Orientation Ends
سلام عليكم
ُThat right there is the traditional greeting in Arabic (salaam 'alaiikum) and it means "Peace be with you." One responds by reversing it ("And with you peace)".
So, after elective classes, two sessions of darija, food poisoning, six lectures, and over fifty instances of harassment in the street, orientation here in Rabat is finally over.
We only have Internet at the Center, and even then it is only for fifteen minutes once or twice a day. I apologize for the lack of detail as to what all has happened while we have been here.
I meet my family later today. The parent-welcoming reception starts at 4.30pm today and goes until everyone has left. I still feel ill and had to ask one of the boys in the group to carry my bag from the hotel. Let us hope that my dad comes with my mom to help me carry my things or I will have to leave some things here over the weekend.
Every time we have Internet it crashes because we flood it so quickly trying to upload pictures or chat with people on Skype. I have not had a problem dealing with not having a cell phone, but the lack of Internet while still being in civilization is indeed difficult to do.
The food, except for yesterday's lunch lamb, has been incredible. Oranges are at their peak here, and absolutely no orange in the world can even compare to them. Each meal has been fresh vegetables, sometimes vinegary, sometimes spicy, sometimes sweet, both hot and cold, but nothing raw (we Americans are advised against eating raw vegetables). I haven't had a drink of milk this whole trip, and I think I will cry if I go longer without it. I've decided to keep my own supply of it separate from my family's storage. Milk here is UHT (ultra-high temp) and boiled before boxed. It has a long shelf life but must be refridgerated once opened. Breakfast so far has been done in a café (croissant, coffee or mint tea, fresh OJ).
The locals complain about who cold it has been. The actual temperature has been in the 60's at the lowest but the buildings retain the cold and never let go of it. And the dampness, oooooh the DAMPNESS!! Nothing gets dry once wet and it makes it seem ten degrees colder. Last night I was having rather violent whole body shivers. My roommates at the Hotel Majestic, Anna and Amanda, put two blankets on me in addition to the comforter and sheet and then sat on top of me rubbing my back 'cause I had had some aches from dry heaving. It was a pretty poor evening for me, and still today I am not much better. Everyone at the Center says that every student gets sick at some point, so it is better than I have gotten it over with now.
It is Friday, and today is the big holy day in Islam. A lot of kids just ran off to the souks to get things done before everyone closes until 3pm. I am so tired. I think I will nap again.
ُThat right there is the traditional greeting in Arabic (salaam 'alaiikum) and it means "Peace be with you." One responds by reversing it ("And with you peace)".
So, after elective classes, two sessions of darija, food poisoning, six lectures, and over fifty instances of harassment in the street, orientation here in Rabat is finally over.
We only have Internet at the Center, and even then it is only for fifteen minutes once or twice a day. I apologize for the lack of detail as to what all has happened while we have been here.
I meet my family later today. The parent-welcoming reception starts at 4.30pm today and goes until everyone has left. I still feel ill and had to ask one of the boys in the group to carry my bag from the hotel. Let us hope that my dad comes with my mom to help me carry my things or I will have to leave some things here over the weekend.
Every time we have Internet it crashes because we flood it so quickly trying to upload pictures or chat with people on Skype. I have not had a problem dealing with not having a cell phone, but the lack of Internet while still being in civilization is indeed difficult to do.
The food, except for yesterday's lunch lamb, has been incredible. Oranges are at their peak here, and absolutely no orange in the world can even compare to them. Each meal has been fresh vegetables, sometimes vinegary, sometimes spicy, sometimes sweet, both hot and cold, but nothing raw (we Americans are advised against eating raw vegetables). I haven't had a drink of milk this whole trip, and I think I will cry if I go longer without it. I've decided to keep my own supply of it separate from my family's storage. Milk here is UHT (ultra-high temp) and boiled before boxed. It has a long shelf life but must be refridgerated once opened. Breakfast so far has been done in a café (croissant, coffee or mint tea, fresh OJ).
The locals complain about who cold it has been. The actual temperature has been in the 60's at the lowest but the buildings retain the cold and never let go of it. And the dampness, oooooh the DAMPNESS!! Nothing gets dry once wet and it makes it seem ten degrees colder. Last night I was having rather violent whole body shivers. My roommates at the Hotel Majestic, Anna and Amanda, put two blankets on me in addition to the comforter and sheet and then sat on top of me rubbing my back 'cause I had had some aches from dry heaving. It was a pretty poor evening for me, and still today I am not much better. Everyone at the Center says that every student gets sick at some point, so it is better than I have gotten it over with now.
It is Friday, and today is the big holy day in Islam. A lot of kids just ran off to the souks to get things done before everyone closes until 3pm. I am so tired. I think I will nap again.
posted by Athena | 11:24 AM
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