In early November, an opportunity to travel to Morocco for work came up at the office, and I was selected for my first official work trip. A mix of excitement, disbelief, and a flicker of panic washed over me all at once. When I shared the news with my family and colleagues, they were thrilled, and far more patient about the whole process than I was. But as days passed without a ticket, visa, or confirmation from the hosts, doubt crept in. My siblings joked that perhaps my next chance would come with an extended visa to compensate for the delay. I laughed along, though I quietly wondered if this trip simply wasn’t meant to happen. ALSO READ: AfDB President urges investors to tap African youth potential Then an email from the African Development Bank (AfDB) arrived with all the documents I needed. I had been carrying my passport for days, so I rushed straight to the Moroccan Embassy. The next afternoon, while on assignment upcountry, the Embassy called to say my visa was ready but had to be collected before noon. It was Friday, and my flight was the following night. There was no way to return in time. After explaining my situation, the Embassy allowed someone to pick the passport for me. With that, everything fell into place. When I returned to Kigali, I checked the weather forecast and began to prepare. On the day of my trip, I woke before sunrise to do my hair and nails and finish some last-minute shopping. With every task, the excitement felt more real. My flight was at 2 a.m., and my brother and friends drove me to the airport. As I stepped out of the car, it finally sank in; I was truly traveling for work. ALSO READ: AI, drones could help African projects secure investment rapidly The journey began on Turkish Airlines. The service was good, but the 11-hour flight to Istanbul felt endless. Somewhere over Europe, my excitement slowly gave way to exhaustion. After a four-hour layover, I boarded Royal Air Maroc for the final five-hour stretch to Casablanca. When we landed, the AfDB’s Shems Travels and Events team was waiting for me, just as promised. But my calm evaporated at the baggage carousel. Everyone collected their luggage except me. Thirty anxious minutes later, long after the area had emptied out, my suitcase appeared at last. My assigned driver spoke only French, while I spoke English. Everyone else had left, we exchanged polite, awkward smiles as we prepared for the two-hour drive to Rabat. I tried to stay awake and look at the night landscape, but exhaustion won. When we reached the hotel, I checked in, texted home, and collapsed into bed. The next day was reserved for rest but I woke up light headed with hunger. Breakfast was unfamiliar; sweet pastries, tangy yoghurt, and flavours I was unsure of. I missed home food more than expected. I attempted to ask for alternatives, but the language barrier made it difficult. I returned to my room still hungry and slept most of the day. ALSO READ: Investors commit $15 bn at African Investment Forum By Tuesday, it was time for the African Investment Forum (AIF) side events. I was relieved knowing I would finally meet English speakers. I woke up at 6a.m., surprised to find it still completely dark. Only later did I learn that in November, the sun in Rabat rises around 8 a.m. I dressed lightly, not realising how cold it was outside. Everyone else had scarves and jackets while I shivered in a thin blazer. On the bus to the meeting venue, I met a participant from Mauritania who spoke French but understood English. To my surprise, I could follow some of her French as well. Our slow, gentle conversation became my first real connection on the trip. The conference venue buzzed with investors, policy makers, entrepreneurs and journalists from across Africa. Representing my media house on my first major international assignment came with pressure, but it also sharpened my focus. The first session I attended was on “Mission 300,” an initiative to connect 300 million Africans to reliable electricity by 2030. By lunchtime, hunger won over hesitation. I tried the food, and to my relief, it was delicious, my first satisfying meal in Morocco. Later that evening, I joined a small group exploring Rabat. The city greeted us with soft light, ancient walls, and a cold breeze that cut through my blazer. I wished for more time to wander through the narrow alleys and old medina, but even brief walks revealed so much: leather goods, carpets, spices, brass items, and a blend of languages in the air. The Forum officially opened on Wednesday under the theme “Mobilising Private Capital to Unlock Africa’s Full Potential.” Much of the programme was closed to the media, but I moved through the hallways listening, observing, and absorbing. I met CEOs, investors, entrepreneurs, and fellow journalists – conversations that pushed me out of my comfort zone and broadened my understanding of the continent. The rest of the week moved quickly; sessions, side meetings, short walks, a visit to the beach, and exploring the city centre. By Friday, my last day, I realised how much I had grown. I also realised how essential it is to learn French. This trip reshaped how I see the world, and my place in it. I returned home with sharper instincts as a journalist and a deeper understanding that stories reveal themselves not only in conference rooms, but also in hallways, over shared meals, in ordinary smiles, and through unexpected connections. The writer is a journalist at The New Times.
