Fellows' Reflections: Emma Schneck

“Don’t have any expectations.”

If there was one piece of advice that stuck with me after my series of Zoom onboarding calls for my MENAR fellowship, it was this one. I had been checking in with my managers for the umpteenth time, going over the situation at Experience Morocco, and trying to figure out our next steps going forward. Quite understandably, I was anxious to know the ins and outs of life in Casablanca, and had about a million questions for my Moroccan coworkers. The most important answer I received--however--was one I wasn’t anticipating:

“Just let Morocco happen.”

It seemed a bit counterintuitive at first. How could I not have any expectations for moving halfway across the world, especially to a place I had envisioned for so long? Thinking about it a bit more, I started to resonate with the opportunity of starting in a new country with a completely blank slate, and just letting things come as they may. So, I listened to my manager’s advice, put an end to my frantic apartment Zillowing, and did an absurdly minimal level of preparation for one of the biggest moves of my life.

There were a few things that immediately stood out to me during my first few weeks in Casablanca. Firstly, how drastically different Darija (Moroccan spoken Arabic) is from Modern Standard Arabic, and how quickly and fluidly Casablancis speak. In a typical Moroccan conversation, bits of Darija, French, and English weave themselves effortlessly together, creating a beautiful linguistic nightmare for any foreigner listening in. As impossible as it seemed for me to comprehend everything at first, I soon realized that if I just sat back, took time, and listened, I understood much more than I originally thought.

One of the main lessons I’ve had so far in Morocco has been adjusting to the different speed of life here. As a new friend playfully scolded me on our walk home one night, “Why are you walking so fast? You’re in Africa!”

Learning to take things slowly has allowed me to truly experience the spontaneous moments that make my time in Casa worth it. From hand making belaweats (a savory Moroccan pastry), to introducing my roommate to the delicacy of raw sugar cookie dough and late night Christmas cookie baking sessions, my favorite moments in Casablanca have been ones that I never would have expected. Since arriving in Morocco a little over 2 months ago, I’ve helped a friend film a music video, enjoyed rooftop picnics at sunset, and even ventured to one of North Africa’s largest electronics markets (all before our 9pm curfew, of course).

There is no guidebook on how to start a new life in a foreign country during a global pandemic. There isn’t much you can plan for, so having no expectations might just be the only way to stay sane when life changes every week. For now, I’ve found Casa’s unexpected moments the most rewarding and exciting, and I am looking forward to seeing what else Morocco has in store.