Day 8: In Marakesh after exploring cultural sites and architecture.
Days 10-12: In front of the exquisite Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.
Days 13-15: Taking in the ocean view in Assilah.
Day 8: Visiting with acclaimed Moroccan artist and novelist Mahi Benbine at his home.
Days 16-19: Arriving in Rabat by Africa's one and only bullet train.
Enjoy the second of our three-part series on the inaugural Faculty Led Study Away (FLSA) program. On the second leg of their three-week trip, Politics Professor Mietek Boduszyński again shared his daily updates on the student group’s engagements and excursions in Morocco. Additional FLSA program trips are planned in the coming year, thanks to funding through the generosity of Sagehen donors, and aim to expand and enrich Ƶ’s global education student experience.
Continuing with their FLSA program travel, Prof. Boduszyński and students made their way to Morocco after completing their five-day sojourn in Belgium. The next part of their journey began in the city of Marrakesh on June 1, followed by stops in Casablanca and Tangier, and concluded June 14 in Rabat with Prof. Boduszyński leading their expedition in exploring diplomacy on a global scale. At the crux of this immersive course, , is the premise that the environment in which diplomacy operates is woven into the tapestry of a country’s history, culture and society. Students continued to meet that with curiosity and adventurous spirits.
Below are Prof. Boduszyński’s entries of their daily adventures throughout the country of Morocco.
June 1, 2024: Day 6
The students arrived late Saturday night in Marrakesh, tired but excited. For all but two of them it is their first time in Morocco, first time on the African continent and first time in a Muslim-majority country.
June 2, 2024: Day 7
The next morning, we jumped right into a 3-hour lecture and discussion on Moroccan history and Islam in Morocco with Prof. Aboubakr Jamai. In the evening, after a debrief of recent engagements, the students had their first taste of the Marrakesh medina (in the Moroccan context, old city), a lively place where they put their bargaining skills to the test.
June 3, 2024: Day 8
Monday was a long but unforgettable one. We started with a guided tour of the medina, mellah (old Jewish quarter) and casbah (fortified royal quarter). Among other cultural sites, the students visited Bahia Palace, a beautiful example of Islamic architecture. Then, we proceeded to the Amal Center for Women, an NGO which trains mostly poor, single women in cooking with the goal of augmenting their skills and employability. Following a delicious Moroccan lunch, the students spoke with both the Center’s director and some of its students, getting some excellent insights into poverty, gender and NGO work in the Moroccan context. In the evening, we went outside of the city to the exquisite residence of Mahi Benbine, a celebrated Moroccan artist and novelist. The discussion with him was wide ranging, covering Benbine’s craft as an artist and his sponsorship of youth centers in marginalized neighborhoods.
June 4, 2024: Day 9
On Tuesday, we drove up the Atlas Mountains to the poorest region of Marrakesh and one that was most affected by last year’s earthquake. There, the students spent the day in a village with a local NGO, learning about rural service provision and education, making their own tagine and playing soccer with the local kids.
June 5-7, 2024: Day 10-12
Wednesday was our travel day to Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city and its commercial capital. Next, we jumped into an intense program of academic, cultural, NGO and diplomatic engagements. The students heard a lecture on Islam in Morocco from Prof. Jamai, toured the impressive Hassan II Mosque (one of the largest in the world), met with the U.S. Consul General in Casablanca at the American Cultural Center and had a lively discussion on issues ranging from migration to freedom of the press with young investigative journalists at an NGO and publishing house that trains them. The students spent a final, memorable day in Casablanca at the IDMAJ NGO, which works with marginalized youth and adults in Sidi Moumen. At IDMAJ, the students encountered a “celebrity” NGO with funding from multiple domestic and international sources, and collaborations with well-known organizations like the NBA.
June 8-10, 2024: Day 13-15
We arrived in Tangier on Saturday. The goal of our time here is twofold: 1) to understand the history of a fascinating cosmopolitan border city, one which lies just a short ferry ride from Spain and the European Union; 2) to look at U.S.-Moroccan relations through the lens of Tangier, which is the site of the first U.S. diplomatic mission overseas. Besides touring the lovely medina of Tangier, the students also took a day trip to Assilah, a stunning whitewashed fishing village just south of Tangier. However, the most fascinating visit was to the American Legation Museum, the only registered U.S. historical monument overseas which houses an extraordinary set of exhibits about the history of U.S.-Moroccan relations, and Americans who have lived in Tangier more broadly. They also saw the recently declassified and opened OSS (predecessor to the CIA) listening station.
June 11-14, 2024: Day 16-19
Our last stop of the trip was to Rabat, the capital of Morocco to which we arrived by bullet train—the only one in Africa! We visited the U.S. Embassy and met with various officials to discuss the facets of the U.S.-Moroccan relationship in the context of U.S. interests and goals around the world. We met with Omar al-Hayani, a Rabat municipal councilor, who told us about deep state power structures in Morocco and how they undermine elected local officials, corruption, inequality and the challenges faced by young entrepreneurs. We then listened to Sanae Alouazen, an LGBTQ+ rights activist who told us about how she works in a highly restrictive and even threatening environment. Lastly, we visited the EU Delegation to Morocco and discussed how Brussels balances interest and values in its policies toward the country. We also shared a delicious Syrian lunch, which included some impromptu dancing!
This immersive experience into diplomacy and human rights advocacy is the first of many FLSA programs that will provide Pomona students with both unmatched experiences and a deeper holistic understanding of the global challenges we face and the ways in which to strive for a freer world.
Check back next week to hear from the students themselves, as they share their thoughts and observations from their firsthand experience traveling in Belgium and Morocco. Plus, learn more about upcoming FLSA programs.