Amazing Morocco April 5th 2010

Amazing Morocco
By Laurie Ann Scott

In September of 2009 Exchange Director Laurie Ann Scott led a group of 18 ambassadors from the United States and Canada to exotic Morocco. Highlights of the two-week Discover Morocco adventure included sleeping under the desert stars; camel rides across wind-swept dunes; and visits to Marrakech, Fes and Casablanca.

But most memorable was time spent with Friendship Force clubs in Errachidia and Azrou. In Errachidia the ambassadors were treated to an elaborate lunch with five courses, beginning with dessert! And in Azrou, ambassadors were inspired by Lotfi Lamrani, and his local vision for the new club. Not only are they opening their doors to ambassadors from around the world, they are also teaching English and computer skills to children in the village, and assisting residents in cleaning up a local slum. “Watching how they have put the Friendship Force ideals into action was exciting to see. But watching them connect with their community helped us come to an even deeper understanding of the culture,” said Laurie Ann. “We really felt first hand what it means to “Explore, Understand and Serve.”

It was the trip of a lifetime. The well-rounded two-week exchange to Morocco brought opportunities for good, old-fashioned sightseeing, a dose of cultural history and the signature Friendship Force opportunity to see a culture through the eyes of the locals.

“One of the great things about traveling with the Friendship Force is the chance to experience real life, ” said Exchange Director Scott. “It’s an experience far beyond being a tourist. And we certainly had an extraordinary opportunity to do that in Morocco. We visited a Berber pharmacist and were amazed by his encyclopedic knowledge of herbs and cures.” In fact, the ambassadors had a unique "Day in the Life of a Berber" experience in a small village where some of the group went to a well for water which was loaded up on the donkey, some made bread, others made tajines (the national dish) for lunch, and everyone participated in the ritual of making sweet, mint tea.

Morocco has a fascinating history. Said Exchange Director Laurie Ann: “Historical records indicate that the Berber people lived in Morocco, in fact in North Africa, as far back as records of the area go.” In fact, the Arabs emigrated after the advent of Islam at which time the two groups assimilated. The country is now 97 percent Muslim. It is the last absolute monarchy in the world, where the young king is considered the political leader as well as the spiritual father of the country. Berber society has traditionally been divided into farmers and merchants. Contrary to the romantic, popular image that portrays Berbers as nomadic people who cross the desert in camel caravans, their main activity is agriculture, which they carry out in mountains and valleys. A highlight for the group was a sunset camel ride through the Sahara Desert, to get to their camping site. Once at camp, the group lounged on rugs, were served dinner and later were entertained with singing and dancing. Sleeping under the stars was magical, as was climbing the high dunes to take in the sunrise.

The country has four mountain ranges, and the group spent time in three of them. “We explored some very off-the-beaten-track areas, including wandering through dusty, rock-strewn Tinghir, where we were as much of an oddity as the things we saw,” recounts Laurie Ann. “Women were very likely to cover their faces with their scarves or robes as we passed. Men were always sitting in the cafes ‘conducting business’ or watching the world go by. Children followed us everywhere, curious, smiling, and delighted if they received a treat, such as a balloon.”

Another trip highlight was the time spent in the ancient city of Fes. (This is not named for the hat "fez" but for an axe "fes" because the father of Fes found a "golden axe.") The ancient medina dates from 808 A.D., with the medieval city dating from 1276. Of the million and a half residents, one-third live inside the medina. It is a labyrinth where one needs a guide to keep from getting lost. “Our group walked four miles through this area. We often heard: ‘Balak! Balak!’ Make way! A donkey is coming! The donkey is still the modus operandi for moving things in the medina, which is impassable to cars or trucks, “ said Laurie Ann. An interesting footnote about Fes is that in 1927 Amy Bend Bishop, an American, was disturbed by the poor condition of the 40,000 mules and donkeys working in the city at the time and donated the equivalent of over $100,000 to establish a free veterinary service. It was named the American Fondouk ("fondouk" is Arabic for inn) and still exists today. The North African adventure was completed by a visit to Meknes, where Arabian and Berber horses are bred and trained; Rabat, the capital of the country, and concluded in Casablanca, with a night-time drive past the beautifully illuminated Hassan II Mosque, before going to ‘Rick's Café’. Says Exchange Director Laurie Ann: “ If you haven't heard of ‘Rick's’, rent the Humphrey Bogart movie "Casablanca! "

Sometimes, the experience of becoming a ‘temporary citizen’ can be so compelling that it is the return home that brings the bigger culture shock! It was with some reluctance that the Friendship Force ambassadors returned to Midwestern normality after this fantastic experience. Exchange Director Scott summed it up this way: “We returned to a place where no loudspeakers amplify the cry of the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer five times a day. No one is saying ‘Salaam Alaykum’ instead of Good Morning.” But for these citizen Ambassadors, the sights, sounds and memories of Morocco will live in their imaginations for a long time to come.

Friendship Force International is a non-profit citizen exchange organization featuring more than 300 travel opportunities, called exchanges, each year. Laurie Ann Scott, leader for this Moroccan trip, has been involved with The Friendship Force of Lincoln since 1981. She has led numerous exchanges and does consulting for Friendship Force

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Discover Morocco is one of hundreds of Friendship Force experiences offered each year and presented in our World of Friends Catalog The next adventure to Morocco is in September 13 – 26th, 2010 (view exchange).