A volunteer’s view of Morocco in the early years

When I set up this blog, I hoped that many other returned Peace Corps volunteers from the Peace Corps’s first 10 years in Morocco would contribute. Tonight I received a photo show from Don Brown, a volunteer in Morocco II.

Don’s Peace Corps served as a volunteer from 1963 to 1966, but Don returned to the Peace Corps to work as a trainer for Morocco X, my program, and then as an administrator in Morocco, when we became good friends.

Marty, Gaylord, Eileen, and Don. Earning money as an administrator, Don has upgraded his photo gear to a Pentax SLR. We’re on the runway on Gibraltar with the Kiracofes, spending a few days over the holidays. 1968-1969.

Don enjoyed photography and took many great photos. He had a good eye for composition and a sense of the dramatic lighting that characterizes Morocco. He took the photos in his presentation with an old twin lens reflex. Film was expensive back in the sixties, and one didn’t get many slides on a roll. Those of the cellphone generation may not realize how difficult and expensive photography was in those days.

Photo of Khadija Demnati, Sefrou 1969. Don Brown, photographer.

Don served in Oujda, on the Algerian border. Relatively few volunteers ever visited the city. Volunteers in the early years were forbidden to cross the border. Oujda was a long train ride across the somewhat desolate scrublands of the lower Moulouya River and the city and its region could not compete with the attractions of other areas of the country. Seeing his slides, therefore, was a special pleasure.

Thanks for the memories, Don

Don Brown. 1969.
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Author: Dave

Retired. Formerly school librarian, social studies teacher, and urban planner.

10 thoughts on “A volunteer’s view of Morocco in the early years”

  1. Thanks, Dave. I’m so glad you’re giving Don a place to post this.  He was also staff in our M-IX training in Oceano. His wife, Liz Magee, was a M-IX volunteer and friend of mine but we’ve not been in touch. I’m in Berlin with my sister Kathy, near the end of a 3-wk trip: Poland, Prague and down the Elbe to Berlin.  I really like getting your posts. I will send forward one to Lee McMurry, fellow Portlander and M-I volunteer.

    Take care and thanks. Anne McL

    sent from a cell phone

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      1. Hello Mr Dave,

        hope you’re doing great, I was looking to get in touch with Mr Don about his time in Sefrou, Morocco was greatly presented. If there’s any way I can contact him if he has more pictures for Sefrou especially the cherry festival will be really appreciated, as we’re going to celebrate the 1 century of the festival this coming June 2024.
        My name is Mohammed and I live in Alberta,Canada.

        mohamedabrou@outlook.com

        +1(587)9195615

        Regards.

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      2. Hi Mohammed,

        I don’t know who Mr. Don is. Do you know what his family name is or the years that he lived in Sefrou?

        I can send you a few pictures of the Cherry Festival from 1968 and 1970. I did not know that it began in 1924. Sefrou was very small then and I suspect that all the foreigners were French except for the American missionary. I have a Guide Bleu from the period and I will see what the guide book says.

        I hope that Ramadan is not too difficult in Alberta. I have been there several times and the province is beautiful, though very cold in the winter.

        David

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      3. Thank you Mr Dave.
        I think his last name was Brown, and he lived in Sefrou in the period of 1965 to 1970 if I’m not mistaken. But you mentioned you got some pictures of the Cherry Festival and that’s all I need if you can send them to me that would greatly appreciated Mr Dave.
        Yeah the Cherry Festival in Sefrou will be 1 century this June and it’s the Oldest Festival in Morocco by far.
        Yeah Ramadan here in Alberta is not bad as it’s cold and the day is not that long, so makes it easier for us haha.
        thanks for asking. I will be excitedly waiting for the pictures.
        this is my email: mohamedabrou@outlook.com
        Regards,

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  2. “Thanks so much, Don. A wonderful and skillful recapitulation of those unforgettable years in Morocco. I remember hearing “Lalla Fatima” played over and over during our training in Hemet.”

    Jim Erickson

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    1. Hi Paul, if you feel like contributing something, anything, I’d be happy to put it up. I have more to write but I just haven’t been working on the blog lately. Many people have more or at least better stories than I do.

      Cheers, Dave

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  4. Many thanks for these comments. There is now a commemorative website for Rom Landau who was an early Educational Director for the Morocco programme. Some of you may have memories. The site is http://www.romlandau.org If you have anything you’d care to add, then please let me know. If you’re in Marrakesh next March 2nd in 2024 then head on to the Christian City Cemetery where the Polish & British Embassies will be organising events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of RL’s death and burial in Marrakech. David Denison

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