Exploring Rabat: New Tastes and Sites

The Rabat Culture and Language Program began today with an orientation about Moroccan culture, homestays, and program logistics. In just a few hours, students learned some basic expressions in the local language and began to practice with staff and each other. They also learned how diverse Morocco is, in terms of language, geograophy, and cultural influences, from Africa to the Middle East and Europe.

What better way to get a taste of Morocco's mixed cultural scene than to try out a local West African fusion restaurant? After filling up there for lunch, we headed to some UNESCO world heritage sites around Rabat. A guided tour of Roman and Islamic ruins revealed some of Morocco's historical treasures, from historic learning centers to complex mosaics and Moroccan tile-work, or zellige. We ended the afternoon at the Oudayas, a Kasbah dating back to the 12th century.

Tomorrow students will have their first Arabic class and community conversation activity. This activity involves using the class vocabulary to interact with locals. There will be opportunities everyday for students to use the language skills they acquire in the classroom to navigate real life situations and conversations.