Favorite Moments

Here are some of my favorite pictures from my trip. Enjoy!

This picture is from the Medina in Rabat. It was so interesting being in a space where there is such a joining of the "old" and "new" world as you see  men wearing the djellabas at the front of this picture next to two girls wearing clothes you would find in America.

I would have to say seeing this grave site in the town of Sale was  one of my favorite excursions on the trip. This picture does not even do the expansiveness of the graveyard justice and behind the grave site is the Atlantic Ocean. The match of the beautiful weather with a vision of nothing like I have ever seen made for a perfect afternoon.

Climbing up to the top of the city of Moulee Idriss on the small narrow streets, where I had my first donkey sighting made me feel like I was in Greece. It was quite the workout but I would have to say the view was worth it!

Camel burger anyone? Me and my friends decided to split a camel burger at our favorite hangout spot, Cafe Clock. I've been asked many times, "what does it taste like?." I honestly can't really pin how it tasted but I can tell you it was delicious!

On this day me and some of my friends decided to take a taxi ride through the mountains. It was such a nice relaxing afternoon, we got some great picture of the Middle Atlas Mountains and even got to feed some monkeys along the way.

I can now cross off camping in the Sahara desert from my bucket list! Riding a camel for two hours through the untouched sand made me feel like I was in Star Wars or that I stepped into that default computer background of the Saharan sand dunes. Even though I was quite sore the next day from ridding my came "Baha" it was an experience I will never forget. 

Of course I had to put a picture from Paris on here! Walking in front of the Eiffel Tower covered in snow made me feel like I stepped into a black and white photograph. There was hardly anyone around that morning making it feel like we had the Eiffel Tower to ourselves.

"So How was It?"

I have been toying with how to write some concluding thoughts about Morocco and the whole experience since I have been back. I will admit It is quite hard to sum up one of the most interesting and exciting experiences of my life.

When I was first back home I will admit I did breathe a huge sigh of relief. To not have to worry about communication difficulties or being stared at, or when my next hot shower will come has sure been amazing to say the least. But when looking back at all my pictures and my journal filled with pages of excitement, angst, and curiosity; I miss the feeling of adventure that came with the territory of being in Morocco.

                Being the over planner I am it was liberating  in many ways to be in a place where I really couldn't  predict what will happen in my day or know what tomorrow will bring.

 So seeing as it is a new year, I have officially decided that I will for once make a new years resolution (better late than never right?).

 I want to use my trip to Morocco as inspiration to be more spontaneous and embrace the simple  opportunities of life when they come my way. When I look back at the greatest moments of my trip it is the little moments that made it as great as it was. From trying that camel burger, to taking a relaxing taxi ride through the mountains, to  having heart to heart conversations with my roommate late at night and so many more.  So I don’t want to consider this a final blog entry but a growing point for me to put what I’ve gained from my trip to use.

                I also want to  thank every single one of you for all the support I have felt throughout my journey. It truly kept me going when the going got tough and it means the world to me.

My Fes Family

I have now been living with my host family for two days now. I was so nervous to meet them at first. I didnt want to do the wrong thing and hug them ...which is definitely not a social norm here. But when I calmed myself down and followed their lead I simply shook their hands.
My host mom and dad dont speak any english so it has been a challenge. They have four kids; two little ones, I would guess are around 9 and 2 older daughters.Luckily the daughter who is my age speaks pretty good english! We talked about how she loves facebook, twilight (she is on team edward) and  even lady gaga. The first night my host mom made the biggest dinner I have ever seen. It consisted of pancakes, moroccan soup, and spaghetti. While I could hardly put a dent in my plate it was all so delicious. I could definitely get used to all these amazing home cooked meals (no offense mom). And while spending time with my family Ive definitely noticed that they looooove their tv. Every night thats where we congregate to eat dinner. They like to watch some pretty bad soap operas I will say; but they also enjoy their american movies. The first night we all sat around the tv and watched titanic. I found it pretty funny that I was sitting in someone elses living room half way across the world and watching a movie Ive seen probably ten times.
Overall I feel like I got really lucky with my host family and I cant wait to get to know them better over these next 5 days.

Excitement and Stress

I am typing this post from my iPod so don't mind my spelling. But anyways...morocco has become a place of many firsts for me and that has come with a lot of excitement and stress. Seeing a place so visually different has made me camera happy here. I feel like there is so many things I want to capture (so glad I bought that 8GB memory card. And everytime I feel like I've seen something that is so different such as a morocccan mosque something else comes along and I really feel like I'm in a dream. When we went to Sale the town next to Rabat and saw the HUGE ancient graveyard by the ocean I couldn't believe my eyes.I even saw a prayer service going on and it amazed me that these people live the way they do and how extremely different it is.
As far as stressets I've has I would definitely say that the gender division has put me on edge. Walking down the street it is completely normal for a guy to try and be flirty to see if you'll respond. And simple eye contact here honestly is a way of signaling interest. It has become such a hard norm to break because at home male and female strangers make eye contact all the time. I guess I am trying to worm at not judging so much but just understand it is a different lifestyle. The culture is not going to change but the way I respond definitely can. I wish I could write so much more but computers have been hard to come by. I am in meknes now and I will be leaving for Fes tomorrow. I'll be staying with my host family there so I can't wait to tell u all about it!

I have arrived!

After over 24 hours of traveling I can now say I am in Rabat. Just sitting at this internet cafe everything is different from the people the computer and even the keyboqrd which is making it quite difficult to type. Over these past two days I feel like Ive been transported to another world. This is definitely not a tourist place. I saw the atlantic ocean yesterday which was beautiful. I took two three hour survival arabic classes and it was pretty difficult but I have the basic frases down...i think. The medina aka market is truly intense but it is so exciting to be in a place unlike anywhere else and I am going to attempt to bargain tonight so wish me luck. Hopefully I can update you all soon!

Bon Voyage

It’s still so mindboggling to me that my suitcase is actually all packed and ready to go and that I am leaving for Morocco tomorrow.
 It's quite surprising how there is less in my suitcase for this three week trip than I have ever packed for a one week vacation. I am a huge overpacker and I am quite impressed that my suitcase is not bulging at this point and I have managed to stick to the packing list (for the most part). But hey I have to leave room for all the souvenirs I have to bring home. 
I also just wanted to say thank you all for reading my blog and supporting me as I prepare for my trip, it really means a lot to me. I can’t wait to keep you all updated with my travels while I’m in Morocco and share pictures when I return.

Only 1 more day!

Only one week to go?

After all the time I have spent thinking about Morocco and what it will be like, it is hard to believe that I will be heading off on a plane one week from today. It still seems so strange to me that I won’t be traveling with my family and that I will be experiencing something completely new with my classmates.  Little things will be so different such as not having my sister acting as my “plane buddy” for the eight hour plane ride to Paris and then some to Morocco (tear tear) but I’m sure I will manage. I am looking forward to having  this trip  push me to stand on my own two feet in so many ways. I will have to figure out how to check in at the Air France stand without my mom taking care of it for me (she insists it won’t be that difficult but I’m I will find a way to make it difficult) and how to cram as much of Paris as possible into three days without my Aunt leading us every which direction. But I feel like experiences such as these will be new for so many of my classmates too, which will serve as a great bonding experience. I am so anxious for what this trip holds that I keep imagining so many different scenarios in my head and I cannot wait to actually live it for real!

Only 7 more days...meaning I should actually start figuring out how I am going to cram in 3 weeks worth of stuff into a tiny suitcase!!