From the Midwest To Morocco

 Hope Ninman ’26 grew up in the heart of the Midwest, was raised by her mother, and knew very little of her father or her heritage. 

His involvement in her childhood was sparse and inconsistent, but one thing clued Hope into her father’s origins. 

Left to her were two pairs of Moroccan slippers, which she cherished dearly. Often, she would wear them while playing and dressing up, wanting a way to connect with her dad, but was almost entirely unaware of their cultural and historical significance. Every time she put them on, wanting nothing more than to feel one step closer to her father and her heritage, she was ultimately left with more questions than answers. 

Since she was little, Hope dreamed of visiting Morocco and learning more about her cultural heritage, her family and herself. Unfortunately, the chance to do so seemed completely unattainable. Hope lived with a single parent in a low-income household; getting by day-to-day was hard enough—the prospects of realizing her dream were remote at best. 

Being the dedicated and ambitious person that she is, Hope did not let her circumstances prevent her from pursuing her dream of connecting with her culture. Hope had not considered secondary education until high school, knowing that it enabled individuals to achieve greater social mobility. Additionally, if she could find a school that offered Arabic classes and programs abroad, she might have a better shot at making it to Morocco. 

Hope’s passion and dedication to achieving her goal flourished. Every time there was an opportunity to do a project on a country of their choosing, she picked Morocco. Upon graduation, one of Hope’s most inspiring teachers gave her a card that spoke of how meaningful her own off-campus study experience in university had been and encouraged her to keep fighting to find a way to get to Morocco. 

Accepting her spot at St. Lawrence University was only the beginning. The path forward was fraught with uncertainty. Being a first-generation student and having to pay for school entirely on her own, the summer before college was a constant struggle, as she wasn’t sure she was making the right choice. 

If there was one thing Hope was sure of, it was how daunting the challenge ahead of her seemed. Being away from her family and her support system (and coming to New York state) for the first time, she immediately plunged headfirst into a chaotic new life. 

Although St. Lawrence offered several opportunities that aligned with her dream, both Arabic studies classes and robust study abroad programs, she wanted to be realistic about her situation. Working as many hours as she could while still being a full-time student, Hope was barely able to afford tuition, making her chances of going to Morocco rather unlikely. 

Despite this, Hope continued to work diligently and study Arabic. More hardship came, as she was discouraged by the difficulty of her Arabic courses—the very ones she had hoped would allow her to feel more connected to her culture and her father. 

Being the dedicated person she is, Hope did not let the difficulty deter her. She was going to complete her Arabic minor, and her professor even mentioned resources and scholarships within her reach. 

That’s when Hope first met with Caitlin Hatz in the CIIS office. Caitlin helped guide Hope through the application process for the Gilman Scholarship and the Fund for Education Abroad, two merit-based awards given to undergraduate students with high financial need to study or complete internships abroad. 

Hope’s strong work ethic translated well to prepare her applications, coming into the CIIS office during every minute of free time she had to write, revise and tweak her essay responses. She applied for other scholarships and financial aid as well, and although she was doubtful that she would receive such prestigious national awards she wanted to know she did everything in her power to try and make her dream possible. Having so much time to reflect on her childhood and consider why those two pairs of Moroccan slippers meant so much to her solidified Hope’s belief that her passion was unquestionable. She wanted this more than anything, and she was proud of having put so much effort into this process. 

It was then that Hope was told she would have an interview in consideration of the Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship. The pressure was insurmountably high. Hope, through teary eyes, told them how much it would mean to her to connect with her culture and understand her identity. Feeling as though she stumbled her way through the interview, she could not believe herself when she was told that the scholarship was hers. 

This was just the opportunity Hope needed to make her dream of studying in Morocco a reality. The funds could help her cover tuition, and she finally felt secure enough to go. Having no one else to lean on, this was the determining factor. 

Returning home before her semester off-campus, Hope worked as many hours as she could while still making time for family and friends. She ruminated the potential of culture shock, but felt confident in herself, knowing she’d experienced it upon originally arriving at SLU and being without her support system. 

Then, the moment of anticipation arrived. Hope pinched herself as the plane took off from Madison and ventured across the Atlantic Ocean. 

After hours of anxious travel, Hope stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac, swiftly engulfed in the Moroccan sun and surrounded by snippets of conversation in other languages. Hope was mesmerized by her surroundings, seeing the trees and the buildings and the sky of a place she had searched online so many times over, and now, she was there herself. 

That night, Hope and her group members had their first (of many) authentic and delicious Moroccan meals. The table was covered in an array of dishes: bastille- a pastry stuffed with chicken or fish, tabbouleh salads with couscous and herbs, and tajin, a rich stew of meat, veggies and spices. Classical Moroccan mint tea was also served, poured into their cups from way up high, a practice that Hope would learn was a sign of hospitality and welcome in Moroccan culture. 

Hope and her roommate, Sophia Thomas ’26, stayed with a host family in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. She was surprised to find that the bustling city had many staples she recognized from America—nail salons, KFC and malls. But what Hope remembers most fondly is the coffee shop near her house, gaining the courage to call over a blue taxi, couscous every Friday with Phia, her host Mom and brother and weekend trips to Fez, Marrakesh and Tangier, and of course, many trips to the markets (or souks). 

As Hope continued to practice her Arabic skills and immerse herself in the beauty of Moroccan culture, one thing continued to gnaw at her: she hadn’t told her father that she was here. 

On the one hand, she wanted to tell her dad that she had made it all the way to Morocco. She was finally learning about her origins and wanted his blessing. On the other hand, this was her journey that she organized and worked on all on her own. Reconciling these two realities weighed her heavily. 

It was then that Hope’s mom informed her that her father was in Morocco, too. Ultimately, she wished her mom had told her sooner, as through him, Hope was able to contact one of her cousins. 

Coming to Morocco, Hope was vaguely aware that she had family living here, but she never expected to see them. Incredibly, a meeting was arranged between her and her cousin, who brought a friend to help with the translation. Although she couldn’t speak to her directly, Hope’s cousin told her stories about their grandparents, who were farmers, as well as their lineage and family tree and her current family living in Casablanca. The experience of visiting notable mosques and observing her cousin’s daily life was invaluable. 

Eventually, Hope was able to sleep over at her family’s house, where she met aunts, uncles and cousins for the first time ever. They treated her with such kindness, welcoming her with tea and clapping for her when she spoke in Arabic. When she returned from visiting family, her friend commented on how genuine Hope’s joy seemed. Now, she has photos of her and her family that she can cherish forever. 

The rest of her time in Morocco, Hope balanced exploring new places and being with her family. In one of the last few weeks, she even met her father. 

“Why didn’t you tell me you were here?” He asked. The answer, of course, was a complicated one. Hope had not seen her father since her high school graduation and had hardly had any full conversations with him. And now, here she was, reconnecting with him on Moroccan soil. 

The last week of her semester abroad, Hope stayed with her family. Her dad took her to the souks to bargain and to eat delicious food. In one of the stalls sat pairs of Moroccan slippers, just like the ones she had when she was a girl. In a beautiful full-circle moment, her father bought her two pairs of slippers in a larger size to take home with her. They are now both sitting proudly beside her bed. 

There were times in Morocco when Hope felt discouraged, like an imposter. She felt lost and somewhat rejected having not grown up in this culture, but time spent with her extended family helped her to realize perhaps one of the most important truths of life: it is never too late to learn about yourself and explore your heritage. 

While things with her dad remain complicated, Hope’s time in Morocco allowed her to finally connect with her culture, heritage and family in a way she once thought impossible. Now, along with the photos and the new pair of slippers, she holds close to her the experience of discovering a part of her identity that had long been lost. 

Hope is set to graduate in the spring of 2026 with a philosophy major and a double minor in Arabic studies and education. 

My most sincere gratitude goes out to Hope for taking the time to share her amazing story and for being vulnerable. She is truly one of the most courageous, humble, hard-working people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, and she shared her story in the hopes that others would feel inspired to study off campus. I believe that through this piece, her mission has been accomplished.

Photos courtesy of Hope Ninman ’26.