Student Spotlight #22: Lycee Ouzoud (Morocco)

Salah Eddine

Hello, my name is Salah Eddine Ait Chitache. I'm 16 years old and I speak Arabic, English, French, Amazigh and a little Spanish. I live with my family here in Azilal. I have 2 brothers, 3 sisters, my father and my mother. I love them so much. They are friendly, kind, and sociable like me. I' m serious, hard-working, friendly, sociable and ambitious. 

My favorite sports are football, basketball, and tennis. I have also practiced karate since 2009 and now I have a brown belt. For hobbies, I usually play chess in the evening with my friends. It has helped me a lot and I have a much better memory now for all the different moves and strategies. I love math and physics, especially space. I have a love of science. I always entertain myself reading science information and thinking and searching for solutions of mathmatic problems and theories. I love space especially and my favorite astronauts are the brothers Kelly- Scott Kelly and Mark Kelly. My dream is to work one day for NASA, inshallah. 

My favorite song is called Sugar and one of my favorite artists is Chris Brown. I also like theater and films. My favorite films are Dirty Harry with Clint Eastwood and Dances With Wolves with Kevin Costner. As for food, I hate fast food and I like everything that is symbolic of Moroccan culture like couscous and tagine. 

Student Spotlight #21: Lycee Ouzoud (Morocco)

Fatima

Fatima AitAissa shares with you all this article she wrote for you about Islam and the native people of Morocco, the Amazigh:

In Morocco there are a lot of great things to talk about and learn about. For example, on January 13th Moroccan people, especially Amazigh people, celebrate a great day: Amazigh New Year. On this day Amazigh people make a lot of great things such as couscous and other special food and parties to show their happiness and to enjoy themselves by spending time with their families, friends and other Amazigh people. 

Of course each occasion has its reasons and history. On this day, January 13th, Amazigh people attacked Egypt with their president, Shi Shonge. They occupied it around the Christmas birthday and started to celebrate these days as a new year. 

Amazigh people are in many countries of the world- in America, Canada, Asia, Tunisia, India, Italy... In Morocco, people throw parties and make shows to define themselves and to help the new generation become aware and conscious about their history, to know the value and the worth of Amazigh people. They do this because there are a lot of people who think that they are illiterate and underdeveloped. Of course that is wrong and false! In fact, the secret of who makes Morocco safe and free are those "underdeveloped" people- their resistance, their power, and their pride for their country. They are modest and respected and poor because they do not seek out money and authority, instead they search for happiness and purity. 

But now, unfortunately, the Islamic values are to refrain and retreat. We can find a lot of selfishness, jealousy and tough people- the dangerous thing is that they say they are Muslims. They are why we have all these dangerous rumors about Islam. Unfortunately, I cannot do anything to restore our values and help, but what I want you to know is that Islam isn't like what some people show and do. Islam is a gift, it is a candle that lights your way and your path to win contentment of God. It shows beauty within the darkness. Islam makes you feel happy, safe, and knowing the love of God and its value. So, please do not blow out that candle. 

Student Spotlight #20: Lycee Ouzoud (Morocco)

Bouchra

Hello! My name is Bouchra Taghjanout. I'm a 16 year old Moroccan girl and I live in a small and beautiful town named Azilal. I live with my family: my father Said, my mother Rabha, my two brothers Driss and Hicham, and my sister Merriem. 

I study in a technical high school. I speak Arabic, French, Amazight and English too. About my character: I am a hard working student, helpful, and sociable too. In addition I have many hobbies. I love to read English short stories and novels. I also like watching Indian and English movies. I love Harry Potter the best, and action and horror movies.

Now my friends I would like to tell you about a strange celebration in Morocco that is called the Imchil Marriage Festival.

The Imchil Marriage Ceremony takes place in the Atlas mountains near Azilal every year. Two main Amazigh (the native people of Morocco) tribes participate in the festival, Ait Hdiddou and Ait Wazza. Hundreds of young men and women meet and marry at the three-day event. Because the villages are snowbound for most of the year the festival offers an occasion for trade, amusement and matrimony.

Henna, a reddish-brown organic dye, is applied to the bride's hands and feet before the wedding to ward off the evil eye. A tray is made for the bride with a brick of sugar, two raw eggs, and some perfume. On the second day, the dried henna is washed off leaving beautiful patterns that last on the skin for two weeks!

moroccan henna

Hospitality is very important to Moroccans. A host traditionally welcomes guests by offering them milk and dates. During the wedding ceremony the bride and groom share a bowl of milk and feed each other dates, thus symbolically becoming both guest and host to each other.

On the third day of the festivities all the newly married couples must go to the lakes Tslit and Isli for a traditional visit. It is believed that long ago a young man married a young woman whose parents did not approve. The couple ran away and cried all night. Their tears created the two lakes. 

I hope you can visit the wedding festival one day! 

a traditional Imchil bride

Student Spotlight #19: Lycee Ouzoud (Morocco)

Nourdine

My name is Nourdine El Hamany. I am 16 years old. I speak Arabic, Amazight, English, and French.

I live with my parents and two brothers, Younes and Zakaria. 

I am honest, optimistic, and (a little bit) hardworking. 

My favorite sports are swimming (in the Azilal pool and the rivers near my house) and soccer. I like to listen to hip hop and reggae music. 

A great memory from this year is a holiday we spent in Bin El Ouidane. I built a campsite with my schoolmates Adam and Amine. We went swimming, and we caught fish that we cooked for dinner. We spent two days there during the summer. 

Something I want Americans to learn about Morocco is that Moroccans live all the way from Tangiers in the north down to La Guera in the Sahara. Also, a nice tourist from China once told me that Moroccans speak all the world's languages just like natives! 

Student Spotlight #18: Elkins Pointe Middle School (USA)

Lauren

Hi. My name is Lauren Michaels. I am 12 years old and I was born in Boston, Massachusetts. I speak English, and I am learning how to speak Spanish. I have a brother, two sisters, and my parents are from NYC (New York City).

I like to dance, read, sing, and do gymnastics. I also like play softball and watch American football. I like listening to pop music, and my favorite book series is Harry Potter.

One of my favorite memories from 2015 was when I went to summer camp for a week with my friends. We went swimming in the lake and had a lot of fun.

These are a few other things I would like to tell you about myself. My my favorite movies is The Hunger Games. I like competing in sports. I sing in the chorus at school. I can play the violin. My favorite colors are purple and light blue. My favorite holidays are Christmas and Thanksgiving. I have a dog. I love to go to the beach and theme parks in the summer. My best subjects in school are Spanish and Social Studies.

Something Moroccans should know America is that we are very modern and have advanced technology. There are fifty states in the USA, and I like in Georgia which was one of the original thirteen colonies.

I would like to know what your school is like, if your country is modern, what your culture is like, and what are your favorite foods.

Student Spotlight #17: Elkins Pointe Middle School (USA)

Daniel

Hello. My name is Daniel Acosta. I am 13 years old and I was born in Budapest, Hungary in Europe. I speak Spanish, Hungarian, and English.

My family lives in many places around the world like Hungary, Colombia, Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Canada, Australia, United States, and Indonesia.

My favorite sports are soccer (football), and martial arts.I would say that three words that describe me would be smart, brave, and athletic. My favorite things to eat are steak, kebab, and hamburgers. I like to listen to all kinds of music. I have traveled a lot in my life and I love doing it.

One of my favorite memories from this year was Summer break and holidays like Thanksgiving, and Halloween.

Something Moroccans should know about America is that there are people from all over the world here in the United States. I am interested in knowing what traditions, food, sports, and hobbies Moroccans have.

Student Spotlight #16 : Lycee Ouzoud (Morocco)

Khawla

Hi guys, my name is Khawla. I'm happy to talk with you! I am 15 years old and I speak a lot of languages like Arabic, French, English and Berber (Tamazight). 

I live in a small town with a friendly family, including my parents and my two sisters. They are my role models in my life and I take some of my qualities from them. I'm funny like my father's sense of humor, and sometimes I am serious like my mother. I am optimistic like my sister. 

I have a lot of hobbies! For example I like to go cycling on Sundays. There is a beautiful forest near my house where I can go with my bicycle. I like cycling because it is fun and healthy! I also like to watch movies on Friday nights. I recently watched the Hunger Games and Mission Impossible. 

I love it when my mother makes cupcakes for holidays for our family. Cupcakes are not common in Morocco and my mother makes delicious ones! I like Moroccan music, especially Mohammed Rouicha. I also really like acting. It is fun to act in the shows our Access program puts on for Azilal. My favorite actor in Morocco is named Mohammed El Jam.  I like to listen to and play the drums but there are no drums in Azilal! 

I want to say to American students that you are welcome any time in Azilal! We are friendly people and we are excited to meet you. 

Azilal English Presentation for the End of First Semester

Before the holidays the Azilal students put on a presentation completely in English for their community. It was so much fun and the students did an amazing job. Can you imagine memorizing lines in your second language? For most of the students, English is their 3rd or 4th language!

Asmae introduced the whole show.

Some sketches were serious, like this one about the mistreatment of housekeepers.

Some were very funny, like this sketch about a French man learning how to speak English.

 Another funny sketch was this one about a married couple arguing.

Some students gave speeches. These girls gave a beautiful presentation about Azilal.

This speech was about the dangers of smoking.

And of course there was music! These girls treated us to a song. 

There were many more lovely presentations over the 2 hours of the show and I wish I could share them all with you. Good job, Access students! Thank you for all your hard work.