Charlotte Wood - My Morocco adventure.

CHARLOTTE WOOD - MORROCCO

This week saw the return to our club of Charlotte Wood, who the club sponsored to embark upon an educational visit to Morrocco in North Africa.

Charlotte, accompanied at our meeting by her grandmother, said that after arriving in Marrakesh, one of her first surprises was how good the local chicken tagine was.

This opinion about Moroccan food would continue throughout the tour.

Day two saw Charlotte, and others on the venture, endure a 10-hour bus ride into the Moroccan desert to help build a village school classroom, which had been damaged due to the elements and poor maintenance.

She found herself shifting heavy rubble around in 46 degree heat, but thankfully for only 15 minutes at a time and with plenty of hydration on hand!

Day four, and Charlotte told of another 10-hour bus trip into the Atlas Mountains where her group would set up camp at 2,200 metres in considerably cooler conditions.

During this time washing facilities were provided by rivers and waterfalls which she had not expected to encounter on a trip to North Africa.

Towards the end of her 15-day excursion Charlotte visited the coastal resort of Essaouira where the group enjoyed a shopping trip at the local market and heard stories of Moroccan pirates from the past.

Finally, back to Marrakesh and another shopping spree.

The dress, belt and bracelet that Charlotte was wearing at our meeting was bought at that market - see photo of Charlotte with President Peter Garwood. 

Finally, Charlotte reminded our members that their group had been told to respect local traditions at all costs during their time in Morrocco, and they had fully complied.

Unfortunately, as a blonde European woman, she did occasionally receive some unwanted attention from certain elements of Moroccan society, mostly during market visits.

She made it clear these were isolated incidents and did not reflect Moroccan society as a whole. Indeed, quite the opposite was true.

As a precaution however, from then on Charlotte would be accompanied by some of the physically taller male members of the group!

Members agreed this was a very interesting presentation, following a vote of thanks which was given by Rotarian and President-Elect Dave Stewart.