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AIBU?

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Original poster

School Trip to Morocco

412 replies

Goldsand · 17/10/2022 19:00

My DDs secondary school have just announced they will be doing a school trip in the next school year to Morocco for my daughters year.

It’s normally Iceland but they have changed it to Morocco this time.

A couple of other mums have said they won’t be sending their kids as they don’t think it’s safe to send their teen girls there.

Iv never been personally but I thought it was a safe country overall.

However, now I’m doubting myself …. I was going to agree to her going even though i think it’s steep as it’s over £1,000.

So…

YABU - It’s safe, don’t worry about it.
YANBU - I would never send my teen child there on a school trip.

OP posts:
adriftabroad · 17/10/2022 20:43

@shockthemonkey bloody hell😯

Jellybean23 · 17/10/2022 20:46

Anyone who thinks teachers are enjoying a free 'holiday' on school trips is deluding themselves.

shockthemonkey · 17/10/2022 20:47

I should add, I have spent probably a total of ten years living in the ME and Africa, so know a bit about Muslim countries. Some of the reasons I found life there quite difficult still apply, and chief amongst them is the way young women are summarily grabbed or slapped around the privates as they walk down the street. It still happens. Ages 8 to 18 are when you are the most likely to be targeted. Of course local girls don't usually get attacked, but if you stand out in any way and don't "dress" or act Muslim, you're fair prey.

ChocFrog · 17/10/2022 20:50

I went to Marrakech a while back. The breakfast place I liked to go to has since been blown up by terrorists so I can’t recommend it sadly.

Ridiculous idea for a school trip, sexual assault and harassment is a massive problem there. If the school avoid all markets and just do hotel to escorted daytrip to hotel, they’ll probably be safeish, but no, I would not let my child go there without me, personally.

This has “teacher had always wanted to go there” written all over it.

PinkPalaceinthesky · 17/10/2022 20:52

It would be an absolutely not from me.

The cost alone is eye watering but I would suck that up if it were somewhere else.

Not a country like that.

KatieB55 · 17/10/2022 20:52

I spent several holidays in Morocco aged 12 to 15 (we were based in Gib) and I remember getting a lot of unwanted attention. Not somewhere I would let my daughter go on a school trip.

CanopusMind · 17/10/2022 20:53

I mean, would you let your kids go to London on a school trip?

42isthemeaning · 17/10/2022 20:53

MissingNashville · 17/10/2022 19:55

....Not to mention the attitudes to being gay. I’d be challenging the choice of destination with the school. Iceland is lovely and a much better choice all round.

Absolutely this. How could the school support this? I dread to think of the safeguarding challenges that a trip to Morocco will have.

1dayatatime · 17/10/2022 20:53

There is absolutely no chance I would let my Year 8 DD go on a school trip this Morocco. This is not about prejudice, not about racism and not about islamaphobia - it all about safety.

Advice from Forbes.com.
www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2017/07/28/10-most-dangerous-places-for-women-travelers-and-how-to-stay-safe/?sh=7eba20f92448

	It’s fairly rare for a man to physically touch you — but you should expect catcalling. The best way to deal is to ignore the person and keep moving. That said, if you feel threatened, find the closest police officer and report the incident.
	Clothing is a hot topic — you’ll see a wide variety of it in Morocco. But it’s advisable to stick with modest styles and avoid belly-baring shirts, short-shorts and strappy tank tops. The reality is, the less you wear, the more unwanted attention you’ll attract.
	If you lose your way, don’t ask a man on the street: Step into a shop or ask a woman for directions. Loitering young men are eager to make quick money “helping” tourists but women out and about or shopkeepers have no ulterior motive.
Iflyaway · 17/10/2022 20:54

@saraclara young women are super fashion conscious and skinny jeans are de rigeur there.

Well, of course they have to wear clothes still, but all hidden away. Not so in Morocco.

bigfamilygrowingupfast · 17/10/2022 20:54

I was meant to go to Morocco on a similar trip when I was at school! Except it was 10 days and about the same cost so that seems very expensive 🤣 I've never heard of it being especially unsafe - I've got friends who've travelled there and driven around and had no problems, ditto with family members going for family holidays.

Newmum110 · 17/10/2022 20:56

After holidaying in Morocco as an adult it would be a firm no from me. I can't imagine too many parents allowing their children go. Would never set foot in the country again, nothing but harassment from start to finish.

dramalamma · 17/10/2022 20:58

I've been to a lot of counties - mot of which is go back to in a heart beat - I wouldn't return to Morocco. I'd Ben desperate to go for years and there were some beautiful parts but the harassment was horrible man's I was front row seat to some very violent crime against a stall
Holder in the market - of course nasty things can happen anywhere but it still haunts me and I was told it wasn't uncommon - I wouldn't be sending a y8 to be honest.

aboutanidiot · 17/10/2022 20:58

12 year olds? To Morocco? That would be a HELL NO.

I would not sleep. For the 5 days.

Wtf are they thinking? It's not safe for unaccompanied children (you know they will try to shake off their teachers), I suspect kidnappings are a potential danger (more of a danger with a bunch of British schoolkids).

FUCK NO.

Flowersintheattic57 · 17/10/2022 20:58

In Moroccan culture when a female child reaches the age of about ten her status changes from child to marriageable female. If you are foreign then none of their own cultural rules apply.
If a teen tourist is walking around with a short top, tight leggings or a short skirt then she’s advertising herself as available. If she’s wearing long sleeves and long trousers then she’s fair game for constant touching and groping as in hands groping you from behind. It’s very unnerving. You can shout at them and all you will get is their grinning faces. Young boys will run after you goosing you over and over again laughing their heads off.
The only time a woman has any respect is when she is with her husband.
It’s an amazing beautiful country with a long and interesting history, but not for girls and women. I wouldn’t pay £1000 to send a naive 14 year old there.

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 17/10/2022 20:59

@Wereongunoil That sounds like an amazing experience, and very worthwhile.

PinkiOcelot · 17/10/2022 21:01

£1k for 5 nights?! Not a chance.

FindingMyself1999 · 17/10/2022 21:02

Oh forgot to mention terrorism is still high risk - quite disconcerting having security at most restaurants - metal detectors and bag checks. I was with a few well travelled women and they said they’d never go back to Morocco.

reigatecastle · 17/10/2022 21:02

CanopusMind · 17/10/2022 20:53

I mean, would you let your kids go to London on a school trip?

I have a friend who went on holiday to Morocco on her own in her 20s. I know there was one place she didn't like - where she got hassle, (maybe it was Tangier, she did go there by train and ferry) but otherwise loved it.

She is much more adventurous than I am.

As a 14 year old I would not have wanted to go there. And still wouldn't.

It would be a no from me, I'd spend the £1000 on a different trip.

aboutanidiot · 17/10/2022 21:02

How about Guantanamo Bay in Cuba? I believe that's secure!

Original poster
Goldsand · 17/10/2022 21:05

Thanks for everyone’s comments.

Some eye opening experiences!

OP posts:
aboutanidiot · 17/10/2022 21:05

I'm just thinking about the film Taken where the US girl went to Paris!

HELL NO. HELL FUCKING NO.

userwants2no · 17/10/2022 21:05

Noway Jose. I wouldn't go to the Middle East let alone send my child there particularly daughters.
There are other countries that I would not go to either, not just the ME.

lawandgin · 17/10/2022 21:06

Nope, nope and nope. The cost is extortionate and I wouldn't let my DD go, having been to Tunisia and Egypt myself, North Africa is not a great place for a young girl. I was constantly hassled on both of those trips - 1 with a friend and 1 with a boyfriend (who was offered animals in return for me 🙃)

Quackpot · 17/10/2022 21:07

Fuck no