Pictures!

Finally was able to get some photos uploaded!  Leaving soon to go to the Sahara.

If you want to see all of my photos, click here 

https://plus.google.com/photos/102152952276429730458/albums/5894179368755882449?authkey=CMfk4pzomrPukwE

I'll try get some captions on them next week!

Here's the group all ready to go in New York!

This is the school where I am currently taking close in both classical Arabic and darija (Moroccan Arabic)

This is on the beach in Rabat- lots of great sunsets!

Home, Sweet, Home

As of right now I do not have internet with my host family- I will try to write something about each day and then post them when I have internet at the Qalam center (my school). 

Friday June 21st

We have finally arrived in Rabat itself!  We visited a different school where we met about 30 other NSLI-Y scholars who were in Moorroco with Legacy International (we are here through I-EARN).  There we received a briefing from one of the US embassy security officers- moral of the story was don't buy drugs and don't follow strangers into dark alleys and you'll be fine.  After some tea we headed over to our school, the Qal center where we had a lovely couscous for lunch followed by a tour of the city by bus.  We visited the Old Medina and the Oudayas.  We then went back to Qalam where we met out host families!  I am currently staying with a young married couple outside of the old medina.  We are spending the weekend with our host families and then start classes on monday.  

Saturday/ Sunday June 22-23

I took the train to tangiers with my host mom and met up with one of her friends and he friend's daughter, Radia. We got henna and enjoyed the beach view.  Sunday night I met up with a couple friends and we explored the old medina- the medina is essentially a walled in maze with vendors covering every inch of space. It is one of the oldest parts of the city.  I live about a 15 minute walk from the medina.  

Monday June 24th

I had to wake up early (7) to get to class on time.  I met up with two other students and together we took a petit taxi to school. There are two kinds of taxis in Morocco- petit taxis which take 3 passengers and will go to a specific address and grand taxis which hold 6 passengers and follow a specific route.  

We had our first class- learning Arabic is a bit like learning to read all over again- the alphabet and sounds are completely different- picture a kindergarten level phonics class at an accelerated pace.

After class we hung out at Qalam center and then took the tram home- the tram is very clean an definitely the most comfortable way to get around.

Tuesday, June 25th

Today we had our first class in darija.  The majority of Arabic I am learning is modern standard Arabic (MSA). MSA is used in news, government, and other more official things.  Darija is the Moroccan dialect of Arabic- every Arab country has its own version of Arabic - many are as different from each other as French and Spanish.  

Currently the computers at Qalam aren't working so I can't post any pictures yet (I'm writing from my iPod) but I will upload them as soon as I can! 

Cheers,

Laurel

In Morocco!

We are currently at what I believe to be an out of session boarding school in Rabat's sister city, Sale.  Despite having been here for only 2 full days, we are already learning quite a bit of Darija (the Moroccan dialect of Arabic). The food here is delicious and the people very friendly and helpful. Every meal turns into an informal Arabic lesson with whoever is sitting with us.  We have eaten several tajines, a traditional Moroccan meal with different meat and veggies cooked in a beautiful cone-lidded ceramic dish.

Tomorrow we will be visiting the US embassy in Rabat and meeting our host families with whom we will be staying from then on.  At some point tomorrow we will also be getting a tour of the city and visiting the school where we will be studying Arabic.

NYC PDO

I am currently staying in a dorm on the Columbia campus in New York City for my pre-departure orientation.  We spent the day learning more about our upcoming adventure and going over rules and expectations (I.e. watched around 7 power points).  There are 15 kids total- 7 boys and 8 girl. All of us have either just graduated or are rising seniors.  

Tomorrow we will be covering some basic Arabic words and phrases to help us get around the first few days.  Our plane leaves around 6pm- we fly to Madrid and then on to Casablanca and then head to Rabat.

Packed (hopefully!)

I finally have everything in my suitcase (I probably forgot something) and am ready to go!  Tomorrow (the 16th) I fly to New York for my Pre-departure orientation where I will meet the other students whom I will be travelling with.  We leave for Morocco on the 18th.

Packing

I'm definitely doing this right.

Morocco: 5 days!!

Hello!

So as many of you may (or may not) know I will be spending most of my summer in Rabat, Morocco learning Arabic.  I received a scholarship through the State Department- it's a super cool program and if you are even the least bit interested in languages/ travelling, you should apply!  (here's a link --> http://www.nsliforyouth.org/)

I'm leaving on June 16th (this coming sunday) and will be back in the states on August 4th.  On the 16th I fly to New York for a pre-departure orientation and then onto Rabat on the 18th! I will be staying with a host family for the entirety of the program and studying Arabic at a school in Rabat (who doesn't love summer school?  There are 14 (?) other American students with whom I will be traveling/ learning arabic.  

Here's approximatly where I will be living within Rabat- the address they gave me doesn't work on google maps...I believe it's the little squigly road between the gardens and the water (within "Kasbah of the Udayas)

http://goo.gl/maps/L4R0L

I'm going to try to update this blog with info/ pictures about my trip! (despite the fact that I know nothing about blogging...)

-Laurel