Life In the Medina

Life in the medina.

 

The medina is a city within walls. It’s the poorest section, but holds the most culture of Rabat. Although most people in the medina follow the same religion, their thoughts are very different. In the medina many are treated like family even if they are really not family. This trip has been a real eye opener.

            On this amazing trip we get to go on home visits to see the homes of the kids and converse with their parents. These opportunities have been great for me because I get to understand their way of life and culture. Throughout this trip I have had the chance to go into the homes of four students from our school. You never know how hard it can be until you see with your own eyes how hard it can REALLY be. The sizes of some of these homes are unreal, no bigger than my bedroom, but they survive. The homes that I have visited have very different views. Two families I met wanted their kids to be successful no matter where they go or what they do to survive, as long as they can support themselves. All the families want their kids to be successful without their parents helping them along the way. They say it’s not the parent’s journey, it’s the kids. The other two families I met wanted their kids to be successful but they wanted their kids to stay close to home. These families want to help their kids be successful as much as they can. For example one of the families I met would not let their daughter have friends. They told me they want to make sure that their daughter chose the right friends. Their daughter would be allowed to have friends when she could make good decisions about who she is friends with so her friends take her good places.

            Love is very common for everyone her in Rabat. I have talked about family before during this trip but this type of family is different. In the Medina everyone has neighbors. However, neighbors are not are not just neighbors here, they are family. Not just any type of family like second cousins, they are part of the real family. It’s a unique relationship and I have never seen anything like it. When a neighbor financially needs help or needs help paying rent, neighbors come to the rescue.  You can bet on your neighbors being there in dark times. From the families I have talked to neighbors are a very important parts of their lives.  

It is hard to express how this trip has made me feel but in the  least amount of words possible, it has been fantastic. I remember arriving here the first day with a big grin on my face not knowing what to except, it feels like yesterday. Throughout this trip I have made amazing bonds with many of the kids at Abde Salam Sayah Middle School. I think I have taken more selfies in two weeks than I have my entire life. All the welcoming makes the way of life and the culture here unlike any other. In the United States you would never just let some strangers into your house to talk, it feels unnatural, but not here. Everyone here is very happy even though they live in poverty and it can get very difficult at times. The kids here embrace their lifestyle they live in, who they are, and I don’t think many of them would change it. I know I am going be sad to leave these kids and this lifestyle but I know for sure it’s not the last time I am going to be in Rabat, Morocco.

Hemdulah,
            Karsen