First I will say, Morocco is NOT for the faint of heart. Even though we broke up our daily activities with rest in the shade and unique experiences in amazing places, the heat and seemingly constant exploration on foot were real - I think we averaged close to 16,000 steps most days?! This being said, Morocco was both transformational and incredibly humbling.

P.S. If you want to read about why I choose Morocco in the first place and wanted to specifically focus on connecting with the female experience there, you can read that post here!

My biggest takeaway from Morocco was that everything is about the collective, the community, and the family. There seems to be a place for everyone. Those with very little, "begging" on the street, would offer something in exchange, like some art or trinket they made. And the people are quick to smile and sing. I was especially struck by our last taxi driver who shared pictures of his pet desert fox and sang to us all the way to the airport, wishing us safe travels. Finding joy in the simple things is a contagious practice in Morocco.

I asked one of our hosts in the Sahara what their word is for "happiness." And guess what - they don't have one?! He asked me, "What do you mean?" And when I explained, he said, "This is just how I am! This is how I wake up. This is simply who I am, who we are." The men, women, and children of Morocco are seemingly laughing and smiling, always. And dancing. They love to dance. Boy did we dance too.

What struck me is the shift in values I experienced within this culture. For those living in what many of us would consider poverty, the people in Morocco do not consider it as such. Everyone truly does care for and takes care of each other. The culture is that of deeply engrained community and collectivism. Having each other as a family is important. Having friends that are neighbors all around you is important. And that is what brings happiness.

My highlights of the trip were spending an afternoon with the women of Aghmat in the Ourika Valley which sits in the western foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, and our trip to the Sahara Desert where we met and shared tea with the Bedouin people. Hospitality is taken very seriously in Morocco, with the offering of mint tea being a gesture reserved for special guests. And the food! Gosh were we incredibly well-fed. I especially enjoyed those dishes that included preserved lemons and locally cured olives. Oh, and the eye candy of colors and texture. Because everything, and I mean everything is handmade in Morocco.

Our Official Moroccan Tour Guide, Youssef (this is a big deal and equivalent to a master’s degree in Moroccan history and culture), and his wife Burçin are who made our experience truly exquisite and rich. Without them, we would not have had access or been able to listen to the many, many incredible stories of the people, especially the women, of Morocco. I am truly grateful for their generous support and attention to every detail of our Detour. To now call them "friends" is a real gift.