Sorry this post is late! Unfortunately I have been sick almost everyday - and I was really sick last week. I'm still having a lot of fun and learning a lot, but my body is just not adapting well to Morocco.
Monday
Typical class in the morning, then Susannah and I went to a pizza place for lunch. I don't mind the Moroccan food, but I don't love it either. The pizza was still a little different than at home, but it was nice to have a bit of comfort food! After the afternoon class, we went home right away (since we didn't go home for lunch) and watched a Turkish soap opera with our family. Let me tell you - this is a good soap opera, even though I can't understand a word that is spoken. It's really fun to watch something with all the women in the house (and some of their friends) and we can all enjoy it together.
Tuesday
Today, a lifelong dream of mine was fulfilled. I was basically in my favorite movie - except in real life. But in fulfilling this dream, I did break a promise that I made in 8th grade to my mother (sorry Mom!). Let me give you the back-story - in 8th grade my favorite movie, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, came out. For those of you who haven't watched this modern day classic, it is about Lizzie's adventures in Rome where she gets mistaken for an Italian pop star. I made my mom go see it with me and while she highly enjoyed the movie (because it is amazing), she did give me a lecture on some of Lizzie's behavior that she did not agree with. While in Rome, Lizzie hops on the back of an Italian pop star's motorcycle and rides around the streets of Rome. Mom made me promise to never do that.
But I did. And it was awesome!! Again, sorry Mom.
Susannah and I typically have trouble finding taxi's after our afternoon class, especially if we don't leave right away. While we were waiting for a taxi, one of the program directors from our school saw us and he and his friend offered to give us a ride home on their motorcycles. So we did - and it was amazing. I think thats how the streets of Fez are meant to be traveled. You didn't smell the trash and you weren't sweating in e back of a taxi while the driver tries to hit on you. In case you need a mental picture, I basically looked like this.
For dinner that night, we had fried fish. Except here, fried fish does not mean fish sticks. It means an entire fish, fried. Let me just say, it tasted good, but I am not good at picking out fish bones. My host family thought my attempts were very amusing.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Typical class schedule and planning our trip for the weekend. Half of the group left after their classes on Friday (they get out earlier) to go to our weekend destination - Tangier. Susannah and I decided to stay at home Friday night and leave early on Saturday morning. Our family, and our host mom especially takes care of us. So we try to hang out at the house as much as possible because we want them to know how much we appreciate them! And we wanted to watch the soap opera. I'm telling you - it's really good.
Saturday
We left really early for the train station. The streets of the Medina were completely deserted, so our host dad traveled with us to the station to make sure we got there ok. The train ride was smooth - we had to transfer halfway through and almost got off at the wrong stop - but otherwise, the seats were pretty comfy and we were able to get some much needed sleep. We got to Tangier around noon. Tangier is at the tip of Morocco near Spain. It's so close that you can actually see Spain across the water!
It was beautiful there - it's my favorite city we have been too so far. It had a beach-town feeling, with restaurants and bars all along the cost, and white-washed buildings. We spent the afternoon and evening walking around the city and enjoying the cool breezes coming off the water.
Sunday
We went to St. Andrew's Church for a Sunday morning service. This church is a really cool blend of cultures and religions. It is an Anglican church, but designed in the Moorish style (with the typical arches and tiles) with verses from the Qur'an written on the wall. I wasn't able to get pictures of the inside because I got sick during the service, but the church also had beautiful gardens and a cemetery.
Mon, Tues, Wed
This began the seriously sick Lisa. I got a really high fever and sore throat and ended up having to go to the Moroccan doctor's office to get some medicine. Let me tell you, the Moroccan doctor's office is not a place I want to go back to again. Luckily, the medicine did work and I made a quick recovery after 24 hours. And the rose water my host mom kept putting on me might have helped too :)
Thursday
Feeling better enough to take my quiz (I don't think it went well), and then got some supplies for our weekend trip - the Sahara!!
Friday
Feeling much better (thank goodness)! Went to class in the morning, then we left right at noon for a 7 hour bus ride to the desert. We stayed at a beautiful hotel and we were able to get a good night's sleep (and evening swim) before our long day in the desert.
Saturday
We had breakfast at the hotel, then we hopped in the vans and drove another 2 hours to the desert. We dropped our stuff off at a hotel, ate lunch, went for a swim, and tried to stay cool during the hottest time of the day. Finally, around 6:30, we got ready and went to the camels!!
It was ok getting on them because they were lying down. Trying to get comfortable was a bit difficult, however. They put a blanket and a cushion over the hump and you ride on the back of it. It feels a lot different than riding a horse and is quite terrifying when they go down hills. But it was AMAZING!!
The Sahara was beautiful and actually had more vegetation than I thought it would. We rode the camels for 2 hours to our camp where we stayed the night. Before we could get to the camp, however, we had to climb a huge dune. It was at least twice the size of the big one at the Warren Dunes. It was a little rough climbing up after the camel ride, but the views were incredible.
We slept in traditional Berber tents. and had dinner in the center at long tables while listening to a drum concert. It was pretty surreal.
Except for the bugs. There were bugs. Lots of huge, terrifying bugs. All I have to say is thank goodness for Adventures in Odyssey and pure exhaustion from the ride.
Sunday
We woke up at 5:30 and rode the camels back during the sunrise. Unfortunately, we were all a bit (a lot) sore from the ride the night before, but the views were just fantastic. Pictures cannot capture it.
After we got back to the hotel and had a quick shower, we got back in the vans and drove 9 hours back to Fez. Bus rides after 4 hours of camel riding is not fun, but it was totally worth it.
Monday
Typical class in the morning, then Susannah and I went to a pizza place for lunch. I don't mind the Moroccan food, but I don't love it either. The pizza was still a little different than at home, but it was nice to have a bit of comfort food! After the afternoon class, we went home right away (since we didn't go home for lunch) and watched a Turkish soap opera with our family. Let me tell you - this is a good soap opera, even though I can't understand a word that is spoken. It's really fun to watch something with all the women in the house (and some of their friends) and we can all enjoy it together.
Tuesday
Today, a lifelong dream of mine was fulfilled. I was basically in my favorite movie - except in real life. But in fulfilling this dream, I did break a promise that I made in 8th grade to my mother (sorry Mom!). Let me give you the back-story - in 8th grade my favorite movie, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, came out. For those of you who haven't watched this modern day classic, it is about Lizzie's adventures in Rome where she gets mistaken for an Italian pop star. I made my mom go see it with me and while she highly enjoyed the movie (because it is amazing), she did give me a lecture on some of Lizzie's behavior that she did not agree with. While in Rome, Lizzie hops on the back of an Italian pop star's motorcycle and rides around the streets of Rome. Mom made me promise to never do that.
But I did. And it was awesome!! Again, sorry Mom.
Susannah and I typically have trouble finding taxi's after our afternoon class, especially if we don't leave right away. While we were waiting for a taxi, one of the program directors from our school saw us and he and his friend offered to give us a ride home on their motorcycles. So we did - and it was amazing. I think thats how the streets of Fez are meant to be traveled. You didn't smell the trash and you weren't sweating in e back of a taxi while the driver tries to hit on you. In case you need a mental picture, I basically looked like this.
 |
| This is what dreams are made of |
For dinner that night, we had fried fish. Except here, fried fish does not mean fish sticks. It means an entire fish, fried. Let me just say, it tasted good, but I am not good at picking out fish bones. My host family thought my attempts were very amusing.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Typical class schedule and planning our trip for the weekend. Half of the group left after their classes on Friday (they get out earlier) to go to our weekend destination - Tangier. Susannah and I decided to stay at home Friday night and leave early on Saturday morning. Our family, and our host mom especially takes care of us. So we try to hang out at the house as much as possible because we want them to know how much we appreciate them! And we wanted to watch the soap opera. I'm telling you - it's really good.
Saturday
We left really early for the train station. The streets of the Medina were completely deserted, so our host dad traveled with us to the station to make sure we got there ok. The train ride was smooth - we had to transfer halfway through and almost got off at the wrong stop - but otherwise, the seats were pretty comfy and we were able to get some much needed sleep. We got to Tangier around noon. Tangier is at the tip of Morocco near Spain. It's so close that you can actually see Spain across the water!
 |
| The land across the water is Spain! |
It was beautiful there - it's my favorite city we have been too so far. It had a beach-town feeling, with restaurants and bars all along the cost, and white-washed buildings. We spent the afternoon and evening walking around the city and enjoying the cool breezes coming off the water.
Sunday
We went to St. Andrew's Church for a Sunday morning service. This church is a really cool blend of cultures and religions. It is an Anglican church, but designed in the Moorish style (with the typical arches and tiles) with verses from the Qur'an written on the wall. I wasn't able to get pictures of the inside because I got sick during the service, but the church also had beautiful gardens and a cemetery.
 |
| A turtle that decided to sit with me while I was sick |
Mon, Tues, Wed
This began the seriously sick Lisa. I got a really high fever and sore throat and ended up having to go to the Moroccan doctor's office to get some medicine. Let me tell you, the Moroccan doctor's office is not a place I want to go back to again. Luckily, the medicine did work and I made a quick recovery after 24 hours. And the rose water my host mom kept putting on me might have helped too :)
Thursday
Feeling better enough to take my quiz (I don't think it went well), and then got some supplies for our weekend trip - the Sahara!!
Friday
Feeling much better (thank goodness)! Went to class in the morning, then we left right at noon for a 7 hour bus ride to the desert. We stayed at a beautiful hotel and we were able to get a good night's sleep (and evening swim) before our long day in the desert.
 |
| Our beds |
Saturday
We had breakfast at the hotel, then we hopped in the vans and drove another 2 hours to the desert. We dropped our stuff off at a hotel, ate lunch, went for a swim, and tried to stay cool during the hottest time of the day. Finally, around 6:30, we got ready and went to the camels!!
 |
| I was a little nervous... |
The Sahara was beautiful and actually had more vegetation than I thought it would. We rode the camels for 2 hours to our camp where we stayed the night. Before we could get to the camp, however, we had to climb a huge dune. It was at least twice the size of the big one at the Warren Dunes. It was a little rough climbing up after the camel ride, but the views were incredible.
 |
| The walk down to the camp |
We slept in traditional Berber tents. and had dinner in the center at long tables while listening to a drum concert. It was pretty surreal.
 |
| Our camp and tents |
Except for the bugs. There were bugs. Lots of huge, terrifying bugs. All I have to say is thank goodness for Adventures in Odyssey and pure exhaustion from the ride.
Sunday
We woke up at 5:30 and rode the camels back during the sunrise. Unfortunately, we were all a bit (a lot) sore from the ride the night before, but the views were just fantastic. Pictures cannot capture it.
After we got back to the hotel and had a quick shower, we got back in the vans and drove 9 hours back to Fez. Bus rides after 4 hours of camel riding is not fun, but it was totally worth it.
Lisa, I absolutely loved reading your blog! I think you did the right thing when you said yes to the motorcycle ride - ha, ha! Your pictures are amazing! You should enter them in a photo contest. Love you, Mom
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