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, IAFS honors student, Global Grant recipient, and a President's Leadership Scholar, is spending Spring 2026 in Rabat, Morocco through the program. She is already immersing herself in Moroccan culture through practicing new languages, attending traditional weddings, and engaging with local leaders. Read her experience below!

"Studying abroad in Rabat, Morocco has been an incredibly linguistically and culturally immerse experience! I began the program with a two week-long, fifty-hour language intensive in Darija, the Moroccan dialect of Arabic, and began learning Modern Standard Arabic as well. Alongside speaking French in everyday situations and with my host family, I have been able to put my Arabic learning into practice at local shops and markets. It has been incredibly rewarding to be able to communicate with people in three different languages at a time (English, French, Arabic)!

My coursework also includes a class on contemporary Moroccan society and culture, where we have been learning about topics from architecture and art, the ethnic makeup of Morocco, how to prepare traditional cuisine, and more. Additionally, I am currently taking a class about gender issues in Morocco, and it has been thought provoking to learn about gender roles and feminism across the country. Many people who have never been to Morocco believe that women are very oppressed here, when in reality, that is not the case.

A large component of my study abroad experience has been conducting independent research as a part of my honors thesis: Understanding Barriers to Sustainable Agriculture Practices in the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra Region. I am conducting interviews with farmers, consumers, and local leaders to understand attitudes towards climate change, food security, and sustainable livelihoods as it relates to Morocco’s agricultural sector. From chatting about crop yields over Moroccan mint tea to hearing farmers talk passionately about their livelihoods, this experience has been so much fun and helped me grow as a leader. I’d like to thank Dr. Karen Bailey for all of her support on my thesis project.

I have also been fortunate to travel around Morocco during my first month here. From playing soccer with kids in the High Atlas Mountains to exploring the medinas of Marrakech, it has been exciting to explore new cultures. I’ve also been enjoying exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as and .

A big highlight of my trip was also going to a Moroccan wedding in Sale! My host family helped me get fitted for beautiful traditional clothing, learn how to dance to Chabbi music, and graciously invited me to celebrate the wedding with them! It was 13 hours of music, wedding traditions, and even celebrity musician appearances! I am so excited for what’s to come next on my study abroad journey."