Goodbye

It's been three and a half weeks since I left Morocco. I hadn't had the time to sit down and write for awhile because right after finals I left to Marrakech to visit a friend from home for four days. Immediately after that I went back to Milan, Italy to visit my Italian host family from high school for Christmas. I was there for about five days then I headed off to Taipei, Taiwan to visit my boyfriend for just short of two weeks to spend New Years with him.

I was so caught up in constant traveling and just visiting people and partaking in some tourism here and there that I didn't really have the time to think about missing one place because I was constantly on the move to another new and exciting place.

Now that I'm back home, I haven't really found myself in too much of a culture shock, reentering into "my own culture", the American culture and the lifestyle that I have at home. I think it is because I gradually transitioned from living in Morocco, to leaving it but not going directly home, and visiting other places foreign to me and traveling, before I came home. This way I was eased out of Moroccan culture.

I've only been home for less than five days, and all I have to say is that I miss Morocco like crazy. Thinking about it, looking through my pictures, listening to French or Arabic music that I found while in Morocco, it all makes me sad that I'm not there. Being home has been less of a culture shock (readjusting to thinking my own culture is strange and different), but a slow transition of habits, from small things like having to remember that you cannot smoke indoors or just anywhere you want here in the States, to being able to eat everything and have easier access because I have a car here and can use my credit card (and campus food sucked. No more of that...), to having realized how much I took for granted having the friends that I had while I was in Morocco. I established some of the most amazing friendships there, and while some aspects of school sucked and parts of my experience there were difficult, they all stood by me through every part of it. They managed to cheer me up all the time. They took care of me. We laughed, and played, and sang. They were some really great times with some really great friends that I will cherish forever. Although I've always appreciated them, I'm realizing how much I took them for granted. It hurts me that I was not able to say goodbye to all of them, through the chaos of finals and people leaving at sporadic times.

Not all exchange students were able to make many Moroccan friends very easily. I feel very blessed to have found a friend family that supported me and could always make me smile throughout the difficult journey. I miss them like crazy, and I miss the fun we had together. I miss Morocco and cannot wait to go back one day.

Here is a link of a version of Happy, by Pharrell Williams, a version created by students at my University in Morocco, with my university and some of my friends in it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcGsl5GzPf4 

This video makes me cry of happiness and sadness because I miss it so much, but I'm so happy it happened and I'm so grateful for this experience abroad.

Morocco was such an enriching experience, with some of the most kind people, the most beautiful places to see, and a fascinating history and culture, Morocco is easily one of the most beautiful places I've had the privilege of experiencing. It was a difficult semester, one of the most stressful, mentally and emotionally challenging ones yet. Although it was difficult, I'm so thankful for everyone who shared a part of this experience with me. You all taught me something new and shared with me your perspectives. Living abroad and experiencing Morocco has taught me:

                    1) Patience, be patient with people and things will get better over time.

                    2) Flexibility, not everything goes your way.

                    and

                    3) to be thankful. Be thankful for everything, from the food on your plate, to having the clothes over your shoulders and having an education, etc. Morocco is technically still considered a third world country, and many people don't have these basic necessities. 

Despite the challenges, I also had some of the best times of my life. I made some of the most amazing friends and I miss you all immensely. Morocco became a home, and you all became a family. I've definitely left a piece of my heart there. I'll be back one day, and I hope you guys will be able to visit here in the States soon as well :) Insha'Allah <3

Here is a link of a very popular song that I heard a lot while in Morocco. It's an Algerian song, but it's Arabic is similar to Morccan Arabic and understood by Moroccans. There is a huge mix of music that is played in Morocco, from American, French, Moroccan Arabic songs, and other various Arabic songs. This was on of the most popular, and also one of my favorites :)

Although I'm not entirely sure of what every word says, it is a love song. I think it's such a beautiful song, and I thought it was appropriate because I am absolutely in love with Morocco.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKGW9V1WSl8

I hope you all enjoyed reading my blog over this past semester! Thanks for reading!

For my Moroccan friends,

Il y a 3 semaines que je suis partie du Maroc. Je suis désolée si je n'ai pas dis au revoir à beaucoup d'entre vous. Plusieurs d'entre vous sont devenus très chers à mon coeur ce semestre; vous êtes devenus mes meilleurs amis, ma famille. Je suis très triste de ne pas vous avoir dit au revoir, mais je sais que nous nous reverrons un jour. Vous êtes tous les bienvenus chez moi aux états unis, et je vous rendrai visite bientôt. Vous me manquez déjà enormement! Bisous