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My Integration in the Province of Tata

11/28/2022

5 Comments

 
​Written by CorpsAfrica/Maroc Volunteer Ms. Cecile Niyimenya (a Rwandan Exchange Volunteer serving in Morocco)

It all started when I knew that I was deployed to Tata.  I was so excited because it is a province that is different from all the places I have visited in Morocco so far. Everything started changing when I left Marrakech to begin the 10-hour journey to Tata. Beginning this journey was when I really felt “Oh my God” and I realized that this is another time leaving my comfort zone, like when I left my country, Rwanda. I felt in my heart that the journey was already starting to challenge me and teach me new things. Honestly, I was afraid, and I couldn’t sleep on the bus because I was so excited to see exactly where we were heading.

Before heading to my site, I spent some time with my colleagues in the small city of Tata. I was impressed by the city, which is clean but hot. I visited one of the cooperatives that grows dates and produces a lot of other products. I was impressed by how the people working in the cooperative used their own resources to produce so many things. They gave me a gift of some of their products (my second time tasting dates!) and from that moment I started feeling like people from Tata are welcoming people.

Finally the time came for me to travel to my site, Asmlil Village, where I met beautiful and caring people. Even though I couldn’t speak their local language, I still felt their warm welcome. As the days went by I learned more about the local language, but for the first few days it was difficult. Sometimes I felt so frustrated because I couldn’t communicate with them in Tashelheit, which made me so sad and caused me to begin doubting that I could do it.

One day I didn’t have a good enough network connection to use Google translate and I cried in my room. I began thinking about what to do, so I called some of my colleagues, who gave me a lot of ideas on how to face my language challenge. I started using many different strategies to communicate, and even though it is still not perfect, Alhamdulillah, it has improved. The one thing I promised myself is that I won’t give up!
​
In Asmlil the community produces a lot of dates, so now I taste dates every day! They also use the leaves from the date trees to produce handicrafts. Overall I really enjoy living in this village. 
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5 Comments
Jackson
12/1/2022 02:03:43 pm

Wow that's awesome dear Cecille, keep explore more the sky is the limit

Reply
Niyimenya cecile
12/1/2022 02:18:28 pm

Thank you so much

Reply
Gedeon
12/1/2022 04:04:09 pm

Alhamdulillah it wasn't easy but you stand well. I hope you will back in your country with hand skills related to handcrafts. Have a great service

Reply
Bikorimana Valens
12/2/2022 01:04:20 am

Wow that's sounds good! Keep it up and learn a lot. Remember that's another good opportunity to serve the international community

Reply
Fatima khouya
12/4/2022 09:51:34 am

Dear Cecil, I know from the beginning that you will make! Keep it up sweetheart 💫

Reply



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