Celebrating Ramadan with our Moroccan buddies!

On Thursday, CIEE students used the food vocabulary they learned in Darija [Moroccan Arabic dialect] class to go out into the community to buy groceries for an iftar with their Moroccan buddies. [Iftar is the meal eaten at sundown to break the fast during Ramadan.]

In groups of 3-4, students ventured into the kasbah or to hanouts [small independent markets selling fresh vegetables to water to toiletries to newspapers] to buy the items on their grocery list: dates, eggs, fresh squeezed orange juice, jam, fresh mint for tea, Moroccan breads, croissants, milk, and other items that are traditionally eaten for iftar.

Once back at the ALC, students set the tables, hard boiled the eggs, and prepared for their guests’ arrival. Once their Moroccan buddies arrived - ages ranging from 14-20 and all from the Dar Shbab, the local community center where we volunteered earlier this week and will return to next week - students played volleyball, basketball, and other games to break the ice and get to know their peers.

At sundown, approximately 7:45 PM, the meal commenced! Clean up and dancing followed the meal. The evening was a great chance to learn about Ramadan, an important part of Islam, and to get to know Moroccan peers their age.

Today and Saturday, students are with their host families celebrating Eid, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. On Sunday, we will reunite for a day trip to Casablanca!

Have a great weekend and Eid Moubarak to those celebrating around the world!