School of International Training: Field Journalism and New Media in Morocco By Lindsey Allen, Fall 2014 Introduction During the fall quarter of my junior year, I studied abroad in Rabat, Morocco with the School of International Training s Morocco: Field Studies in Journalism and New Media (SIT MOJ) program. I chose this program in order to explore possible career interests and utilize skills I had learned at SCU in a global context. Since my program was centered on journalism, I was required to conduct interviews with Moroccans. Making connections in a new culture with a tough language barrier is already difficult, but having to simultaneously create an environment where people felt comfortable sharing their stories with me was incredibly intimidating. Having studied formal Arabic for two years prior, I initially thought that I would be able to hold my own in these interviews. However, attempting to speak formal Arabic to a Moroccan who grew up only speaking the local dialect was a humbling wake up call. Even though my initial struggle to grasp the language differences was an obstacle, navigating this experience taught me valuable lessons in flexibility and cross cultural communication. Taking a break at the Hassan II Mosque while on assignment in Casablanca Housing SIT s MOJ program is split into two components: the homestay portion and the independent study portion. During the homestay, students live with a working class family in Rabat s historic medina. The homestays are all a short walk from classes, which are held at the Center for Cross Cultural Learning also located in the medina. Living with a host family allowed for me to learn cultural norms, practice their language, and gain an authentic family experience in Morocco. Host families are also especially helpful in teaching students how to navigate around Rabat. My family was incredibly welcoming, and allowed me to help them prepare
meals. I came to love and cherish household traditions, such as Couscous day when students get to leave class early every Friday to enjoy a delicacy with their host family. Traditional Moroccan Tafaya couscous celebration Helping my family prepare for the Eid holiday After 6 weeks of homestay, students transition into their independent study period. For the independent study, students are given a stipend to choose a location to live with their peers and are expected to execute a full length feature to be considered for publication in a media outlet. Your living situation will be greatly influenced by the content of your research. Some students end up traveling and lodging in multiple places. The independent study is the culmination of not only newly gained academic skills, but also a new understanding of Moroccan culture that equips students with the tools to live and work independently. The inside of a home located in the Medina Rooftop view from my Rabat apartment Finances The exchange rate of dollars to dirhams is very strong and I was able to easily budget my money. There were exceptions, of course, during program excursions and personal travel where I tended to spend more than I would on a day to day basis living in Rabat. The homestay period is especially helpful when it comes to budgeting since our families were expected to
provide us with meals, we spent less money on food. The independent study portion required more diligent budgeting so that I was spending appropriate amounts on groceries, rent, transportation, and any costs that came up while working on my story. Once I was told the stipend amount, I sat with my roommates to map out a weekly budget to make our stipend last and decide how much of our personal money we wanted to spend. The way you spend your stipend will largely depend on your final journalism project and how you plan out the independent study. Academics My classes took place at the Cross Cultural Center for Learning (CCCL), SIT s in country partner, and my classmates were the 18 other students in my program. The teachers hired by the CCCL are responsible for sorting students into the language class appropriate to their ability and creating a syllabus. On the other hand, the lectures given to prep students for their journalistic assignments come from an array of experts picked by SIT MOJ s academic director on different elements of Moroccan culture. While the language classes are similar to a college class structure consistent testing and assignments the English taught journalism lectures and subsequent assignments are less formalized and are designed to provide students with an interactive understanding of journalism in a cross cultural context. Inside the Rabat Medina Standing outside the CCCL class building For the independent study, we were paired with Moroccan student partners who were expected to aid us in executing our final feature length piece. Our independent study topics ranged from social movements to music all gathered from what we learned during lectures, excursions, or engagement with Moroccan culture. Personally, my independent study piece focused on the social stigmatization faced by Moroccan leprosy patients. Toward the end of my homestay, I learned of the Global Conference on Leprosy and Human Rights being held in Rabat. I had no prior experience with global health topics, but I decided to attend to learn more about the issue. Not only did attending the conference give me an independent study topic, but it also provided me with the opportunity to speak with human rights and health experts from
around the world. Many of my interviews were held in Casablanca which was about an hour to two hour commute from my apartment in Rabat. There were times where I was able to make a trip out of my independent study and stay in Casablanca for a few days to sightsee in between interviews. I was also able to travel with my roommates for their independent study work. Student Life In addition to the main classroom building, the CCCL has a second building that contains a library for students. For many students, including myself, the homestays did not have WiFi and it became essential to do homework at the CCCL or a local café where we had access to the Internet. Almost all students end up buying a cheap WiFi USB stick to help ensure consistent connectivity, not only in Rabat but during times of travel as well. Due to the nature of the program s schedule, it was very difficult for us to find time to engage in many extracurricular activities. However, this did not hinder us from engaging with local community our community engagement occurred more so naturally through our day to day living. During the homestay period, SIT planned three excursions for our program. A five day Southern excursion, a three day Northern excursion, and a five day rural village stay. On our way to the beautiful, tourist prone beach town Essaouira, we stopped at a women s Argan oil cooperative where we learned about how Morocco s booming Argan industry also is the main source for many Amazigh women s livelihoods. The Northern excursion gave us the opportunity to experience the challenges many Moroccan and sub Saharan migrants face at the mediterranean Moroccan Spanish border. Each excursion showed us a different thread of Morocco s social, political, economic,and geographical fabric. Social Life Being able to build and sustain a local network in Morocco required my peers and myself to be open and willing to make an effort to engage with the community. We quickly learned that despite coming from a completely different culture, our Moroccan counterparts were just like us in many other ways. While my homestay taught me important things about family culture in Morocco, having Moroccan friends taught me equally valuable lessons about youth culture and cultural undertones. Engagement One of my most enlightening cross cultural engagement experiences occurred during our SIT planned village excursion. At the beginning of the five day trip to the Sbaa Rouadi commune village, we met and volunteered with an NGO called the Association for Solidarity and Development. This organization seeks to equip local women with vocational skills through a variety of workshops and training sessions. At one point during the excursion, the Association for Solidarity and Development organized a dialogue between my program and the women in the village who have been involved with the NGO. Each group got a chance to ask the other questions about our respective cultures and compare them. It was amazing to not only hear
their perspective on their own culture, but also hear their perspective on our culture. This moment contributed substantially to my ability to build connections with other Moroccans, especially when it came to my independent study research when I had to delve further into a specific aspect of the culture. My host mother and I celebrating my birthday The Bouregreg Marina Religion When I first came to Morocco, a Muslim country, I did not know much about Islam other than what I had learned in prior classes. I left four months later with not only a deeper understanding of the religion, but an appreciation of what it meant in the context of Moroccan culture. My homestay allowed me to see the role of Islam in a Moroccan household, and my friendships with Moroccan students gave me insight to changes across generations. It is important to understand the significance of Islam in Morocco, and be sensitive to this when expressing religious opinions. This is not to say that Morocco is not inclusive, but maintaining respect during cross cultural contact is very important especially for religion. Race/Ethnicity Because my complexion is very similar to that of a Moroccan, I blended in when walking around Rabat. However, my experience was very different than that of my peers. Foreigners tend to stand out, but Moroccans are very welcoming and generally do not hold animosity toward people from other countries. Gender & Sexuality As a woman, I did not feel I was treated differently than my male peers except when experienced occasional street harassment from males. Women should keep in mind the conservative dress style in most parts of Morocco and avoid clothing that is too short or tight. In regards to sexuality, it is important to note that homosexuality is considered illegal in Morocco.
However, this did not stop my peers who identified as LGBT from enjoying their time in Morocco, and they always had a safe space to speak about their personal experiences. Socio Economic It is important to understand that Morocco is a developing country when anticipating the types of socioeconomic experiences you may have. This is not something to see as frightening or off putting, but instead as a learning experience. Exposure to the dynamics of a developing economy is part of what makes studying abroad in Morocco so unique. Ability and Learning Considerations The CCCL facilitates the language classes and takes language level very seriously when sorting students at the beginning of the program. This is so that students are best matched with a teacher than can work with their ability level. My Arabic teacher in Morocco spoke little to no English which was difficult, but forced me to use my language skills to the best of my ability. Students who have never taken Arabic or French before will not be put at a disadvantage there are classes and teachers for all levels, including Beginning. If you wish to be placed in a class that is at a level above the one you are currently at, I would recommend ensuring consistent upkeep and practice of your chosen language before you leave so you are prepared for the placement test. Leisure Transportation around the city is easy thanks to the Tramway and the plethora of taxis in Rabat. My friends and I ended up riding the Tramway often because it was usually cheaper than a taxi, and helped us memorize the layout of the city. The vibrant neighborhood Agdal, easily accessible from the Tramway, is a favorite amongst most students for café hunting. Rabat and its surrounding suburbs are home to beautiful beaches along the Atlantic coast where we often relaxed and watched surfers hit the waves. Morocco s beautiful western coast Preparing for an excursion in the Sahara Desert
One of my favorite memories from Morocco is attending open mic nights at Renaissance Cafe in downtown Rabat every Monday with both my American and Moroccan friends. This weekly tradition fostered some great cross cultural contact and was a great way to meet other young people. Upstairs and the Cotton Club are also fun places to gather and watch local performances. Shopping Morocco has a wide variety of shops ranging from the smaller, older outdoor markets known as souks to what we referred to as the Moroccan version of Target called Marjane. During the homestay period, we shopped in the souks very regularly since many line the streets of the old medina. When shopping in the medina souks, it is common practice to bargain. SIT s orientation helps you practice bargaining in the medina so that you feel confident in getting the right price for items in a respectful manner. For my independent study, I moved outside the medina, but was a few doors down from a medium sized grocery store and a couple blocks away from a neighborhood souk. Rabat A shoe display in the Fez medina souk Hanging out at the Hassan Tower in Overall Impact I am so thankful for all the valuable lessons learned and memories gained from my time in Morocco. I left my study abroad experience with a newfound sense of the global impact I desire to have in my future career, cultivated academic interests, and created a new home for myself. I was able to accomplish my goals through having a sense of what I wanted to gain from studying in Morocco and being open to new directions my experience took me while I was there.