Carlo Virola, an Early College at Lehman student, served as a student ambassador in Morocco in July. It was his second visit.
CANTON TWP. − In the classic film "Casablanca," Morocco is portrayed as a mysterious and exotic country filled with intrigue, romance and danger.
The real Morocco is none of those things, but it's still an interesting place, says one local family who recently returned from their second consecutive trip there.
In July, Carlo Virola, a 15-year-old who attends Early College at Lehman, served as a youth ambassador and team mentor for the Varsity Athletic Club, which organized the trip. Last year, he was part of a "Dream Team" contingent of 12 young basketball players who visited Morocco for eight days and played in basketball tournaments.
Basketball is a popular sport in Morocco, he said.
The Varsity Athletic Club, co-founded by Kelli Kryznowek, is a private basketball club based in Canal Fulton. It is affiliated with the J. Babe Stearn Community Center.
"Kelli did some volunteer work where she met some Moroccans," Carlo's mother Latrice Virola said. "She visited there in 2022 and started working on a plan."
In what the organization calls "sports diplomacy," the boys played in tournaments against teams from a number of countries, including Netherlands and Qatar.
Latrice Virola said she viewed it as an opportunity to expose her children to travel and other cultures. Daughter, Calinda, 10, and Latrice Virola's father, Jackie DuBose, and brother Joseph accompanied them on both trips.
Her husband, Conrad, remained home to care for their other son, who has a disability.
"I'd been out of the country multiple times but the first time, I was in my 40s," she said. "My dad and brother had never gone out of the country. I saw it as an opportunity for my kids. It gives them a good perspective. I thought it would be good for them to be able to appreciate some of the things we take for granted."
The nonstop flight to Morocco was a little over seven hours from New York City.
"The traffic was very different," Carlo said. "It is much less organized. You just try to get to your place and don't crash. Even though we were on a bus, I thought we were going to crash several times."
Morocco is different than what's seen in the movies
Latrice Virola said Morocco is different than the "romanticized" place depicted in the movies. They visited Casablanca, Tangier and the Medina in Marrakech, which was founded in 1070 as a major center for trading.
"It wasn't good or bad, " she reflected. "There was poverty and also some very nice areas."
Latrice Virola recalled how one resident invited them into her air-conditioned home when a member of their group was overcome by the heat.
"The people there are very helpful, even more than Americans," she said. "They'll go out of their way to help you."
Carol: Playing basketball in an outdoor plaza was highlight
Carlo said they played against teams their age, as well as older students, and even one of Morocco's professional basketball teams.
This year, a girl's team also made the trip.
"What was cool was seeing the comaraderie among the American kids and the Moroccans during the tournaments," his mother said.
Carlo, who also plays on McKinley High School's junior varsity team, said one of his favorite memories is playing basketball in an outdoor plaza at night.
"Everybody gathers outdoors at night," he said. "We really got immersed in the culture."
Latrice Virola noted that Moroccans speak three languages: French, Arabic and English, which she called "the language of business."
Calinda took surf lessons in the Atlantic Ocean, and Latrice Virola said she and her daughter took advantage of Morocco's public baths, or hammams. The family was able to stay at a traditional Moroccan accommodation known as a riad for the cost of an average American hotel room, which Latrice Virola said is out of reach for the average Moroccan.
The family also spent time in the desert, where the temperature hit 115 degrees. There, they rode camels and four-wheelers, and posed for pictures with monkeys and cobras.
Latrice Virola said it's been a good experience for Carlo, who had to help raise money for the visits.
During his first time in Morocco, he was interviewed on national Moroccan TV.
"Because of his leadership skills, people notice him," his mother said. "People should take the opportunity to highlight themselves. My son wasn't chosen because of his talent but because of his leadership skills."
Next year, the Virolas are headed to Europe. Carlo, who plays saxophone with the McKinley High School marching band, and the oboe with school orchestra, has been invited to be part of an ensemble of Ohio high school musicians to perform with the Musicians Abroad tour across four European countries.
"If you're given an opportunity, do it for all it's worth," Latrice Virola said. "If you're able to do it at a young age, it can help you to be more successful."
Reach Charita at [email protected].
On Twitter: @cgoshayREP
More details
∎ To learn more about the Varsity Athletic Club, visit https://www.varsityac.com.
∎ To learn more about Musicians Abroad, visit https://www.musiciansabroad.com.
∎ To donate to Virola's 2026 European trip visit https://tinyurl.com/44jdkcpk.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton student travels to Morocco as student ambassador
Category: General Sports
