This photo was extremely important to me and marked a highly important moment on the trip. This store was located in the Marrakesh medina and was the first store that the guys and I on the trip shopped at on the very first full day. The store was important for everyone else as they bought their first items there; however, for me, it was significant as this was the first location on the trip where I spoke Arabic, Darija Arabic, to be specific. I had not learned much Darija before the trip, but my interests in languages over time somehow granted me the knowledge of a few sentences and phrases in the language. The man at the shop was extremely impressed with the little Darija I knew. As he did not speak any English, my meager but heartfelt translation efforts ended up contributing to effective communication. I was quite nervous to speak in the first place, thinking I would pronounce something wrong or offend the workers, but it ended up being an amazing and courageous decision for me to speak Darija, as it carried on with me throughout the trip and became an outstanding way to bond with countless Moroccans. The man was so impressed with my language skills that he even let all of us try on the traditional Moroccan thobes as seen in the photo. Therefore, this moment on the trip would boost my confidence down the road to speak as many languages as I could to Moroccans and even other tourists, generating countless unforgettable experiences.
