For many IHS students the home stays with Moroccan peers was the most significant part of this trip. There is nothing like living under the same roof as someone and sharing meals to break down cultural barriers and stereotypes. This was really the primary motivation for our trip so it was gratifying to see the alacrity with which students connected.
When we first arrived in Moulay we were greeted by a band and a crowd of Moroccans. Each student was handed a flower as they descended from the van. This is by far the best way to arrive anywhere.
When we first arrived in Moulay we were greeted by a band and a crowd of Moroccans. Each student was handed a flower as they descended from the van. This is by far the best way to arrive anywhere.
After a brief ceremony we proceeded to a group lunch. The Ithaca and Moulay students sat down in mixed groups and at once began conversing. The meal was a traditional Moroccan couscous, which meant that everyone was eating out of a common platter. It felt as if we were among old friends.
From here we went to a presentation by ACCESS students in nearby Meknes (ACCESS is a program for learning English that specifically targets low income students). After this we returned to Moulay and students split off in pairs to meet their families.
The following day was full of activities. First there were presentations at the high school by students from both schools. This included songs, drama and informational presentations about our schools.
Afterwards we had a tree planting ceremony. Ithaca students planted 6 trees in the town square as a remembrance of this visit.
Next we all the visited the Roman ruins at Volubilis. This is the former site of Moulay Idriss - 2000 years ago.
On the third day we said our good-byes. It was a brief visit and I hope that in future trips we will be able to stay longer. But even three days was enough time to form close relationships that transcended cultural boundaries. For me it was an opportunity to finally meet and stay with the person who made all this possible: Mohamed Touhami. He and I had collaborated online on several projects, but this was the first time we met face to face. I stayed with Mohamed and his family and we had an opportunity to cement a friendship that will hopefully lead to many more collaborations in the future.
