Information galore

Today I got my first real legit email about Morocco. And one of the first things mentioned is that our departure dates have changed! No longer are they September 14th in DC and September 16th in Morocco, but they now are September 11th in DC, and September 15th in Morocco. But it was stated very clearly that these days are not set in stone..so I guess I won't know when I leave until I leave! Exciting :D

This wonderful Pre Departure handbook also outlined a general itinerary of what we will be doing. NSLIY sends students abroad to not only learn the language, but also to volunteer. So we will be volunteering by helping out NGOs, orphanages, foundations for the blind or specific community projects around Marrakesh. Last summer while I was in Oman, we volunteered at an English Language camp, so I think it's safe to assume that we will be doing the same in Morocco.

Also, since we are staying in Morocco for 9 months, we will be travelling with the program quite a bit. In the handbook it says we will be travelling on 'extended trips" about once a month for three or four days each to different places. Some examples are The Sahara Desert, Rabat-Sale-Casablanca, Tangier-Tetuan, Agadir-Taraoudant-Wad mass, Fes-Meknes-Ifrane, The Atlas Mountains and Essaouira. This looks like quite a bit to be travelling, but I am not complaining. I am very ready to explore Morocco and what it has to offer. The thing that intrigues me about Morocco is its vast and interesting history. It has been colonized by many so it has many influences, including French, Spanish and Portuguese. Because of these colonizations, Morocco also has a very interesting language makeup. Obviously Arabic is spoken, but another very widely spoken language in Morocco is Darija. Apparently Darija in Morocco is laced (lack of good word to use here) with French and Spanish words to substitute Arabic words. From what I've heard, it is near impossible to understand Darija if you only speak Arabic. This brings me to another very central aspect of the program, language classes, the sole reason I applied to NSLIY...ok not really, but a very large part of my decision was based upon this. We will probably have class from 9 until 12.50 (this is only Arabic class) on Mondays through Thursdays, and on fridays we end at 11.15 so we can get back to eat lunch with our host families. Morocco is also interesting because they-unlike other Middle Eastern/North African countries-have the weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

I think thats all I know for now, the other information isn't that interesting, and is mostly about culture shock and what not. I am excited to finally know more about my program, it just makes it all the more real.

Until next time!

Introductions

So I'm figuring that some people may not have been following my travels since the beginning, so I've decided to make an introduction post. Think of it as an "Ariel: the basics" post.

I am currently 18 years of age. I will be taking a gap year with NSLI-Y; more specifically I will be travelling to Morocco, living with a host family for 9 months and studying Arabic (MSA) in a school there. Last summer (summer of 2012) I participated in another NSLI-Y program. I went to Oman (Muscat) for just under two months, lived with a host family, and attended a school to learn Arabic. I will be going to Tufts University (go Jumbos!) in the fall of 2014.
I don't think I had ever thought of taking a gap year when I was younger. I had always envisioned myself as a person who would go straight from high school to college, almost impatient to start a new life and learn what I was truly interested in. However, during high school the "study abroad bug" bit me. I went to a Chinese Immersion K-8 school, and as our eighth grade trip, my class went to China for a month. This was my first study abroad experience. I don't know what prompted me to apply to NSLI-Y again this year-- maybe it was my love for Arabic, my subconscious need for an adventure, or simply because I was ready to do something as a completely independent person--whatever it may be, I am very glad that I did apply.
As of right now, I want to study Political Science and International Relations when I get to Tufts. Politics has been an enormous part of my high school career and life as a teenager. I know what you're thinking.."oh she's just another naive college student thinking she can change the world and become the next president". Perhaps I am that naive girl, but even if I am, I know that our country needs more of these, so I do not take your judgement as offensive, in fact, I embrace it with open arms :) I am, however, open to changing my mind. Maybe in these 9 months abroad I'll fall in love with another major and decide to pursue that. Whatever I may choose to study, you can rest assured that I will devote my body and soul into studying it and making something of the knowledge I will acquire.


So I think that concludes my "Ariel: the basics" post. I have given you a short run down of my life so far..and I promise to keep you updated.

Until next time!

Its been a while

*53 days left*

Hello dear readers! It's been a while. I am going to try and post one thing every other week now, just to get back in the habit of blogging.

In short, I'm beyond ready to leave. I can't wait to get out of here and be somewhere new. Be somewhere I don't have to worry about the incessant fog, homework due dates (well I will but thankfully not for seven subjects) and other school related things.
I'm ready to be submerged in a country of different people, in a place with no memories and in a place where I can start new, so to speak. Not that I necessarily need to, I just want to. I want to be somewhere new, living with new people. I am beyond excited. I have left all my fear and trepidation at the door.

But, I still have fifty three days left. So I have some time. In the meantime I am working at my old preschool and I was learning kickboxing, but low and behold I sprained my ankle this weekend whilst running so thats on a standstill.

I should probably learn more about Morocco, as for now I don't know much at all. In fact, I know nothing about the family I will be staying with, or anything else about the program. I want to know more so I'm better prepared when I get there. Hopefully they'll tell us more in the coming weeks. For now, I'll leave you guys with a picture of where I went camping and hiking this past weekend. It made me realize how beautiful California is, but I'm sure that I will be equally satisfied in Marrakesh.

Until next time

89 days left

I've done it. I've managed to keep a semi regular journal since the beginning of June. Why did I do this, you may wonder. It's training. Training for next year, when I want to be able to write in a journal and on this blog as if its second nature. I want to be able to record my thoughts, feelings, and new experiences. I want to be able to do this all in a way so that I can come back and read what I was feeling in that exact moment 20 years from now. It'll help me grow as a person, and it will help to remind me who I m if I ever seem to forget it on the way.


On a completely seperate note, I am currently visiting family in Italy, which is why I haven't blogged much. I have my OPI test for Arabic sometime in July...'la afam' will become my new favorite phrase.
With less than 89 days left, this hasn't become a reality just yet.

And for now, buona notte a tutti, e forza Italia! (We just won a soccer match against Mexico nbd :D )

The end

Today I graduated. I graduated from Lowell High School. It was a long four years, starting as a scared freshman, and finally ending as a confident senior. I guess it hasn't hit me yet, but it's truly over. I am done with high school. I will never have to go back. Sitting through that ceremony for 3 hours and listening to 613 names, watching the people I have learned to love, to argue with, and in the end to tolerate walk across the stage was..uplifting, in some sense. I can't say that I'll necessarily miss the early mornings and late nights spent finishing homework, but I will miss the lessons I've learned. I realized, as I was standing waiting to get my diploma, that I had spent the majority of my high school career waiting for the next big thing, be it the weekend or the start of a break. Everything passed me by in a blur. I don't remember everything about these past 4 years..and I can't say I want to. High school is a learning experience, and I'm sure I learned almost everything that I could have learned, and I'm very happy with my high school career.

I have officially closed one chapter of my life, and I'm beyond ready to open a new one. 

Nostalgia.

My last official day of school was last thursday. I graduate on wednesday. I finished packing for the summer today. I can't believe the past 4 years are already gone. I never expected them to pass this quickly. I'm glad, but slightly nostalgic. On friday night, I went to my school and just laid down in front of it. Suddenly I realized that I no longer had to go to school there, I no longer had to make the trek from the main building to the Ts; I never had to walk through the metal gate near the bus stop; I never had to walk through those glass doors again. Unless I wanted to. I won't lie, I teared up slightly. I have so many memories at my high school. So many hours passed in that place. I am ready to leave. I am, but it hasn't hit me yet that I will be venturing 6084.1 miles away from home, to a new country, without my family or friends. I don't think this simple fact will hit me for a very long time...until maybe August.
I am ready.
I want to go an adventure.
I want to experience new things.

Marrakech, I am ready. 

Photos and more

I have been swamped. With the cursed AP tests, preparing for graduation, spanish homework, annoying teachers and more. I have had virtually no time to do anything, much less think about my upcoming year in Morocco. 

Until yesterday. 

Both my parents don't have Facebook, and my brother rarely uses it; that is where I post all of my pictures but I want my parents to be able to see my pictures from Morocco. So after making a Flickr and realizing that, actually, it doesn't hold that much memory, I made a shutterfly! 

Essentially, I didn't want to spam the readers of this blog with the endless pictures I will be taking in Morocco, however I wanted my parents to be able to have access to them without having to send them every single picture. Shutterfly is wonderful because I can make albums and they have no memory limit! So I will be posting all of my travel photos on there from now on :)

So far I only have some pictures that I took a few summers ago in Europe 

http://valentinasadventures.shutterfly.com/pictures

Meanwhile....

Countdown to Morcco