Blog

This weekend, I had the absolute honor of attending a Moroccan wedding — my friend Safaa’s brother was getting married, and their family welcomed me into the celebration with open arms. Safaa described it as a “humble” wedding, but to me, it felt extraordinary in every possible way. From the moment I arrived, it was clear that this was a celebration built on joy, tradition, and community. The women celebrated separately from the men, a custom that creates space for women who

Thanksgiving looked a little different this year — okay, a lot different — but somehow it became one of the most memorable ones I’ve ever had. There was no morning spent chopping vegetables in a familiar kitchen, no parade playing in the background, no rush to get the timing right on four different dishes. There wasn’t even the crisp Maine air that always seems to arrive just in time for the holiday. Instead, I found myself walking through Rabat in mild November weather, head

One of the things I’ve been thinking about lately is how comfort shows up in daily life here in Morocco. Not the big, dramatic moments — the travel stories, the long train rides, the weekend adventures — but the small habits and familiar rhythms that ground my days. The little things that make living in a new place feel less like an adjustment and more like… life. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of being somewhere completely new. But it’s the everyday comforts th

This past weekend, I traded my usual routine in Rabat for a visit to Safi, where my friend and fellow Fulbrighter, Catherine, is living and teaching. The train ride was long — about five and a half hours — but it was the kind of journey that lets you settle in, read, stare out the window, and watch the landscape shift from coastal city to open fields to the quieter stretch of Morocco’s Atlantic coast. By the time I arrived, it already felt like a small adventure. Catherine wa

Over the past several weeks, my project has started to take shape through classroom visits, conversations, and community connections. I’ve had the opportunity to speak with high schoolers, university students, teachers, professors, and women working in STEM fields. Each discussion adds a new perspective to my understanding of what influences young women’s pathways into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in Morocco. Originally, my research focused on what was ha

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