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By Jack C., YES Abroad 2023-2024 Morocco

Throughout my YES Abroad program, I have had the opportunity to experience so many interesting things and gain new skills. These have ranged from learning the language of Darija, learning to make argan oil, surfing, to even learning how to defeather a chicken before eating it. While each experience has been unique, they have all given me the confidence to continue trying new things, which is something I value in life. Being in Morocco, I have always been reminded of the phrase “say yes” from P.D.O. While it can apply to saying yes to invitations, it has been a motivator for me throughout the program to say yes to trying any new experience that comes along…that is within program rules. As my time on the program comes down to the last few weeks, I have been reflecting on three experiences and skills that have made a significant impact on me while in Morocco.

Since January, me and my cohort-mate, Josiah, have taken swim lessons together. Swimming is something that I have always loved, yet I’ve never had formal lessons before. This seemed the perfect opportunity to have fun while also learning a valuable skill. It is also a great way to get some exercise to balance all the khobz that I’m eating. When I arrived in Morocco I was determined to stay fit by walking a lot, joining a gym and taking advantage of Rabat’s nice parks and promenades. Yet swimming gave me a new way to stay fit. Looking back now, I realize how this new experience not only gave me something fun to do while on the program, but also a useful skill that will stick with me through life.

Another experience that has had a significant impact on me was the opportunity to learn to make traditional Moroccan foods, one of them being chibakiya (a sweet pastry). Although I have never been into cooking this opportunity gave me the chance to try. When making chibakiya, the hardest part is folding the dough to make the shape of a flower. Though I wasn’t too successful at making it, regardless it was fun trying. I even impressed my host mom with my work! Food is a major part of Moroccan society and although I plan to bring back to the U.S. several recipes, I will also have the experience of actually cooking certain unique dishes with my cohort in Morocco.

Finally, Ramadan has given me the opportunity to experience a unique time in Muslim life. Although I knew it would be difficult to fast for the entire month, I was passionate about trying to fast on some days. Through fasting, I got to feel what it feels like for Muslims each year as they abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset each day. Though coming here with just the knowledge that Ramadan was about fasting, I learned quickly that Ramadan is more than that. By fasting I realized that Ramadan is a time for personal reflection, of thankfulness and remembrance for the poor, which are all taught in Islam. By attending iftars (the big meal to break fast) with my friends and host family, I have realized that Ramadan is also about being with loved ones. As a Christian, and taking part in Ramadan for the first time, I have recognized how these two religions are similar and how it is important to be immersed in different customs and cultures.

Overall, while these three experiences are only a fraction of the tons of new experiences and skills that I have learned and been immersed in, they are actually a major part of what I will take away from my time here. To anyone who has the chance to live abroad in a foreign country, it is without a doubt they should try new things, whether they be cultural or not, and reap the benefits after.