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Blog 34: Ellie

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Dear Souk al Hed (or at least our little L-shaped corner of it), Thank you for having us– it feels like just yesterday when we first stepped off the bus, but already we will soon be saying our goodbyes and getting back on the bus for Rabat– and then Seattle. Getting to know you has taken a lot less time than I expected, for you welcomed us immediately into your home, but still, even on T-minus 1 day until our departure– I am still meeting new people and learning new things about you: the most effective way to cat whisper (pspsps), how Moroccan pizza is made, how to weave palm leaves into the shape of a flip flop… It’s really true that the more you know, the more you don’t know– I am definitely coming out of this experience with more questions than answers. I will miss your warm smiles, abundance of cats, and beautiful sunsets…our evening walks together, soccer on the roof, and listening to you at all times of the day– your crickets chirping at night, your pigeons cooing in the morning,...
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Blog 33: Syndiely

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Dear Future GSL Student, Now that I have completed (almost) a full GSL trip, I wanted to write this letter so that anyone preparing to go on a GSL trip would be ready for anything. Preparing to leave your home for a month can be scary. With or without preparation you may still feel scared, nervous, or homesick. But, going on this trip is something I will never regret and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.  Tip #1: Be open. The thing scaring you the most right now might be the fact that you don’t speak the native language there. Guess what? That’s okay! As long as you are open to trying new things you will build such a powerful and strong connection. I was lucky enough to find connection primarily in joy and laughter. Our family loves Uno, so playing and laughing with them is how I have best gotten to know them. Tip #2: Be aware. While this trip will and should be fun, that’s not necessarily the primary goal. As you wake up every morning and head out to do service, remember ...
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Blog 32: Katie

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The last few days have marked nearing the end of our GSL trip. Two days ago, I had to say goodbye to my host parents, sister, and cousins. Yesterday, I had to say goodbye to the rest of my host sisters. Although in some goodbyes there were tears shed, throughout all goodbyes, there seemed to be a presence of “this isn’t the end”. At first, I thought the “casual” goodbyes weren’t meaningful because isn’t a goodbye supposed to be a little more sentimental than other greetings? Why are we shaking hands to mark our departure? Why no tears? After thinking a little, I realized that maybe this doesn’t have to be a goodbye. Yes, we are physically leaving each other; however, emotionally, we will always be present within each other. In the future, I hope to come back again. This family, that I had just met a few weeks ago, have played a significant role in my personal development over this trip. For the time now we are apart, I have pieces of them in forms of bracelets and pictures. Hopefully i...
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Blog 31: Natalie

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On our first day of leading classes, Ellie and I wound up teaching an impromptu English lesson with kids who wanted to learn more English. Our on-the-spot lesson plan consisted of using facial expressions and extreme voices to convey the emotions happy, sad, and okay. From that day on, we have frequently found them practicing these words, using the words to communicate how they feel. These 3 words may seem basic, however they can still convey the culmination of emotions I have experienced throughout this trip. Okay From the moment I landed in Morocco, I could already feel effects of the the heat. The transition from rainy 60 degree weather to dry 100 degree heat was stark. Everyone on our trip had to learn to live within the discomfort of the heat while taking steps to listening to our bodies and ensure all of us were properly hydrated. I’ve learned how to be okay with the heat, looking forward to our few 90 degree days and constantly sipping on gatorade powder. Sad On one of our fina...
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Blog 30: Janet

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My host mom’s name is Fatima. She is an amazing, sweet, kind, and welcoming person. Whenever I see her, she immediately bursts into a smile and a kiss on the cheek. When I met her for the first time, she led me to the prettiest salon in the house and brought out a whole chicken just for me to eat. And when I said I was full, she said zid, zid! Cooli, cooli, afek! (Add some! Eat please!). I could tell she was just such a warm person, even though I didn’t know any Darija. I felt like I could always depend on her smile to make me feel welcomed, but I noticed that she and the whole family rarely sat with us to eat meals. And listening to the experiences of my peers and how so many of them had a close connection with their host parents, I began to feel a little jealous, hurt, but also regret. I was hurt because I wanted her to sit with us and talk to us and tell us about her life. I want to learn about her. Perhaps this space is because they want to treat us guests with respect. And that in...
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Blog 29: William

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English classes: A tangible, non-physical impact Language. Simply a collection of words. Words a collection of sounds and sounds a collection of pressure changes in the air. And yet it’s arguably the most powerful thing on the earth. It can act as the great connector or the great divider. For each, its meaning is different– words such as paroxysmal, effulgent, lattice, William. For some, just another assemblance of noise but for others endless amounts of meaning, stories, and value. This is part of what has always fascinated me– the vast spectrum of value language carries. Take me for example. On day one with my host family, the Darija they spoke, to my ears was one long sound, devoid of any meaning and even lacking emotional subtleties. But now during dinner listening in I hear individual words, subtle inflections, and I can grasp upon the occasional word that has meaning to my ears. When thinking about this my mind goes to one of the main service projects we are focusing on which is ...
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Blog 28: Sonya

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Almost every evening, we go on a walk with many of our host siblings and other kids in the community. We go along a path beside a mountain called Tifrint. Returning just before sunset, we are able to avoid the worst of the heat and enjoy the beautiful landscape. For me, the walks have provided an opportunity to connect with individuals on a deeper level. Oftentimes on the walks, I walk with Nawal, one of the teenage girls in the village. Early on the trip, our conversations were often very surface level. We would discuss things like “favorite color” or just walk alongside each other. As time went on, my language skills in Darija and hers in English have improved, allowing us to talk in depth. On our most recent walk, I learned that she wants to become a veterinarian and live in Meknes after she finishes high school and college. In a conversation combining English, Darija, and French, we were able to talk for the full hour long walk. While it’s only been a month together, I feel so conn...
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