What makes a goal?

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!