During the two decades following Morocco’s independence, the presence of French cooperants among us was marked by calm, coexistence, and a generally positive contribution to education.
Their time at Ahfir Middle School left many pleasant memories. At that period, they formed a significant part of the teaching staff and taught mainly French, history and geography, mathematics, physics and chemistry, and natural sciences.
I must say that my overall impression of them was very positive. Most were highly competent, serious, and dedicated to their work. Their status as citizens of a former colonial power had no noticeable impact on the quality of their teaching or on the human relationships we shared with them.
Yet one thing always puzzled me: they never seemed to appreciate living in Ahfir.
Was it because the local population did not fully welcome the idea of such coexistence? Or, on the contrary, because these teachers themselves felt some hesitation — without any clear reason — about living among us and within our local environment?
Whatever the case, the cooperants preferred to reside in Saïdia, even though this meant commuting daily between the two towns.
Saïdia was always the residence of the French teachers working in Ahfir. The city offered them comfort, leisure, and a lifestyle close to what they were used to in their home country.
They enjoyed various sports and cultural activities: football, volleyball, tennis, pétanque, card tournaments (belote, poker…), as well as lively evenings filled with music, dancing, and entertainment.
It is therefore easy to understand the deeper reasons behind their choice — and that of their families — to settle in Saïdia rather than in Ahfir, a quiet, dignified, and welcoming town.
Ahfir has always been a peaceful urban center, sometimes to the point of stillness, inhabited by people who value respect, calm coexistence, and tolerance toward foreigners — provided that this attitude is mutual.
It is interesting to contrast this spirit of openness and kindness with what we sometimes witness in certain Western countries, where foreigners are met with tension, impatience, or discomfort.
Amar Bellahssen – Kenitra, April 19, 2010
