May 24, 2011
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DeAndre Jones, a redshirt junior linebacker from Memphis, left more than a week ago with other Vanderbilt students to study abroad in Morocco, located on the northwestern tip of Africa. Here’s DeAndre’s second journal from Morocco.
Hello again Commodore fans,
I know it’s been a while since I last wrote you, but we’ve been doing so much lately I haven’t had time to write. Last time I wrote you I was headed to Marrakech. Well, since then I’ve been to two other cities, Fes and Essaouira.
Marrakech was a very nice city. Best medina I have been to thus far. Inside the medina was an area called The Square where you could find anything from snake charmers to belly dancers. It wouldn’t be an oddity to have a monkey or a bird suddenly appear on your shoulders lol. The locals found great entertainment in playing with this tourist.
The medina was also very busy and crowded – and not just with people. There were many instances where one would have to move over because a donkey, horse, or taxi was trying to get through the narrow alleys. Speaking of alleys, there were so times where I got lost in the market because there are so many different alleys. I actually got lost once simply looking for one of my classmates! Marrakech also had a lot more American restaurants than Rabat had. I saw a McDonald’s, KFC, & Pizza Hut.
On our day off from touring we decided to take a three-hour trip to a small city named Essaouira. This city 
was NICE! I could honestly see myself visiting or having a home there. It was my first time ever eating fresh grilled fish…the entire fish. I wasn’t too comfortable with eating while staring at the eye sockets of the fish.
We also played soccer with some Moroccans on the beach. I did better than what I thought I was going to do and scored two goals: one for us and one for them. After soccer we decided to do some body surfing in the Atlantic Ocean. The tide was lower than normal so there weren’t as many big waves to ride.
The next city we visited was Fes. The first night I was there I ended up getting “married” to a lady that was at the dinner and show with us. We went through the entire Moroccan marriage (costumes and all). Fes had by far the cleanest medina – and and worst smelling medina – at the same time. The smell came from the leather tannery where they take cow skins and make purses, wallets, etc. We were given mint leaves to cover the smell.
Fes was possibly the most beautiful big city thus far because of how it sat in a very mountainous area. It was also one of the more expensive cities we had been to thus far. Also, just a word to the wise for those visiting Fes, when you order a double cheeseburger expect a double cheese…burger (one piece of meat and two slices of cheese). I learned that the hard way!
Until next time,
DeAndre Jones #47
