Agricultural, Organizational and Community Development
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Experiencing new things is something that I live for. I am currently studying in Morocco for two weeks. There have been many things that have been done on this trip so far, but yesterday was the highlight of the trip thus far. The day started with a visit to some date production facilities. With us…
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Studying abroad in Morocco for two short weeks felt like an eternity in the moment. I was enjoying every second of it, but the packed schedule was taking a toll on me. During my trip, I wasn’t really doing any deep thought about the things that I was experiencing. In Morocco, we visited over 25…
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During my study abroad Maymester program in Morocco, one of my favorite times was the days that we explored the Sahara desert. Ever since I was little, I have been absolutely fascinated by desert landscapes, reading about them, watching movies or shows set in deserts, documentaries, you name it. With that in mind, I was…
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One thing that initially drew me to participating in a UGA study abroad program was that it would be a group of people exploring and traveling together in a new place. I haven’t been able to travel a ton, and actually hadn’t been across the Atlantic until the study abroad program in Morocco, so while…
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If you’ve ever traveled abroad, you’ll know how different cultures can be. You can cross a town’s border and be shocked by a language change. You can travel to another country only 30 minutes by train and see different foods. And of course there is the striking nature of how beautiful other countries are, especially…
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One of the best things for me with planning and preparing and being on this trip was that I knew someone who had gone the year before and was going again. Having Cora, our TA, and a fellow employee at the State Botanical Gardens of Georgia, made the trip feel so much more comfortable and…
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The purpose of prayer in Christianity from my perspective growing up Christian was to be saved, to reach a higher power for daily life guidance, and to be forgiven/confess your sins. Here in Morocco, it feels that the purpose has a different context. Prayer in Islam or at least Moroccan Islam seems to be motivated…
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In Morocco traditionally we only see men at the face of a business. When at a restaurant, coffee shop, or most businesses you are typically served by men. They are the face of businesses while traditionally women are the back scenes. They are the ones who clean, meal prep, and assemble most of the goods.…
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A welcoming committee in Morocco is truly something quite special. The opening statement is not “Hi, welcome to my home. Nearly everyone welcomes you with a “you are welcome here to my country and home”. For some reason, this stuck with me more than it should. It felt extremely sincere and genuine that we were…
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Collectivism or communalism is the societal orientation towards putting the needs of the community or group before the needs of the individual within the group. https://www.britannica.com/topic/collectivism This is a common value in family structures that are non-western. The trend also carries over into Moroccan society. In collectivist societies, it is thought that advancing the group…