Blog Post 5 (week of 6/16)
Globalization or Homogenization?
“Ugh do I have to wear this…?” This is what my host sister says when she has to wear a djellaba, a traditional, everyday, Moroccan dress. “You’re giving food to the homeless just look nice,” says my host mother. This seems to be the general attitude of most Moroccan youth towards the traditional … Continue reading
From Mosul to Marrakech
The other day a group at the American Language Center in Marrakech began creating murals around the entire complex. The last one they created was titled “before I die I want to…” and then there was space below for the younger students to write on stickers and answer the question. Once it was completed the … Continue reading
What’s in this Season? Globalization?
Women in Morocco have been more affected by globalization than any other demographic in the country. When one reads about the traditional 20th century Moroccan woman, they read stories of veiled women kept behind doors, similar to many American housewives of the same era. However, as the West experienced a new wave of feminization and … Continue reading
McNuggets, Frappuccinos, and Lil Jon, oh my
As I sit here contemplating what to write about, I can hear Guns n’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine” playing on someone’s stereo outside. Appropriate, given that our assigned topic this week is globalization. My goal here is to blend an academic definition of globalization and contrast it with the way it is usually used, … Continue reading
Rolling round the world: Globalization and Football
To my dear American friends: as a representative of the rest of the world, I refuse to call the sport by any other name. Let me friendly remind you that I am backed by armies of support. The international governing body of the sport is named Fédération Internationale de Football Association; the tournament we have … Continue reading
Stranger in a Strange Land
The Atlas Mountains is truly a sight to behold–it was a great prelude to the fantastic sights in store before my friends and I embarked into the Sahara. Shielding myself from high-speed gusts of sand and the occasional rainstorm all endured atop my new camel friend, Jeffrey, through the desert was an adventure that’s hard … Continue reading
Bonjour v. Hello
The history of Morocco is deeply entangled with France due to its 44-year long occupation. Morocco gained its independence in 1956. Although Morocco is no longer under the reins of a great European superpower, the influence on its culture and language is still very evident today. Anna, a Duke graduate student we had dinner with … Continue reading
A Little Bit of America in Africa
My second day in Marrakech my host family told me a list of places I HAD to visit during my time in the city. The usual touristy attractions were all on the list, but then came the surprise; “We have to take you to our McDonalds and the new Starbucks that just opened”. Two American … Continue reading
