What I Packed for Morocco

When I was preparing for my Fulbright in Morocco, I knew I had a challenge ahead of me: five months abroad, one checked bag, and one carry-on. How do you fit half a year of life into two suitcases?

I won’t pretend it was easy—but with some planning (and a few tough decisions), I managed to pull it off. Now that I’ve been here a little while, I can share what I actually brought with me, and what has turned out to be most useful.

Clothes

I wanted a balance of comfort, professionalism, and practicality. My suitcase ended up being a mix of:

• Lightweight dresses and skirts for work and everyday wear.

• A few pairs of pants and nice tops for teaching or meetings.

• Casual clothes for walking, traveling, and relaxing.

• A couple of sweaters and a jacket for cooler evenings (yes, Morocco gets chilly in the winter!).

• Comfortable sandals (my everyday choice), a pair of flats, and sneakers—all made for walking, because I knew I would choose to walk when I could.

  
  

Essentials

• A small collection of toiletries (though almost everything is easy to find here).

• An adapter and power strip (lifesavers for charging devices).

• My laptop and notebook for research and writing.

• Reusable water bottle and tote bag for errands and shopping.

“Glad I Brought This” Items

• Light scarf: perfect for layering, sun protection, or just adding variety.

• Small gifts from home: a great way to say thank you or start conversations.

• My favorite lightweight blanket (a Sand Cloud): it condenses for easy travel and has been such a comfort—it’s like having a little piece of home with me every night.

What I Wish I Had Brought

Even with all the planning, there are always a few things I now wish I’d squeezed in:

• A second pair of comfortable sandals (my daily pair is already getting worn down).

• More lightweight pants for day-to-day wear—linen especially. I brought almost no pants, and only jeans, which can be too heavy for everyday use.

• More colorful layering pieces—my whole closet is neutrals, which is great for mixing and matching, but I miss having a pop of color.

What I Should Have Left Behind

And of course, there are a few things I really didn’t need:

• More than one pair of shorts—modesty is definitely the better option, so I rarely wear them outside of my house.

• So much stationery—I brought far more pens and notebooks than I could ever use, and I’ve discovered the specially gridded paper for Arabic here that I love.

• Big versions of toiletries—these took up too much space, and almost everything is easy to find here locally.

Final Thoughts

As I’m settling into my next apartment here in Rabat, I’m looking at my two bags with a mix of pride and relief. Somehow, it all fit—and somehow, it’s been enough. The funny thing is, living out of a suitcase has reminded me how little I actually need to get by.

Want to see more? Let me know! — because let’s be honest, the real proof is in seeing just how much I managed to squeeze into them.