What Is Life Like in Morocco?
Join Koko and Owlo as they explore Morocco through a new friend's eyes, learning about culture and friendship along the way!
About this story
Join Koko and Owlo as they explore Morocco through a new friend's eyes, learning about culture and friendship along the way!
What you'll learn
- Understand Moroccan culture and traditions
- Learn about friendship and inclusivity
- Explore global geography through maps
Owlo! Owlo! Guess what happened at school today? We got a new student, and she is from Morocco!
Oh, how wonderful, Koko! Did you get a chance to talk to her?
A little bit. Her name is Nadia, and she brought these amazing cookies to share. They had honey and almonds inside, and they were so good.
Those sound like they could be chebakia or ghriba. Those are traditional Moroccan sweets. Morocco is famous for its delicious food.
I wanted to ask her more about where she is from, but I did not want to say the wrong thing. I do not know anything about Morocco.
That is very thoughtful of you, Koko. How about we learn a little together? Then you can be a great friend to Nadia.
Yes, please! Where even is Morocco?
Let us head to the library and pull out the big world map. I think that will help a lot.
Here we go. Morocco is a country in the very top corner of Africa. It sits right where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet.
Whoa, it is right next to the sea? That sounds beautiful.
It really is. And if you look closely, Morocco is so close to Europe that you can almost see Spain from the northern coast.
That is so cool. So what does Morocco actually look like? Is it all sand dunes?
That is a common thought, but Morocco has so many different landscapes. There are sandy deserts, yes, but also tall snowy mountains, green valleys, and busy coastal cities.
Snow AND desert in the same country? That seems impossible.
It sounds surprising, but it is true. The Atlas Mountains run right through the middle of Morocco, and their peaks get snow in winter.
I want to see that. What about the cities? What are they like?
Morocco has some very ancient and beautiful cities. Marrakech is one of the most famous. Its old city center is called a medina, which means the heart of the city.
A medina. So it is like the old part of town?
Exactly right. The medinas in Morocco are full of narrow winding streets, colorful markets called souks, and the smell of spices everywhere you walk.
Spices! Like the ones in the kitchen at school? What kind of spices?
Cumin, cinnamon, ginger, and a special blend called ras el hanout. That one is a mix of many spices together, and it gives Moroccan food its unique flavor.
No wonder Nadia's cookies tasted so special. What do Moroccan families do together? Like, what is a normal day like?
Family is very important in Moroccan culture. Meals are often shared together around a big low table, and the food is served in a special clay pot called a tagine.
A tagine! What a fun word. What is inside it?
Usually a slow-cooked stew with vegetables, chicken or lamb, and lots of those wonderful spices. The whole family gathers and eats from the same dish together.
That sounds really cozy. Like a big warm hug in food form.
That is a lovely way to describe it, Koko. Sharing a meal is one of the most important ways Moroccan families show love and welcome.
What language do people speak in Morocco? Because Nadia was speaking to her mom in something that did not sound like English or French.
Morocco is actually a place where people speak several languages. Arabic and Amazigh are the main ones, but many people also speak French because of Morocco's history.
Amazigh? I have never heard of that one.
The Amazigh people, also called Berbers, are one of the oldest groups of people in North Africa. Their language and traditions go back thousands of years.
Thousands of years! So when Nadia speaks Amazigh, she is speaking a really ancient language?
She very well might be. It is something you could ask her about. People love when others are curious about their culture in a kind way.
I am going to ask her tomorrow. Maybe she can teach me a word or two.
That would make her feel very welcome, I am sure. Now, before you go, can you tell me the most important things you learned about Morocco today?
Okay! Morocco is in the top corner of Africa, right next to the sea, and it has deserts AND snowy mountains, which is wild.
People there eat together from a big clay pot called a tagine, and the food has amazing spices like cinnamon and cumin.
The old parts of cities are called medinas, and they have colorful markets called souks. And people speak Arabic, Amazigh, and French.
That is a perfect summary, Koko. You are going to be a wonderful friend to Nadia.
Next time I want to learn how to say hello in Amazigh, and maybe find out what other countries are neighbors with Morocco. There is so much more to explore!
