Meet my host family

Laila: host mother

My strongest ally in Morocco, Laila always makes sure I’m taken care of by calling me if I stay out after dark, taking a pair of my shoes to the cobbler for repairs or making sure I always, always have enough to eat (ça fait!). She’s also been an ambassador to Moroccan culture for me. She’s taught me how to make real Moroccan mint tea, shown me how to use the back roads of the medina, taught me most of the Darijan words I know and invited me to traditional Moroccan gatherings with her family or friends.

Zakaria: host father

Though our communication is limited due to a language barrier, it is comforting to know that Zakaria works as a policeman. In fact, when my camera was stolen, he played a major role in helping me recover it. Respected by everyone in the neighborhood, he can seem somewhat intimidating at first. However, I see his softer side when he affectionately tends to the family animals or cracks a joke at dinner that incites an eruption of laughter at the family dinner table.

Budhr: 18-year-old brother

For a teenage boy in his first year of university, Budhr is incredibly kind, thoughtful and family-oriented. Although he has a detached room to himself, he spends much of his time in the family room when he’s not at school or out with friends. Budhr speaks fluent French and English, so communicating with him is very easy and convenient. And the man knows how to cook! Budhr surprised me one day by whipping up a mean banana juice!

Imane: 16-year-old sister

Energetic, spunky and very stylish, my host sister was incredibly welcoming of me into the family. From the very beginning, Imane offered to show me around her stomping grounds, and we continue to spend quality girl time together. Sometimes we go shopping through the medina, gossiping about boyfriends and laughing over my obsession with taking cat photos, and other times we teach each other new card games using gestures to communicate the rules. Imane also taught me how to tie a head scarf in the Turkish style and how to draw Arabic characters. She will certainly be one of the people I miss most when I leave Morocco as I’ve come to think of her like a little sister.

Yahya: 10-year-old brother

Yahya is probably the cutest 10-year-old boy that I’ve ever met. He was a little shy toward me at first, particularly because he does not yet have a great grasp of English or French. However, he does know how to sing “Feel the Magic in the Air,” his favorite song! I even caught him singing it in his sleep once! Yahya’s favorite sport is soccer, and he wants to be a policeman someday—just like his dad. Yahya is always very respectful towards his parents while constantly looking for ways to pester his older siblings. After all, what are little brothers for? I also notice that Yahya always seems to have more homework than his other siblings. He is always working on homework after tea, and I’ll even find him memorizing vocabulary with his mom in the early morning before school. I do not doubt he has a bright future ahead of him!

Deena: 26-year-old (yes, you’re old Deena) volunteer

Coming to a new country and meeting a new family who doesn’t speak fluent English can be challenging. Luckily, I had Deena to help me navigate life in Morocco! Deena was a volunteer in the teaching English project and had been living with our family for two months before I arrived. We immediately connected, bonding over the never-ending supply of food offered by our family, American TV and our love of literature (in fact, she plans on entering an MFA program in 2015 and she already has the title of her next book picked out: The Pirate Ninjas of Sale. Best-seller for sure!). It was also nice to have another person to travel with, especially since her Arabic and my French allowed us to communicate fairly easily wherever we went. Unfortunately, Deena’s departure was mid-December. I miss you, Deena!

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