An Unexpected Celebration

A story from Dylan Love, alum of the 2023 Summer Intensive Arabic Program

I came to AALIM in Morocco with no Arabic experience. I was a complete stranger to Morocco, both linguistically and culturally. I did not know what to expect from the country, and I was daunted by the prospect of living with a Moroccan family.

Yet I was welcomed with immense generosity and hospitality once I met my family in Meknes. Nothing could have prepared me for the anxiety and novelty of eating with a family I had met just hours before as they spoke in rapid-fire Darija.

Once I overcame my own insecurities, however, I found encouragement from all sides. I quickly found a new routine with my Moroccan family. I remember reciting the alphabet with my host father, memorising dialogues in class, and exploring Meknes with my classmates.

Every week, AALIM hosted activities. I met with a language partner from Meknes, and I went on excursions with my host family. On weekends, I travelled across Morocco with my classmates. The opportunities to learn were endless, and the greatest challenge was to exploit as many of them as I possibly could.

Although I was a complete beginner, I hardly ever felt unsafe, alone, or unwelcome in AALIM or Morocco in general. AALIM staff, my teachers, and even my classmates all repeatedly offered their support and advice whenever I had doubts.

I am left with a wealth of fond memories from Morocco. Perhaps my favourite memory is when my host mother invited me to celebrate the return of her mother-in-law from the Hajj.

Initially, I was extremely uncertain and anxious: I did not know what the celebration would look like, nor had I met the relatives who would be there. I felt that I was imposing on what should be a personal family occasion. When I arrived, my host mother gradually introduced me to her extended family. At dinner, I sat with my host cousins, who were roughly my age. They immediately asked me why I was interested in Arabic, why I chose to study in Morocco, and about the United States. Eventually, I acclimatised: the conversation became natural, and I forgot about my anxiety. At that point, I began to have fun.

We spoke about football, Moroccan slang, and other languages. I was shocked by how open and friendly they were. Their hospitality was absolutely genuine: I still speak to some of my host cousins over Instagram.

Initially I had been extremely anxious, yet I left feeling very fulfilled. That is how I look back on my time with AALIM. I could not have asked for a better introduction to Arabic and to Morocco.

Dylan Love

Dylan is currently studying history at University College London. He joined the AALIM family in 2023, when he participated in the Summer Intensive Arabic Program. Now, he uses his language skills every day to conduct research on the early Umayyad state — for which the history of Morocco is very important!