This summer, I had the pleasure of traveling to Morocco, Africa, where I got a true cultural immersion of the country. During this study abroad trip, I traveled to various cities within the country, participated in cultural activities, and learned the Moroccan dialect of Arabic, Darija. This trip was truly transformative, as we took cultural classes that allowed us to learn about the Muslim religion, racial differences and barriers, and cultural norms. One of the most interesting takeaways for me was the various levels of self-identification for Africans across the diaspora. As I had traveled to Ghana before, it was interesting to see how perspectives varied across the different regions, as well as in relation to the ethnic backgrounds of these Africans. This was truly one of the strengths of this experience, as we gained insight from different ethnic Africans living in Morocco, including Nigerians, Black Americans, and Moroccan Africans. Although I appreciated these conversations, I will say that some days the schedule felt overly packed. As we adjusted to time zones and learned a lot each day, we sometimes participated in extra activities that I believe should've been optional under these circumstances. Nevertheless, I appreciated the entire experience, as it significantly contributed to my long-term goal of being a global citizen and world traveler. I believe that as Black women, it is especially crucial that we represent ourselves across the diaspora and the globe. Originally, I thought achieving this goal meant traveling to each continent. However, this experience also reminded me of the importance of traveling to different regions, as cultures shift significantly even within the same continent. Thanks to Morocco, I was able to build friendships, learn about a new culture, and recognize the importance of traveling to various countries. I am really grateful for my study abroad trip and look forward to traveling to more interesting places in the future.
- Kendi Caldwell
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