...The alarm clock read "7:27 am" when I decided to roll out of bed this morning. It's my fourth day in country, I still haven't lost my friend "Mr. Jet Lag," and I struggled to sleep through the evening again. So, I wasn't as enthusiastic about waking up as I thought I'd be, given the day's significance.
It's my first day of actively beginning my Moroccan Olmsted experience after being accepted into the program about two years ago. Though there've been a few other beginnings since that time (Arabic language school, my familiarization trip here in December, flying in four days ago), today's special. After all the administration, training and traveling, I'm considering today the beginning of my two and a half years abroad.
During that time, I've got a lot of goals set. Among them, I'll try to learn about the people, their culture and their languages. I'll further my education and hopefully follow in the big footprints of my predecessors. When I regain employment, I'd like to bring some of my lessons learned back to the job and not be too obsolete!
Hopefully, learning the Moroccan dialect and some French, regionally traveling and attending Al Akhawayn University for an advanced degree will be as professionally as personally rewarding. If not - oh well; this time's about discovery, and it's for me.
The degree will begin this fall after some "unstructured" time along the Moroccan coast. That "unstructured" time is just that - do what I want as long as it supports the aforementioned goals. It's my first time to let my hair grow and do what I want without being under the microscope, so I'm curious to see how it goes. For the first month, the plan is to study the dialect (Darija) and live with a Moroccan family (should be interesting!). After that, travel around the country, then learn French, then travel some more, etc...
I'm excited to begin this unique opportunity and start writing about something interesting. You're here from the beginning; stick around for "Meet the "Fazi's"...
Excellent start Jay (and I like your background photo)! You'll be glad that you have these initial snippets of semi-lucid observation when you look back a year from now. The time really does fly by.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very interesting endeavor! You have been preparing for this for two years and seem to really be embracing it. The unstructured time will be wonderful! You write quite well and I truly look forward to reading about your adventure,"Meet the Fazi's" lol..nice :).
ReplyDeleteGood luck - we are all interested in your adventure and insights!
ReplyDeleteGreat start, Jay. I look forward to tracking your adventures. Enjoy the unstructured time and the long whiskers. On a related note, my haircut is back to regulation - maybe not USCCSOP, but a lot closer than last month.
ReplyDelete