week one=complete

1st week of school=completed....wow

So I have finalized my courses, and we just finished our first week of school. I am taking Contemporary Moroccan Culture, the Islamic World and the West, and Community Based Learning (my internship). All of the courses seem very interesting, I just finished reading Zohra's Latter for CMC, it was one of those books that makes you want be a drifter and a novelist for your whole life. I am currently reading Year of the Elephant translated from Arabic into English, and it is heart-breaking right now!

On Wednesday a group of us met at Upstairs and then took a trek to the Kasbah. Sitting on the fort walls and watching the ocean was so peaceful. I feel so close to home still, which is somewhat disconcerting considering I'm more than an ocean away from my family and friends. I suppose I should just accept my acceptance and not rush the culture shock which I've been expecting to feel. I suppose I take a lot of comfort in the knowledge that anywhere I want to be is a simple plane ride away.

We went to the Mega Mall on Friday to go ice-skating. It was like walking right into an American mall, complete with giggly high fashion pre-teens and over-priced coffee (the mall walkers were noticeably absent). My first time on ice skates in about 8 years went surprisingly well, I guess I'm finally growing out of my in coordination. Some of the girls and I went to Upstairs after the mall, I'm always craving their fries and a beer (the Wisconsin in me); it's a nice change of pace from the endless tea and bread we get here at home (definitely not complaining, I love our host family!). That low-carb diet I was dying to try is pretty much impossible here, and now that school is starting to take off I find myself struggling with the family life. I think this is because I moved away from home when I started college and I rarely returned, so I am used to the solitude of my studies, and late night social and study sessions. No 4 AM homework nights split up by trips to Wonderland and Mario-marathons here. Also when I was at home(my parent's house) I had claimed the entire basement for myself at an early age (I'm thinking around 12 years old) and I was rarely disturbed in my cozy cave after the droves of teenagers were forced back to their own homes (generally by their parents, not mine). The massive amounts of freedom I have had from an early age on make assimilating to restrictions here interesting, although I wouldn't say necessarily harder or easier. I am struck with the realization that regardless of the society I am entrenched in part of me is always living up to my father's accusation that I am a hermit (a little hypocritical considering he is always firmly rooted to the same spot in his dimly lit man-cave of a living room, while my mother needs to be pried out of bed if she is engrossed in a book). Good thing I have a great group here to keep me social, and a roommate who loves to be out and about.

I am eager to receive our library cards this week! I have been craving a quite place since our visit to the Kasbah (which was quite deserted during our brief stay and virtually silent). That was truly a magical night that I will remember forever, I am glad we went during our first week here before I become accustomed to the beauty of this ocean city.

We went shopping in the Medina with Doha yesterday, it was a lot of fun but I likely won't return until I have some more Arabic. It was quite frustrating because nobody speaks English, which is my favorite part about Morocco. I feel like an outsider because I can't communicate, and as I jealously watch everyone communicate in Arabic I feel a strong desire to be sitting at home with my Arabic textbook. Which reminds me, homework is calling.