Post-Morocco Reflection

Wow! I can't even believe my NSLI-Y experience is over and I've been home for two weeks. First off, let explain why I did not do a week five and six reflection. The last two weeks of the program were very hectic and it was very hard for me to update y'all. Week five, we were in Essaouira which was such an amazing experience. Week six, we had final exams and we were getting ready to go back home! That was about it.

Now, onto how I've been since I returned from my trip. Morocco was by far, the best experience of my life. I have never met more amazing people and been in such a great country ever before. I couldn't have asked for a more amazing experience! I did not have much time to say my goodbyes therefore, I did not have much time to process what was happening when I left Morocco. However, when I came back home I just broke down. I missed Morocco so much and I kept asking myself, "Where is my host family?" I could no longer feel comfortable talking in Arabic freely.

Overall, NSLI-Y was the best experience I could have asked for and I highly recommend applying! I know I will be next year! I will be back with more posts about Morocco! 

Week Four Reflection!

Four weeks have gone by and I can still remember when I first stepped off the bus in Marrakech. I really am going to miss Marrakech. I've been learning a lot of Arabic and bonding with a lot of the people in the program.

On Monday and Tuesday the Rabat people came and that was an amazing. It felt so nice to interact and spend time with them. I forgot how much I miss everyone in Rabat. It was also sad because the next time we see them, we will be going back home.

Currently, I am in Essaouira and I can't get over how amazing the weather is. I've bought so much stuff it's insane. While I was buying hats for some family members, a middle aged man comes up to me and hits me on the shoulder and tells me in Arabic "Give me your money" and I just froze. He would not go away and he would not take his eyes off my wallet and he kept saying "give me your money" in Arabic. Luckily, the shopkeeper came and told him to go away.

I have been getting close with a lot of the people here and I really am going to miss everyone here. I've made great friendships and I feel like I've known these people for years and years. I've also gotten closer to my class and teacher. I feel a lot more comfortable asking questions and joking around with my teacher now. I can't even believer there are only two weeks left. I'm going to miss Morocco so much and I am definitely coming back to visit, inshallah.

I've really gotten to know myself and my capabilities throughout these four weeks. I've done so many things I never would have done back home. I feel so much more independent here and I love that feeling. I have a feeling when I get back home I will be depressed for about a week. I don't know how I am going to get used to not hanging out with my friends everyday from 9AM-9PM.

I'll be back next week with my week five reflection!

Week Three Reflection: Halfway Done!

Oh wow, three weeks have already gone by and we are halfway done with the program. This week has been pretty eventful. On Monday and Tuesday we were in Chefchouan and it was absolutely amazing.

Since coming to Morocco, I have grown a lot personally. I've been thinking a lot about what I want to study in college and I'm glad I now have an idea of what I want to study. I've made really great friendships here that I think will stick.

This week has been really hard concerning Arabic. I've been having a hard time picking up everything in class and adjusting. In every single Arabic class I've ever been in, I've always learned conversational Arabic. However, at the CLC they teach us formal Arabic and all the grammar rules. I haven't heard of any of the grammar terms and when I speak, I never think about the correct grammar.

This weekend we are going to Essaouira and I'm excited to go on the beach. Not much has happened this week, will be back next week!

Week Two Reflection

Wow, two weeks have already gone by! It's weird to think that we only have four weeks left at home. So far, we have had four Modern Standard Arabic classes and they have been very challenging (I'll get more into that later). Everyone here is forming close bonds with each other and I have no idea how I am going to function when I get home.

A big adjustment for me was the way the teachers teach Arabic here. I thought we were only going to work out of Al-Kitaab and for six weeks it would an "on your own" sort of thing. However, in my class we use the book as a guide but we go off on our own discussions. Our homework so far has been to review everything we did in class and then we be tested on it the next day. It has been hard adjusting to this kind of teaching style but I feel like I'm learning a lot. Since I was placed in a higher level Arabic class, a lot more is expected of me in terms of vocabulary and grammar rules. However, even though it's hard at the beginning, I will benefit in the long run.

Since my blog title is called From Curry To Couscous, I think it is completely necessary to talk about the amazing food in Morocco. Since today is Friday, we go home for Couscous Friday and have lunch with our families. The couscous here is so unbelievable amazing, I can't even wrap my head around the amazing taste. It has been a little bit of a struggle since I am vegetarian but I have still managed to fall in love with the food here.

More updates in a few days for week three reflection!

Week One Reflection

Oh my gosh, one week has already passed. So far, we have been studying the Moroccan dialect, Darija, in class. It is completely different from Modern Standard arabic BUT tomorrow we will be starting modern standard arabic :)

I seriously love the people of Morocco. Some of them are disgusting when they cat call and disrespect us women. Overall, everyone here is so nice. This morning, I was waiting for my friend to get water and this guy came up to us and started talking to us in Arabic. It's nice to have people that are interested in you and where you came from. My family is so unbelievably nice. I can't get over how hospitable they are. Yesterday I brought a friend home and they immediately brought us juice and couscous. What I like most about my family is how close they are with one another. They don't necessarily like to go out and party all the time. They like to keep to themselves and hang out as a family all together. My host siblings are finally becoming comfortable with me and my roommate. So now, we've developed inside jokes and I've introduced them to my friends here.

I have probably been to the Souks almost everyday since I've been here. It's a really great place to hang out and find some really great deals on Moroccan goodies. Although, I would recommend going in the night time because it gets up to 113 Fahrenheit here.

Marrkech so far!

I've been in Marrakech for a total of two days and I love it so much. My host family is super nice and I have a feeling I'll be learning a lot in the next five weeks. Tomorrow they are taking us on a tour around Morocco and I'm super excited for that. I love everything about this country (minus the cat calling). We went to the main souq yesterday and walked around. There are some crazy acts around here. We came across a women that was telling people she could eat absolutely anything for money and that was probably the craziest thing I heard. There were a lot of monkeys coming around and some men came up to me with their snakes and I ran away immediately. I'll update later with more details!

أهلا وسهلا إلى المغرب! (Welcome to Morocco)

Today we arrived after our long journey to Casablanca! It was so exciting to get to Morocco and see where I will be living for the next six weeks! We are currently in Rabat for the night and we will say goodbye to the Rabat people and head over to Marrakech! The idea of going to Morocco did not really hit me until I was walking around in the city of Rabat. Before we even landed on Moroccan soil, I was able to see how generous Arabs are. The man sitting next to me would constantly ask if I was okay and would even climb over me so that he didn't have to wake me up. When the plane finally landed, everyone started to clap because they felt like they were home.

On the bus ride over, we jammed to classic Arab music and looked at the desert part of Morocco. Surprisingly, the weather here is splendid and it is not nearly as hot as I thought it would be. But, let's wait till we get to Marrakech and then we can talk about heat. Everyone here is extremely nice and we all have one common goal, to learn as much Arabic as possible.

Orientation!

We basically just wrapped up our orientation in D.C. today! We fly out to Casablanca tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited :) I was experiencing a little bit of homesickness at first but I quickly got over it when I met all the great people here. I'm really excited to meet my host family and form a great bond with them. We basically did a few icebreakers and discussed a few restrictions we would have in Morocco. We've been experiencing a variety of foods like Afghani, Indian, American and Mexican. Today we had someone from the actual Department of State come and talk to us about what our main goals are in Morocco. It's really interesting to hear where everyone is from and why they want to learn Arabic. Overall, it has been a great experience so far and I'm looking forward to going to Morocco tomorrow! Talk to y'all when I'm in Marrakesh :) 

The Big Day...

I fly out to D.C. tomorrow! I have such a mix of emotions right now. I've been so busy packing and getting everything together that I haven't even thought about the fact that I'll be gone for six weeks! I'm really excited to meet everyone and form close friendships but, there are huge butterflies floating around in my stomach. I don't really have a lot of experience making new friends but I am really excited to get to know all of these amazing people! I am most excited for my host family :) Next time, I'll be writing from D.C. :)

My Host Family Gifts

I thought for a really long time about what I wanted to get for my host family. I was torn because even though I was born and raised in Texas, I'm not really your stereotypical country girl. I'm more of a city girl who picks Aldo over Cavender's Boot City. But finally, I wanted to get my host family things that were your "stereotypical Texas" I went to the Texas Gift Shop at an outlet mall and found a bunch of Texan goodies. I got a brown cowboy hate, pecan pralines, two Texas placemats, and a chocolate bar with nuts and jalapeno's. I'm really happy with what I got and I hope my host family loves the goodies! 

3 weeks!

Oh my gosh, only 3 more weeks until I leave for Morocco! I can't even believe this anymore! I've dreamed about this trip for such a long time and now it is so close! i only have 6  more school days left. I'll be doing more posts when the actual day I leave starts to become closer. I'll tell y'all what I'm packing and such. Can't wait for Morocco!! 

My Itinerary!

Today, I received my lovely itinerary for my trip to Morocco. I find that the most exciting thing about going somewhere is the trip to get there. Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves, here is my itinerary for my trip to Morocco this summer!

Friday, June 15, 2012
Dallas to Washington D.C.

Monday, June 18, 2012
Washington D.C. to London
London to Casablanca

Saturday, July 28, 2012
Casablanca to Frankfurt
Frankfurt to Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. to Dallas

There it is! I am super excited for this upcoming summer! I'm pretty familiar with Frankfurt airport but the rest I've only stopped once or twice. It's going to be a great summer :) 

And the countdown begins...

Although I haven't received anymore information about host families, exams, etc. I am starting to become more and more excited. I only have four more weeks of school and then two weeks of summer at home and then off to D.C. then Morocco! I am so excited for this opportunity and it's hard to believe that about two months ago I was sitting in my room looking up alternative programs. I'm looking forward to living the Moroccan lifestyle and hopefully by the time it is time for me to leave Morocco, I'll have a great deal of Arabic to teach to everyone in Texas. Even though I've experienced two Ramadans, I am excited to actually live with a host family that fasts and has iftars. Hopefully I'll be able to fast at least one day! 

FAQ's about my experience in Doha, Qatar

I get a lot of questions about my experience in Doha and I felt like I should dedicate a full blogpost about it. I'll give a little background information first. My father was offered a three year position for his work in Doha, Qatar. But, I only spent two years there. I spent my seventh and eighth grade year at the American School of Doha and moved back to Texas for high school.

Now that we're done with the boring stuff, let's get into answering questions. These are frequently asked questions about my experience in Doha and if you have any that I did not answer, feel free to email me!

1. Did you like it in Qatar?
Yes and no. I loved that I was introduced to the Arabic language and I figured out what I was truly passionate about. However, the people I went to school with were completely different from what I was used to. I made some really great friends but I never felt as though I found a group that I felt fully comfortable with.

2. Do you miss it? Would you ever go back to Doha?
At times I miss my school. I went to a great private school and I sometimes miss the individual attention from my teachers and also the student attitude was a lot better at ASD than it is at my high school. I don't have any desire to go back to Doha. However, if I were given the opportunity to go back I definitely would. Doha is a great place for travelers and it was a memorable experience but I would never permanently move back there.

3. Did you have to cover yourself up or wear a hijab?
No, Qatar did not require for women to wear a hijab. However, when I lived there, I felt like I needed to respect the culture and cover myself up a little bit. I have a whole post about that if you're wondering how to dress in the Middle East.

4. Do you still keep in touch with your friends that you made in Doha? 
I talk to a few but we have all moved around the globe and are on different time zones. A lot of the friends I made at school are living in countries like Japan, the Netherlands, Malaysia, etc. We have all moved on and made other friends and adapted to the places we moved to so naturally, we lost touch. However, some of my really great friends moved very near me and I've gone up to see them a few times.

5. Were you forced to learn Arabic?
No, I chose to take Arabic as my foreign language and I am so glad I did that. Qatar did not require everyone to learn Arabic. However, if you're going to a market or someplace, it is useful to know a few words.

Those are the main questions I get asked! Thanks for reading. :) 

Moroccan Fashionistas

Since the end of the school year is approaching, I have begun the "dozing off" during class phase. Lately, I've been thinking of what types of clothes I should wear in Morocco. Living in Texas, I practically live in athletic shorts and loose fitting T-shirts. However, while I was in Doha I never could have gone out in shorts. Since I lived in Doha for two year, I flashed back to how I used dress there and decided to tell all of you! So, here my friends, is a guide for girls, on what to pack when you're going on a journey to the Middle East.

1. Tank tops and cardigans are your best friends.

Bummed you can't wear your summer tank tops because you're in Morocco? Bring a bunch of cardigans that match your tank tops and voila, you've got yourself a Middle-East appropriate outfit. Cardigans are lightweight and never run out of style. If you're looking for cheaper cardigans I would check out Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, or Pac Sun. If you want a little better quality and are willing to spend a little extra then I would highly recommend going to J Crew, Banana Republic, or Gap. 

2. Substitute shorts with capris or roll up your jeans!

While I was living in Doha, all I wanted to do was go out with shorts on because it was so hot. It got to about 117 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer and it got the point where I would stay at home because that was the only place I could wear shorts. However, one day, I made a trip to H&M and bought some capris and they were a life saver. I did not have to wear tight skinny jeans and my capris were so light weight and they did not cover all of my legs. I would check out Kohl's for really good capris and also Gap and American Eagle have great jeans. 

3. Sunglasses and Cross Body Bags are amazing. End of story.

I have an obsession with sunglasses and cross body bags. I don't care if they are only a summer thing, you'll see me wearing my cross body in the fall, winter, spring and summer! Cross body bags are great because they are so light weight, they carry your essentials, and you don't have to carry a huge purse with you and carry it on one shoulder. It gets hotter than ever in the summer time wherever you are, and sunglasses are great. They look great and they keep your eyes safe from the bright sun. Great places to look for cross bodies and sunglasses is Forever 21, Fossil, Macy's, and Coach. 

4. Lastly, bring tons of scarves

Being in the Middle East, you never know when you're going to take a trip to a mosque or religious area. So, bring a thin scarf and keep it in your bag!And if you don't have room in your bag, wear it around your neck! I have a scarf obsession so I know I will be bringing tons and tons to Morocco with my this summer. Scarves also serve as great accessories and are probably the best things ever. I get a majority of my scarves from India but Target and pretty much any store will have great quality scarves.

International Love....

I was listening to the song "International Love" by Pitbull and Chris Brown and I was inspired to show some pictures of where I've been throughout my life. Enjoy!
                                                                         

                                                                            Malta

                                                                      Naples, Italy

                                                                     Barcelona, Spain

                                                                     Rome, Italy

                                                                 Florence, Italy

                                                  Boire mon chocolat chaud en Nice, France!

                                                               عطلة في مسقط Muscat, Oman

                                                              Ephesus, Turkey

                                           Santorini, Greece (my favorite place in the world)

I've been fortunate enough to have parents that can afford to go to nice places around the world and in no way am I trying to brag.

My Arabic Story...

I get a lot of people asking me how a Hindu girl like me was ever introduced to Arabic. Well, first off, what is wrong with a Hindu girl learning Arabic? Absolutely nothing.

The summer of 2007 my parents broke the news that we were picking up and moving to Doha, Qatar from 2008-2012. My first reaction was "Where is Doha?" And then of course, the tears came and went and all of my childhood friends said they would miss me. I made it my mission throughout 2007 to convince my parents that Doha was not an option and that we have to stay at home. I had lived in a small town in Texas my entire life and the biggest move I had ever made before Doha was moving from one street to another. The summer of 2008 came and before I knew it, I was sitting on a Lufthansa flight to Doha. I was in a deep state of denial when I moved to Doha and I kept thinking to myself, "This cannot be happening" I went to one of the best private schools in Doha, The American School of Doha (ASD). It was so different from the public schools I had gone to in Texas. The people were so much more different and interesting. As I was registering for classes, my mother insisted I be put in Arabic and not be like everyone else. Of course, I told her I wanted to take French and she put her foot down, and said I was taking Arabic, no arguments.

It's funny because I actually received a 20 out of 100 on my first Arabic quiz because it was so hard. But, then I started to really immerse myself in the language and try to improve my Arabic skills everyday. I would try and read the store signs on the streets and figure out the different letters. I would also write my name in Arabic over and over again on my papers. It was then on, when I decided that I was in love with the Arabic language. I was the best in my class and consistently got 100's throughout my first year in Doha. Then, my second and last year in Doha came. I was actually sad to leave because that meant I couldn't take Arabic as my foreign language anymore. I finished my second year and fell more in love everyday with the language. When it was time to go back to Texas, my mother promised me my Arabic journey will not come to an end. And thankfully, it didn't.

Whenever I tell people in India and America that I learn Arabic they are interested but you can hear the judgement in their voices. I live in a conservative, primarily Christian town in Texas and it is sometimes really hard to express my opinion because it is completely different from others. When I told people I learned Arabic in my town, they frowned and asked my why I was learning a terrorist language. Of course, I would yell at them and give them a lecture on how they should do their research and not believe everything the media tells them. However, they would walk out of the room and forget about our conversation. So, I stopped telling people and only brought the subject up when it was necessary. I'm not at all ashamed of my Arabic journey and I will continue to try and change people's minds about the Arab world.

Marhaba!

Hey everyone! I am super excited to start blogging about my experience in Morocco this summer. Only 10 more weeks to go! I am extremely excited. I've never been to Morocco before and I am so glad that I am going with NSLI-Y. I was first informed of NSLI-Y through my brother last year but it was too late to apply. Instead, I went to the Middlebury Monterey Language Academy (MMLA) for Arabic. This was my first Arabic immersion program. It was such an amazing four weeks and I will never forget MMLA. I met the most amazing people and luckily, two people from MMLA are going to join me in Morocco!

I applied for NSLI-Y in November and found out I was a semi-finalist in December. Since there were no nearby volunteers in Texas, I had to have my interview over the phone. After my interview, I was so nervous and I waited for almost three months before I found out I was a finalist. During those three months, I checked my email probably 6 times a day. However, on March 29, I decided to only check my email two times a day. I checked my email that morning and there was nothing and then while sitting in a nail salon in the afternoon, I checked my email and there it was...my notification from NSLI-Y. I heart skipped a beat and I couldn't breath for a minute. I downloaded the attachment and read the words "You have been selected," From that moment on, I could not stop smiling. I told my family and friends and they were thrilled. When I woke up the next day it suddenly hit me that I was going to Morocco for the summer and once again, I could not wipe my smile off my face.

I'm so excited to go to Morocco this summer and I hope this blog will be helpful for anyone considering an exchange program!