She Did What?! How my Arrest in Morocco Changed My Life
I created She Did What?! as a platform to share the radical pivots, risks and self evaluations and reflections of people I admire — to dig into the moments that make people exclaim, “She Did What?!” I’ve found “She Did What?!” moments are often the ones that translate into a personal or professional metamorphosis. In reading and collaborating with so many inspiring women leaders on their personal journeys and radical pivots through this platform — like former Women’s Day Editor-In-Chief Susan Spencer or Olympian Lily Williams or Walgreens COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Task Force Co-Chair Alethia Jackson — I’ve found myself thinking deeper into my own journey and the journeys I have taken.
Travel has been revolutionary for me, expanding my understanding of myself and the world around me, but I haven’t always been the world traveler I am today. In fact, my first international trip wasn’t until I was 23 with my now-husband. He was living in Rwanda at the time, so we decided to meet in Morocco. Before setting out on what would turn into quite the Moroccan adventure, I had never had the opportunity to travel overseas. I was certainly excited to do something new, however. Over the course of that trip, we experienced the magic of Morocco, exploring a culture completely different from our own.
One afternoon we drove from the lively city of Marrakech to the fishing port of Essaouira, traversing through the barren desert landscape dotted with market towns to the Atlantic Ocean. We arrived eager to stay in the Medina. Protected by towering 18th Century stone gates, one of which was open, we drove under it in search of our hotel, The Medina of Essaouira, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site. While presenting our passports when checking into the hotel, two sharply dressed Moroccan police officers walked in and began speaking to the receptionist in Arabic. She asked us if that was our car parked out front of the hotel. We smiled yes and were told that the police would like us to follow them and shared that we were being arrested for driving inside the Medina, which apparently was against the law.
Detained and sitting in an underground jail that literally had one flickering lightbulb and water dripping from the ceiling, the police officers gave us the option of paying a fine or spending a night or more there. Luckily, we were able to negotiate (okay, Joel was able to negotiate) the fine down to a reasonable amount, which we quickly paid and were promptly released.
That moment was one of countless from that trip that I often find myself thinking about and how that entire visit and travel in general have changed me. That trip was half of my life ago, and looking back, it feels like an inflection point. There is a pre-Morocco version of myself that I shed to make way for the lifelong learner and explorer I am today.
After the rush of that Morocco trip, I found myself hooked on exploring new cultures and experiences. I now have four completely full passports, complete with extra pages. I’ve been all over the world, yet there’s still so much more of it to see and experience.
Some of the most life changing experiences for me have been when I’ve gone abroad with the various nonprofit organizations I’m involved with and the work I’ve done in different cultures. Whether helping to shape the future programming for women political leaders in Vital Voices' network at a summit in Peru or training democracy activists in Belarus with the International Republican Institute, I’ve been able to see and feel the impact of bringing together people from different backgrounds to brainstorm, connect, and collaborate for real change.
From that young woman who had never left the United States to a more confident international traveler, my time abroad, immersed in other cultures and new ideas, has shaped my personal leadership journey and completely altered the way I think. Especially after spending a year in the United States as the world has battled COVID-19, I’m more appreciative than ever before of the profound personal impact that occurs when you get out of your routine and into a new landscape… literally.
Have you ever taken a trip that changed your life or taken one that changed your life again? Tell me about it in the comments!