الحمد لله

I've officially begun my Marrakech experience الحمد لله !  Now, I'm sure all of your are tearing up your minds trying to figure out exactly what that means.  That's right, I found y'all out, and it has become common knowledge to me that the entire world cares about what I'm doing over hear in Morocco, so get ready for THE update that will blow your mind.  Of course, there will be more mind blowing blog posts, but for now I'll you what I've been up to the last couple of days, as well as a list of my daily life thus far.  

So here it goes:

On Wednesday I woke up, finished packing some odds and ends and moved all of my luggage downstairs before sitting down to a "standard" Moroccan breakfast. 

"But St. Richard, what is this standard Moroccan breakfast?"

That's a very good question, world.  A standard Moroccan breakfast consists of bread, butter and coffee (though at the hotel they offered orange juice as well).  

After that we took our luggage over to the center where we received phones and a 100 dh stipend.  Yes world, I am now the proud owner of a Moroc Telecom cellphone (get excited).  Unfortunately, I don't know my number by memory so y'all will have to wait to find out how you can reach me for a very very high price.

Then they sent us out into Marrakech to go find lunch, and some friends and I went to lunch at some place called "Cafe Glacier Snack."  Kabobs muffuga, kabobs.  I then fumbled through purchasing some Moroccan cigarettes (I can now do that perfectly and with a smile).

Next we were broken down into groups and sent on a scavenger hunt around the city.  It was a great experience wandering around, learning Moroccan taxi skills, and how to never, ever try and find your way around the Souk.  

"St. Richard!  St. Richard!  I have a question."

Yes world, what is it?

"What's a Souk?"

What a great question, world.  The Souk is this labyrinth of shops, where they sell just about anything, from hookahs to shoes, to beanies.   It really is a maze, and in order to even pretend to not get lost you just have to keep walking forward.  Somehow, we ended up back where we started, though I have no idea how.

I bought an orange juice.  It was 4 dh (i think thats the abbreviation), or about 40 cents and it was fucking delicious (I apologize about the F-bomb, but it is absolutely needed for emphasis).

Then we made our way back, had a discussion, and met the member of our families that speak English. 

My host brother speaks perfect English, by the way, better than I do and so far the entire family has put up with me massacring their language with smiles, laughter, and cheers when I get things right (though there was one awkward conversation when I tried to explain what math class I took waaaay back in the day.

Class is great, though it's extremely fast paced and difficult.  Luckily I get to practice with my family every night.  I take to the bus to get there, and wouldn't you know it, I have the longest commute.  

A 40 MINUTE BUS RIDE.  Moroccan traffic and busses are insane, by the way and I'll provide more of a description later (hopefully with pictures).

And now today, we had class and now I'm home with my family for lunch (which every friday is cous cous due to Moroccan tradition).  The food has been fucking fantastic.  I mean fucking delicious.  I mean wow.  And you eat with your right hand, but it didn't take long to catch on at all.

So here is my day:

-Wake up at 7:30 for breakfast with my brother.

-Walk down to the bus stop at 8ish and climb on an 815ish bus down to a stop in an area called Le Guiles (GEE-LEES) and walk about 10 minutes to the center.

-Class at 9-11 with a Moroccan tea and bread break.

(Lunch after class the location various according to the day)

-Class from 2-4

-Go Home

-Coffee and snacks with the family

-Dinner

-Lots and lots of soccer

-Study

-Sleep

This schedule will change again next week when another class gets added, but the work load for that one will be small until we get to Fes.  Right now, and for the next couple weeks, we're focusing on Moroccan Arabic.

So that's it for now. 

B'slaama.

   

Ps:  PERSONAL MESSAGE TIME!

Mom and Dad:  I'm alive and well.  We can plan to talk soon, just let me know when it works for y'all.

Matt and David Sames: Y'all are lame.  Lyke4reelz.

Jon:  I miss you too, mang.  We'll tear the world apart when I get back.

Dayvid:  Your comment made me wish you were here so we can raise hell here in Morocco.

Lauren:  I love you and miss you.  Here's look' at you (raises Moroccan mint tea glass), kid.