Oumaima
In class we often discuss the concept of citizenship and how it varies from country to country. ALIF, or the Arabic Language Institute of Fez, is the school where we are taking Moroccan Arabic. This school also teaches English, so we have the opportunity to interact with Moroccan students as well.
Meriam, our coordinator at ALIF, put me in touch with Oumaima, a second-year university student studying English. Because she had a meeting to attend, we were only able to talk for a short time. During this conversation, I learned that Oumaima is very outgoing. While we were speaking, several of her friends came up to chat with her or give her a hard time about missing some of drama rehearsal. True to Moroccan culture, she was so friendly, and I’m grateful she was willing to share her thoughts with me. In this interview, we talked about citizenship and Morocco and some of Oumaima’s activities outside of school.
Interview
Me: What does being a citizen mean to you?
Oumaima: To be a good citizen in Morocco, or in any country, we should respect people. It’s important to complete and maintain your duties; of course, it’s also important to follow the law.
Me: What responsibilities do you think your Moroccan citizenship entails?
Oumaima: Respecting people is important to me. In addition to this, I have to study and work hard, since this will help my society develop. It is because of me my society will be developed and successful. After all, the people who work hard are the important members of society.
Me: Do you think there are any generational differences between your ideas of citizenship and its duties and your parents or grandparents’ ideas? If so, what are they?
Oumaima: I’m not sure. Some people have the idea that if you belong to Morocco that we are not that important. They think that even if we work hard and study hard we will never get a job. They just think they should emigrate because they don’t trust their country.
Me: Can you tell me more about yourself?
Oumaima: I’m a very hard working. This helps because even if I’m feeling down, I know I’ll be okay in the future. I’ll get my chance like the others. As an example, even if I work hard and don’t get a good mark on a test, it’s okay. I still have chances. If I don’t have hope, I’ll never survive.
Me: When did you start learning English?
Oumaima: About a year ago, when I joined the drama club. Before the drama club, I couldn’t even speak English. Back then, I was a shy person, and I was so timid. I started expressing myself because of drama club.
I hope you get a chance to speak with more students at ALIF! Thanks for sharing. Oumaima’s comment about transforming from timid to outgoing is a strong reminder of what can be gained when people are given permission to express themselves.