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From the Roof
From my rooftop, the city feels different. Quieter, even though it isn’t. I can still hear the hum of cars, the call to prayer, the clinking of dishes from the restaurants below — but it all blurs together into background noise. Down on the street, there’s always something happening. Two restaurants side by side stay busy late into the night. Across the street, there’s a hanut , one of those small corner shops that sells everything you need — water, eggs, chips, tissues, SIM
Allyson Gilbert
Nov 122 min read


Fall in Morocco
When October rolled around here in Morocco, something felt off. Back home in Maine, this is my favorite time of year — crisp air, colorful leaves, cozy sweaters, apple picking, pumpkin carving, and every kind of fall food imaginable. But in Rabat, the traditional New England fall isn’t really a thing. There are no hayrides or cider doughnuts, no rows of pumpkins outside the grocery store, no smell of fallen leaves in the air. I found myself missing that sense of seasonal chan
Allyson Gilbert
Nov 12 min read


Cooking, Food, and Culture in Morocco
If there's one thing I've learned in Morocco, it's that food isn't just something you eat - it's something you share. It's a conversation, a gesture of welcome, a sign of care. Meals here don't feel rushed. They stretch out, often over hours, with pauses for more tea, more bread, more laughter. When I first arrived, I thought a dinner invitation at 7:30 meant we would eat around 8:00. Instead, we sat down closer to 9:30 - and didn't leave until after 11. It's not about gettin
Allyson Gilbert
Oct 252 min read


Conversations About Modesty
When I was preparing to move to Morocco, modesty came up in almost every conversation. “Make sure to bring clothes that cover your...
Allyson Gilbert
Oct 113 min read


Finding My Words: Language Learning in Rabat
السلام عليكم — as-salāmu ʿalaykum That’s one of the first phrases I learned upon arriving in Morocco. It means “peace be upon you,” and...
Allyson Gilbert
Sep 173 min read


Why Morocco, Why Now?
Two years ago, I almost walked away from teaching. Not because I didn’t love my students, but because I felt like there was nothing left...
Allyson Gilbert
Aug 302 min read
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