Week of April 9-12

Good week! We did not have ONE required thing to do thru the CCCL, so we were pretty free. I took a lot of time to work on my project in advance. Here is a quick summary of the week

Monday- I thought it was class registration, so I made it a point to get to the library at 10:30 (my time) to get the CRN codes etc. To my dismay- registration is on TUESDAY. Whoops! Whatever. I sent emails and researched or whatever, and then went home for lunch. Delish lunch- I have really been missing out having lunch at the CCCL this whole time. I took a 20 min power nap after lunch (very Moroccan). I woke up RIGHT on time to meet Ari and look for the AMDH (human rights association). It was VERY hot out, and we walked EVERYWHERE looking for this place. I just want to note that we didn't try the way that I thought it was. (see next Wednesday's post). Sweating and thirsty- we went back to the CCCL Library to work more. I took a break/little walk with Sara and Daisy. I didn't get anything, but they got trail mix fixings, and I am definitely going to do that soon. I went home for tea. I ate two reef very quickly, and then met my friends to go to SUSHI!! It was great. VERY close to the real thing (the Udon noodles were actually Ramen noodles, but it's okay). We didn't order a lot, but I was incredibly satisfied. Sara, Sarah and I took a cab home and our driver was funny. He pretended to understand what we were talking about, but I really don't think he did. I went home and slept like a baby.

Tuesday- I ACTUALLY signed up for classes. I got all of the classes that I want, which made me very excited for next semester. Imane and I made a plan to meet after I signed up for classes to go to Maroc Telecom (worst place ever) because my internet stick hasn't been working. It hasn't been a problem for ME, but Imane has been missing her FaceTime with ALLLLLLL of her boyfriends. We went, and apparently they changed their policy so even if you buy a month of internet, you don't necessarily get a month of service. I really think that she ran down my data usage by skyping so much, but I don't care really. She was SO upset walking home. Like dead silent and complaining SO much about the sun/heat. She questioned why she decided to wear a black headscarf and said a lot of things in Darija. I know a hungry girl when I see one… We went back home and had lunch- fish and yummy spanish rice & moussaka.

At 2:30 I went to the CCCL for a group meeting with Fairouz about NGOs that we can contact for our ISPs. She told me that she found somewhere for me to work with this summer, and that I can meet with them on Friday. Except I can't because (doesn't she KNOW) my mother is coming on Friday…. I begged her to set it up for Thursday, and I got an uncharacteristically prompt e-mail from her later in the day saying that Thursday was okay. I was pleasantly surprised. I stayed at the CCCL a little longer, and then went home to drop my stuff off. Then I met the Sara(h)s for a walk. I didn't bring my camera, but I should have. You're just going to have to believe me. We walked on the beach at sunset. It was phenomenal. VERY beautiful. The sun was setting behind the lighthouse- very picturesque. We continued our walk and came across THE MOST PLAYFUL puppy ever. It was so jumpy and happy. It was also on a leash, SO I was allowed to pet it. The owner called his daughter who is a Professor in Key Largo, Florida (???) I didn't speak with her, but the Sara(h)s said that they could NOT understand her. hahaha. After the walk- I went home and had tea and did more transcribing with Imane… We bought a day of internet because it was also housing selection today.

I don't really want to talk about housing selection. One of the lessons that I have learned here (I think that I have mentioned this before…) is that "everything always works out", SO I am counting on that to happen with housing. My family DEFINITELY could tell that I was unhappy, so my "mom" told Imane to play some Cat Stevens (Yusef Islam) and proceeded to tell me that he was a Muslim. It was great, and I asked them if I could live with them next semester (because I do NOT want to go back to Conn) and they said "MARHABANN!" "Welcome!!" That made me happy. I watched Superbad before bed, and felt a little better….

Wednesday- I went back to the library in the morning, and a group of us went to the AMDH for REAL this time. (Referring to the other post- I knew exactly where it was, and directed the group). We met with someone and got an e-mail to try to schedule a meeting for the next week. We went back and sent the email, THEN got King Sandwich for lunch. Such a great treat. I told Faisil about my mom coming, and that I was going to bring her to King Sandwich- he thought that was a hoot and gave me a big high five while he was laughing out loud. IDK why tho, because I am very serious. We will be there on Saturday. After KS we got ice cream (I initially wasn't into it, but became into it once I realized that it was Peanut M&M flavored….) We took our ice cream to watch the protests. They where bigger than I've ever seen, and we saw some cops beating protesters with batons. Terrible, and hard to watch. People were also running around, but it was surprisingly contained. We went back to Laalou after lunch & the walk.

I sent a FEW e-mails and then went back to my house because I decided to ACTUALLY go on a run. I did, and it was great. More of a walk/run, but I still felt good. I went back home and showered. Fadoua organized a dinner for us, so I had to get ready quickly. I heard Chase & Roz out my window which was cool. I talked to them about plans and I agreed to meet everyone at the train station and bring them to the German Institute because Fadoua tore some ligaments in her foot and needed to cab straight there. I got ready very quickly and then left. I felt bad for my fam because I had no meals with them today, but I promised to eat a lot with them on Thursday.

The German Institute was still great. Long story short, I held my reigns as Clean Plate Club Queen, and I have pix to prove it. BEFORE & AFTER. We all got half pizzas/half salads (pic of everyone) but I really think I was the only one who finished it. I also had a piece of Carolyn's pizza, but that was supposed to be a secret…. I was food comatose after dinner- we walked home. I showed the fam the pix, and they were kinda surprised, but I don't really think that they were THAT surprised because they def know that I do like to eat….

Today is Thursday, and it has been a good day so far- I went to the organization that Fairouz was talking about, but it seems that it actually is NOT going to work out. It's okay though- I am going to meet with Education for All when my mom and I get to Marrakech and hopefully finalize everything with them then…. It has been raining and gross gross weather ALL day- so sad, but okay because some SUNSHINE is coming tomorrow at 6:30 a.m….. I am very excited.

When I got home Fatima and Imane were cutting up REEF (you finally have an image of this beloved dish) for lunch. We had the cut up reef with chicken, lentils and some other unidentifiable (kind of gross) bean on top. Apparently this is like a very big and important lunch here (because not everyone knows how to make it) so a neighbor came over. Imane called her fat before she got here, and said that she was nervous because she eats A LOT… really funny, but I was kind of nervous too--- I wanted to eat the special lunch! It wasn't a problem, and the teacher was nice and funny. I was a dead girl after lunch, so Imane and I watched the rest of Easy A, and then I came back to the CCCL to get my ISP MONEY. I only got half because I am nervous to have all of that money with me at all times. Now I am going to go home for tea time, and pack up :( SO sad!! Second to last night in my home stay, but last night being there all alone. Not sure if I mentioned this, but Mom's staying chez Mansour with me on Friday night--- So funny/gonna be great.

STAY TUNED. IDK how often I will post when KG's here, but I will try to stay as updated as possible… Send wishes for a safe & smooth flight- mom takes off at around 7 pm NY time. EEEEE!!!!