Morocco: Owls in Ifni
Of course, a major reason why this trip will be unforgettable for each of us was that we have all bonded and become lifelong friends. We have grown together as people and as Rice Owls and I can’t wait to see what the next couple of weeks will bring us!
As cliché as it may sound, spending the past three weeks in Morocco with six other Rice students has truly been an incredible experience for me. My expectations for the trip before we left were vague: I knew that we would be spending five weeks in a coastal and conservative town called Ifni working to assess the best way to implement standard fog collectors into village communities. I knew it was going to be an adventure, and as the first group from Rice to travel there, I was anxious and excited for what we would see, learn, and do. None of us knew what to expect of an Arab African nation with a significant amount of European influence, and needless to say, everyday has been a surprise. The more touristy cities of Morocco, such as Marrakesh, a UNESCO Heritage Site, met our basic stereotypes, but with more color and music than we expected: the streets are full of camels, snake charmers, fortune tellers, and henna artists. The souvenirs in the souks (markets) ranged from tech gadgets made in China, to clay tagines and leather slippers made by local artisans. I bought a beautiful wooden jewelry box made by Berber men from the Atlas Mountains that literally smells like what I could only imagine the Western Sahara to be like.
Our first full day in Sidi Ifni was a trip to Boutmezguida to see the fog nets that we had been so curious about in person. The project has turned out to be a highly complex sustainability challenge, and our group has really enjoyed the discussions and thought that we have put in to find a solution for the water shortage problem in this region. As a world traveler and athlete, being told that we would be hiking to a mountain side on top of the clouds was exhilarating, but it wouldn’t have been a first for me. However, the description of seeing the fog literally roll over the mountains was not worthy of what it was really like. There are probably very few places on Earth where you can see such an incredible phenomenon of nature, and this view is definitely one of them.
As a group of college students traveling to the developing world to assess and implement a water distribution project, we have been very spoiled! Our weekend trips to various cities including an ecolodge castle in Agadir and a “palace” in Marrakesh, an incredible cook for our daily meals, an impressive facility to work in, and a nice hotel to stay in have exceeded our expectations. It has also allowed us to learn about Moroccan culture and history, and has shown us both extremes of wealth in this country. One of the highlights of this trip for me has been living right on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean. Even though we have been perpetually damp from the humidity, I love the tranquility and sweet memories that the ocean guarantees me.
We have also been spoiled with the professors and staff that have supported us and given us this opportunity. It was great to have Rice Professor Nia Georges as an anthropologist to start off our trip and help us understand and adapt to this rich culture. Then the Baker Institute’s Energy Forum Director, Amy Jaffe, met us to guide us through our projects and advise us about sustainability concepts and how to work and communicate in Arab, African, and developing countries. Soon Rice Professor Ron Soligo will meet us to adopt his intellect as an economist, and we are anxious for his input on our work. If it weren’t for Jamila Bargach, shown in the picture above, this experience would not have been possible. Her incessant efforts as a Rice alum anthropologist, feminist, and leader have given us valuable knowledge on the local history and culture, have provided us with any resources we have needed, and have made our stay extremely welcoming, comfortable, and fun. She is a very motivated and open person who, along with her family, has dedicated herself to the improvement of the quality of life of her fellow Moroccans. Also, the Dar Si Hmad Foundation has hired us a full time cultural trainer, Fatima, who has now become a great friend and teacher to every member of our group.
I definitely can’t talk about our amazing staff without mentioning Kevin. Even though he just graduated and became a member of the Baker Institute’s staff, his addition to the trip has been incomparable. We often joke about how our trip would be different without him. He has been an incredible asset as a leader, engineer, and friend.
Our trip has not only been about work, but has also been an enriching educational experience. The extreme hospitality of Moroccans has made this possible for us. For example, we have befriended an entire family from the Boutmezguida mountaina banker, and families that direct various cooperatives such as those for argan oil, prickly pear oil, and goat cheese. Everyone welcomes you into their home and shares their possessions as if you were family. For example, it is customary for families to welcome one into their home by spraying perfumes on their guests and serving them mint tea in a very traditional way. The picture above was after a group of women dressed us up in their traditional wedding attire!
Of course, a major reason why this trip will be unforgettable for each of us was that we have all bonded and become lifelong friends. We have grown together as people and as Rice Owls and I can’t wait to see what the next couple of weeks will bring us!
