After having gone through a lets just say "interesting" cross cultural orientation I have come to reevaluate what my goals are for my trip to Morocco.
Before the orientation started we were all divided up by our respected destinations and had to come up with some goals for our trip. As my classmates and I came up with some entertaining ones such as "be able to drink cafe nous nous from a man cup" or "not to get too lost in the Medina"..which will most likely happen anyways...we also came up with some more personal general goals such as "have a better understanding of the culture" and etc.
But as we all partook in some cross-cultural simulations that made for some laughs and definite discomfort in the room..I had to ask myself many times if this is seriously happening? I really started to grapple with the ideas that adjusting to the Moroccan culture may not be as easy as I thought. For just doing silly exercises such as trying to have a conversation where every verb you use you have to then follow with a synonym....its not as easy as you think!.. or partaking in a simulation where cultures clash through different ideas of personal space..this exercise was way to ridiculous to even try and explain I started to think about what I really want to learn from my real cross cultural experience.
While yes I would love to actually be able to drink cafe nous nous from a man cup..if my professor actually shares her secret of how its done.. or not get lost in the Medina I have discovered that I really want to not just get through these three weeks but really experience the vastly different culture, for the opportunity to interact with a culture so vastly different from your own does not come around that often and when it does you really do have to make the most out of the opportunity. And as I know there will be frustrating moments when I'm trying to interact with my home stay family and moments of discomfort for reasons I wont be able to understand it is my ultimate goal that I remind myself that as any journey has its ups and downs its all part of this once in a lifetime experience.
37 days til I say goodbye Chicago Salam Aleikum Morocco!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
And So the Countdown Begins...
As bargaining in the Medina, attempting to speak that Arabic phrase I practiced so many times, riding a camel in the Sahara and so many other out of my world experiences are coming closer everyday;this once in a lifetime opportunity of studying in Morocco for three weeks earns its own proper documentation.
To make this trip blog worthy I have made a little contract with myself that I will post at least once a week before the trip about how all the different preparations and excitements and anxieties are coming along. And once I am there I will be trying to post as often as possible about everything and anything
*Signed Lisa Rodriguez*
…While the experience of getting to Morocco and back will be filled with so many emotional experiences, many I can guarantee I have never encountered before, I hope to use this blog as a way to share and grow as a person on my journey.
When I first saw the brochure about the Morocco program with the picture of students riding camels in the middle of the Sahara desert I honestly thought that trip was not for a person like me..suburban girl turned (wannabe)city girl. Me and nature have never been best of friends and me and the not so nice amenities I have encountered in the past have been true enemies for a long time!..as so many people can attest to.
But then I got all sentimental and thought about the grand idea of the college experience everyone wants to have. College is in so many ways what everyone makes it out to be. As it truly is a time for trying new things, breaking barriers, overcoming what was once thought of as unimaginable, and most of all defining myself on my own.
Even though I could have taken the easy route and gone to Paris and Brussels for three weeks or any other truly westernized city for that matter…I am ecstatic just being able to sit at my desk at this moment typing my first blog post that only a short matter of time stands between me and what I know will be one of the best experiences of my life.
43 days to go til I say good bye Chicago ssalamu ‘lekum Morocco!
To make this trip blog worthy I have made a little contract with myself that I will post at least once a week before the trip about how all the different preparations and excitements and anxieties are coming along. And once I am there I will be trying to post as often as possible about everything and anything
*Signed Lisa Rodriguez*
…While the experience of getting to Morocco and back will be filled with so many emotional experiences, many I can guarantee I have never encountered before, I hope to use this blog as a way to share and grow as a person on my journey.
When I first saw the brochure about the Morocco program with the picture of students riding camels in the middle of the Sahara desert I honestly thought that trip was not for a person like me..suburban girl turned (wannabe)city girl. Me and nature have never been best of friends and me and the not so nice amenities I have encountered in the past have been true enemies for a long time!..as so many people can attest to.
But then I got all sentimental and thought about the grand idea of the college experience everyone wants to have. College is in so many ways what everyone makes it out to be. As it truly is a time for trying new things, breaking barriers, overcoming what was once thought of as unimaginable, and most of all defining myself on my own.
Even though I could have taken the easy route and gone to Paris and Brussels for three weeks or any other truly westernized city for that matter…I am ecstatic just being able to sit at my desk at this moment typing my first blog post that only a short matter of time stands between me and what I know will be one of the best experiences of my life.
43 days to go til I say good bye Chicago ssalamu ‘lekum Morocco!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)