After over 12 hours of travel from Boston to Ponta Delgada to Lisbon, I arrived in Casablanca on January 2nd around 4 p.m. I had placed an AirTag in each of my two checked bags so that I would know where my luggage was if it got lost. Turns out, that’s exactly what happened.
My large checked bag was left in Lisbon, and I knew as soon as I checked its location after landing in Casablanca. Because I realized this right away, I was able to immediately file a claim at the Casablanca airport and start the process to get my luggage back from Lisbon as soon as possible. Thanks to the AirTag and the quick claim, I received my luggage by 1 p.m. today, January 3rd. Without the AirTag, I wouldn’t have known where my bag was or that it had been misplaced so quickly after landing. Do yourself a favor and get an AirTag before traveling—I know I’ll never travel without one again!
Besides that, my first two days in Casablanca have been truly great. My roommate and I met at the airport since our flights landed only 30 minutes apart. From there, our university had arranged for two current Moroccan students in our International Business program to pick us up. Rim and Kamil greeted us warmly, drove us to our accommodations, and helped us move in. Afterward, they walked us around the neighborhood, pointed out markets that accept credit cards, showed us shops with interesting items, gave us a private tour of our school, and asked plenty of questions about us.
They’ve been so kind and welcoming, and they’re genuinely curious about why an American would choose to study abroad in Casablanca. I’ve explained my interest in cross-cultural interaction and my desire to immerse myself in a lifestyle so different from my own. They respect that, though I think they also find it a bit crazy that I chose Morocco over staying in the United States.
On January 3rd at 9 a.m., ESCA hosted a welcome day for the international students. I met four French students and a girl from Belgium, all of whom agreed that I’m crazy for coming here, especially since I don’t speak French or Arabic. I just explained the experience I’m seeking, and they understood. To my surprise, they really liked me and were eager to talk, even with the language barrier. I’ve traveled all over the world, and only Thailand rivals the welcoming attitudes I’ve experienced here in Casablanca.
The welcome day also included a traditional Moroccan breakfast with an amazing spread of sweet baked goods and pancake/crepe pastries filled with dried meat. The highlight, though, was the Moroccan mint tea, the national beverage of Morocco. It was delicious and only fueled my excitement to try as many local dishes as possible.
During the welcome presentation, I got a call from the airport saying my luggage had arrived, but I wasn’t sure how to arrange a ride to pick it up. I asked Rim for advice, and within minutes, she called a driver, negotiated a price, and gave him instructions to wait for me at the airport until I returned with my bag. The whole way there and back (about an hour round-trip), she texted me to check in and make sure everything was okay. I really feel cared for by the Moroccan people, and knowing they want me to feel welcome means the world to me. You can’t put a price on that, especially when you’re the only American studying abroad in an African country.
After retrieving my luggage, my roommate and I walked to a nearby mall to buy cleaning supplies and some fresh mint to make Moroccan mint tea. It turned out great, and I’ve officially found my new nightly beverage. That evening, my roommate and I spent time getting to know each other better. She lived in Los Angeles for two years and even went on a road trip through 40 states. We talked about politics, life in Germany versus the United States, the foods we want to try in Morocco, and the places we hope to travel. We get along well, so I think this will be a smooth semester.
This weekend, we’re planning to visit the famous olive and meat markets in Casablanca with Rim and Kamil, where I hope to try some very…unique foods.
Goodbye for now.
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