Host dinner

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April 4, 2026

We boarded a train in Casablanca and headed down to El Jadida, where we were met with greetings and good cheer by our host teacher, Professor Hakkar. He gave us a tour of the city and headed towards our weekend residence, a spectacular riad in the old part of town. A hidden jewel full of history, hand-carved plaster walls, marble, and my new favorite, Moroccan mint tea.

The grandiose staircase elegantly curved to the second floor where a palatial suite awaited our arrival. The suite is extravagant and at the same time welcoming. The elegant decor, cool marble floors, tall ceilings, mirrored doors, and graceful drapes embraced us as they whispered, "what took you so long?" Our apologies, the train stopped between stations twice on our way from Casablanca.

After a brief rest, out kindhearted host welcomed us into his home, where his beautiful wife (a queen of domesticity) prepared for us the BEST Moroccan feast we've had during our stay. And we've been fortunate to have experienced the best of the best food during our stay, but nothing beats a home cooked meal, made with love and pride for culture, food, and family. Experiencing that kind of deep, open-hearted hospitality firsthand is a powerful reminder of how vital it is to build a classroom environment where students feel equally welcomed, nourished, and valued for who they are. And I strive to create such an environment daily.

The beef tagine melted at every bite while the bread absorbed the savory sauce. A semolina topped with almonds and raisins, the perfect sweet accompaniment to the juicy meat. And just when we thought we couldn't eat another bite, a mountain of homemade caramel ice cream, heaping with almonds, and surrounded by fresh fruit made their appearance at the table. No Michelin Star chef stands a chance against a beautifully prepared home cooked meal.

Ok, I may be hungry again, mouth watering as I recall and record this memory.

After dinner we took another drive, about 20-30 minutes away, to Azemmour. A tiny town on the the left bank of the Oum Er-Rbia River, where the river meets the Atlantic. Built in the 16th century, it is picturesque yet old, eclectic yet harmonious, covered in murals, fortified with minarets.

We perused the old medina, stopping at an artisan co-op. And the SHOPPING?! WOW! Beautiful hand crafted wares, from fabrics to shoes. I purchased a few items, and must decide who to gift what. Luckily, I don't have to decide what to keep for myself, as I bought a second one of nearly everything for me.

Today's learning ed-venture: food is the universal unifier. To break bread is to share in literal and metaphorical unification, setting aside disagreements for nourishment. Not that we had any disagreements - rather it was a way to bring strangers together to become friends, much like every beautiful interaction with the locals on this spectacular journey.

Today was a lesson in human connection that I want to continually bring back to my students—proving that global competence isn't just about studying distant nations, but about recognizing our shared humanity in the everyday rituals that bring us together.