Welcome

The following posts are glimpses of life on, around and far from the Al Akhawayn University campus in Ifrane, Morocco. Students went out, observed what was going on, and wrote descriptions of what was happening around them as they happened. They captured big and small moments, simple and crazy ones, heartwarming and exciting things. They stopped to see what was around them and to capture the moment as it happened in real time. All the following is the students' own writing. The students were from two sections of Al Akhawayn's Language Center grammar classes. 

A normal morning

Today is another day in AUI, I'm still trying to get out of my too comfortable bed to live. I plan all my day in my mind, what I'm going to wear, what I'm going to eat and what I'm going to study, but in reality, I'm just searching excuses to myself for staying in my bed.
My roommate woke up after me, she begins to sing like every morning, and like every morning, I have to wake up to put something in my ears.

I open the window so I can feel the fresh air, the view from my room is amazing, There is a forest just in front of the window, I can hear the birds chirping, I can see the security's dog running and playing with some butterflies, but I have to prepare myself to go to the courses so I close the window and I continue my usual humdrum.

the window

I'm at my window, from where i can see the tennis court, where two boys are playing. One of them is wearing an orange t-shirt,  he seems really exhausted, the other is wearing blue and he still in a good shape. Near to them we find the restaurant where plenty of people are waiting in the line, my attention is specially attracted by two girl, wich are plannig to do a trick to the other girl who's with them. Their table is in the cornner and they are puting ketchup in her chair, she still waiting. On
the right side of the restaurant there is the soccer field i can't see it completly but just a part where some people are running. There is a black bird in the tree in front of me and his really disturbing, he don't want to stop making noises. And here is the girl from the restaurant comming back, with a shelf in her hand and she sit on her chair, her friend are laughing at her, other people from the restaurant are doing the same .Now she's getting angry, she get up and try to figure on what
she sit, she's getting really made, she's taking her shelf and she's walking to an other table.

Dudes breaking down

I'am at the cafe with my friends having a good time hanging out.
From where i'm standing i can see a gorgeous chick with a silky hair and brown eyes, in the other side a group of men having a fight to know who can talk to the lady first.
So that the debat didn't come to an end, a man among the group stand up, he's walking toward the lady's table.
Hahahahahahahaa oh my god he got knock out, the girl is out of his league, almost everybody in the group laughed at him, he returns to his mates disapointed, all of his confidence has broken in a second .
The second uglier and less confident from the first is being pushed by his friends, and now he calls the lady by her name !!!
i'am so confused right now how could he be that casual with a woman that he barely know, and now he's noting her phone's number .
God i respect this guy he is surely a freaking lengend, what a great lady hunter.
I've had enough events for today.

What happens in front of Newrest

I’m sitting here, watching the sunset. Some people are talking, some are already having dinner, others are rushing over their homework.

I see many couples passing by, some of them look happy and I can see a couple fighting.

Two girls are smoking in front of me, they’re sitting on a bench.

I can see some people speaking different languages and it’s shows me how culturally diverse AUI is.

Some professors are getting out of the cafeteria. They’re probably discussing their new clases.

At the old medina of Meknes

I am at the old medina of Meknes, and I see a man in his old store of Moroccan traditional musical instruments trying to sell some traditional instruments to two young tourists. One of the two tourists is holding a map, and the other is carrying a bottle of mineral water; outside the store, another man with a black moustache sitting on a small stool and smoking the “Sebsi”. I see a mother holding a bag accompanied with her two daughters and going toward the hammam. At the butchers’ side, I see a traditional restaurant where some people are eating minced meat grilled on coal and drinking the Moroccan tea. In front of the restaurant, there is a fat cat lying on the ground and moving its tail slowly. I see a happy child running toward his friends and screaming. Finally, on my way to leave the old medina by its large gate, I see a donkey carrying two bags of wheat and moving to the nearby mill.

The Morning in AUI

I'm sitting in a corner of AUI's cafeteria. This morning, the waiter is taking notes from a customer student, who is just going out with his glass of coffee. The system is not working. Another waiter is looking at something through the window, I don't know what is it; in the cafeteria we are three, one is reading, writing on his laptop and me writing on my copybook. I've just finished my big Black Tea so that I'm going outside, I can’t get bored with the perfect weather and the beautiful landscape out there. Finally, I'm taking a deep breath before running to my first class of the day, with Mr.Jordan.

An hour in the Campus

Today, I have an hour break from my courses. So I’m going to sit and learn through people behavior and manners. In front of me, there are two girls sitting on a bench. The one wearing a long black skirt was talking, whereas the other one with a blue t-shirt was laughing out loud. I’m wondering what is the funny thing? On my left, I can see a little boy chasing a little bird. The bird is flying from a place to other and the boy is still running behind it. They are near the water sprinklers now. The bird flies away and the little kid run away. He didn’t want to make his clothes wet. A little cat is coming by my side; he is trying to play with me obviously. I’m going to take him between my hands, but unfortunately I have to go and have my lesson. Actually, this hour that I have spent watching people taught me the real happiness.

Moroccan north beach

I’m sitting on the beach, in front of the beautiful sea in the north of Morocco. the sky is blue, the weather is perfect, there is nothing better than to relax in this quit and peaceful beach. I can see children playing, some of them are building beautiful sand castles, others are playing  football or tennis. I can also see a man and his wife playing tennis, they seem very good players. In front of me there is a beautiful girl sun tanning her white skin. In the sea there is a young man playing with his jet-water and flying like a superman, it is so cool. I can see also some boys racing in the water with there jetski. Here everybody is having fun, and me I’m thinking about my classroom tomorrow. It’s time for me to go for a ride in my jetski and have some fun.

A sunny day in a garden!

 What a great day it is to relax in a green area! I am in a garden, sitting in a wood bench, breathing fresh air, and enjoying this wonderful sunny day. A lot of people are here. In front of me, a man with a long coat is reading a newspaper. On my right, a gardener is watering some gorgeous flowers. On my left, there is two kids who are fighting for a slide; I think that I have to separate them, yet I am too lazy to do that! Behind me, I can hear two girls talking about boys; I was really shocked by what I heard. A security agent is walking around seeking if there is any trouble. I think that he didn’t mention the two kids’ fight!

What about this weekend?

It’s the weekend, I will go out with my friends, and I feel hungry, that’s why I go out to search for something to eat. It’s raining. Beside of AUI, there is some great green area, where people have a good time. Also, there is a wonderful sculpture of a lion. In this place I observe some people taking pictures, others are just relaxing… I keep walking on the street of this attractive city, everything here is good: the streets are admirables and clean, the buildings are stylish and people are agreeable and friendly. At the restaurant, I find that the food here isn’t much different than the one in Agadir, but the way that they present it is different. There is a lot of people in the place, families, young student… Everyone is doing something different, some are reading book, others are eating and discussing… The person who servers me is so nice and smiling. The life in Ifrane is too much different than Agadir, but I have to accustom this new life, because I’ll past all my studies here.

My trip to Akchour

This is my first trip with Explorer's Club to Akchour passing by Chefchaouen city. I'm here, admiring the beauty of this small village with my friend. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the monkeys are climbing the mountains. We are all wearing big backpacks and baskets and we are all of us excited to attend the waterfall of Akchour after hiking for three hours. We have just arrived next to a wonderful river. The sky is blue; the water is very cold but the weather is warming up. Some of my friends are eating; others are swimming, and I'm just enjoying my time by taking some pictures. I'm amazed by the different and wonderful views. Finally we arrive to the waterfall, every one seems to be very happy. It's just magnificent!

The men and the cat

There are two men walking on the street. One of them is talking on the phone, perhaps with his girlfriend. He looks very happy. The other one brushes his teeth and is carrying a small mirror on his hand. I also see a cat eating sardines in a restaurant. Of course it isn't sitting in a chair but it comes next to the people who is in the restaurant and eats with them.

That's really wonderful!

The café's window

I’m drinking a coffee downtown, sitting next to a window and watching what is happening in the streets. There is a man talking in the cell phone, he seems to have a very serious conversation. Also in front of the store, is a young lady with her boyfriend laughing out loud, meanwhile she observes him thoroughly. It’s a sunny day, the birds are flying high in the sky, and the wind is blowing. I can see in a building in my left that the boss is yelling at his employees, they are apologizing for their mistakes and promising him to do better next time. In the bakery, there is a woman buying some bread, she likes the taste of it so she is complimenting the baker and explaining why she admires it. Near the crossroads, a little cat is eating some leftovers. It looks at the pedestrians, afraid of them. In the café, next to me, a group of boys are talking about their future plans, dreaming of the holidays and imagining the place where they’re traveling to.

The cafeteria at night

I'm sitting in the cafeteria now with the half that´s left of my sandwich and a bottle of water. My friends haven’t come yet, but it’s fine; I like to be alone sometimes.

The sky is clear and the stars look beautiful from here; I think I need a girlfriend before it's starts getting cloudy and rainy. 

The club's meetings were finished five minutes ago, and it looks like it made people hungry because the cafeteria is full of people now. Everybody is waiting for their turn. Some are with friends talking and laughing, others are standing alone watching CNN on the cafeteria's TV.

There's a wasp that wants to share dinner with me. I don't want to touch it, so I'm letting it at its ease. It's gone now; I can finish my dinner.

A day at IFRANE !

Today, my parents come to visit me in Ifrane. Now, we are in town just walking and talking to each other. Around us there are just trees and gardens filled with flowers. A lot of lovers are sitting and talking there. Now we are sitting in a café in the market and we are drinking a hot bowl of HARIIRA. The cats start coming around us, but actually I hate cats, so the waiter start pushing them away. At that moment, we are in a restaurant and we are eating dinner. This restaurant is full of AUI students, because it does a discount of 20% for them. Well, everything that counts is that we are having a lot of fun, and I’m so happy to see them.

AUI's gossip

I’m sitting on a chair, next to the AUI restaurant, with my computer and listening to music on my earphones. There are a few people, surprising thing for a Saturday afternoon, but I think it’s because of today’s terrible weather. But I have to say that I love the smell and the mood after that it has rained.  In front of me, there are two groups sitting on bench. Let’s start with the right side: three girls are talking and laughing.  It makes me feel happy to hear people’s laugh, don’t know why.  Not far away from them, a group of boys are literally screaming; I can hear everything they’re saying and it really disturbs me. They’re gossiping on people who are passing by. Now two boys are coming from the shop; they’re holding just one bag and they’re both wearing hats. At the same moment a girl comes out from the cafeteria and calls someone. She wears a wonderful black dress with brown boots. And now I think that I’m going to my room and have some sleep so that I can be in a good mood for tonight! It was a very good experience; I learned how to observe even if I think now everybody thinks I’m a psycho!

Morning at AUI

It’s 9 a.m, I’m walking as usual between the alleys of the campus. Everything seems quiet and serene, in fact it's Saturday morning and almost all the students have gone to see their families in their home town. The weather is fresh and cool and the sky is blue decorated by a fantastic shinny sun. The birds are everywhere enchanting us with their melodious sounds. Between the green bushes two little cats are playing with their claws. And in the other side a pretty girl with wonderful blue eyes is watching them. She seems very happy because she has a childish smile decorating her beautiful face. Suddenly a delicious smell attracts me, a smell of coffee toasts and pastry. It comes from the cafeteria. There, two guys are taking their breakfast and discussing some subjects. Maybe they are talking about the last game of the Spanish team. This is in brief the daily campus life!!

At the mall

It’s finally Saturday, my parents and I are at the mall in Fez to buy some needs. We are at the main gate; many people are coming and going, and not like usual, they are moving fast since it is cold. In front of me there are a bunch of friends eating at the restaurant, sharing a pizza while they are laughing at the jokes they are telling. In the sports store there’s a teenage girl wearing a blue hoodie and jeans and has black curly hair searching maybe for new sneakers. Something happened really had my attention:  On one side there is a little kid enjoying his ice-cream, playing with balloons and that big cute smile on his face just makes him look so happy. On the other side, just in front of him, there’s another little boy whom you can see his tears and hear his loud cry from far away because he wants ice-cream too, but his mother is beating him instead. At this moment while no one’s making any reaction towards neither the kid to calm him down nor the mother to stop her, that first little boy just came at him, gave him his ice-cream, smiled at him and walked away. It is really wonderful to see how a little innocent act from someone, even if it’s just a kid, can cheer us up without even noticing.  

In the hall of our building

I've been sitting in the hall of our building for more than half an hour. Trying to concentrate on the game I'm playing on my smart phone, which is difficult, with the noise that people around me are making. Some of these persons are playing cards, chatting thanks to cellphones or laptops. The rest of them are reading quietly a book or listening to music. Some girls are cooking in the kitchen upstairs, I can hear their laughs so clearly, and smell what they are cooking. It seemes tasty, and remindes me of the smell of couscous. There is no doubt that these girls are missing their moms' dishes. Someone has just pushed the door of the building. It's a parent who's wearing a brown coat, Black trousers and black shoes who enters holding his luggage and a plastic bag full of food, he seems tired, in need of a tight sleep, but once he saw a girl wearing a red dress, white heels who's his daughter for sure, a large smile illuminates his face. The girl jumps on him, hugs him until he can't breathe. It's obvious that she misses him so much, just like I'm missing my family and my friends.