Blog #3.10 Welcome to Agadir
2024 Team of Students and Speaking Partners at Ecolodge Kasbah in Agadir
View from Ecolodge Kasbah at our welcome dinner in Agadir
Stepping foot in a new country after a very long overnight flight was a breathtaking experience we did not know we needed. Excited to start our Moroccan journey (and after some luggage mishaps!) we made our way out of the airport and toward Agadir. Seeing the beautiful landscapes of Argan trees and deserts was a welcome prelude to meeting our new Moroccan friends, Nora, Abderahmane, Manal, Rachid, and Ezzouhra who welcomed us warmly.
“It’s very busy and colorful and everyone is so friendly. I like the long walks!” -Diane
Week 1, we hit the ground running with 4 lectures, 3 language classes, interviews with shopkeepers and one coop (ta3awuniya), and tours of Agadir, Taroudant, and Tiout. Our tour of Taroudant was led by the famous and friendly artist Yunus who welcomed us into his home and gave us the deep history of the city. We got some great photo opportunities! My favorite was the palm oasis in Tiout where we got to tour gorgeous waterways, a historical fortress/kasbah, eat couscous with a very generous family, and converse… with a stork.
Visiting Tiout oasis
Our tour of the new Targant Museum (the only argan oil museum in the world) gave us a lot of information about argan’s place in Morocco and our initial interviews in the Tiout cooperative provided great insight into the experiences of Amazigh women producing argan oil – it was an honor to be able to talk with them (plus, we got to crack some argan!). Our Moroccan speaking partners were running with us the whole way and we loved learning with and about our new friends.
Manal and James in Tiout oasis
“It’s so much energy, I like it. We’re exhausted, but we’re getting used to it. I’m happy you’re all here!” -Manal
After this first week, we are quite exhausted, but catching a second wind for the adventures coming ahead! And let’s not forgot the many fabulous feline friends we’ve encountered along the way.
-By James Robbins, USF Anthropology PhD Student & Ethnographic Team 2024
Driving to Taghazout
