Throughout the three weeks my group spent between France and Morocco, we toured neighborhoods, museums, and multiple cities, met with local journalists, professors, and guides who had discussions with us to learn about diversity and inclusion in these two countries and how each one addresses them. We tried local cuisine like chicken tajine and used our free time to experience more of the two cultures through sitting in French cafes for a couple hours and working our way through Moroccan souks (markets).
Though Americans often assume that French culture is similar to ours, there were plenty of culture shocks to experience. From people not smiling to outwardly judging you to lowering my voice volume to saying “Bonjour” upon entering a shop, there were plenty of uncomfortable cultural differences that France had to offer. Even though I spoke French, I came to understand that I didn’t really speak it. While I knew some French vocabulary and grammar, my time in France and Morocco helped me improve these as well as build a concrete understanding of French and Moroccan cultures. This is more important than understanding the language itself. After realizing in Paris that I wasn’t going to fit in when traveling with 25 other Americans, I began to use my French more confidently. I had an English accent when I spoke, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t use my French. It was good practice asking for directions, restaurant suggestions, chatting with locals, and learning about my host family in Aix-en-Provence.
Morocco brought even more culture shocks. What made it so fun was that I didn’t know what to expect at first. Whereas I had a fairly solid idea of what I was getting into in France, I had only learned about Morocco as part of the French-speaking Maghreb. After our orientation to Morocco, I learned a couple of Arabic phrases and found those went a long way. I felt more welcomed when I greeted someone with, “Salam Alaikum” instead of “Hello” or “Bonjour.” I noticed that Moroccans are also more outwardly curious about foreigners. I was often asked where I was from, if I was married, and what my religion was. These are questions I don’t typically face at home, and it me think about groups who do face these questions in the US. My time in Morocco pushed me out of my comfort zone most, particularly when my group visited souks and the Sidi Moumen neighborhood in Casablanca. I wasn’t alone in navigating these cultural differences, though, and my RDs and classmates were instrumental in helping me adjust. This was another transformation in me: I came to feel comfortable with discomfort and discussing it openly. In navigating these culture shocks in France and Morocco, I’ve also become aware of addressing diversity and inclusion not only in France and Morocco but also in the US and at Ohio State. Our group was diverse, coming from different identities and intersections, and each member brought different perspectives to the topics we studied. I can bring back what I learned abroad and apply in my academics and in my personal life empathizing with my peers.
What was it that sparked this transformation? First, it was the locations we visited and the issues we discussed in our group. Alongside tourist attractions like the Louvre in Paris and King Mohammad V’s Mausoleum in Rabat, our group visited working-class suburbs north of Paris and Casablanca like Saint Denis and Sidi Moumen. We witnessed the juxtaposition between thriving or seemingly-thriving tourist areas and working-class districts elites wouldn’t want tourists to see. Our visit to Saint Denis was jarring as it showed this clear juxtaposition between working-class populations and the elite in the center of Paris. It also revealed a cultural barrier between the French and Americans: the French were willing to discuss certain identities like gender and socioeconomic class but didn’t so much touch on race, religion, and intersectionality. Our tour guide in Saint Denis was well-versed in its history but rarely mentioned the people living there now: working-class families from immigrant origins. After our group returned to our hotel and discussed this, I realized my own discomfort in discussing identity and privilege in both the French and American contexts. I took a step back and listened to my classmates’ thoughts rather than voicing my own. I took in more information and learned as we often compared discussions on diversity in the United States to discussions on diversity in France. This made me more comfortable in discussing diversity in both contexts.
By the time we reached Casablanca, we were quick to recognize this juxtaposition, but Morocco has different conversations on identity. It is more recognizant of its diversity, but while France struggles in addressing racism and religious discrimination, Morocco tends to struggle in addressing socioeconomic and linguistic diversity. There is a linguistic hierarchy where Standard Arabic is at the top and Amazigh (Berber) is at the bottom. Standard Arabic is spoken by very few, while Amazigh is natively spoken by about 40% of Moroccans. If these Moroccans move to cities, they have to learn Moroccan Arabic and/or French to get around. There was a clear separation between classes, but younger Moroccans seemed more aware of and willing to discuss issues of poverty through social media platforms. Our luxurious, European hotel was about 30 minutes away from Sidi Moumen, a suburb most famous for being home to the men responsible for May 16, 2003 bombings around Casablanca. Beyond the socioeconomic class of the suburb are a community center and arts center working with youth. The community center was welcoming, kids were playing sports and practicing dance while older students were studying for college entrance exams. Many of the kids told us that they wanted to become teachers, doctors, and lawyers, and were on track to go to university. This along with social media showed that Morocco’s future in addressing these issues in diversity was optimistic despite its monarchy and social hierarchy.
Another transforming aspect of this trip were my relationships with my study abroad group, my resident directors, and my host family in Aix-en-Provence, France. As an only child and someone who was used to having my own space, I was anxious about traveling with a large group and sharing space constantly with at least one or two other people. As our group quickly bonded over our three-week trip over things like culture shocks, I was surprised when I found myself opening up more easily. As someone who typically doesn’t open up, study abroad created an environment that allowed me to grow close to a larger group. This continued when I entered my host stay during the second week of our trip in Aix-en-Provence. Living with a family who spoke no English was a fun experience and good practice for my French, but it was often challenging as I couldn’t express myself the way I wanted at times. Sometimes I forgot a word or didn’t express what I meant in the right way and had to go back and explain myself. It wasn’t completely different from my home, though. At times, I felt like I was staying with my grandparents rather than a host family. After dinner, we would watch France’s House Hunters, policiers (crime dramas), and the news. My host family was patient and would answer my questions during the shows if I ever got lost. They would correct me if I said something wrong, which helped with my French expression. It made me want to a spend a semester with them, rather than a week.
This transformation is academically significant because my perceptions of France and Morocco have changed. This trip changed my romantic notions about the country and turned my view into a more realistic one. Beyond France’s beauty are social, racial, religious, and political tensions that the French are often hesitant to discuss. I didn’t really have a perception of Morocco going into this trip, but I found that it is a beautiful country with linguistic, political, and cultural tensions of its own. Visiting tourist locations as well as working-class neighborhoods helped me in realizing this, and this isn’t something I would have experienced had I gone on an organized tour for a few weeks.
Personally, I’ve made connections that will last beyond college. Studying abroad with a group like this is an experience that we all share and will remember. On this study abroad, I was with my peers nearly 24/7, and this gave us time to connect and become close. If someone was having a problem, there was always someone to listen and help out. This helped me become more outgoing and also more willing to reach out for help.
To learn more about my trip, you can go to: https://u.osu.edu/parker1137hseportfolio/
I enjoyed your comment about how when interacting with individuals in Morocco some of their first questions were about marriage and religion. Within their culture, I have questions as to what importance this has to them and how this information helps shape their conversation.
Reading your reflection shows that there was true transformation within your experience. I appreciate all you have shared and I hope you have the opportunity to return and continue your cultural exchange.