Arrival

Well... I arrived in Ifrane approximately 20 hours ago. I have not had much of a chance to inform people that I arrived safely, but I did!

Funny story, the airlines lost my baggage somewhere along the way. Basically, I have my computer, my headset (to communicate with people), one spare change of clothes, and a couple of notebooks. I am glad I traveled with everything important in my backpack. I think it may have been a blessing in disguise lugging that beefy thing around.

I must have looked pretty funny standing quietly by my TA as she spoke with the gentleman from the airline. After reporting my lost luggage, I walked over to join my fellow students in the two vans that were picking us up. I got into the larger of the two passenger vans, ironically enough, I was the last to get in, so I ended sitting in the van filled with everybody's luggage.

Then the fun stuff began. just so that everyone knows, Moroccans-like most Africans-drive a little differently than most of us are used to in the states. For example, the customary 30 foot rule for following a car does not exist in Morocco. Instead, the driver will follow the car in front of him as closely as possible; until the other lane is clear to pass. So there I am, driving in a luggage filled van (with no seatbelt, because the van had none) flying down the road in excess of 130 km/hr, casually peering in to the cars in front of us, just before we pass them.

Hope you are excited for me! I have some pictures from the beginnings of my trip. I will post them at the bottom, take your time to enjoy them... be awed at the sights, and feel free to laugh at my lost luggage "incident."

It is 11:00am in Morocco as I write this post. I have an introductory Moroccan culture lecture to attend at 2:00pm, and then some administrative things to deal with shortly thereafter. We are getting a tour of Ifrane-starting at 5:30-so I will be sure to take plenty of pictures.

Salaam

P.S. If anyone is interested, you might consider sending me a little gift, just follow the hyperlink.

Gift for Dick

Getting Ready to Leave

Well, shoot. I am about to embark on a meritorious journey to an historically marvelous, merrily magnificent locale. Perhaps you (the reader) have caught on to my blatant alliteration, if so, my description can only mean Morocco, or maybe Mongolia, Mauritania, or Madagascar...but who's keeping track. It is with a mixture of excitement, and uncontrollable nervousness that I prepare to leave on a jet plane (to borrow a line from Peter, Paul and Mary) destined for Ifrane, Morocco, where I will be taking Arabic language classes and assimilating into North African culture.

I will be departing from the Helena Regional Airport at 8:00 am which makes me nervous, because this is the first time I will be leaving the North American continent. But should I be worried? To put it simply, I feel that I owe myself an adventure that will make me feel uncomfortable. I love learning about Islam, but textbooks can only get me so far. I have to experience the culture to feel like my education will pay me dividends later.

Hey....Everyone has to leave their comfort zone every once in a while. Right?

Dick