I am home, safe and sound. Life is back to normal. I wake up to take my dogs out and feed them breakfast. Then I get my coffee, have breakfast, check my email and maybe (definitely) watch some Colbert Report. I do a few chores around the house, run some errands, take my dogs for a walk and lay by the pool. I make dinner, watch a movie (or two) and then I go to bed. Summer break is great, right?
We are nearing the end of this amazing journey through two countries and across two continents. My experience in Spain has been vastly different from my time in Morocco. We spent three days in Sevilla, three in Granada and now we are in Madrid. Our program activities have consisted of lectures, visits to two solar power plants, walking tours and a flamenco show, but we have not been able to have the same kind of cultural immersion experience as we did in Morocco. Still, we have been able to see the connection between the two countries that goes back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Also, we were in Spain the day the King abdicated the throne. So now we can say we were there on that day in history!
It’s my last day in Morocco, and I’m starting to feel a bit nostalgic. In the 15 days I’ve spent traveling through this beautiful country, I have encountered overwhelming hospitality and generosity, not to mention the best food I’ve ever tasted. Tomorrow, we will take a ferry from Morocco to Spain. I’m really looking forward to what Spain has in store for us, but I’m sad that my time in Morocco is coming to an end (for now). Here is a recap of the last week or so.
I am now six days into my program, and so far I am loving it, even though I spent day two in my room thanks to a nasty stomach bug. We began the program in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. We met with several government agencies and ministries to discuss their strategies for sustainable development. A lot of the focus is on renewable energy. The king has issued an order to increase Morocco’s energy supply to 42 percent renewables by 2020. This 42 percent will be comprised of 14 percent solar, 14 percent hydro, and 14 percent wind power. It’s a lofty goal, but the government seems confident in their strategy.
Hi everyone! I’m Jessica, and I have just finished my first year in the Sustainable Solutions master’s program in the School of Sustainability. My main interest is policy, specifically related to energy, water and food systems. I am so excited to be participating in the Spain and Morocco trip! During my time abroad, I hope to see what sustainable development looks like in both of these countries and bring back some lessons to the U.S. I have studied abroad before, and I know there is a lot for the U.S. to learn from other countries and people, and vice versa. However, I think I am most excited about riding camels through the Sahara desert. I’ll let you know how I feel about it afterwards.
