SEACOAST RESIDENTS CELEBRATE MOROCCO EXCHANGE
Ten adventuresome souls returned in early November from a
15-day sojourn in the North African country of Fez, Marrakesh, Casablanca &
Rick’s Café. Friendship Force of the New Hampshire Seacoast (FFNH) initiated
the adventure; members were joined by 17 other Friendship Force club members
from Canada, Australia and several other States. Founded in 1984, FFNH is one
of 350 clubs in 58 countries. The heart of Friendship Force is bringing people
together in friendship across the barriers that separate. As “citizen
ambassadors,” each member has the power to promote good relations at a personal
level.
Typical Friendship Force exchanges are two weeks long and
feature homestays with the members of host clubs. In 2013 the New Hampshire
Seacoast club hosted groups from Turkey and Japan. Members are scheduled to
travel to Brazil in 2014 and to host a large group from Australia.
FFNH meets at 6:00 p.m. on the 6th of each month.
At the November meeting the returning ambassadors exhibited a wide selection of
cultural items brought home, shared their stories and enjoyed a Moroccan meal
catered by the Moroccan owners of Café Med in Portsmouth. Highlights of the
trip were an overnight stay under the stars on the Sahara (reached by camel
ride), the beautiful mosque in Casablanca, two homestays with Moroccan
families, the fabulous medina in Fez, a meeting with the president of the upper
house of parliament in the capitol city of Rabat, baking bread and cooking
tagine meals in a remote Berber village. The introduction to this diverse,
Moslem country in full transition to a constitutional democracy, a model for
the Arab world, was an eye-opening, exciting learning experience. The adventure
closed with a delightful meal in Casablanca’s Rick’s Café.
FFNH welcomes inquiries and invites individuals with
international curiosity to attend a meeting. There are opportunities to plan
activities and/or host visiting ambassadors as well as joining in international
travel. | 