Student Spotlight #26: Elkins Pointe Middle School (USA)

Daniel B.

My name is Daniel Burge. I am 12 years old and I was born in New York. I speak English and I am learning Japanese.

I have two sisters, Hanna and Emma, and one brother named Alec. My mom is Japanese and my dad is American, so I am half Japanese and Half American.

I like to go outside and play basketball or soccer with my friends. I also like to play video games. My favorite movie is Star Wars, and I want to be a doctor when I grow up because my parents said so. One day I would like to travel to Asia.

One of my favorite memories from this year is today because it is snowing! It usually does not snow a lot in the area where I live.

Some things I would like to tell you about America is that is doesn't snow a lot in the south. We eat a lot of fast food. We spend 1/3 of our governments money on the military, and a lot of people are always complaining about something.

I am interested in learning about what Moroccans do as a hobby, and what their lifestyle is like.

Student Spotlight #25: Elkins Pointe Middle School (USA)

A'sharia

Hi, my name is A'sharia James and I am 12 years old. I was born in a city called Akron, Ohio. I speak English, Swahili, and Spanish. My mom is a hair stylist and my dad is a barber. I want to be a hair stylist when I grow up because I love doing hair.

I like to eat almost any kind of candy, and like all things that are sweet. I like to hang out with my friends and watch movie. Three words that describe me are fun, smart, and creative. On the weekends I usually study and watch television with my friends. I really like using my phone, and hanging out with my friends and family. My favorite songs are "Brand new me", "titanium", "listen" and "amnesia". My favorite movies are Madea movies, Rio, Hotel Transylvania 2, and the Faults in our Stars. I enjoy playing the guitar, as well as the keyboard. However, my musical talent would be singing. One of my favorite memories from this year is when I helped my friend with her art project.

Some places I would like to travel to are Brazil, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Morocco. I would like to know what types of candy they have in Morocco.

Student Spotlight # 24: Lycee Ouzoud (Morocco)

Nawal

Hi everybody! I'm Nawal Ait SiM'hand. I'm Moroccan and I live here in Azilal City. I'm a student in the Access Program for studying English. I'm a hard-working person and I am friendly and kind. But sometimes I become shy when I talk with people I don't know which is what I like least about my personality. 

My favorite sport is volleyball. It is exciting and fantastic. When I am sad, I usually play it with my neighbors. My favorite film is the love story Titanic. I watch it once or twice a month. 

Now I am going to tell you about our culture. It is rich! Moroccan people have a lot of activities like applying henna and eye khol:

In Morocco people wear all different clothes, especially the women. For example.

*In the Sahara, women wear Malhfa

*In the north of our country, in places like Tangier and Titwan, they wear Haik

*In the middle of the country, like where Azilal is, they wear varied types of traditional clothes like djellaba and caftan

Here in Morocco, in a place called Ait Magoun, people celebrate the blooming of the flowers every year in March because there are a lot of different beautiful flowers there. 

Moroccan people are also very kind. They give even if they don't have. They are the most generous people in the world.  All Moroccan people have a sense of cooperation. Despite the different languages and the mix of Berbers and Arabs there is no conflict between these two. Arabic and Tamazigh are our primary languages. Our religion is Islam, the religion of mercy and forgiveness. 

So guys, I hope I have succeeded in showing you some fun information about my country, Morocco. I hope you like our culture as much as we like always reading about your culture because our countries are like brothers. 

And finally I hope you can tell me all about your culture too! 

Student Spotlight #23 : Lycee Ouzoud (Morocco)

Abdelghani

My name is Addelghani Ait Elcadi. I am 16 years old. I speak Arabic, English and French. 

My mother's name is Saida and my father's name is Abdellah. I am the youngest and I have 3 brothers and 1 sister. 

I would describe myself as tall, slim, ambitious and hard-working. My hobbies are reading and swimming. My favorite sport is volleyball and my favorite song is Story of my Life by One Direction. 

I want to share with you that Moroccans are friendly, creative, confident and hard-working people. 

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