Finding Home: The Revival of My Moroccan Roots (Part 3)
If you haven’t checked out part 1 or part 2, check it out here:
Part 1https://medium.com/@abitanrachel/finding-home-the-revival-of-my-moroccan-roots-part-1-8f8ddaad764b
Part 2: https://medium.com/@abitanrachel/finding-home-the-revival-of-my-moroccan-roots-part-2-da10c66eba3c
After getting into some serious discovery into my identity in parts 1 & 2, it’s time to tell you about returning back to home and how it has impacted my community connection and my future.
The pandemic has impacted everyone’s sense of community, connection, and a deeper sense of what values are truly meaningful at the end of the day. It has been a couple of years since I’ve been to Morocco, and I do plan on returning once it’s safe. I miss the essence of the culture, the food, and the feelings of returning home.
It has been difficult for us to process that our connections are stuck until we can reunite with them. It makes you ask the hard questions: what is important to you? What are your values and how does that impact where you currently are in life? What do I want my life to feel like and become?
These questions are hard on their own and once you add the layer of a stressful pandemic…Well, we are somewhat forced to understand, whether we like it or not, what gives us meaning and purpose?
The pandemic has allowed me to form my own community of Maghreb-connected individuals around the world. Reviving my roots included a connection to the community, being vulnerable, and discussing hard topics within the community. I am thankful for them and how I was able to talk about my sense of self, Moroccan culture, history, and connection to the land.
What does this mean for me and my connecting back to my roots? It’s not over and I feel closer with every step I make to becoming closer to my ancestors and my identity. Going to Morocco, forming a community, and writing about it has been a whirlwind of unexpected amazing experiences. The universe will guide me to build on my identity and I’m excited about my new journey of learning Darija (Moroccan Arabic).
For now — goodbye ~beslama~ بسلامة
