Orientation, MACECE-style

Greetings from Rabat, where this year's cohort of Fulbrighters (scholars and students) were treated to the first day of orientation at MACECE. Our fleet of small blue taxis ("petits taxis" or short-haul taxis in Rabat are a distinctive blue color) rolled up to the stately mansion-cum-headquarters in a swanky suburb of the Moroccan capital city in time for orientation to start at 10:00.

Highlights of the day included presentations by local scholars on topics such as literature, Islam, civil society, and economics of Morocco. The morning included presentations by American Embassy officials, including the Ambassador Thomas Riley!

We ended the first day of orientation with a traditional iftar. The iftar allows those who were fasting during the day to "break fast." There were all kinds of sweet and savory pastries, a tagine of brains, and one of liver. There was the traditional soup along with a Chinese soup. No one left hungry, and all Fulbrighters enjoyed a leisurely back to the hotel Majliss. Looking forward to Day Two of orientation, starting tomorrow morning at 9:30 sharp!