"Finding Closure in Chaouen" by Tal Slon

Figuring out how to say goodbye is hard. Should we honor our routines by practicing them until the last moment? Or, like the year that ends in a firework extravaganza, do we go out with a bang? Over the last four months, our little SAP cohort has grown into a team, a collection of souls that shared something that we’ll never get to share again. Kefash kn9ado ngool msalema lhadi 3aila? Our attempt included a weekend in Chefchaouen, the Blue Pearl, sharing laughs, food, and memories.

Some of us started by taking the bus to Tetouan to explore “The White Dove,” a city known for its mountainous views and Andalusian architecture.

Photo credit: Slon, 2023.

Bundling up into a grand taxi from Tetouan to Chefchaouen. The north was the place where we really figured out how to use grand taxis well.

Photo credit: Coffman, 2023.

Passing the Chaouen Dam in the grand taxi. The north also faces agricultural issues as the drought continues, though they have access to many mountain springs.

Photo credit: Slon, 2023.

Watching the sunset from Bouzafer Mosque.

Photo credit: Slon, 2023.

After being away from kitchens in our host families, we were eager to use the kitchen. Turns out cutting onions in a small kitchen can irritate everyone’s eyes. Luckily, there was some trusty Danon to cool me down.

Photo credit: Coffman, 2023

There’s nothing cozier than a pancake breakfast with the lovely humans from the Amideast family. Of course, now that we’re Moroccan we can’t have any meal without our traditional mint tea.

Photo credit: Coffman, 2023.

After being city-bound in Rabat, we were all ravenous for some nature. A taxi ride away from Chefchaouen is the beautiful Akchour National Park where we spent the afternoon frolicking.

Photo credit: Coffman, 2023.

65-degree weather and freezing mountain spring water weren’t going to stop us! What you can’t see in this photo is everyone screaming as they entered the water and immediately went numb.

Photo credit: Slon, 2023.

After a long day of adventuring, we watched this spectacular sunset from the roof of our riad. As the sun painted this masterpiece in front of our eyes, surrounded by loving souls who have supported me for the past four months, I truly couldn’t imagine another study abroad student being luckier than I.

Photo credit: Coffman, 2023.

Tal Slon is a student from the University of Southern California studying abroad on the Amideast Morocco Area and Arabic Language Studies program during the Fall 2023 semester.