Morocco Moments #1: Updates, Mint Tea, and Intro to Morocco
Subject: Updates, Mint Tea, and intro to Morocco
Date: Sunday, 1 June 2025 at 10:59 PM
I thought it was time to rekindle the email blog as I lie in my (hard as a yoga mat on a concrete floor) day bed and relax after another busy Moroccan day. The contents of this email can largely be categorised as my experience in Morocco so far and shortened to I really like this country! If you don’t feel like reading on.
I am going to share an excerpt of what I wrote the first night I arrived. I was starved for people to talk to and very excited so happened to write my thoughts in the notes app of my phone. What I wrote comes in handy here, to explain my first impressions of the country.
'At first I was worried. What are they wearing? Can I drink the tap water? Can they tell that I just stepped off the plane and am I in danger out alone?
Then I went for a walk along the coast at sunset. Here, I came alive, basking in the energy of this city. I felt my inner poet recharge with the warmth of the sun and chill of the breeze.
The sun has set over the Atlantic Ocean (beautifully, I should imagine) everyday though I have never seen it. Like the sun, the city too is tied to its traditions and customs: the souks, the markets, the buildings falling apart day by day. The children are out playing in the streets, and the adults are conducting commerce just as it’s always been.'
And RE my first Moroccan dinner
'I have never felt happier than in this moment with my plate of fresh, delicious vegetables and a hot tagine sitting in front of me. My taste buds are bubbling (like the tagine) and I am so excited to try it. Holy shit. It tastes so good.’
I don’t think Moroccans like to eat food while it is still light outside so dinner is always very late (think 9pm as an early dinner) but I am getting used to it and honestly do not mind because it means that I have more of a day to be out exploring before eating and bed. I will admit that as I write it is approaching 7pm and I am starting to get hungry and I am tired but there is still at least two hours of my day before food as my host mother Khaoula is taking me to a Moroccan hammam soon! *
(*I just got back from the hammam. That was an experience. Crazy! It was some like being in some teenage boys' fantasy, but hotter, and more dehydrating. So tired now, I’m going to just melt into a puddle on this bed)
I spend my social time with the other Princeton students here. There are 5 of us, one of whom I work with. We get along well and I think that we will travel to different cities together. Today was lovely because I had a picnic lunch with Palzom, one of the girls. We ate fresh fruit, dates, nuts and bread looking out over the beach and it was really beautiful then we lay on some rocks and read next to the river.
And I think that Moroccans are incredible lovely people! So much so that tomorrow I am hanging out with a girl I met on the first night I was here. She is going to help me buy sweets and I think after I might write an article about it. Two things on this topic: Moroccan sweets are REALLY sweet and also delectable, and I think on average, people here really like meeting and talking to foreigners because too many people chat with me on the street for it to be a coincidence, which is great because I love the attention and meeting people too.
Goodbye for now and see you soon.
Love to all
Emma
