Osmond Wu

New continent unlock. Stepping into Marrakech felt like I teleported into a whole new world. From camel flies snacking on my ankle wound to getting scammed by literal children, Marrakech’s chaotically beautiful persona is unrivaled. Although sometimes seeming like a sketchy Call of Duty map, this dense city housed a kaleidoscope of colors and spices teeming with energy like a living entity. The overwhelming waves of cars crosstreaming with untamed mopeds represented the vibrant, in-your-face, culture of the Moroccans. I was called "konichiwa," "anihaseyo," and "ni hao" every other second. Children marveled at our yellow skin and stared as if we were aliens. Some may think this to be racist and disrespectful, but I loved it. Moroccans didn’t mean harm, it was their way of trying to find a common thread and connection between vastly different combinations of people. I respect their people’s curiosity and hospitality.

The overwhelming bustle of Marrakech was beautifully juxtaposed with our two-day journey deep toward the Sahara Dessert. The peaceful trek to the Zagora Dessert was one of the most unexpectedly beautiful experiences in every way possible.

The pinnacle of the warm Moroccan energy was when our entire camp started dancing around the bonfire in the middle of the desert. The experience of bonding through traditional Moroccan dance and music was so primal, raw, and real that it felt almost weird and awkward—like I forgot this is how humans truly bonded before technology plagued our social interactions. I loved every second of it. I felt free. I felt like a kid, able to dance and sing with no shackles of judgment and worry.

A moment of surrealism was when I was lying in the cool sands of the mighty Zagora Desert, staring deep into the starry night. The transcendent tunes of Space Song created a moment suspended in time, where reality blurred and the cosmos felt closer than ever. It felt 5D. Fuck the Apple Vision Pro, I was transported into the stars. What made this experience even trippier was when I cupped my hands into fake binoculars and looked through them like my 5-year-old self. The inner wondrous kid erupted from deep inside of me as I felt a rush of genuine child-like wonder while being transported into a galaxy far far away. I swear I could see the Death Star if I squinted just a little harder. With each shooting star that streaked across the sky, I made sure to offer silent prayers for my loved ones, feeling a deep sense of connection to our mystical galaxy. I was literally watching nature like it was a symphony.

This trip, once again, consisted of a random ass group of people. I was literally recruited by Betty as a last-minute bodyguard because I was the only guy on the trip. Anyway, during this trip, I got to know Andrea much better. I always knew who she was but never got the chance to know her personally. She is an incredibly unique individual with a very niche passion for photography and music. I especially respect her drive to place herself in situations where she can maximize learning. Public writing, for her, was a tool to force herself to think critically about the music industry. Her passion sparked a motivation in me to continue my writing journey and possibly expand into the realm of culinary critique—a space that I am incredibly passionate in but know nothing about.

I got to know Betty maybe a little too well this trip… Betty is a character. I love her ecstatic energy—she’s smart, extremely silly, and incredibly easy to talk to. Through this trip, I realized we have a lot of commonalities in values and experiences. It was weird speaking to a Vancouver girl about going out in Lan Kwai Fong and realizing that she met many of my friends in her year abroad in Hong Kong. I learned to be more vulnerable as we shared lessons we had learned in our previous relationships.

I’m starting to see a pattern between serendipitous experiences and beautiful memories. One thing I love about these spontaneous trips is that they forge friendships like no other experiences would. Just as I think I have traveled enough of the world, Marrakech humbles me, teasing the incredible people, culture, food, and nature that I still have to explore. Life is a never-ending journey of exploration.

Mystical Moroccans