“Travel is a matter of courage, not money” -Paulo Coehlo, Aleph
Traveling to an unfamiliar place takes a bit of courage and leaving your comfort zone. Traveling to Morocco was more of a challenge. It was not only a test of courage, but also a test of faith. Before I go abroad, I do all the research I can about that place and the people. So, I did the same for Morocco and the outcome for that research yielded some different results. It was not the trip itself that was the test of faith, but the anticipation of it. Although what I had anticipated never happened, it still made me think deeply about life and in faith in particular after the trip.
So, what was so important that opened up new perspectives for me?
When I did my research, two people mentioned that they were asked their religion while in Morocco. This made me think, if I was in a non-tourist area and someone came and asked me about my religion, how open would I be about it? I turned the question into a different scenario and asked my mom, who prays fervently. Even she hesitated for a minute.
Even though this never happened while we were abroad, it gave me some insights to think about. Once I returned, these were the thoughts that made me ponder. Firstly, how grateful am I to be living in a country with freedom of religion. Secondly, how easily it is for us to practice our religion and express it when our circumstances allow us to. How much harder it is for the many people living in other parts of the world who are not able to worship openly as we are in America. Another thing I realized was how much more I need to deepen my faith and stand still, even in anticipation of danger. Lastly, I had to travel to the other side of the world to really think about this.
What I took away from this travel thought is this:
There are some things that school and religion can’t teach you.
And that is why I love travel.
Check out how I planned out the Spain and Morocco Itinerary by <<CLICKING HERE>>