1. The Food 

So, you’ve had amazing Italian food, German food, Mexican food -- I get it. Your palate has tasted bounties of different cultural foods. But how often have you walked down the street and caught a glimpse of a Moroccan restaurant? Maybe once? There’s a reason there aren’t many out there and it’s because they’re hoarding all the deliciousness for themselves. Greedy, much?

Eating in Morocco is not just to fill your stomach, it’s about sharing and being thankful that you’ve been blessed with another day of food. Oh, and it’s tradition to eat couscous every friday – so it’s a win-win. 

2. Your Wallet Will Love You 

If you are used to paying $5 for a cup of coffee, $15+ for a meal out, $6 for ice cream, or $40 for a shirt at your favorite store, your wallet will LOVE Morocco. I spent months searching for a study abroad program less than $20,000. I heard way too often that “studying abroad can be cheaper than what you’re paying at your home university!” Well, this is a flat-out lie unless you get scholarships… notice I said multiple? Studying abroad is expensive – and will keep getting more expensive as the years go on.

When I found International Studies Abroad, I nearly had a panic attack. They offer BOMB prices – and include a lot of things that other programs don’t. To give you an idea, ISA Morocco’s program cost is $9,950 – yes. I am not kidding you! And guess what it includes? Housing, FOOD (prepared six days a week by a personal cook), a cleaning service, laundry service, and eight day/weekend trips to different cities within Morocco (hotel & food provided).

The only thing left for me to do was save money for a flight and gifts… if that isn’t budget friendly in 2013, I don’t know what is.

3. Monkeys Are Everywhere 

I have an obsession with Moroccan monkeys in particular – they are unbelievably friendly! And you find them around every single corner, it’s so unusual but fantastic!

4. Coffee

This one’s for all you fellow crazies who can’t manage to put one foot in front of the other without a cup (or five) of coffee each morning.

You can’t walk more than 10 steps without being at a new cafe in Morocco. They are pushed up right along side each other, dotted along the sidewalks of every main, side and back road. They’re everywhere, and boy do they have incredible coffee. There are pro’s and con’s to cafe culture in Morocco, the coffee being the main pro here, but it’s worth it.

To give you a quick glimpse, cafe’s are over run by men who enjoy staring at the pedestrians on the street more than talking to the person accompanying them. Tables line the outside seating of each cafe with each chair facing specifically towards the street. In Morocco, you sit and watch the world go by and enjoy your free time with coffee in hand. 

I’ve been quite a few places in the last 4 months, and not even Italian Espresso can beat out Moroccan “Kaahua."

5. Hospitality 

Moroccan hospitality is unlike any hospitality I have ever received in my life…. ever.

I met a girl in a taxi a couple of weeks ago and within three minutes of introducing myself, she invited me over to her house to meet her whole family and join them for Couscous Friday. I read online before coming here that this sort of thing was normal, so I went with it – and it was the best decision of my stay here so far.

I walked into her house and was promptly greeted with huge hugs and kisses as if I had known them my entire life. They treated my three friends and I with incomparable love and fed us an indescribable meal. It will forever remain as my favorite memory of Morocco.

Meet a Moroccan family and I promise you that your life will never be the same.

6. Flights to Europe Are Dirt Cheap

My flight to Italy was a whopping $78 round trip and my flight to France was only $90. Morocco is in a prime location for traveling to Europe, and what a great way to experience all the unique cultures of Europe - but without living there and breaking bank. A quick weekend trip is at anyone’s disposal when you’re a skip and a hop across the Mediterranean Sea. 

7. You Feel Like You’re Discovering it Yourself

Morocco has this weird way of making you feel like a true adventurer. In general, Africa doesn’t have a huge tourism industry that draws people in year-round like the famous cities of Paris and Rome. But that’s what's great about it! There’s a hidden gem around every single corner, a shop that you know other tourists haven’t found, and street stalls that have GREAT food that kids in your study abroad group haven’t even heard of. Your independence escalates to an all time high - especially when you finally say that phrase in Arabic you’ve learned and someone successfully responds back!