: they're known to be some of the toughest people in the world. They're able to survive and thrive in the Sahara desert, after all! Throughout Spain's history Berbers have been called upon to assist in fighting.Anyway, when people are camping in the desert, Berbers will basically surround your tent. They're perfectly harmless but will offer to bring you somewhere/show you something, they'll take your picture, etc. After they offer this service (whatever they decided to do) they'll ask you to look at what they have to sell. Often it's jewelry, fossils, sculptures, etc. I asked many questions to ours: does he like life in Morocco, how many children does he have, if he could go anywhere in the world where would he go, etc. I feel like his honest answers were enough to warrant a purchase! I bought a cool gift for someone who is probably going to read this blog!
In the desert, I also got to ride a camel, climb the biggest dune, go visit a small village, go for a walk in the dunes (barefood, mind you) do yoga in the dunes, do cartwheels in the dunes, etc. I think you get the picture! I got a henna tattoo by one of the few Berber women that we saw at the desert. All of the Berbers around our tents were men and young boys. Where are all the women? That could be the mantra of my time in Morocco! In the afternoon we had a drum circle, and in the evening a concert. It was really a cool experience. Life in the desert is very laid back and easy-going-- kind of like life on a beach, except for the water, of course!
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| Camel ride. |
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| You can't really tell, but I am on the top of the tallest, steepest dune. I am also out of breath! |
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| Thanks for reading my blog! I love and miss you all! |
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| Thank you, Muhammad. He was my Berber friend who helped make this photo happen!
All-in-all, visiting Morocco was an amazing opportunity. My eyes were opened to more than I could have imagined, and I feel so lucky to have experienced it. I will never forget the awareness it brought to me of my privileges in the United States. I saw poverty unlike anything I have ever seen before, and I was re-grounded in my desire to live a simplistic life. The excess of the United States, and even Spain, is unnecessary and unjust. I will never forget the images I witnessed or the feelings I felt. I hope to return to Africa at some point and do service. It was hard for me to be there as a witness, rather than an activist.
New-found appreciations for my life:
1. Appreciate living in sound structures.
2. Appreciate wearing what ever I want.
3. Appreciate being able to make choices.
4. Appreciate warm and clean water.
5. Appreciate education.
6. Appreciate color and diversity.
7. Appreciate sunscreen.
8. Appreciate opportunities.
9. Appreciate cleanliness.
10. Appreciate respect as a woman.
11. Appreciate sanitation services.
12. Appreciate government.
13. APPRECIATE WATER.
You can view my albums from Morocco here:
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