I love Camels.

Last weekend we took a short trip to Merzouga and rode camels. It was frickin' amazing. 7 shooting stars, 1 night in a Bedouin tent, 1 amazing Tajine dinner and a sore behind, it was all worth it.

Blog Post 5: Life in Polychronic-nessss

Life is Polychronic here, or at least that's what they tell us.

What's Polychronic you ask...

Well, that's a good question....

According to the dictionary it's when things happen all at once.....

For me and for the other foreign exchange students, Polychronic is an explanation for everything that happens; the absence of nice orderly lines or people inviting you places such as their house after meeting them or the lack of order at a Grand Taxi station.

Even though it makes things take 10 times longer, there's something special about it as well as an annoyance. However, I believe that's just my orderly American side coming through.

Polychronic. I love it and hate it at the same time.

Blog Post 4: This is Africa (Image heavy)

Dear Africa,

This is Liz, thank you for being everything I expected and more. Thanks for being hot all the time, but also raining so I can sing "Africa" by Toto. Oh and thanks for the food.

Much Love,

Liz

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is Africa. I'm in Africa, Morocco to be precise. (O Hai Africa *wavesss*). I'm still in shock, more like, self-imposed shock, I have a tendency of reminding myself numerous times a day that I'm here.

Ooooh! Look! A Moroccan fly (It's so muccchhhh coooler because it's Moroccan!!!!)

.....right.............

This post contains a very brief update of my life from last week until now and oodles of pictures.

This past weekend I went to Tetouan (I just had to look up how to spell that....). It was fabulous, we met wonderful Moroccans, swam in the Mediterranean, ate delicious food (nom nom nom) and stayed in a beautiful Riad in the center of the Medina (or city/market area)! Dear reader, if you ever go to Tetou-an, I know the place to stay.

This was taken on the way to Tet.....ouan. Yeah, that's Africa.
This is a random Moroccan City and youth playing soccer.
There are Palm trees in Morocco, oh, and the Rift Mountains (as well as construction!).


The Mediterranean....OoOoOoOOoooo


This is a Souk.
Sighzzzz, it takes soooo long to upload pictures or maybe it's my lazinessss. Oh well.

Back at school, life is about average, very school like, studying....clubs....more studying...oh and classes.

It rained last night....Yeah, that's right, it rained in Africa.

I bleessss the raaaaainnnsss dowwwnnn in Africaaaa

Blog Post 3: O Hai. I'm in Morocco.

This email message is coming at you from North Africa! Yeah, that's right, Africa. Holy Cheese Batman, I'm in Africa! I bless the rains down in Africaaaaaa. Okay, I promise, I will not post that video again....

Sorry for the lack of updates of any sort. I was in France for the last week, living the life of luxury with Cheese and Wine and lots of sleep.




and cheese



But, I've left all the French Discotheques, Burgundy Wine and cheese behind and now am in Africa.

So far, it's pretty cool, not cool in the temperature sense though. The food is pretty nom-nom-nomriffic and the school looks like it's allegedly supposed to.....very European....with marble floors.

O Hai Picture:

What else, we went to the market today. It was a different experience. There were carcasses of dead goats hanging from the ceiling with their heads still intact. As well as, lots of fresh vegetables. Which was nice....

I'm still trying to comprehend the fact that I'm in Africa. Weird.

Blog Post 2: Now that's visual.....

Hey Liz! You have less than a month until you’ll be in Morocco!!!

……….

Really?

……..

So, I have less than a month until I’ll be in Morocco.

Or, for you visual people, this here place:

On this here continent:

Holy Cheese! Cue the panic button.

Before I continue, I must pause this post for a little musical interlude. You should have seen this coming. If I didn’t post it, it would be some sort of crime. Seriously, this music video is frickin’ awesome! Africa!

Toto! Stop seducing me by lounging on that stack of books……..

I hope you’re still with me.

So, Morocco. Everything is almost in order in Missoula for me to travel. My apartment is packed and cleaned (well, I’m supposed to be cleaning it right now…). All of my stuff is at my parent’s house (Thanks Mom and Dad!!!) and I’ve been vaccinated! I have some Moroccan Cash (Dirhams). All that’s left is for me to do is to relax and pack my suitcase! I’ve already packed most of my winter clothes and some dictionaries….I’m sure you’re very interested in the specifics…very exciting post here….

I bless the raaaaaiiinssss down in Afffriiccaaaaa.

In other news, I’ve registered for classes at Al Akhawayn, so far I’m taking; “Women in Economic Development”, “International Development in the Middle East and North Africa” and “Sex, Gender and Power”. I’ll try not to come back a raging feminist or anything like that. Oh, also I have to take a language assessment to determine which Arabic class I should take. Originally, I was debating whether or not I should take more classes, then I remembered, I’ll be in a whole different country and on an entirely different continent…. for that matter. Weird. I hope I get to see a camel.

Blog Post 1: O Hai!

It's hard to compose the first introductory blog post, I just spent the last 10 minutes staring at the screen making odd noises and wondering why and for whom I was doing this. I kept asking myself, ‘Why am I putting myself through this kind of mental trauma?’ and ‘Does this mean I’ll be obligated to update my life so everyone can read about my embarrassing mishaps and ridiculous situations I get into?’ Mental Sigh. So, here it is, a blog (O Hai!!!!!).

So, why do I have a blog?

That’s a good question…..

Because…I’m just that awesome….

Right, because numerous friends and family members have requested a way to be updated about my life and adventures while abroad. In which I say to them, “Pshwa” (according to spell check, that is not a word, “pshwa” to you to spell check!). But, I’ve given in and now I’m blogging (Hello 21st century!!! You’re so shiny!!).

I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “Wait, did Liz just say something about being abroad?” Or maybe you’re not, because you’ve probably have heard me talk incessantly about packing or Morocco. Or, maybe I don’t know you and somehow you found my blog…In which case, I say “O Hai!”.

Anyway, in exactly 62 days, I'll be boarding a plane and flying to spend a week in France with some family friends. Which, I might add, is going to be completely awesome. France = Excellent food! How I love the cheese, oh cheese, oh cheese.

On the following Tuesday, I'll be boarding a plane again and flying to Fez, Morocco (Heeeey! Africa!!!). From there, I will travel southwardly to Ifrane where I will spend the fall semester studying at Al Akhawayn University.

Allegedly, the University looks like this:


I’m sure you’re thinking, “Wait a second! Those buildings look like they could be in Switzerland!!! What are you playing at Liz! C’mon!!” In which I respond to with, not pshwa, but indeed! Morocco was a protectorate of France for awhile, and while they there they established the modern city of Ifrane as an Alpine resort town. Because, when you go on vacation, you want to go someplace that looks identical to where you live, I know I do. Srsly.

So, while I’m there I hope to experience Moroccan culture, eat food, travel a bit and ride a camel. Actually, if I put that in the order of preference, the camel riding would be at the top. Oh yeah, and study, study should be on the list too.

Thus far, the only thing I’ve heard about from the school is in regards to the classes and picking them (they finally posted the times! Whee!) The classes they’ve listed on the Al Akhawayn website are pretty awesome (Heck yes Economic Development in the Middle East and North Africa!!!), so, I’m looking forward to studying there.

Anyway, stay tuned for more developments in the life and travels of Liz in Morocco (Moroccan Mayhem? Perhaps.)

Oh and my plane ticket says I’ll be returning to Montana on the 20th of December. Just in case if you want to know.

Kthnxbai! <3333