Allison is a Christian elementary teacher from Michigan, USA. She is passionate about language, culture, animals, spaghetti, and wiener dogs.
I was drawn to Morocco originally because of its multicultural, multilingual flavor. It's in Africa, but it also has Middle Eastern influence and is just 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) from Europe.
I knew that the languages spoken were Arabic and French, two completely different yet beautiful languages. I was eager to see all that Morocco had to offer.
IVHQ is extremely helpful every step of the way. They help volunteers access all of the information they need, from vaccinations to passports and visas, and arranging flights.
Volunteers are responsible for booking their own flights and taking care of arrival and departure details on their own, but IVHQ is very supportive in pointing you in the right direction to get it all done stress-free.
Be prepared to step way outside of your comfort zone. There will be times where you will be hot, you will be exhausted, you will be embarrassed, and you will be frustrated.
Language barriers, cultural differences, and lessons to learn abound, but you will grow through them and better understand both Moroccan culture and yourself.
Don't be afraid to go to Morocco or to try new things while you're there; yes, you will be pushed beyond your comfort zone, but in a very good way.
This varies greatly depending on the project you choose and where you are placed. As a women's education volunteer, I spent two hours teaching every morning from Monday - Friday. I took language lessons in the afternoons at ILCS (IVHQ's local partner organization in Rabat). I had two hours of language lessons a day, and I alternated Arabic and French every other day.
Some volunteers worked in two different placements - one in the morning and one in the afternoon - and others worked just afternoons instead of mornings. Those who took language lessons were able to work out a schedule that worked for them and their volunteering.
Evenings and weekends are free time to do some shopping and exploring. The medina (city and shopping center) is very close to most home stays and the beach is just a five minute walk. In the summer, there is also a carnival nearby with some rides, games, and food. One evening a week, the volunteer coordinator at ILCS gets all the volunteers together for coffee or dinner, which is always a fun time to debrief and meet new volunteers who have arrived.
My biggest fear was living in a Muslim country as a Christian. I wasn't sure how I or my faith would be perceived, or if I would be respected. I thought maybe Christians would be treated badly or that the locals would think I was weird or different. However, everyone was respectful and welcoming to everyone, regardless of religion or beliefs.
I found the locals to be interested in discussing religion and hearing more about my faith without mocking it or making me feel uncomfortable, and I was equally intrigued to hear about theirs.
Although Morocco is a Muslim country, there are people of all religions who live in Morocco, and it is expected that everyone is equally treated with respect and dignity. I found the peacefulness of this quite reassuring, and I couldn't have felt more comfortable and safe.
If you can only visit one city, absolutely visit Chefchaouen! Chefchaouen is easily the most beautiful city I have ever seen - all glowing blue - and the people are so much more laid-back and easygoing than in other touristy cities, such as Marrakech and Fes.
If you have time, you should also definitely take an extended weekend (you can arrange ahead of time to miss either a Friday or a Monday of your volunteer placement, as long as you give enough notice) and do a Sahara Desert camel trekking tour.
Although it was incredibly hot (wear light-colored clothing and bring lots of water), it was a highlight of my entire trip to Morocco. Other possible cities to visit include Casablanca, Asilah, and Tangier. It's also possible to take a trip up to Spain or Gibraltar if you have days off for Muslim holidays!