Blog

Let’s talk about something that people often ask me about, but that doesn’t usually make it into polished travel blogs: catcalling. Does it happen in Morocco? Absolutely. But here’s the part I wasn’t expecting — it has often been the most polite  catcalling I’ve ever experienced, and it rarely carries the edge of aggression I’ve felt elsewhere. Most days, it sounds like: “Hello, welcome to Morocco!” “You’re very beautiful!” “Hi — you look pretty today!” And my personal favori

Over the past few weeks, my time in Morocco has taken me south — first to Ouarzazate, then to Agadir — two places that couldn’t feel more different, yet both left a strong impression. Ouarzazate I traveled to Ouarzazate with a group of fellow Fulbrighters to help run workshops at the cinema school there. Over two days, we watched two films with students and spent time discussing media, storytelling, and how perception is shaped through film. The conversations were thoughtful,

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

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

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

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

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...

One of the first things I’ve noticed about Rabat is that the city has its own rhythm, and it’s not quite the same as what I’m used to...