Take Me HO-HO-Home: Holidays Abroad

I'm going kind of out of order with this post, but I just wanted to express what's going on in my mind with not being in America for the "best time of the year." It probably won't be too long, just enough to make you think about my poor soul while you're watching ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas while procrastinating Hell Week and finals and I'm using Boy Meets World to forget about packing, papers, and finals.

To start off, I had already been prepared for missing Thanksgiving-at one point, I was even willing to miss Christmas to travel around Europe between Morocco and Belgium next semester-one day, I really will spend Christmas in a European city and New Year's in Paris. But, as the holidays were coming closer, I was getting more and more upset that I wouldn't be blasting Hip-Hop Nation in my car for two-and-a-half hours down I-81 from Roanoke or up all of Wednesday night baking or watching the parade with my little cousin the next morning, finishing up handmade nameplates (a tradition for the baby of the family), not even sorting through the remainders of Black Friday sales. Thankfully, though, the faculty here at AUI plans a Thanksgiving for the international students every year.

When I had first heard of it, we all were extremely excited, and I invited my Moroccan friend, Ghizlane to the dinner also, and she offered to let us use her kitchen to make food. The next couple of weeks, we were all buzzing about how we missed home; all of our families traditions, from what we ate, to what time we ate, to what we wore, and any particularly unique customs; as well as what we were planning on making. I decided to go with Halusky, a Slovak dish I fell in love with this summer, because it's really easy to make-usually. Leading up to Thanksgiving, Ghizlane invited us over to her house on Wednesday for a sleepover so that we could cook the night before. The dumplings for the halusky weren't sticking together to boil, then, we must have made them to large because the next day when I opened up the container, they had turned the color of bruise (literally, best way to describe it-purple, blue, brown?). Just not good to be serving to 150 people. I was really upset, because nothing I ever make ever turns out as a failure. Allison and I tried stremaing the parade the next day, but the wi-fi at AUI is pretty terrible, and we could hear parts of it with a frozen screen, or commercials for the latest Elmo toy. Aside from the dumplings,  I was also already upset because my professor had scheduled a last minute make-up class because he's going to be gone this week, and he expected all of us to come (the class has seven students, five are American) for a workshop on how to write a paper. I was planning on just not going, but my friend, Kat, eventually talked me into going for the thirty minutes before Thanksgiving started, and I hesitantly complied, but still think it was unfair and useless.

However, Thanksgiving with all of the internationals and Moroccan guests was so much fun. There was so much food granted, the mashed potatoes were more like slimy baby food, but if I had to miss Thanksgiving at home, I would be glad to do it with these people again. Thanksgiving really made me realize how lucky I am with just this experience alone. Yes, I do have much more to be thankful for like a home, car, loving friends and family, etc, but really, there are three major categories of things I had to be thankful for this year:
    1) Being a student at Roanoke college, which I have a fairly substantial scholarship to; has given me the most encouraging professors; challenging courses to build my thought process; the best friends anyone would be lucky to have, who have encouraged me with everything I have decided to do in the last year and who are literally there for me through everything; has given me four huge opportunities, which I'm sure I would never be able to have at any other institution: Washington DC, May Term, Morocco, and Belgium; and is probably the most beautiful campus I could imagine attending (we'll disregard the Kregger Center construction for right now). Undeniably, I am so excited to be going back in August because I miss my "home away from home" so much, but I would be so upset with myself if I hadn't taken all of these opportunities.
   2) A supporting family who goes along with my globe-trotting schemes. From supporting me to find my favorite thing in the world, traveling with two People to People trips and supporting my dream career, never trying to talk me into something more "normal," but letting me pursue what I want. Moving me out in freezing rain last year in Roanoke, to packing all the same stuff back up to move to DC in the Polar Vortex and rain three weeks later. Coming to see me for my birthday and swimming through Kara's vomm. Coming to move me out in April and squeezing my belongings into every square inch of the car. Driving back and forth to Dulles to drop and pick me up from Dulles within three weeks when I went to Slovakia. Supporting me going abroad for a year, even when I thought about spending Christmas abroad, or when hysteria about Ukraine and planes were crashing left and right this summer, or even when Ebola coverage keeps saying "western Africa," implying Morocco, or even just because it must be excruciating to be without me for four months *Tiffany emoji hair flip*. And now, coming to spend time with me in DC while I apply for my Belgian visa in three short weeks.
   3) The amazing experience of coming to Morocco on its own. Granted, DC and Slovakia taught me so much, but Morocco has taught me not only how to be a functioning person, but a functioning person in a different country, completely foreign to my own culture. Of course, I knew what it was like to be outside of the US, but had no idea what to expect coming to a non-western country. It truly has been an exquisite opportunity to learn about a different part of the world and gain new experiences. Obviously, to learn the lessons I have, there have been some negative consequences tied to them, but the good of the experience and learning a lesson certainly outweighs the bad. I've also gotten to see some awesome things: Volubilus, Mosque Hassan II, Barcelona, Chefchaouen, ziplinig, etc. Additionally, I have made such wonderful friends here. It's truly gong to be upsetting at the end of the semester when we all go back our separate ways to every region in America and continue with our lives, having no idea where they'll take us in the next couple of years. Luckily, we live in the twenty-first century and can stay connected pretty decently.

Overall, the experience of being in Morocco has certainly been able to make up for missing Thanksgiving, as well as everything I have been missing this semester like Pres Ball, Bojangle's weekend brunches with my two best friends, birthday celebrations, even countless hours of goofing off in a New Hall common room.

After Thanksgiving, I was also upset that I am currently missing the lead-up to Christmas: garland, tinsel, Christmas lights, music playing in every store, peppermint, going home to wrap presents with coordinating bows, wrapping paper, and gift tags, decorating the tree, as well as going to my cousin's Christmas party at school, and baking and decorating cookies with her and my grandma. However, I went to the non-denominational Christian service with my friend, Anamaria tonight, and got to celebrate the beginning of Advent by hanging boughs around the apartment service is held in and decorate a small tree. Afterwards, we had a delicious dinner and just talked for a long time. Typically, I am not that religious-even going as far as saying I may spontaneously combust by simply walking into a church. However, it was truly nice to spend the evening just singing Christmas carols and listening to what everyone remembers of Christmas back in the US, since the only signs of the approaching holiday are the 35 dirham trees in Carrefour. I am slightly upset that I'll be getting back to the US with only five days until Christmas, not nearly enough time to cram in all of my favorite traditions: BMS lights, baking, wrapping, shopping, etc., but just like Thanksgiving, I wouldn't trade the experience I am having for anything.

I also found out this week that when I get back to America, my first few days are going to be spent in Washington DC applying for my Belgian visa, inshallah I will receive it. But, I get to spend pre-Christmas in a city for the first time in my life! I'm so excited to visit all of my favorite places in DC, since I truly fell in love with the city last semester, as well as see all of the Christmas-y hype like in Union Station. Besides that, I really only know about the tree at the Capitol if any NOVA friends have any suggestions.

With that being said, I wish a Happy Holiday season to all of my friends back in America, please make the most out of it and cherish every moment this winter with your family, because in reality, we're all getting old and adult-y (scary, right?), and you may soon have to experience a Thanksgiving or Christmas without your family either being stuck at work or a train station or airport or halfway across the world.

Coffee, Cats, and Churches: Casablanca

Because my time is coming to an end in Morocco, and I have been REALLY slacking on the blogging end of studying abroad, I have decided to devote all the free time I have this week due to my professors being away at conferences (mostly in DC) and back in the US for Thanksgiving (I know, really sad) to catching up on writing down my adventures. I warned everyone in the first post how much I hated keeping journals and stuff like this... But I'm sure I'll be glad I did it when I'm old and senile and all that good reasoning for doing this and such....

Anywho, after spending two weekends on campus to calm down from Barcelona and recover from midterms, I needed to travel, and the opportunity presented itself as other students were planning to go to Casablanca for a marathon. Needless to say, you have to be a pretty dedicated person excited to run in a marathon in Morocco without really training. Needless to say, I am not one of those people. I prefer writing blogs reflecting on my travels and cultural experience, and we see how well I keep up with that. But, hey, it was a trip to Casablanca, so YOGMO. It's also important to remember that these plans were made around 10 p.m. on a Thursday at  Aggy's. My control freak has really been beaten out of me.

So, Friday, after classes, the group of people I was planning on traveling with and I left for the grand taxi station. After arguing that the whole car should be a certain price, and being told we would have to wait for another person to lower the total cost (a lot of sense since an extra person is worse for gas mileage). However, an AUI student showed up, and all six passengers crammed into the car. That's right-seven people total in a car built for five. Things get a little warm and close in Moroccan taxis.

About an hour later, we arrived in Meknes at the train station, where I departed on my first Moroccan train. It wasn't too bad, just very hot and stuffy. When we finally got to Casablanca, we had to find our hostel at around 9 or so, all I can remember was it was in the dark. But, no issues until we were trying to check in, when someone had forgotten their passport back at AUI. In Morocco, you have to hand over identification to check-in to hotels, and for foreigners, this often means showing your passport-sometimes even surrendering it for the key. After making up several lies trying to avoid having to go to the police station, she ended up having to go to the police station, where she endured a very traumatic experience. When I went to see her after she got back, she was still in tears, but at least she wasn't on the street sleeping.

The next day, some people doing the marathon needed to register, so those of us who enjoy the good things in life like bagels, sunshine, and puppies, decided to explore the city after having breakfast for 3 Dirham (~$0.30). It was really relaxed, just going along taking lots of pictures, so there won't be very many descriptions, just a lot of pictures. After walking by some official government buildings, we made our way to a pigeon infested square, and then, Sacre Couer-a Christian Cathedral located in Casablanca. And because I didn't see enough churches this summer in Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria, I had to go up and see the city.

When we left Sacre COuer, the day went on by going to another place of worship: the Grand Mosque, which you can see in the background, but I wanted to document the small, sassy child precariously walking along the wall. When he saw me take a picture, he demanded money, but I lied and pointed to the mosque. I should've really given him money, just to see him climb down from that wall.

Finally getting to the mosque, we spent quite some time just chilling outside taking pictures. It was simply one of the most beautiful places I've been, and probably what would represent everyone's expectations of coming to Morocco. Marble structures surrounding the huge mosque, blue and green tiles, carvings on the ceilings of walkways, fountains. And the best part was that it was right on the ocean, so the breeze is cool and relaxing, making the atmosphere even more peaceful.

There are specific times for tours of the inside of the mosque, and the next one wouldn't be for a couple of hours, so lunch was in the cards. Indulging myself in the ever classic panini quatre fromage and mint tea, we spent time at a restaurant a couple blocks away before returning for the tour. Of course, I was as ill-prepared to tour a religious establishment as ever (visiting St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest with my tank top and ungracefully insulting St. Stephen's right mummified hand and getting kicked out), and had to borrow my friend's jacket, forming a cape to tour the mosque. It was definitely worth it though. The architecture was so beautiful. It's the largest mosque in Morocco, and over 25,000 people pray inside during Ramadan. The rood also opens for when it is too hot during the summer due to all the body heat. The coolest part was learning about the ceiling and the wood carvings, which all come from the area that I am studying in, where cedar thrives. It was very humbling to be inside, seeing the sheer massiveness. The awe-struck from the size outside definitely follows you inside.

Of course, what would Morocco be without cats? I would totally sleep here too. So peaceful.

After the tour, it was fun to watch some youths to jump off the wall into the ocean. Of course it was something I would probably never do, especially in Morocco, but they obviously wanted to put on a show. there were so many people just standing around looking over the ocean and watching the guys jump. Just a typical Saturday event it seemed like.

Next, we wanted to go to the mall-the largest in Morocco, which has TWO Starbucks. You heard me, TWO. Of course, my coffee addiction didn't start until I joined the adult world last semester when interning in DC, and certainly not overpriced Starbucks, but after a meeting on Penn Ave, I understood the obsession. Obviously, I had also been missing out on traditional fall goodies, and went straight for the pumpkin spice latte. I can't say I regret my decision. We also did a little shopping before realizing how late it was and heading back to the hostel.However, we couldn't find a taxi to take us all the way to the hotel, only to the mosque, which worked out wonderfully since we had discussed how beautiful it must be at night, and we were right.

You can see the thin light from the tower that points towards Mecca. I also absolutely love how this picture turned out, like the mosque is really connecting us down here on earth with a greater power.

The next morning was the big day for the marathoners, but I like to sleep, so Allison and I slept in, and ended up going back to the mall to have more Starbucks for breakfast. On the way there, we saw several of the marathoners-not our friends- running, and looking so distressed and lost. Poor souls, can't say I wish I would've been in their sweaty tennis shoes. Anyway, I had a delightful breakfast on the mall consisting of the second PSL in two days and a croissant fromage, although I was hoping desperately to relive Barcelona and have a bagel. Allison and I walked around the upper level of the mall-the rich part, where I was privileged to breathe the same air as people who can afford to shop at Louis Vuitton and Dior on a regular basis.

It was time to go find the finish line of the marathon to wait for our friends and cheer them on for being awesome human beings and believing in themselves. By the time we got there, all of the West Point kids had finished, unsurprisingly, so we went over to where we could see our friends finish to cheer them on. They all look exhausted, but in much better shape than I would have because running is sad and depressing to me- I don't believe that "it releases endorphines" crap. However, I simply can't express what superstars everyone who ran are; like really, you RAN a MARATHON in AFRICA. As we were waiting for everyone, an American came up to us, and we discussed studying abroad, running, and traveling. It turns out, his wife is planning to run a marathon on every continent-even Antarctica! 

When the marathon was over, it was time to go back to the hostel, collect our things and head back to Ifrane. It was such a great, relaxed weekend. No panicking about what to do, just relaxing with a latte and taking pictures of perhaps one of the most beautiful, exquisite buildings I have ever seen on the ocean. Getting back to Ifrane, I was freezing, missing the warm weather in Casa, and just preparing for the rest of the semester's cold, drizzly rain.