Student Spotlight: Andy Hoff
Authored By:
Salaam Alaykum from Marrakech!
My name is Andy Hoff. I am apart of the Leadership Through Outdoor Education Program in Rabat, Morocco. Yesterday morning we embarked on our weekend excursion to Marrakech accompanied by the Mentoring Youth Program based in Mohammedia. We started our first morning with an amazing group breakfast in Hotel Diwane. We woke up to a buffet of Omelets, assortments of pastries, fruits and vegetables. Then we gathered into the group van and headed to the Amazigh town of Ourika.
Thirty minutes into our drive we took a pit stop to enjoy some traditional Moroccan tea and ride some camels! It was everyone in the groups first time camel riding and what an amazing place to do it!
We arrived in Ourika and had another quick tea break overlooking the beautiful architecture of the Amazigh villages set high in the Atlas Mountains. We then embarked on our hike which immediately tested both our physical and mental strength with its intense elevation change all under the constant 100 degree heat of the Moroccan sun. Drenched in a thick coating of sweat we arrived back at the restaurant where we enjoyed a well deserved lunch. We were served fresh Moroccan salads, our choice of an entree and an array of fruits for dessert. The Moroccan watermelon is always the best way to wrap up a meal!
Before heading home we got to go to the towns argon oil co-op. We watched the intricate process of separating the almond from the argon nut, then the extracting of the oil from that almond. We then got to try out some of the stores products and an opportunity to buy anything we were interested in. To conclude the day we met as a group and had a moment to reflect and discuss on our experiences.
Today I gained a much more well rounded understanding of life in the Amazigh villages. I also developed a better understanding of their history, values and culture as a whole. Today has given me the perspective to be able to look at more underdeveloped rural regions of the world under an entirely new lens.