Beyond My Comfort Zone

Volunteering with IVHQ in Morocco was an adventure. I loved that the culture fosters a sense of respect for other religions and cultures, and that it's okay not to be Muslim and live in Morocco. I appreciated the Muslim customs and traditions, and I was able to learn a lot about Islam in Morocco while still holding firm to my Christian faith. I found it interesting and enjoyable to have conversations with locals about their religious beliefs and customs, and they were equally intrigued to hear about Christianity from me. The weather - I loved it most of the time. Marrakech and Fes are extremely HOT, so I'm glad I was placed in Rabat where the weather is fairly warm but nowhere near those other cities. I looked forward to the fact that there was sunshine every day without fail and the beach was a five-minute walk from my homestay. Of course, I love the people that I met there, both the locals and the other volunteers from all over the world. My placement was perfect. I was working in Women's Education, and the women were so appreciative of my time and effort and really WANTED to learn. The staff at ILCS (IVHQ's partner organization in Rabat) was always kind and attentive, and I made many friends there, as well. My language lessons - I took both French and Arabic - were helpful to me in communicating on a daily basis with the locals. I already spoke pretty decent French before arriving in Morocco, but I hadn't known any Arabic at all, and I learned SO much in such a short amount of time! My host family was full of fun and enjoyed having me there, and I fell in love with the kids in the family. If you go to Morocco, be prepared to be pushed far beyond your comfort zone - and love it.