Essaouira

A continuation in the email series....This following email recounts our trip to Essaouira. Click the links to view the pictures. Enjoy.



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Marhaba from sunny Morocco!

I have a little more than a month left here in Morocco; I can’t express how enjoyable and amazing this entire journey has been. There hasn’t been a single moment where I’ve regretted my choice about studying here, well, except for being sick in the beginning. In Morocco, you never know what will happen, everyday is an adventure, you can never predict what will happen on a particular day or when doing a simple task such as going to the Marche( the market) to buy fruit ,it can easily turn into a random language and cultural interaction…I rather enjoy it. There are a few things that I miss having such as toilet paper in public restrooms, actually, restrooms that aren’t Turkish Toilets. As well as, set prices and not bartering over everything. Even though, I find these things as annoyances, I know that when I go back to Montana, I’ll miss them.

Anyway, our adventures in Morocco continue, this past weekend we traveled south once again, but this time we went to Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast. We left right after class on Thursday and took the train to Marrakesh. We arrived right after midnight, after eating dinner at KFC (Yeahhh….it’s much better here than in the states…), we decided to find a hotel, however, finding a hotel on a holiday weekend in Morocco is seemingly difficult so we ended up wandering the streets of Marrakesh trying to find a hotel until 3am when we decided to go to the Bus station instead to see if we could find an earlier bus to Essaouira, as chance had it, there was one leaving at 4am. We arrived in Essaouira at around 10:30am. My first impression of the city was that it reminded me of Chefchaouen yet next to the Ocean. We eventually found the main entrance to the Medina…but it was blocked by construction. It was sort of surreal seeing an excavator in the 18^th century entrance to the Medina, it seemed out of place in a way…

Entrance to the Medina:

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We wandered the streets of the Medina in search of a hotel:

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There are large doors everywhere throughout the city (I’m rather fond of this picture):

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We eventually found our hotel, which was considerably nicer than the other hotels we’ve stayed at in Morocco, this one cost around 10$ a night but it included breakfast. Also, it had a nice terrace which we sat upon and enjoyed the view for a bit before wandering the Medina.

Crumbling building next to our hotel:

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Seagull:

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View of the street below:

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We then wandered around the city and visited the fortifications…

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Rocks, waves and a city in the distance…

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Cannons:

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Essaouira is known for its wood products:

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and Fish Markets:

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We also visited the beach:

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Camels on the beach:

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Man riding on the beach:

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People riding camels on the beach, they probably paid a lot to do this:

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I’m on the beach…ha ha ha:

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A man with camels wanted to take us on a camel ride, but we didn’t want to:

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We crossed a small “river” to walk along the beach to find the place where Jimi Hendrix had found

inspiration for his song “Castles Made of Sand” and when we were coming back the tide had risen, so we had to ford across the river. The water would have reached up to my waist, so, my friend Megan carried me across the “river”:

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Essaouira:

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We left the following morning…and we realized that the bus station is the very essence of what Polychronic means. Our bus tried to go between the other two busses:

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Next week, we have a long break for Eid al Kabir, instead of traveling in Morocco, I’ll be heading off to The Netherlands, Brussels and Luxembourg!

The unofficial hit and miss list of 2009/ Morocco

I haven't written anything since the camel trek.



Am I bad blogger? Or maybe I'm having too much fun.



I've recently made it back state-side. It's quite nice. Everyone speaks English and I'm no longer a minority. Is that a bad thing to say? Either way, it's the truth. I can once again eavesdrop and understand what people are saying. Oops. There I go again, spilling my internal thoughts and actions. So, can I go back to Morocco now?



Anyway, back to the subject....



Hit/Miss of 2009



I think I'll start with the Hit list (not that sort of hit list....even though, I should start one of those...just for fun)



Hit List (The Positives of 2009 - Mostly from Morocco)



-Morocco - By far the biggest and bestest thing that happened in 2009. It was amazing, I can't put words into amazing-ness. So, I won't...But, I do know that stuff about/from Morocco will appear on this list...a lot.



-I turned 22 in style with a chocolate cake made by John Blake. Another year older....another year wiser? Perhaps.



-Traveling to France for the second time. It was incredible, as always, and very relaxing. While in France, I was finally able to visit a discotheque, drink wine at lunchtime, take a tour of a French village on a 4-wheeler and eat a lot of cheese.



-(Cue Arabian Nights-esque music) Ride a Camel into the Sahara and camp for the night. Does this really need an explanation of the awesomeness? Have I mentioned how much I love camels?



- Beneluxxxxx. Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. All in one extended weekend. A 6 day tour of Chocolatiers, Museums and Christmas Markets. Excuse me, but do you have a puzzle book?



- In fact, I can't really remember much of 2009 except for Morocco.



-Fez (Fes), Morocco- I love Fez, regardless what others say (Anass...). I love the Medina and Muhammed's cafe, disappearing into the other-worldness of Cafe Clock, the stinky Tanneries, getting lost in the Medina, Jus De Banane, rooftops and the Bab.



-MASI- Montana Arabic Summer Institute. Otherwise known as; the craziest and busiest few weeks of my life, as well as, the funnest and best job ever. I loved working with all the various personalities that incorporated this years MASI program including the students. We had so much fun traveling and teaching/learning Arabic together. Another round of pictionary please.



-Chefchaouen, Morocco- (Also known as, the place that I cannot spell except after 4 attempts) The entire trip north, excluding Tangier (it wasn't that exciting), was something out of Alice in Wonderland, it was so strange, so bizarre, yet, so wonderful. Any place that is painted all blue cannot be ordinary.



-The Desert, I know I brought up the camels, but the desert is one of the most incredibly beautiful places and so sandy.



-The people I met in 2009. I can't list them all because I know I'll exclude someone. The people that I met in Morocco are the some of the best people I've ever met in my life thus far. We traveled together, lived together (sort of), we were sick together, we went through Ramadan together, spent so much time together that if it were anywhere else, we would probably hate each other, but by the end of the semester we remained so close to one another.



-Essaouira, Morocco. A crazy trip of fresh fish markets, fording rivers, Gnawa music, bargaining, rooftops, really long and sauna-esque bus rides and KFC. One of the best cities in Morocco.



- Buying a Macbook and an iPod. I love my Apple products, when they work.



- Crocheting more hats than....than...what I know what to do with.



- Azrou sunsets with Jus De Banane and Cheap Sandwhiches.



-Highland Dancing at First Night..... solo.

-Saturday Nights watching Babar and playing Rock Band II in Madeleine Street house.

- Couscous and Tajine. NoosNoos and Mint Tea. Food is good in Morocco.

-Polychronic. The very concept of being polychronic is so much more relaxing, however, sometimes it's a bit annoying because nothing gets done in a efficient manner. It just takes longer.



Miss List (Things that I missed out on)



-Not spending more time in Morocco. Heck, it's a great place, full of culture and history. I wish I was spending more time there. But, I'm planning to go back in the near future, so, round 2 of Liz in Morocco will soon happen. Inshallah.



-In relation to the previous, miss item, not spending enough time in Marrakesh, Casablanca and Rabat. Apparently, those are great places or something, because everyone across the pond here in the states keeps asking me if I went to those places. Um. Okay.



-Breath mints for dogs. Only because my dog is panting next to me and her breath stinks. Ew.



- Not Dropping Advanced-Intesive Arabic. Why didn't I drop the class like I wanted to. I should have taken that Sociology class instead.



- Not going Skiing. Maybe next year.



- Not singing Africa by Toto enough when it rained.



- Not buying a teapot or a jilaba in Morocco. Sad Camel.



- Jet Lag. I really could have done without it.

-Not skipping class more and traveling.

-Bargaining/Bartering. I have a love/hate relationship with it. Sometimes it's fun, other times I just want to scream in frustration. Please, I don't care if it's democratic price or you'll be giving me a good price. I don't believe youuuuu.

Miss lists are harder to write...because I generally don't have that many regrets to count for....Oh well.......

This is it. The unofficial hit/miss list of 2009. I'm sure there is more...and they will be added in time.

Well. I'm back. And now I want to go back.

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

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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