The Medina near ALIF Riad
When I hopped off the plane at Fes-Saïss Airport, I looked around the mostly empty tarmac and felt my mouth drop open a little bit. I couldn’t stop gaping as I absorbed the mountains and the bright tilework, and at that moment I broke my promise to not look like a clueless tourist. I took one Snapchat, forgot to save it, and then walked into the air-conditioned building. Since then I have been working hard for the label of “informed traveler,” but it will take more than a week here to achieve that status.
In the past seven days, I have already moved past my phrasebook Arabic to gather more words in Darija, the Moroccan dialect of Arabic. Because of its harsh, vowel-dropping tendency, Moroccan Arabic is one of the most difficult Arabic dialects to understand. Fortunately, my first word was fairly easy: kul. Kul, which sounds similar to cool, means “eat.” It is a word my host mom uses frequently, and her insistent kul’s remind me of dinner at home.
I can read and write almost all of my alphabet now as well. Letters like Ayn, Ghayn, DHaal, Saad, Qaaf, and Khaa continue to tangle up in my throat, but l am starting to hear the subtle differences between them. Occasionally, I realize I’m making chicken noises while I’m trying to practice “Qaaf.” It seems like everyone in the beginner Darija section is guilty of making unconventional sounds at this point, so I have decided to embrace the bird sounds.
As I feel more comfortable in class, I am also growing more accustomed to Fez itself. So far, I have only been lost in the alleys of the Medina three times. I love sitting in the Arabic school’s courtyard while I work on homework. In true Moroccan form, I am consuming levels of sugar that would make a toddler proud. Most importantly, I’m happy to be learning with other students in a completely new environment.
I’ll be taking my first road trip in Morocco on Saturday. Hopefully, my clueless tourist side will remember to document the trip with pictures, but until then I will continue developing my literate, informed traveler side. – Anna Cunningham
Super cool! Please continue to keep us posted!
Loved this update! Continue to learn through this amazing opportunity. Seek the message!
Wow! Sounds like a fascinating experience! Can’t wait to read more!
Do you think that the influence of social media has made you feel pressured to document the trip with photos? And is it possible to be both am “informed traveler” and still do so?
As an “informed traveler,” I’m trying to absorb the moments instead of documenting them with photos. Social media hasn’t made me feel pressured to document the trip with photos, but I think social media as a whole prioritizes photos over actual experience.
Proud of you and your work towards informed traveling! When I was abroad, I was the epitome of clueless American tourist, so I find your efforts inspiring <3
Thank you for your support!
This comment was from Cassie by the way!! Hope things are still going well
Loved this update! Continue to learn through this amazing opportunity. Seek the message!
I will eagerly seek the message!
Awesome! I can’t wait to see more pics!
How do you get around? Is there public transportation like trains, or is it mostly walking?
What is your opinion on the Pita and Khubz Merger proposal? Here is some background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Pita#Merger_proposal
I am opposed to the pita and khubz merger proposal. They are both valuable in their own right and deserve individual wikipedia pages.
Great read! Would love to keep hearing updates on your progress learning Moroccan Arabic!
What is the biggest cultural difference you have noticed?
Inspiring… what typed of foods do you eat (or kul?) at home?
I eat tajines, khubz, jams, and various other breads. Today I had pasta salad for dinner!
Lots of traditional Moroccan food!