Traveling throughout Morocco provided me with opportunities to learn more about the culture, landscape, food, and people, but maybe more importantly, it provided me with ideas of ways I can bring global education to my students. Some of the main ideas I would like to bring back to my classroom include the connection between architecture and sustainability, the importance of local stakeholders in conservation initiatives, and the relationship between indigenous knowledge and c

One of the things I was most excited for when visiting Morocco was the food. I LOVE to eat lol. I am not a very picky eater and enjoy trying new cuisines and experiencing different flavors for the first time. Morocco was a perfect place for me to have a gastronomical journey. Morocco is famous for several types of food, but probably one of the most well-known is tagine. Tagine is a slow-cooked savory stew that is cooked in a distinctive, cone-shaped earthenware pot. Tagines

Part of the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms (TGC) program involves separating from the whole country cohort and traveling with only 2-3 other fellows while in the host community. My host community group consisted of Josipa Casey, Tori Lands, and myself. I am not being hyperbolic when I say this, but my host community group was the best group in Fulbright history! We all came from different locations and different content areas, but immediately hit it off and became b

Today we arrived in Safi! Safi is the pottery capital of Morocco and artisans handmake everything from plates, bowls, cups, and much more, all with stunningly detailed designs. Safi is also the sardine capital of Morocco, and some even consider it to have the best sardines in the world. I am not a big fan of sardines, but I did get several tins to bring home from friends and family. Once arriving in Safi we checked into our beautiful hotel Riad Safi in the heart of the anci

Today we visited the beautiful beach town of Oualidia. Oualidia is the oyster capital of Morocco and has a significant impact on the economy in the area. The town borders the Pacific Ocean and is protected with a natural lagoon that makes for great swimming. Once we arrived in town we headed to the beach which had quite a few people. Interestingly, many of the people were tourists from Europe, the U.S., or other locations, and there was even a mobile home park next to the bea

Today Tori, Josipa, and I left Casablanca and the cohort to travel to our host city. We took a train from Casablanca to El Jadida (where our host teacher lives) and along the way were able to see more of the Moroccan countryside. I was surprised by how rocky the terrain is from Casablanca to El Jadida. I guess I was expecting more sand and desert looking environments, but I learned Morocco has a diverse variety of habitats and environments, from hot dry desert, to cold snowy

Our first day in Casablanca was FULL of activities. We started the day off with a lecture about the incredible architecture of Morocco including the ancient medinas. One of my favorite things about the architecture has to be the doors! Almost every door I have seen is unique and highly decorative, and most doors have an arched shape that is uncommon in the U.S. I also like how many of the houses are closed off to the outside streets with few outer windows, but then open up to

Rabat was the first city of my Moroccan adventure and it did not disappoint. The capital city of Morocco and founded in the 12th century, Rabat is like walking back in time. The ancient walls surrounding the old city or medina, the beautiful mausoleums, and the incredible Chellah and Kasbah made me feel like I was in the movie Aladdin. We spent a total of 5 days in Rabat as a Fulbright TGC cohort, and it was great to have the opportunity to learn more about my fellow Fulbrigh