Tangier, Tempe, and Takeaways

By Ashley Zafaranlou

It has almost been four months since I returned from traveling and not a day goes by that I do not miss my study abroad experience. Reminders of the trip pop up in the most random places. I was walking out of Hayden Library the other day and Charlie’s Cafe was featuring a “Seville Panini” which hilariously featured almost zero traditional Spanish ingredients. While wandering through a cosmetic store, I saw a 4oz bottle of “pure” argon oil selling for $100, which is approximately 984.9 dirhams worth of misinformation. The women who work at the argon oil cooperative in the High Atlas Mountains told us most mainstream name-brand argon oils are not actually pure.

Continue reading →

My ASU Study Abroad Experience – Spain and Morocco, 2015

By Ashley Zafaranlou

Returning home with a new global perspective

By Ashley Zafaranlou

Here I am, writing from my living room couch in Tempe. I am not writing from my hotel room that looks over the Saharan, and I am not on a boat, passing the Straight of Gibraltar. I think the hardest part about this trip was coming home. While abroad, every day was a new, eye-opening experience. Every day I had the pleasure of meeting new people who transformed my thoughts on what sustainability means. Even though I miss Spain and Morocco greatly, I have my small souvenirs I brought home are a constant reminder of the trip. My favorite souvenir is my Moroccan tea leaves, which will always be a reminder of Moroccan hospitality.

Continue reading →

Spain: Solar and siestas!

By Ashley Zafaranlou

The ferry trip from Spain to Morocco was under two hours, but once I hit the Spanish cost I felt like I was on the other side of the world. Morocco was a total culture shock for me. I did not understand any French and knew very little Moroccan-Arabic. Spain almost felt familiar to me. All of my ASU Spanish classes were finally paying off, and I felt like I could function on my own in Spain. I never realized how much I valued my independence until I left my home. One of the hardest things about Morocco was having to depend on other people to help me communicate with the locals. In Spain, I can finally do more activities on my own because I understand the language.

Continue reading →

Jemaa el- Fnaa leaves you in awe!

By Ashley Zafaranlou

I have finally nailed the routine of a Moroccan ASU student. I wake up every morning knowing there is a hardboiled egg, bread plate and cup of freshly brewed green tea waiting for my when I can make myself leave my bed. Before I leave the hotel, I pack the basic essentials. These essentials include: Hand sanitizer, lip balm, notebook and a pen. If you decide you are going to use hand sanitizer on the bus, make sure there is enough to go around. My lips have been chapped ever since camel riding through the Saharan desert, so lip balm is one of my new best friends. My notebook and pen help keep my thoughts organized throughout our full days of activities.

Continue reading →

New friends in new places

By Ashley Zafaranlou

I deplaned in Paris, only one more flight until a reach my destination. As I wait at my flight gate for my next plane to Morocco, I start to see some familiar faces from my ASU pre-departure class. There is an amazing sense of comfort when you see a familiar face in a foreign place. I was not friends with any of the other students prior to our pre-departure class meetings, but I know over the next three weeks I would get to know these people better than some of my friends at home.

Our group of ASU students was the last to board the plane. We were all preoccupied with swapping stories about our parents dropping us off at the airport and what we did on the plane to pass the time.

Continue reading →

Goodbye, Tempe; Hello, Morocco and Spain!

By Ashley Zafaranlou

This has been a week of “lasts” before I venture off to Morocco and Spain for the summer. The last time I will be able to sit with my mother and walk her through my travel itinerary step by step. The last weekend I will drag myself into work, distracted by the thought of leaving my home in Tempe. Most importantly, the last week that I can say, “No I have never been to Europe, but I hope I will one day!”

Well, that day I have been anticipating my entire life is rapidly approaching. Even after filling out various applications and buying a plane ticket, this trip still does not feel completely real. The reality of the trip will finally sink in when I exit my plane in Casa Blanca and unite with my fellow student travelers.

Continue reading →