After hearing about my plans to study abroad in Morocco, my family was quick to jump on the opportunity to explore the country with me before orientation. After a period of reflection, what I learned in one week traveling through a region known as “Forgotten Morocco” has been more beneficial and eye-opening than my pre-departure thoughts.
Americans, influenced by past generations, have become more ethnocentric over the years. In the United States, we rarely question our habits nor wonder how other countries operate. We simply assume that what we see and do is the best because we live in the “greatest country in the world.” I believe this philosophy is neither good nor bad, it’s just how we’re taught to think.
The United States is a wonderful place; one filled with opportunity and the potential to achieve the American dream. As I’ve traveled through Morocco, I’ve realized that our consumerist culture devalues our sense of community. In the US, we have access to anything and everything we want or need. In Morocco, citizens own next to nothing in terms of material goods. What they do have however, is a sense of community and an appreciation for even the smallest gift from God.
As an American child growing up in both Boston and Florida, I’ve experienced the school systems as well as the pressure put on young adults to achieve their goals and make their families proud. While I think this is an honorable desire, it has been an amazing experience to witness a more subtle approach to accomplishments. While Moroccan people do have pride in terms of their efforts in school, they don’t put a lot of pressure on themselves to perform as well as they possibly can. I think anyone can be a lot happier if they expect less. It’s hard to be let down when you don’t expect anything.
Instead, Moroccans focus on being kind to each other. Despite lacking basic needs in the region of “Forgotten Morocco,” people are kind, hardworking, and proud. They love their country and they appreciate having a variety of religious beliefs, cultures, and people present within the region.
By speaking to other students from Morocco and France, I’ve learned that they believe Americans avoid cultural conflict by assuming their habits are superior to other cultures abroad. From their perspective, Americans tend to overconsume, overuse, and neglect to express gratitude for the wonderful life available in the US. Obviously this isn’t true for everyone, but it has been a blessing to reaffirm the pride we must possess to be an American. Basic necessities, in addition to anything we may obtain through hard work, are privileges presented to us because of our citizenship.
Reflecting on conversations and scenes of poverty have allowed me to understand the beauty of living in the US. As an American, I’ve grown up in a culture in which we expect a lot from ourselves, our surroundings, and our country. I’ve been in Morocco for ten days now and I’ve learned that you don’t need much to be happy. Collecting material goods in excess simply takes away from the reality that all we truly need to lead a quality life is food, water, good people, and a passion for developing oneself throughout one’s lifetime. It’s such a wonderful opportunity to be here and I hope to continue in my development as an exchange student and global citizen.
