CAES Morocco: Leading Across Differences

Having the opportunity to tour ENA in Meknes helped further shape how I understand educational opportunity. I now see that access to higher education depends on two things: how affordable it is, and how many seats are available. The United States and Morocco differ on both, and ENA Meknes showed me why that matters. ENA is a small, specialized school that admits only a limited number of students each year. Because the cohort is small, getting in is difficult regardless of how qualified an applicant is. In the United States, applying to college feels like a normal step that most students expect to take, so I had assumed that any motivated, capable student could find a place somewhere. My time in Meknes showed me that this is not true when a school is small by design. In that situation, the limit is not how many students want to attend, but how few spots exist. The enrollment data supports this. In 2022, the United States had a gross tertiary enrollment ratio of about 79%, while Morocco...

As someone who is not Muslim, so this trip has been highly insightful into the various beliefs, practices, and traditions of the faith. As we have been in Morocco, I have begun to realize that most of what I know about Islam is from classes, but not from personal experience or by knowing someone who is very familiar with the faith. I had many questions coming in of whether I would be looked at differently for not wearing a hijab or if religious tolerance was common practice. I didn't realize until now just how many misconceptions I had because of my lack of personal observation and interaction experience. I thought it was beautiful how numerous guides emphasized multifaith coexistence emphasizing that people of different faiths live together peacefully without any issues. After doing some further research I even found that in 2019, King Muhammad IV warmly welcomed Pope Francis as a symbol of tolerance and coexistence. Although it is considered illegal to convert away from Islam, it...

               Before arriving in Morocco, I assumed women only played a minor role in their society. I thought that women would not be seen much in public, and few would be participating in the workforce. However, I learned that women play important roles throughout Morocco, especially in rural settings. Over this trip, we visited Cooperatives, berry farms, dairy farms, etc. where women were often involved in many aspects of production. For example, women would be specifically working in the field of the Driscoll’s blueberry farm since they had the delicate hands to pick the fruit or working in roles that require attention to detail in the Driscoll’s factory. I learned that the specific roles Moroccan women played were strategic based on their strengths.. Even though it seemed like the Moroccan women were working in the inferior roles, they were actually working these jobs simply due to efficiency. It was also obvious that Morocco has starte...

Over the course of this trip, it became evident the privilege I hold as an American tourist. I would walk into a gas station and see the price for giant water bottles being sold for under 10 dirham and I would think about how much more expensive it would be in the United States. Furthermore, when I would buy a cappuccino for 20 Dirham (roughly 2 USD) and I would think to myself how this is about 6 dollars cheaper than a coffee in the United States. The vast differences in prices between the United States and Morocco showed me the financial privilege I often take for granted. Another time I noticed my privilege being a United States citizen was through interacting with Moroccans. The majority of the Moroccans I had talked to had oftentimes not left the city where they were born. This was shocking to me as I had been to both of the United States’ Coasts by the time I was 9 while also traveling to numerous cities in between. Hearing this, it furthered my understanding of how not everyon...

While being in Morocco, I noticed how social status can affect educational opportunity, especially when comparing private and public schools. students for both of your families, often attend private schools where they have more resources smaller class as a stronger, education and languages like French and English meanwhile, many public schools have few resources in larger classrooms according to the World Bank educational quality in Morocco is connected to income level and access to quality schooling(Worldbank,2020). This creates difference in future opportunities depending on the students background and social class. This topic stood out to me because we have similar things in the United States. In America students in wealthier neighborhood usually has access to better funded schools, more extracurricular activities in strong, academic opportunities, compared to lower income communities.  My time in Morocco made me realize how much social status can shape some opportunities around...

One identity that differs from my own and stood out to me during our time in Morocco relates to gender roles and how they shape behavior in public spaces. Gender roles are the expectations societies place on individuals based on their perceived gender, influencing how people act, communicate, and participate in daily life. According to UN Women, social and cultural norms strongly shape how men and women experience public life, including differences in visibility, voice, and opportunity. One societal issue connected to gender roles is how these expectations can shape who feels comfortable occupying public spaces and how individuals express themselves. In many cultures, gender norms influence everything from communication style to social presence. These patterns can reinforce certain behaviors over time, shaping how men and women interact in both social and professional settings. During our time in Morocco, one thing I noticed was the way public spaces like cafés were often dominated b...