It was one of our very first nights during the short course. I remember sitting on the couch with Giovani, deep in conversation, when Viktoria and Sonia joined us. When Sonia joined us, she brought Ukrainian candy and cookies - small, colorful pieces of sweetness. Vika always recommends us to find the red ones (haha). Somehow, they tasted even better knowing they came from a war zone. Candy that carried love and hope for a free Ukraine.

What stayed with me most from that night were the conversations. For the first time, I felt what it was like when someone truly listens. I talked deeply with Vika about politics in Morocco, about democracy, climate change, and responsibility. Back home, these topics are often laughed off or avoided. That night, they were treated seriously and with respect. That alone felt powerful.

Finally, I felt like I had found my people.

Later, I showed Sonia photos of Queen Lalla Salma (the Moroccan queen). She loved them, and asked direct, difficult questions. About Islam. About women’s rights. About rumors she had heard. I was happy - genuinely happy - to talk about them openly, as a Muslim, without defensiveness or fear.

The conversation kept evolving, moving through history and our experiences. We talked about Hitler, anti-semitism, and then listened to our Jewish friend sharing their own view. This conversation led us to talk about Palestine. And for the first time, I had the space to add an Arab voice to the discussion - my voice. We didn’t agree. Not 100%. But we didn’t fight. We didn’t insult each other, and we heard all perspectives with understanding. We respected each other.

And then… we slept.
All of us. On the same couch.

Or at least we tried to, hahaha .

We watched “You” through the night, half-awake, half-asleep. The automatic light kept turning on every time someone moved, making real sleep impossible and everything slightly ridiculous. I think Mihaela joined us at some point, and the conversations slowly drifted into lighter topics.

Around 3 a.m., something snapped - and we started laughing at absolutely everything. We stared at the ceiling and laughed until our stomachs hurt, for no reason at all.

At some point, Arabic songs played softly as people drifted in and out of sleep. Around 5 a.m., I took out my prayer rug and prayed quietly, while the night slowly turned into morning.