Moroccan Mint Tea and Collectivist Culture: Salem’s Journey to Morocco

By: Maryem Hamdouni

On Oct. 14, Salem Faculty and Staff shared their experiences abroad during “Moroccan Mint Tea and Collectivist Culture: Salem’s Journey to Morocco,” an event that highlighted the group’s Fulbright-Hays Summer study abroad trip and how it reshaped their understanding of community and connection.

Fourteen Salem employees spent 4 weeks traveling across Morocco through a Fulbright-Hays grant. The program supported teachers, administrators, and preservice educators conducting research and training focused on non-Western language and cultures. Its goals included advancing an understanding of women’s rights, health, and intercultural competence.

Dean Woods opened the event, reflecting on how travel challenges comfort zones. “Even the most open of us are often surprised when placed in uncomfortable situations,” he said. “That is the joy, the difficulty, and the challenge of traveling.”

Faculty member Dr. Charlotte Vail spoke about balancing cultural immersion with academic work and how cultural studies frameworks help embrace intellectual diversity. She noted that Morocco’s collectivist culture – where relationships are paramount – contrasts with the United States’ individualistic culture.

During their stay, participants lived in homestays within the medina, an enclosed neighborhood where many families reside. Hosts welcomed them with open arms and shared meals, creating moments of connection through food and conversation. 

Food often served as a bridge between cultures. From community cooking and meals shared equally among family, to organic produce grown by locals, mealtime reflected Morocco’s emphasis on unity and generosity.

Cultural excursions included visits to the American Legation in Tangier and a Gnaoua music workshop in Essaouria. Participants described Morocco as a “gateway nation,” shaped by Indigenous, Arab, African, and European influences, and noted the country’s strong hospitality and pride in preserving national identity. Guests who attended this event even got their own taste of Morocco with a brief “Let’s Learn Darija” language lesson, learning basic greetings and conversation starters.

The group also visited women’s cooperatives – collective spaces where women craft goods, share meals, and support one another. One cooperative, whose name translates to “Home”, runs a restaurant that funds women in need of support, such as low-income women and single mothers. 

The experience prompted reflection on how Salem College might adopt elements of collectivism. In conclusion, the trip offered lessons in how community, empathy, and shared purpose can support not only global understanding, but campus life as well.

Salem & Bennett College faculty posing for a picture.

Photo Credit: Charlotte Vail