One… Last…. FINAL!

I have exactly one more final, tomorrow at 8am and then I will have finished my first semester here at AUI. I’ve already had to say goodbye to some people, and it’s really starting to dawn on me that: 

A) I have really made a life for myself, completely starting from scratch, here in Morocco. It’s had it’s ups and downs, but I’ve managed to create a life that’s pretty damn good.

B) I might never seem most of these people again. People I’ve seen every day for the past four months, people who have witnessed the best and the worst. It’s really strange to think about.

Also, I was reviewing some of my first entries, thinking about what has changed, how I have changed. I was looking at my “goals” entry, and decided to evaluate how I’ve done. 

So here are my “Goal Grades” for the semester. 

Goal: Make every effort to adapt and integrate into the university, even when I miss home. On the flip side, I won't forget about home and all the wonderful people I have there.

Analysis: 8/10 Some of you may have heard that it was really, really rough in the beginning. The differences in the people, the language the school… They all made life rather challenging. I did eventually adapt, find my “place” here, but there are things I could have done to make it easier, especially in the beginning. I most certainly haven't forgotten all the people I love back home! 

Goal: Admit that there will be things about this lifestyle and culture I will never fully understand, and try to be as flexible as possible in those circumstances. 

Analysis: 10/10 I learned a really great expression around the middle of the semester “when in Morocco, nothing is strange” (It rhymes when said in Arabic). I see that almost every, single day. I’ve found such a contradiction in this culture, such a dual-mindedness. The same people that harass you on the street may invite you to their home for tea. Women in jellbas riding motorcycles, donkey carts in the street being passed by brand new BMWs. Those are all things I will never truly understand, but have come to love. 

Goal: Approach new experiences and diverse beliefs with an open mind, and not judge anyone based on their background.

Analysis: 9/10 It has been a big challenge for me, especially being so opposed to organized religion, to tolerate the religious aspects of everyday life here. The fact that everything is so ingrained in the Q’ran, from what people eat to who they marry, is really hard for me to understand. However, in learning about it, in talking to people with VERY different beliefs, I have come to appreciate, and even respect their faith. We’ve learned in our US and the Middle East Class (which I should be studying for now!) when “Islam” became interchangeable with terrorism in American culture. I feel after living here I can now say that anyone who finds them synonymous is either bigoted or simply ignorant.   

Goal: Ride a camel

Analysis: 0/10 Next Semester, it WILL happen! I still need to make it to the desert, there just wasn’t enough time. I have however, climbed the highest peak in North Africa, eaten sheep brain, seen the monkeys, went skydiving, and road to the beach in a fruit car. Not too bad….

Goal: Learn to cook a traditional Moroccan dish. Can you say Tajine?

Analysis: 6/10 OK, I haven’t made a tajine yet, but I have learned how to make insinmin, which is a little bit like Mexican fry bread. I’m still promising everyone a huge meal, eaten Moroccan style (no forks!) when I come home.

Goal: Travel as much as possible (as much as I can afford) both inside Morocco and in Europe.

Analysis: 10/10 I feel I’ve taken advantage of every opportunity to travel that has come my way. I’ve been to Fez, Meknes Assliah, Casablanca, Chefchouen, Mt. Toubkal, Essouria and Merrakech (twice!), London, Tangier, And I still have SO many more travels ahead!

Goal: Never pass up an opportunity to do something new and exciting.  

Analysis: 10/10 See above! The downside of this is that I get distracted from the present by planning future adventures. "There are so many fabulous far away places to see..." 

This semester, I’ve climbed mountains, swam in the ocean, seen cosmopolitan cities and tiny villages. For the first time I’ve felt homesick, and I’ve learned to appreciate the things that make home what it is. I’ve been completely alone, and I’ve found people I know would do anything for me. I knew that, despite some of the personal drama it caused, signing up to have this experience for a full nine months is perfect for me. I’m SO grateful that I get to come back to this country for another semester, and that in the meantime I get to explore some of the oldest and greatest cities in the world. Look out world, here I come!