So I think I’m almost Orientated…

Ah, Orientation. Some love it, some hate it, most go through it in some way and at some time of their life. Orientation Rocky Mountain College style involves a long trip into the woods, playing games and meeting people.

Orientation here at Al Akhawayn has involved less woods (since we’re already in the woods), plenty of people, and LARGE AMOUNTS of administration blah-dity-crap. Apparently each of us has to re-register via paper, since the portal system is not set up for exchange studnets. Which sounds simple, but usually involves two hours of waiting in line, tracking down the necessary signatures, and then waiting in line again for books. AND many of the classes are full, so you can have your perfect schedule foiled by one closed class.

 We also went filled out residency permits and health forms, but more will be done tomorrow. The international office presented slides on the process of adapting to the new environment, some of which was interesting, most of which was not. In general, the whole thing is quite disorganized, with schedule and plan changes happening almost hourly. It should be noted that this is a holiday for them, and culturally, time and order just are not as emphasized as in western culture.

The Arabic placement test was this morning. I took one look at it and decided beginner was for me. Although I had taken one semester one Arabic last year (a serious disadvantage of coming here as a sophomore!), I was informed the book we took all semester to cover is covered in this class in about a three weeks. I don’t think I’ll be bored. Almost everyone here speaks at least two languages, most people speak four or five. I will admit to feeling slight inadequate in that department and self conscious of my lack of language and travel experience. When everyone is chattering around you and you understanding nothing, it can become isolating. I try to just keep my chin up and show them what the “Rocky Difference” really is.

That said, I have met a lot of great people I don’t feel isolated from. I spent most of my time after dinner with two very sweet freshman Moroccan girls who played guitar and sang Coldplay songs. This week (it is a holiday and most Moroccan students will go home) I will go to Merrakesh with two girls from Italy, two guys from Germany, a guy from Denmark, and two US Army guys, one of whom as been here about eight months. We plan on leaving Saturday night and getting back here Thursday at the latest for class on Friday. More posts about that adventure later, and pictures of campus hopefully before I leave! 

The Jetlag Entry… Full of (hopefully) useful information on how to go abroad!

Alrighty. It’s 1am. But my body really thinks its 6pm. The conversation between my internal and external clock goes something like this.

Brain: It’s 1am. Go to sleep. You have to wake up in 6 hours.

Body: What are you talking about? It’s 6pm! Let’s party. And eat. Do we have any food?

Brain: Go to sleep!

Body: NO!

Total score: Body 4, Brain 0

I think these next couple days will be a bit rough for the sleep schedule. As far as adventures go, today was mostly boring orientation stuff, including using most of the morning getting classes organized and books purchased. It is nice to have my class schedule set, although I didn’t get to take the beginning French class I wanted because it was full and I already reached the 15 credit limit.

Since I’m on the topic of school, I supposed I should answer the “how” question of studying abroad. Specifically, “Is it possible for anyone to go abroad?” and even more specifically, “Can someone who isn’t wealthy afford it?” The answer to both questions is yes, with a little planning.

Many other international students here have a partnership with their home University and the University here in Morocco. Most colleges have some sort of international partnerships. RMC participates in a program call ISEP, or the international student exchange program. On ISEP exchange, you apply to up to ten universities abroad, ranked in order of preference. This requires many hours of research about different countries, academic requirements, language requirements and if the classes you take abroad will transfer. Some universities abroad are competitive to get into, some take almost anyone, regardless of language ability or academic level. I spent about 20 to 30 hours researching my options, but considering I will spend a year here, I don’t feel that time was wasted at all. Once accepted, you file the necessary paperwork, AND the best part, pay tuition, housing and meals to your home institution. That means you can still receive federal financial aid, school scholarships, and federal loans.  

There are also external scholarships available for studying abroad, especially to Asian and Middle Eastern Countries where you will be studying the language. Most require some sort of follow-up project, but they look great on a resume. Tack on another 20 hours of work if you really want to be a competitive applicant. Yes, all of this is a lot of work, but it really is a once in a lifetime experience. I encourage anyone reading this to contact me for more information.  

            So this is admittedly not the most exciting entry-but more stories of orientation, getting settled, and meeting new people will be to coming soon!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles- Or sticking out like a dumb American

My almost 48 hours of travel is nearly over, and as far as I can tell will end a success. Other then the LOOOOONG layovers at the airport (6 hours in Chicago, 8 hours in Frankfurt), and packing a large amount of luggage through the street in Casablanca, it was entirely stress free. My total travel time adds up to: 10 hours of flying, 14 hours of airport layover, 7 hours lost in time change, 3 and a half hours on the train, 8 hours of hotel stay, and a little over 2 hours by taxi.

My body seems to be adjusting well, since it is 4am in Montana and I feel wide awake. I didn’t drink enough water (it cost 3.50 euros in Frankfurt!) and had a headache all last night, but drank five glasses at breakfast and felt much better. Everyone I’ve met has seems friendly, and most have some English. I defiantly am getting to be the foreign kid.

As I type this I am sitting on the train to Fes, which is reasonably comfortable, despite the nervous looks from my fellow passengers when I wrestled two large suitcases into the rack above their heads. Across from me are three women who I assume to be a mother, grandmother and daughter, chattering away. Between my blond hair and giant red suitcases, I feel like a duck in a flock full of geese. Everyone is honking around me, and all I can do is quack awkwardly. I cannot think of anywhere I could travel and stick out more. While waiting for my train in Casablanca I met another exchange student, which made me feel less out of place.

It is comforting to know that this will probably be the most difficult adaptation. After this, I will be able to (hopefully) communicate better and dress to blend in a bit more. 

“Morocco will be great.. they’ll try to buy you for camels because you have blond hair”

So said the lady behind me in the airport security line, as tears roll down my face and I waved goodbye to my wonderful escorts to the gate. I cried less then I expected but more then I wanted to. Mostly there was a lot of frowny chin-quivering, and hiding my leaky eyes behind my sunglasses.

I sit here now and think, “Wow this is it.” And, “of course they charge you for wifi in the airport.” I’m writing this is word in the Billings airport before my flight leaves to Chicago. My last 48 hours were a little wild, but I am grateful that I got to see almost every single person before I left. (Thanks to Peter Fresh’s get together last night.. I know “just ten people” turned into like 50.)

When people asked how I felt about leaving I said this, “I want to cry and laugh and pee. I’m so scared I want to pee my pants, so sad to leave everyone I want to cry, and so excited I want to laugh and jump like a maniac.”

 Part of me thinks this is the worst idea I’ve ever had. Why would I want to leave my comfortable life? I also feel young. I was going through freshman orientation this time last year, two years ago just starting my senior year of high school. I’m still a kid! What am I doing moving to a foreign country, in North Africa nonetheless? But not going is not an option, and never has been. But despite all the fears and doubts, the rest of me knows this is the best idea, and that is an opportunity many people will never get. This is adventure!!!

Pilot

          Where in the world is Morocco? It is the country farthest west in North Africa, whose northern coast makes up the Straight of Gibraltar, which separates the Mediterranean from the Atlantic. 

It is also where, in less then 72 hours, I’ll be off on my big adventure, the experience of a lifetime, ect, ect. It’s strange to think that by this time next week, I’ll be at Al Akhawayn University, starting into my nine months of school in Ifrane, Morocco. 

Many people have asked, “Why Morocco?” To which I answer, “Why not Morocco?” Me being, well, me, I decided if I’m going to go through with this experience, I’m going to make it as epic as possible. When I applied to study abroad through the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), I spent hours researching my options. It soon became clear to me that I didn’t want to go to the “usual places” i.e. anywhere they spoke English. However, I didn’t have the Spanish, French or German to go to countries where those languages are spoken. So, that left the unusual places. My application ended up with my top three places as Morocco, Bulgaria, and the United Arab Emirates. The opportunity to learn about Islamic culture, civilization, and the Arabic language made Morocco my top choice, and the relative freedom of a “Europeanized” Islamic country appealed to me. Going abroad I have the world at my fingertips, and in Morocco, I will have the best of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

I feel both excited and terrified. For someone only 19, I have traveled a fair amount: Spring Break in the Galapagos, Easter in Moab, solo trips to New York City to visit my sister, school trips to DC, Nashville, and Salt Lake. But I have never, a) lived in a foreign country and b) traveled this far alone. My fears are both practical and irrational: What if I can’t get to my school? What if I commit some cultural faux pas that gets me in huge trouble? What if I get homesick? (I’ve never been homesick before, not even as a little kid). But I’m also excited. I want to shop in the souks (marketplaces), ride a camel, and travel through the desert. I want to hike in the mountains and haggle for carpets. I even want to be called “the foreign kid”. I want this. And I can’t wait.