Beyond the Bucket List: How to Travel With Intention

When I stepped off the plane in Rabat, the dry, searing heat hit me like an oven door swinging open, and I immediately knew I was somewhere unlike anywhere I’d been before. My eyes were drawn to the swirling Arabic script on every sign, mesmerizing and utterly unfamiliar, a far cry from the blocky letters of home. It was the summer of 2022, and I had just arrived in Morocco for a study abroad program. I didn’t know much about the country then—not even that it was part of Africa, thanks American education! But I soon learned that Morocco had a way of teaching you, not through lectures or textbooks, but through moments: the warmth of strangers, the taste of spices I’d never dreamed of, and a dance in a tiny living room that needed no words.

A tour guide met us at the airport, and noticed our discomfort with the heat. He laughingly said, “Welcome to Africa.” It was such a small moment, but it immediately made me feel more at ease. As I took in my surroundings, one detail stood out immediately: the Moroccan flag, proudly displayed everywhere. The flagpoles were placed in a circle, following the design of the roundabouts. Fun fact: the Moroccan flag has a green star. The five points represent the five pillars of Islam, and the green color is also associated with Islam. It was a subtle reminder of how deeply religion and culture are intertwined in this country.

As part of our program studying multiculturalism and immigration, we spent time in four cities—Rabat, Fes, Tangier, and Chefchaouen. The most memorable part of my time in Morocco wasn’t the sightseeing or the history; it was the experience of staying with a homestay family in Rabat. My host mom didn’t speak any English or French, and I couldn’t speak Arabic. In theory, this should have created a huge barrier, but in reality, it brought us closer together.

Communication was an adventure in itself—there were hand gestures, smiles, and sometimes just the shared silence of being in each other’s company. But what I’ll never forget is how, despite not speaking the same language, we communicated through joy. One evening, her daughter and I were sitting in the living room, trying to converse with her mom. There was laughter, a bit of awkwardness, and then, suddenly, the music started. Without a word, she started dancing, and her infectious energy pulled me into the moment. There we were, two people from completely different parts of the world, sharing a dance in a tiny living room in Rabat, with no common language but so much to say.

The music was rhythmic and lively, a mix of traditional Moroccan beats that seemed to fill every corner of the room. At first, I was hesitant, feeling self-conscious about my clumsy attempts to follow her movements. But her laughter and the sheer joy in her eyes erased any awkwardness. For a few minutes, the barriers between us dissolved entirely. In that moment, I wasn’t a visitor in a foreign country; I was simply a person sharing a beautiful human connection.

That night, her hospitality extended to a table piled high with delicious food—a blend of flavors and spices I had never experienced before. There was a fragrant tagine with tender meat and vegetables, soft, warm khobz (Moroccan bread) perfect for scooping up the savory sauce, and sweet mint tea that felt like a hug in a cup. Despite the language barrier, I could feel the love in each dish, the care in her cooking, and the warmth in her smile. We didn’t need words to connect; it was all in the way we showed up for each other.

We also spent time with local university students in Rabat. What I remember the most is their hospitality and how welcome they made us feel. Everything felt so organic, and they genuinely felt like our friends. Apart from the homestay experience, this is definitely the second-best experience I had in Morocco because I learned so much about the country from these students. We sat in a classroom and had an open discussion touching on life in the Arab Muslim world. We spoke about religion, education, and government (where I learned about the current and the past king)!

A standout moment was when a student explained how the king’s role isn’t just political but also spiritual, as he’s seen as the “Commander of the Faithful.” It was fascinating to hear how this dual role impacts their lives and how much respect they have for their monarchy. You can find these aspects of society in any country, however, it’s such a unique experience to sit down with locals from the community and learn from them. You get to see how their day-to-day life is impacted by their government, religion, and cultural values, and you realize how big the world is.

When you have your routine and your life, it feels like you live in a bubble, but when you step out of what you’ve always known, you begin to think and analyze from a different perspective. I also found it humbling how much they wanted to know about me and my culture. It reminded me that curiosity and a willingness to learn go both ways, making the exchange even more meaningful.

What I also found fascinating during my time in Morocco was how much overlap I discovered between Moroccan culture and my own Mexican background. Both cultures place incredible value on family, food, and hospitality. Sitting down for a meal with a family I had just met, I felt an instant sense of belonging, just as I have at many family gatherings in Mexico. The way the family gathered around the table, sharing stories and laughter, reminded me so much of home. It made me realize how universal some aspects of the human experience are—food, family, and the desire to connect.

You don’t have to cross oceans to visit new places and make meaningful connections. But when you do step out of your bubble and open your heart to experiences. What matters is the openness to listen, to be curious, and to truly immerse yourself in the culture and life around you. It’s about embracing the unknown, making the effort to understand, and letting the culture speak for itself. You might just find, as I did in Morocco, that the most profound lessons come not from what you see but from how you feel and who you meet. Sometimes, the quietest moments—a dance, a meal, a smile—are the ones that stay with you forever.

Want to share your own story of connection and discovery? Drop a comment below—we’d love to hear how travel has shaped your perspective! 🌍✨