Key Takeaways from My Speaking Debut
Last Wednesday Squarespace paid for me to fly out from Tagazhout Morocco to Amsterdam to speak at Forward Festival and Self Made Summit about authentic community building.
Of course the night before my flight, I couldn’t sleep - classic Nicole. I didn’t feel nervous about my debut public speaking gigs but I suppose it was subconscious. My boyfriend drove me to the airport early in the morning and was gentle with me on the way but the security was not - apparently there was an issue with my passport since I’d entered the country in a van and was attempting to leave without it. I got it sorted but then I had a new challenge - a crammed flight. Word of caution if you ever fly Royal Air Maroc - you will be treated like anything but royalty. They will change the gate a million times and smirk at you when you ask what is going on and never turn on the A/C. The plane was FULL of coughing people and I was just thankful that I managed to grab a water at the kiosk before entering this mobile sauna.
My hotel thankfully included a taxi pickup and I laughed at the absurdity of it all. Just a few hours prior I was heading to the airport in an old Citroen and inhaling all the exhaust from the other old vehicles on the Moroccan freeway and here I was being whisked to my hotel in a new Mercedes that looked more like a spaceship. Just the day before I was using the bathroom in a hole in the ground and “showering” by boiling water and then strategically pouring it over myself while hovering over the same hole in the ground. When I got to my hotel, the first thing I did was take a proper shower, a rainfall shower with steaming temperatures.
Not feeling like going to a restaurant, I made my way to the grocery store and stocked up on all the items I hadn’t been able to indulge in since being in Morocco; prepackaged hummus, chocolate, and fresh lettuce. After gorging on my makeshift picnic in the hotel room, I immediately felt bloated and like a migraine was coming on. Was it a symptom of the processed food my body had just consumed in large quantities, a huge diversion from the fresh tagine I’d been eating daily in Morocco, or was it the fact that my period was about to start? Combine that with my lack of sleep, the horrible flight experience, and the stress looming from my upcoming speaking gigs and I had a recipe for disaster.
I managed to hold it all together and surprise myself, however. Not only did I deliver two speeches to two very different crowds, one to a room full of female entrepreneurs and another to a room full of cool designers and artists, but I managed not to get red or forget any bit of my presentation.
What were my key takeaways from the experience?
Women are awesome. I did ALL of that whilst bleeding.
I will try to avoid traveling during my winter phase if at all possible in the future - though I did it, and I did it well, my body was NOT happy. Now that I am back in Morocco, I am fighting a little illness that I know transpired as a result of not resting during my winter phase.
I actually LOVE public speaking, although I would prefer to talk about topics that invigorate me like overcoming self-doubt, tuning up your intuition, and taking leaps towards achieving self-actualization instead of website design and marketing. Regardless I am grateful to Squarespace for giving me this opportunity and for the surprising fire it ignited within me.
Do you factor in your moon phases when planning important events?
Top Tips for Tagazhout and Tamraght, Morocco
Jean Genie (my blue 2006 Citroen C6 minivan) and I officially began our new life together over a month ago when we drove from Berlin to Toulouse. Why Toulouse? Because there was a super cheap flight to Morocco from there, that's why!!
I sadly left Jean Genie in a car park outside the Toulouse airport for three weeks while I soaked up some Vitamin D, practiced my surf skills, drank all the mint tea, ate all the tagine, watched all the sunsets, and pet all the stray dogs and cats. The truth is it’s still too cold in Europe for my desert bones.
That’s the reason I decided to spend the last three weeks exploring two cute surfer villages including Tagazhout and Tamraght. I highly recommend doing the same if you are hoping to escape the depressive European winter or want to try your luck at learning to surf in calm waters. Temperatures were around 20 degrees Celsius every day, and there was lots of sunshine and plenty of happy smiling faces. Since I had such a great time and met a lot of really friendly people, I am considering returning very soon, this time with my van Jean Genie. It seems to be a very popular location for camper vans.
Below are some of the places I most frequented and loved while I was there.
Tagazhout
A no-frills streetside eatery where you can get fish tagine which includes two big pieces of fish, veggies, and bread for only 30 Dhm (about 3 euros). Don’t forget to add a mint tea to your order (~15 Dhm). Cash only.
A seaside restaurant where you can work on your laptop with the gentle sound of the waves as your background. They offer fresh juices, Moroccan cuisine, and, of course, mint tea. Prices are a bit more, but still VERY affordable (50 Dhm for Veggie Tagine) and the view is priceless. Traditional Berber musicians will wander from table to table to perform a song for you. I have a soft spot for musicians and always try to tip them. Plus I love Berber music!! There is also a huge terrace where you can chill on when you need a break from wandering around. Credit cards are accepted but only above 100 Dhm.
MOVED - Simo’s Vintage Shop
**It’s been brought to my attention that Simo has relocated his shop and in addition, now offers a camper van parking area on his land in Essaouira, outside of Sidi Kaouki. His Tagazhout location is no longer in operation, but he’s more than happy to accept visitors at his new location! More info here.
A friend and I were wandering around Tagazhout and found Simo's magical little shop tucked away on a side street. It's quite small but once you're in there and see all the treasures he has the place seems to triple in size. Simo is also a very special human, welcoming us in and preparing us tea while we tried on clothes. He's got some amazing pieces and fair prices. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind souvenir or just a great experience overall, definitely stop by and say hi :) His merchandise changes often. Though be warned, the opening of his shop is dependent on surf conditions so if he isn’t there when you drop by, come back later when the waves have died down. Cash only.
Tamraght
Ok this is definitely a place catered to tourists but their food is top-notch so I must mention it. I recommend ordering the mushroom tacos, potato wedges, and exotic smoothie but anything you order there is going to blow you away. It’s also a great place to work on your laptop (they have Wifi) and also accept credit cards. I love the outside seating area especially when a stray cat or dog wanders by and takes a nap by your feet. Prices are a bit more than the other restaurants in the area, but worth it! Expect to pay between 100-150 Dhm a person for food and drinks.
This place is very affordably priced and serves up decent Moroccan food. Try the Veggie Tagine (I found the chicken one pretty dry) or if it’s breakfast time, take the sampler platter (I forgot the name, but it includes all the various spreads, bread, omelet, and coffee). The Date Avocado Orange Juice smoothie is to die for, so make sure to try one! The place is super cozy and they also offer free Wifi so you can work there. Cash only.
You can rent a surfboard and wetsuit for only 100 Dhm for the day here. You can also chill on the terrace on their bean bag chairs. They also offer yoga but I didn’t attend any sessions. Cash only.