Introducing Nadia Rassech

Salaam!

My name is Nadia Rassech, a student from Florida State University studying International Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies. At Amideast, I’m enrolled in the Area and Arabic language studies program in Rabat, Morocco!

I’ve spent about five months living in Rabat, as I’ll be with Amideast for a full academic year. I wrote a handful of blogs from my Fall semester, but, seeing as the Spring term has just started, I figured I’d take this chance to properly introduce myself.

I’m a senior, and have been studying Arabic on and off since my freshman year. Originally studying Shaami, I eventually moved on to Modern Standard Arabic, and, this term, hope to focus on my Darija! Last term I took a number of language and content courses, completed an internship, and traveled to various cities in Morocco (Essaouira, Chefchaouen, Fes, Casablanca, and more). This term I hope to continue on the same path – improving my Darija, exploring more of Morocco (Mohammedia, Safi, Al Hoceima, to name a few on my list), and deepening the connections I’ve made with the beautiful city of Rabat and friends who live here!

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Over winter break, a friend and I visited Ifrane and Azrou! The snow was beautiful, and we got to feed the monkeys as well! Photo credit: Rassech 2026.

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My first day back in Rabat for the new term was the AFCON final: Morocco vs Senegal! Photo credit, Rassech, 2026.

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We watched the game from the fan zone in Souissi. Unfortunately, Morocco lost — but watching alongside other fans was an incredible experience (besides the rainy, and disappointed walk home). Photo credit: Emilia Perez, 2026.

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Today we met the new language partners for the Spring term! A group of us took a walk along the corniche — the waves were so high we were getting splashed from the road and the city started setting up a barricade by the water. Photo credit: Rassech, 2026.

Nadia Rassech is a student studying abroad in the Spring 2026 on Amideast’s Area & Arabic Language Studies program in Rabat, Morocco.