Before I actually came to Marrakech, I couldn’t really imagine what it would be like to live here for six months. Of course, I was excited, but it all felt so far away and somehow unreal, even though we did a lot of preparations with the Austrian Service Abroad. 

I had never been to Morocco before, so I had no idea what to expect, how things would work, or what everyday life would look like. I was also looking forward to living on my own for the first time. Even though I already knew my fellow volunteer Joah, it was still a big step for me to leave home and suddenly be responsible for things like cooking, washing clothes, and cleaning.

When we finally departed Austria and three hours later arrived here in Marrakech, I was excited but also felt a little lost. Everything was new, and I suddenly realized that this wasn't just a holiday but the beginning of a six month journey. 

We arrived at night and couldn’t find our apartment at first. The taxi stopped in front of a big entrance that looked like a fortress, which turned out to be the Medina. This felt like a huge maze with its narrow streets and dead ends. Still, it was very busy with every step we took.  We had to watch that we were not in the way of motorcycles or donkeys. But when we finally found our flat, I immediately felt comfortable and really liked it. After all these impressions and the long journey, all I wanted was some sleep and time to recover.

On our first day, we just explored our surroundings, walked through the city, and tried to figure out where to buy groceries and other things we needed. Jakob, another volunteer from Austria, also joined us that day, so we got to know each other better.

One of my favourite memories so far happened on our second morning. Joah and I went on a hot air balloon ride at sunrise. Getting there turned into an adventure by itself. We left our apartment at around 6 a.m. and were already a little late. While running down our street to meet our driver, some stray dogs started chasing us. Even the donkey standing outside our neighbors’ house joined in! We were terrified and just kept running faster until a local man stopped the animals. Looking back, I think it’s one of the funniest things that has ever happened to me. Of course, the balloon ride itself was amazing.

I was also nervous and excited about our first day of volunteer work at HAF. Luckily, everyone welcomed us with open arms and seemed genuinely happy to have us there. That made me feel comfortable right away. Since then, I've already had many valuable experiences at work. One of my favourite moments was spending a morning with children in a rural community. Experiences like these remind me why I was so excited to volunteer abroad in the first place. I enjoy my work and look forward to what's coming next.

Besides getting used to my new work environment, I also had to find my way around everyday life in Marrakech. As time has passed, I slowly got used to the city and its chaos, although I still can’t get used to the traffic. At first, we took taxis everywhere, but recently we bought an electric scooter. I’m honestly still scared to drive it, but my flatmates Joah and Jakob love it.        

At home, I never really thought about how much work goes into everyday things. Now that I have to take care of everything myself, having clean clothes or a fridge full of food suddenly isn‘t something I take for granted anymore. I realise how much my mum usually does for me.

Everyday life in Marrakech feels very different from what I am used to in Austria. It’s hard to explain exactly why, but everything feels more alive, and there’s always something happening. I like it here, even though sometimes I don’t feel as comfortable as at home, but I think this is completely normal. To be honest it also gives me a sense of safety, knowing that people from the Austrian Service Abroad are looking after us, even from far away.

Looking back at these first weeks, I’m really happy I decided to come here. Before arriving, I had no idea what to expect, and even now, there are still moments when everything feels unfamiliar or confusing. But I’m slowly finding my way, becoming more independent, and learning to feel at home in a completely new environment. I’m surrounded by great people, and every day brings something new, whether it’s a challenge, a funny moment, or an experience I’ll remember for a long time. 

Before coming here, six months seemed like such a long time. But now, I can hardly believe how quickly the first two weeks have passed. I’m excited for the upcoming challenges in the next few months.