Goals for the new semester!

When I posted my goals for last semester, I was having a bit of a rough patch in my study abroad experience. Coming here has changed my perception of the world and fueled an immense amount of personal growth. However, those changes did not come easily. Many of my goals last semester were about simply adapting and adjusting myself to this completely new environment.

Now it is a new semester, and time to clear out those old goals to make way for new ones. A few of them are goals I didn't accomplish last semester, and some of them are a bit more personal than last semesters'. Here are the ones that are relevant to this blog:

- Ride a camel! Seems simple, but I feel that leaving this country without having been camel-trekking in the desert would be a fail on my part.

-Learn to cook a Tajine. I have several people who have requested a traditional Moroccan cooking experience when I get back. I cannot disappoint.

-Take a piano lesson or learn to play guitar. I'm headed to the guitar club meeting this week!

- Study Arabic at least 6 hours every week. Although I scraped a "B" last semester, I know with more disciplined practice I will be that much closer to communicating confidently with others in the language. 


-Volunteer at least 10 hours per month. Something I really missed last semester was volunteering, and I feel since I have had the opportunity to travel to this beautiful country, I need to give something back to the people who live here. There is a school organization that will help me with this.   

-Take advantage of the pool! If I'm going to try another triathlon this summer, I need to swim while I have this big, beautiful pool to practice in. I plan on swimming twice a week.

-Make arrangements for going home. This includes getting summer housing, applying for an RA position at RMC, and getting financial aid. On other levels, I need to prepare myself to re-intergrate to a culture I have been away from for almost ten months. I need to prepare myself for the reverse culture shock that will come from living where everything is available whenever you want it.

Yes.. It snows in Morocco

Fun Fact. The coldest temperature EVER recorded in Africa was a in 1935: -11 degrees Fahrenheit. The location of this record? Ifrane, Morocco. But hey, still warmer than Montana... 

The Best (and worst) of Europe

Travel articles (which I read frequently) are always rating things as “Best” and “Worst”. I figured since I spent 4 weeks in 8 different countries, I should be able to do the same. Therefore, here is my highly biased and incomplete Best and Worst of Europe.

Biggest Tourist Trap:

Prague, Czech

Everywhere you go that tourists frequent there will be people selling things, people dressed in costumes, and souvenir shops selling “I heart this city” T-shirts. It goes with this thing called “Sightseeing” that everyone feels like is the ultimate point of traveling (more on that later). But in Prague this crap was literally EVERYWHERE. The historic “Old Town” was full of crummy over-priced restaurants, street hawkers, and stores selling junk. The same at the Prague Castle. I felt there was simply not enough stuff there to justify the quantity of tourist crap. 

Best “Must See”:

            The Coliseum

This is defiantly biased on my part, because the Coliseum was the first real “Europe” sight I saw on my trip. When I woke up my first day in Rome, I had a map and simply thought, “Oh, that’ll be cool”. I wasn’t prepared to simply walk off the metro stop and BE THERE. There were tons of tourists and guides dressed in tacky gladiator costumes. I skipped all that and romped around solo, gazing at the shear size and splendor of a building over 2,000 years old.

Biggest Disappointment:

Eiffel Tower

Again, extremely biased on this one. When I arrived in Paris on the last day of the Euro trek, I was exhausted, grumpy, and due to a missed flight, had been traveling for about 30 hours. I went there because I felt obligated too, but I was still excited. I’ve always loved pictures of the Tower in movies and book, and there seemed to be a bit of Romance about it. But really, I got no feeling of splendor, only some annoying men who thought it was ok to harass me.

Best Meal:

????

Really, how do you choose something like this? I have discovered that eating out in a new city by yourself can be intimidating: things are either too touristy, too expensive, or un-authentic. Or sometimes all three. Therefore, almost all my “top meals” occurred with friends. Some that come to mind are Swedish Meatballs at Christmas, Snacking at the Berlin Christmas market, a Russian dish in Berlin, and homemade Apple Strudel in Austria. I also discovered an amazing all-organic restaurant in Dublin, which was so good I went there twice.

Easiest Place to Live:

Dublin

Hands down, I could move there in a heartbeat. People are super-friendly, the pubs are awesome, the public transportation system decent. At just over 1 million people, it is a busy city with a small town feel, and the beautiful countryside is easily accessible. Who wants to pay my grad school tuition to Trinity College? J 

Best Party:

Berlin

A bit unfair, since I was there on New Years. But there is just something in the culture there that encourages a wilder lifestyle. The trains never stop running at night, and open containers are not prohibited, but culturally encouraged. There is something about a place that was under such tight control and is now free that gives it the feeling of real freedom. However, I would need tattoos and several more facial piercings to fit in with the “mainstream” crowd.

Easiest Place to Ask for Directions:

Sweden

EVERYONE speaks English. Beautifully.

Best place to run from the law:

Prague, Czech

See my previous entry about my nefarious American expat acquaintance. You could easily get away with moving there illegally. Not that I recommend it.  

Best New Discovery:

            Free Tours!

A company called New Europe provides tours on a tips-only basis. I took one in Berlin, in Prague, and in Dublin and was never disappointed. It provides a great way to explore a city and find new places to go back later on your own. Most of the places I found that I loved (bookstores and cafes mostly) were because of the free tour.

Morocco.. Round "Jus"

Jus = Dareja (Moroccan dialect) for the number Two 

Ah.. To be back in “The Magreb” (The West, aka Morocco). It feels strange, but at the same time comfortable. It feels good. I’ve spent the last week going to and arranging classes, catching up on some sleep (an activity that was lacking on the Eurotrek), and meeting the group of 60+ new international students. I’ve found some strange characters, and some potential new friends.

Mostly I’m grateful to not be going through the process of being “The Newbie” again. I loved having friends to call up right when I got back. I enjoy knowing where to go, how much a grand taxi costs, and that the small gold coins with the number “10” on them are worth 10 cents, not 10 dirhams. I like that I can greet people in the street or on campus with confidence, and chat up the usual “Hi how are you?” “good, how are you?” both formally and informally, in Arabic. I love that I haven’t left Arabic class in tears of frustration (somehow I scraped a "B" last semester). I know where to go in town for the best food, and how to ignore the unwanted stares. I’ve traveled to most cities, and have stories of train rides, trekking, exploring the medinas, and playing on the beach.

On the flip side, I am trying really, really hard not to be an insufferable know-it-all. I haven’t forgotten that only 5 months and 8 days ago I was in the Billings airport, holding back tears as I said goodbye to all that was familiar. And it wasn’t until about three months ago that I became truly happy and at peace with this country.

There are still things that frustrate me. Harassment in the streets I have not missed in the slightest. The fact that off-campus apartments do not have central heating, and that no one seems to be able to close a door to the outside, even when it’s snowing, makes me crazy. It was about 31 degrees Fahrenheit out, and snowing. Wouldn’t it be more pleasant for all if the door to the café was closed? Do no ask me why this is. Perhaps I am putting practicality over cultural norms.

I also find myself missing the international students that left. It wasn’t until around November that I felt I had formed really strong friendships with them. Now I walk around campus looking for someone to get coffee, or go to Couscous Friday with. I try to just remind myself, just as when I left Rocky, I am so lucky I have people in my life worth missing.

So that is my week first week back. My birthday (Tuesday) was celebrated with drinks and dinner at the local place with both new friends and old. Early tomorrow morning we are going on a hike, choosing to ignore the fact it is cold and snowy. Since I will be around this weekend I want to post some more reflections of Europe, things I’ve discovered travelling, and new semester goals. Until then!   

Photos from Dublin and Paris

My last week of Eurotreking was pretty crazy. Dublin was a very fun city, and I could definitely see myself living in Ireland for awhile. People were friendly and the city was a lot of fun. There are also places in Ireland that are still rather wild-feeling. The combination of those three things makes it seem like a lot of fun.

I only had less than 24 hours in Paris (due to some flight complications/miss communications), so my time there was rather hectic. It was raining and cold and I had gotten very little sleep. Consequently, my impression of Paris was not the greatest. Overall, the experience was amazing though, truly the chance of a lifetime. I am anticipating another adventure soon.... 

Catching Up..

Back in Ifrane!

Since leaving on December 19th I have taken approximately:

5 flights
7 train trips
1 ferry ride
1 taxi ride
3 car trips
11 bus trips
and countless trips on the metro, tram and underground trains
I will make official entries about my last two stops, (Dublin and Paris). But for now I thought I'd just post some of my (ok, Peter's) pictures from Austria:

Famous Author? In Linz

Don't worry mom.. I was safe. :)

The snow was BEA-U-tiful

Cutest Little Old Lady EVER- Owner of a coffee shop

Vienna 

Strange job? I think so

YUMM!

A Few of My "Favorite Things" in Austria

Just like in The Sound of Music Austria managed to include all my favorite things, and throw in one of my favorite people for good measure. I arrived in Haag, the hometown of my good friend Peter late Sunday night. I was exhausted and had a miserable cold. The mysterious medicine they gave me in Czech (mysterious because I couldn’t read the label) didn’t seem to help. Sunday and Monday I managed to relax, recover, and eat some of the delicious food his mom cooked.

Tuesday we went skiing, which made me INCREDIBLY happy. Although it was raining when we got there, it cleared up in the afternoon and the snow was perfect. There was pretty much no one on the hill, except an older gentleman who, in broken English, told me I look like Lindsey Vonn. I’ll take that compliment any day.

Wednesday we drove to Vienna (aka Wein) to visit Peter’s cousin Julie. We toured the city, and climbed up to the top of Saint Stephen’s Dome. 347 steps, and we get to the top to find… A souvenir shop.

Thursday for me was (drumroll) THE BIG DAY. Let us have some background on this day: When I was about eight years old, I read a book about a boy who goes to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, home of the famous Lipizzaner horses. Despite the logistics of an eight-year-old making her way to Austria, I was determined that I would go someday. And now, over ten years later, I made it. Despite having seen the Lipizzaner’s perform several times, watching it in the place where it has always been was magical.

To me, it was like a backstage pass: watching the process of the horses go from very green to advanced levels of collection and forward pace was beautiful. The first horses they rode appeared to be their youngest, which they brought out in  groups of six. The riders worked each group of horses for about a half hour, and then the grooms brought the next group out. I was nearly wetting my pants with excitement over the tempi-changes, the extended trots, and the passages. Peter, who gamely let me drag him to the training, managed to sit there for almost a full hour, which is a credit to him. It was a wonderful, wonderful day for me.

Peter and I made an appearance at other various historical sites, including the treasury (home of the Crown of Charlemagne, the first monarch in Europe, circa 1100 something AD). We also toured the Schonbrunn Palace, home of Empress Maria Teresa, Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Sisi, among others.

The weather was terrible, but then what can I expect from Europe in the winter.

I am now in Dublin, which so far has involved some interesting history and pints of Guinness. More on that later! 

Czech It Out...

Since this trip is all about learning, I've decided to make a list: 

Things I've learned in Prague:

1) Absinth is an evil, EVIL beverage. Served with sugar that has been lit on fire, it tastes like poison. And at 75% alcohol, it feels like it too. 

2) All Czech food MUST be smothered in gravy, pickled, or fried. I think it is required by law. 

3) Anything in the famous "Old Town" is pretty much a tourist trap. 

 

4) Prague attracts nefarious expats. I met an American guy who has been living in Prague for five years illegally under an assumed name. Grant, the alum from my school who introduced me to him, knew him for a year before he found out the guys real name. 

5) Strange, strange coincidences can happen at any time. See previous entry. 

Sadly, the cold I had been fighting since finals week manifested itself into a full-blown illness, so most of my time was spent drinking tea in Cafes and reading the short stores of Franz Kafka. I did manage to find a bookstore with a really great english-language section, which made me super happy. 

Otherwise, life is great. I'm now in Linz, Austria with Peter, my friend from Rocky who lives here. We plan to spend the week skiing, traveling, and (at my insistence) seeing the spanish riding school in Vienna. The Adventure Continues!!! 

An Encounter More Strange Than Kafka...

It's late. I'm tired, and slightly ill. The cold I've had basically since November continues to bother me. But I need to share the following story:

I'm wandering Prague, cold and tired. I have no plans. I had hopped on the metro with the vague idea of walking up the big hill (I forget the name) to view the city, since it is my last night in Prague. But I missed the stop. I wait for a few more metro stops, and then decide to get off. I wander down a random street, with a fuzzy idea of wandering down Charles Bridge, which I knew was close by.

As I'm walking, daydreaming, I see a pair of legs. On those legs are a pair of denim shorts and purple leggings. I think to myself, "Huh, that outfit looks like something Lizzie, (who studied with me in Morocco) would wear."

Then I look up. In utter shock. Who was it but LIZZIE! I had no idea she was in Prauge, she had no idea I was in Prague, we were wandering down a side street in a very non-touristy area. Neither of us had any idea of what we were going to do at that particular time and place. But somehow, without planning, in a city of 1.2 million people, we found each other.

Possibly the best encounter I have ever had. We had a drink, caught up, and generally reflected upon our experiences over the last semester. I still can't believe she was there. I walked back to my hostel, laughing, with a big smile on my face, thinking about how crazy life is.

It seems the crazy stories follow me everywhere in Europe, not to mention in Morocco. I have two more weeks in Europe, and four more months in Morocco. I can't even imagine what is next.

Good Night Prague, it has been fun.

Happy New Year- The Best of 2011

I spent the new year in Berlin, which managed to live up to all the hype that surrounds the holiday. Fireworks were EVERYWHERE,  people were lighting firecrackers and dancing in the street. Berlin had a very cool, edgy, punk-rock feel. I played a game in which I got ten points every time I spotted someone with an open container of beer walking in the street on a typical day. I lost count at 500 points within a couple hours.

Besides the New Year, I kept true to my routine in Europe: good food, good beer, and lots of old stuff. I got to walk through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews. It consists of a large, open park, full of concrete blocks, each a different height and a different angle. The tour also took us to Hitlers bunker, the former headquarters of the Nazi Air force, and a Museum Island. I loved the feeling of freedom and celebration the city had. After such a long, sad history of the people of Berlin, it was good to find it so vibrant.

Also, I've spent some time working on my "Best of 2011" list. 2011 was a very, very good year for me.

Some highlights include:

Snorkeling with sea turtles in the Galapagos

Receiving the Gilman Scholarship

Training for and completing a triathlon

Moving to Morocco

Skydiving

Climbing Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa

Seeing the Arches of Moab- And playing the game of G.N.A.R.

Seeing the Blue City of Chefchouen

Riding horses on the beach in Assliah

Eating Couscous with a Moroccan Family

Trying: Snails, Sheep Brain, Blood Pudding, Sheep’s Head Meat

Crashing a pub crawl in London

Sipping espresso near the Coliseum in Rome

Partying in Sweden on the 25^th  

I'd say it's safe to call 2011 one Hellva Year for me. As 2012 dawns, I can't wait to see what is next!