Alumna returns with tales of life in Morocco

VERNON — Vernon Township High School graduate Bridget Quinn returned to her alma mater recently to share her experience as a resident of Morocco as part of student teacher Kaitlin Stellingwerf’s senior English classes’ study of The Stranger by Albert Camus.
The novel is set in neighboring Algeria and addresses the Post-Colonial culture of the Arab region of Northern Africa. Quinn shared many interesting facts about the culture, the French influence in the region and the basic tenets of Islam.
Students had the opportunity to ask questions about the Islamic religion and the people of Morocco, model common attire from Morocco and even hold some sand from the Sahara Desert.
Senior Sean Sabol said, “The video we watch with the ‘call to prayer’ that comes five times a day was really interesting.” He continued, “I also enjoyed trying on the clothes of the region.”
Stellingwerf said, “It is where you go from here and what you chose to do that will open your mind and make you a student of the world.”
Quinn stated, “Studying in Morocco was actually the first time I’ve been out of the country and it changed my life.” She stressed, “So many of the stereotypes I was exposed to growing up were completely inaccurate. They are not a representation of the culture as a whole.”
Students follow up this presentation by relating what they learned from Quinn to the concept of being the “other” as is expressed in literature. The presentation ended with Quinn encouraging the students to take advantage of opportunities to study abroad.