One of the coolest people I've gotten to meet while studying abroad is a staff member at AUI. She was born in the United States, but has lived in Morocco for over 20 years and serves its communities in different ways. She works as the school's chaplain, serving the diverse religious communities on campus, but also helps serve migrants and refugees in different cities around Morocco. She is very popular on campus amongst students and faculty, and she always brings a bright smile to everyone's face. I'm excited to introduce you to my dear friend.
My friend's name is Mrs. Karen Thomas Smith. Her first name, Karen, means "Pure one".
Mrs. Karen lives in Ifrane, Morocco, in a house built in 1941 by the French. Her house has two floors, an upstairs and a downstairs. Her roof is made of red clay tiles and is steep so that the snow falls off it. Before she lived in Ifrane, she lived in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mrs. Karen is married and her husband works at the school as well. They have one daughter and three Moroccan foster kids, two girls and one boy. Her family is really fun. They enjoy having family game nights and movie nights. Because her family is mixed with Americans and Moroccans, they get to experience and celebrate both cultures.
