Sonoma Academy has consistently prioritized building a deeper understanding of the world’s diversity, and one of the ways we do this is through our International Passport Program. This year, over fifteen students chose to go to Morocco, a small country located in the northwest corner of Africa.
Morocco is globally recognized for its vibrant fusion of Arab, Berber, and European cultures, which is reflected in the everyday lives of citizens through festivals, celebrations, and architectural heritage. “The culture was very different from ours,” said Marley DeFord (‘26). “Everyone was super friendly and talkative. We would get stopped in the middle of the streets by random people and have full-on conversations.”
Over the course of two weeks, the students ventured through the streets of Morocco, exploring local marketplaces, dining at small, family-owned restaurants, and participating in cultural events all throughout the city.
“My favorite part of the trip was probably the shopping,” said Ashlynn Dexter (‘26). “There were vendors all over the streets, selling all kinds of things, and going around all of the marketplaces was really fun. But we also went to the old city, Medina, and walked around there too. The whole trip was really focused on the exploration of different cultures, rather than community service.”
While many found the trip to Morocco to be enjoyable, some students shared some cautionary words of advice. DeFord said, “The whole island was full of cats. Everywhere you would look, there would be a cat. So always make sure to watch where you’re going, because my friends and I almost tripped and fell over them a few times. Also, don’t try any of the food if you don’t know what’s inside it, because the shop vendors couldn’t speak English very well, and a couple of people got food poisoning.”
Nonetheless, everyone agreed that Morocco was an amazing experience, and highly recommended it to those searching for a fun trip based on exploring unique cultures, traditions, and everyday life in a foreign country.
