So what have I been doing since my last blog post in July:

August:

-Summer Camp: 2 weeks in a beach town and brought 4 of my students from my town. My students had a blast at camp, 1 had never seen the ocean before. It was also a good experience for them to meet kids from all over Morocco.

-The screen of my computer broke (got it fixed while I was in the states). I borrowed a screen to use for a few months.

September

-Fought, successfully this time, for the Dar Chebab to stay open after six, in order to accommodate BAC students who don't finish school until 6pm!

-Started English classes four days a week for Seniors at the high school (referred to as BAC students)

-Created an art club that meets on Saturday afternoons of youth from 6-20. At first it began with all girls but many boys have joined the group.

November

-Went to Mid-Service Medicals in Rabat. Completely healthy!

December

-English classes stopped. Various reasons including no space to hold it, loss of interest by certain students, demanding school schedules and tests.

-Went home to America for a two week vacation! I had an amazing time visiting with my family and friends in the states. Went with my mom, aunt, and grandmother to see Wicked in NYC and visit the tree in Rockefeller Center. It was great to be in a country that observed Christmas. Went to my brother's house for Christmas and got to meet his girlfriend that he started dating while I had been in Morocco. My original flight back to Morocco was cancelled due to all the snow in NJ so I got to spend an extra few days with my family while the snow melted.

February

- BAC English classes began again but with a different group of students.

- Started an Exercise/ Dance club with girls at my Dar Chebab (no boys allowed). While two of these girls attended Summer camp where boys and girls could dance in Morocco, in our town it is not appropriate for girls to dance when boys can see them.

Upcoming projects:

-With the first week of April brings the spring break for students and English Spring Camps all over Morocco. I will be coordinating the Spring Camp in Marrakech this year.

-April 22: Earth Day

I'm very excited about the rain! The "winter" in my town this year was warm and with only one day of rain. Last year it was raining all the time and by this time I could look out my window where the once dusty landscape was covered with greenery. Now it's been raining for over a week, it's cold, my roof is leaking, and I can see my breath indoors and it makes me happy. It gives me an extra excuse to put off my laundry, stay snuggled under my covers and read, and bake in order to warm up my kitchen. It also means the "river" will return to my town if only for a few days.

Some Moroccan Humor:

A man wants to commit suicide but rethinks it, decides that he wants to attempt suicide and not die so that people in town will think of him as strong and unable to die. From the roof he wants to jump from is 10 meters high so he goes to the hanut and asks for 9 meters of rope. The shopkeeper gives him the rope and the man goes to the top of the building ties the rope around his waist and jumps. Seconds later he is dead on the ground, as the police are investigating they go to the shopkeeper and ask him about the rope. The shopkeeper says, the man asked for 9 meters of rope but I gave him 12 because I know his father. (told to me in Darija by a Moroccan man and then translated into English)

The reason I share this joke, despite its grave outcome is to highlight Moroccan shopkeepers. While you bargain for almost everything, things like meat, vegetables, and most food items are a set price. When you bargain the starting price and even the final price depend on who you are and how the shopkeeper knows you. For example a foreigner will almost always pay more than a local, and a local will always pay more than a friend. However for things with set prices, if the shopkeeper knows you he will throw in the extra meat he cut that puts the scale over the edge by a few grams, the veggie guy will throw in an extra veggie to make the scale balance instead of shorting you a few grams. It's all in who you know.

This past month my counterpart and I started an exercise club on Saturday mornings. After a rocky start: problems with bureaucracy, constantly finding the Dar Chebab closed at the scheduled time, and certain objections from the male "in charge, we finally got the club off the ground. The first 3 weekends we taught all the dances I've known since middle school including: The Electric Slide, The Macarana, Cotten Eye Joe, The Chicken Dance, Boot Scootin' Boogie, and Achy Breaky Heart. The fourth weekend we found the Dar Chebab closed, again, and this time everyone with keys was out of town so there was no chance of getting into the Dar Chebab anytime soon. Although my spirit was broken my counterpart had a more positive attitude. She suggested we run to one of the douars (a small neighborhood) about 3 kilometers away although we have no where to put our bags down and many of the girls had just finished morning classes. Well we ran (mostly), did deep lunges for a while and speed walked (something my girls had never seen before). Once we made it to the douar we were all thirsty. Since we are in Morocco, what do we do? We go knock on a random door and ask for water. The nice woman who appeared brought us water and chatted with us for a few minutes before we were back on our way to town.

This summer has been a whirlwind of boredom and adventure.

My parents came to visit in June, then I went to Spain with them for a few days. The visit was awesome and I was so happy to introduce them to people in my village. Everyone is still talking about it, even people who didn't meet them but saw them from far away. My parents liked it to, they liked seeing how much everyone cares about me here. The visit had the added bonus of being a vacation for me, I got to go to Spain with them for a few days. I think my favorite part of Madrid was the museums I went to. Went to one huge art museum and it was so cool to see a bunch of the paintings I learned about in all the art history classes I took. I even got to impress my dad with my knowledge of the backgrounds of the paintings and painters. Best of all it was great to see them in person, skype is just not the same.

Summer here is pretty boring otherwise, way too much free time to kill since the Dar Chebab I work at is closed. I spend a lot of time visiting people and working on Goal 2 of Peace Corps (cultural exchange), so technically still working. I'm working summer camp next week so at least that will get me out of my site, even if I am bringing four kids from my site with me. They are sweet kids though and I'm hoping they will like it so I can encourage them to come regularly to my English classes when school starts again.

There has been a few things going on in Mejjat. I helped plan the first ever Watermelon Festival in Mejjat (July 8-10) which was fun. It was supposed to be 3 days but was only 2 and a half because of ANOTHER power outage. The first day was a parade, then an evening show (folk music, watermelon cutting contest, drama-I was in charge of music for, and some gift presentations). The morning of the second day there was a race, then that night Fantasia came. Fantasia are a group of men who ride horses back and fourth and shoot of guns. That was followed by more music. The third day there was a soccer tournament in the morning, then more Fantasia, then the power went out (typical).

I've been to 7 weddings so far this summer, went to 3 last week. It's the only thing to really do around here. They start at 8 or 9 at night and last until 4 in the morning. They are fun, lots of music and dancing. Also a lot of food. The typical wedding food here is fried chicken followed by a dish with beef and prunes, then a tray of watermelon and honeydew. After everyone is fed (shifts which can take forever depending on the amount of tables) they serve mint tea and cookies. Weddings are a 3 day event. One day at the women's house, one at the man's house. I usually go to the husband's wedding (day 3) but I got the chance to go to the women's wedding (day 2) and found out that that is a lot more fun. So, at the women's wedding there is a lot more dancing. The bride changes outfits a bunch of times, it's interesting. Although this wedding was of a 16 year old girl to a 35 year old man. It's something I can't get used to, the marrying of much much older men to younger girls.

Also been using my job skills from the UMW Help desk and removing viruses from computer's and USBs all around Mejjat. Most of all been working to stay cool. With the temperature over 100 and no AC...it's tough.

It’s getting to be the end of the school year here. I spent many Friday and Saturday afternoons in May going to the local high school, middle school, and Dar Talib (Student House-dorms for kids who live out of town but attend the middle school). For the end of the year the school puts on a program to give out awards and the kids put on a show. Although I didn't understand half of it, (singing, comedy sketches, and short skits) it was still good. Last Friday I went to the program at the middle school, and as they were announcing the awards they called my host sister’s name. She had won a drawing contest for her non-smoking poster. I’m so proud of her.

At the high school, I finally convinced some new people to come to the Dar Chebab. At first, a bunch of the guys came and we had a ping pong tournament. Right now the high school kids are cramming for their BAC (kind of like the SAT) but they have to pass it in order to get their diploma. I've been helping out a group of boys with studying for their English exam. It's been a lot of fun, hopefully they will pass. Their test is a week away so I'll be working hard until then.

So, I don’t usually give out my phone number but kids get it one way or another. Most times I get text messages when I have been gone for a while asking me where I am. But once in a while I get text messages like this: “You already know how you plan for you I see only a few days your eyes are shadowed what happens is that in your life your silence will respect me I m –insert name here.” If you can make sense of it, then you are better than me. But for now I’ll remember that sometimes they probably think my Arabic makes as much sense as that text message.

Also, the mosquitoes are back! I'm thinking I may actually break out the mosquito net, my windows have screens but apparently aren't helping.

I finally have started to get things for my house, couches and a refrigerator in particular. I was finally motivated, since my parents are coming for a visit in two weeks!

Okay. Okay. I’ve been slacking on my blog posts. The end of February and beginning of March brought a lot of rain and with it came a ton of power outages. I was lucky enough that my water worked the entire time.

One of the associations that works with my dar chebab has been busy hosting all kinds of events since my last blog. There was a huge party for International Women’s Day (March 12…only a few days late). Some of the older youth I know helped my director plan it and it was a huge success. All the women from the Arabic class came and brought cake (there was a lot of cake). My director borrowed a tent so we could hold the event outside, they set up a stage and the older youth preformed skits about women and women's roles and how it was important for women to study. Then the music group preformed.

The association brought doctors from Fes to the Dar Chebab March 25 and 26 to check eyesight, blood pressure, and blood sugar. A lot of the villagers in my town showed up and were checked free of charge. About 150 people showed up each day. Town officials also came including the caid (one of the highest government appointed officials). I along with the doctors and association members were invited to lunch with the caid at the Dar Talib (student dorms).

The next day I left for Spring Camp in Marrakech. Spring Camp was a weeklong English Immersion Camp in over 22 cities. Our camp had 76 kids, 6 PCVs and Moroccan staff. I taught English for 2 hours every morning, then was in charge of Dance Club for 2 hours in the afternoon. It was hard work but a lot of fun. There was 2 talent shows during the week and during each a group did something I taught them. In the first, 3 girls from my beginner English class sang Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes and in the second 3 girls (with me) danced Cotton-Eye Joe.

After Spring Camp, we met up with other volunteers in El Jadida for a night then went down to Essaouira for Sunday and Monday. Standing at the taxi stand in El Jadida I ran into my Dar Chebab Director, who was thrilled at the chance to meet a bunch of other volunteers. He helped us negotiate with the taxi drivers who were giving us a hard time. Essaouira was a beautiful city, we played soccer on the beach (some swam), ate ice-cream, and watched the sunset over the ocean. Sunday we even had a little Easter celebration. Donnielle bought 28 eggs, boiled them, then hid them around our enormous beach house. Half of us took part in the first egg hunt, then re-hid them for the next group (the prize…a bed to yourself). Then of course we ate the eggs for breakfast the next morning, Donnielle made awesome egg salad sandwiches. It was a relaxing end to the week.

Last Saturday I went to buy bread and ran into a French tourist at my bread stand. My bread guy looks at me, wanting me to help translate, the guy knew no Arabic and took bread from the “display not for eating.” My lack of French abilities stunned the tourist who was confused when I also started speaking Arabic. In the end, the guy got his bread and the bread guy and I shared a laugh over it. I actually felt successful, not being the one doing something wrong and able to share a laugh with a local over someone else’s mistake.

Since my last blog post a lot has happened. January 28, the day that I will always remember. It is the day I finally moved into my house. My program manager came to visit me and made my day. First, he cleared everything up with my house and even took me to the nearby town to buy a mattress so I could move in that day. Not only did he settle everything with my house he also brought me 11 reams of paper, 2 Snicker’s bars, and my own Peace Corps bicycle (helmet included). As he was driving me back to my town he asked me who my best friend in Peace Corps was, I immediately answered it was him (he had made my day after all) and he laughed. It wasn’t until a few days later that I figured out what an impact that statement would make.

Two days later, I left for Post Pre-Service Training (PPST) up in the mountains. It was a long day taking a grand taxi, city bus, petit taxi, train, another petit taxi, and another grand taxi to finally arrive at the Auberge. I was so happy to finally get there and see everyone again. The first person I saw was our Country Director. He first greeted me and then asked me about my visit from my programming manager, telling me that I made his day by calling him my best friend. Yes, the story did go around the Peace Corps office.

Despite returning to a rigorous schedule again for two weeks, I can’t say that I didn’t have fun at PPST. Waking up to be at sessions at 8:30am was rough but it didn’t stop us from staying up all night playing various games. Ever seen 2 boys try to eat 21 eggs each-it happened at PPST. Ever watch the Super bowl in Italian with no commercials-it happened at PPST. Also included were dance parties, movie nights, singing camp songs, lots of icebreakers and swapping hard drives. We did a bunch of Peace Corps stuff too starting the week with an LPI (Language Proficiency Interview-which I improved my score from the last time I took it), setting goals, planning projects, tutoring, and learning about spring and summer camps.

After returning from PPST, I went to my Gendarms (like county sheriffs) just to check in and tell them I made it back to town safely. Guess what was waiting for me, my Moroccan identity card! I am now officially a resident of Morocco (well I was before but now I have the official card to prove it). After making a photocopy of my card and bringing it back to the Gendarms, I walked through town and realized how much I missed it. It really does feel like home. I went to my host families house to tell them I was back and was greeted with hugs and “I missed you’s”. Then I ran into some of my students on the street who were all glad to see me. It’s nice to be home.

My New Years Resolution is to keep my blog updated inspired by all the e-mails, Facebook messages and wall posts urging me to update it. So, I am trying to be better.

Last week I was playing a game of keep-away with a few of the kids at the Dar Chebab, which turned into boys vs. girls and realized that I am really out of shape. I lived up to my nickname (Crash) when I managed to bruise my foot and jam my finger but I had a lot of fun doing it. I kinda was wishing they had some ice though.

Things at the Dar Chebab are constantly up and down. I have some students that come on a regular basis and others who just show up when they have a dire question or the power is out and there is nothing else to do. Since most days both classrooms at the Dar Chebab are occupied I am often left sitting in the office with kids crowding my desk, which is not an ideal teaching situation. Last Tuesday I though I would try something different, Tic-Tac-Toe! I had 3 separate games, one to review past tense irregular verbs, one for irregular plurals, and one for opposites. In order to put an X or an O they had to give the correct past tense, plural form, or opposite. It was also a good review of vocabulary. Hicham (one of my students) wanted to take my Tic-Tac-Toe boards to play with his friends. Overall I think it was a very successful activity and I actually found something that I could use while sitting at a desk that doesn't involve me being a walking dictionary! I was very excited and actually felt accomplished! I used it again the next day with a group of beginner students using numbers, I taught them the numbers as we played and it was a lot of fun.

A few days ago, I was talking to my parents on Skype and my neighbor Zuhir came in. He is a very sweet eight-year-old boy who is also the cousin of my host family. After admiring my computer, he noticed that he could see himself in my Skype screen. At first I think he just liked seeing his face on the screen and made some faces but then my dad started making funny faces back at him and that continued for about 10 minutes while my mom and I were talking. It was really cute. When I was leaving the cyber, I ran into him again and he made me play hopscotch with him.

My New Years Resolution is to keep my blog updated inspired by all the e-mails, Facebook messages and wall posts urging me to update it. So, I am trying to be better.

Last week I was playing a game of keep-away with a few of the kids at the Dar Chebab, which turned into boys vs. girls and realized that I am really out of shape. I lived up to my nickname (Crash) when I managed to bruise my foot and jam my finger but I had a lot of fun doing it. I kinda was wishing they had some ice though.

Things at the Dar Chebab are constantly up and down. I have some students that come on a regular basis and others who just show up when they have a dire question or the power is out and there is nothing else to do. Since most days both classrooms at the Dar Chebab are occupied I am often left sitting in the office with kids crowding my desk, which is not an ideal teaching situation. Last Tuesday I though I would try something different, Tic-Tac-Toe! I had 3 separate games, one to review past tense irregular verbs, one for irregular plurals, and one for opposites. In order to put an X or an O they had to give the correct past tense, plural form, or opposite. It was also a good review of vocabulary. Hicham (one of my students) wanted to take my Tic-Tac-Toe boards to play with his friends. Overall I think it was a very successful activity and I actually found something that I could use while sitting at a desk that doesn't involve me being a walking dictionary! I was very excited and actually felt accomplished! I used it again the next day with a group of beginner students using numbers, I taught them the numbers as we played and it was a lot of fun.

A few days ago, I was talking to my parents on Skype and my neighbor Zuhir came in. He is a very sweet eight-year-old boy who is also the cousin of my host family. After admiring my computer, he noticed that he could see himself in my Skype screen. At first I think he just liked seeing his face on the screen and made some faces but then my dad started making funny faces back at him and that continued for about 10 minutes while my mom and I were talking. It was really cute. When I was leaving the cyber, I ran into him again and he made me play hopscotch with him.

My New Years Resolution is to keep my blog updated inspired by all the e-mails, Facebook messages and wall posts urging me to update it. So, I am trying to be better.

Last week I was playing a game of keep-away with a few of the kids at the Dar Chebab, which turned into boys vs. girls and realized that I am really out of shape. I lived up to my nickname (Crash) when I managed to bruise my foot and jam my finger but I had a lot of fun doing it. I kinda was wishing they had some ice though.

Things at the Dar Chebab are constantly up and down. I have some students that come on a regular basis and others who just show up when they have a dire question or the power is out and there is nothing else to do. Since most days both classrooms at the Dar Chebab are occupied I am often left sitting in the office with kids crowding my desk, which is not an ideal teaching situation. Last Tuesday I though I would try something different, Tic-Tac-Toe! I had 3 separate games, one to review past tense irregular verbs, one for irregular plurals, and one for opposites. In order to put an X or an O they had to give the correct past tense, plural form, or opposite. It was also a good review of vocabulary. Hicham (one of my students) wanted to take my Tic-Tac-Toe boards to play with his friends. Overall I think it was a very successful activity and I actually found something that I could use while sitting at a desk that doesn't involve me being a walking dictionary! I was very excited and actually felt accomplished! I used it again the next day with a group of beginner students using numbers, I taught them the numbers as we played and it was a lot of fun.

A few days ago, I was talking to my parents on Skype and my neighbor Zuhir came in. He is a very sweet eight-year-old boy who is also the cousin of my host family. After admiring my computer, he noticed that he could see himself in my Skype screen. At first I think he just liked seeing his face on the screen and made some faces but then my dad started making funny faces back at him and that continued for about 10 minutes while my mom and I were talking. It was really cute. When I was leaving the cyber, I ran into him again and he made me play hopscotch with him.

I am still a Peace Corps Volunteer and I am still in Morocco. I’m terrible at updating my blog. So what am I doing? I work Tuesday thru Saturday at the Dar Chebab from 2:30-6pm. Some days I teach English, other days I play ping-pong, soccer, or volleyball with the kids. I like tutoring at the Dar Chebab although lately with most of the girls it feels like I'm a walking dictionary. I tried teaching English classes but with the school schedules and my limited access to a classroom with a whiteboard it is hard to set up a schedule.

At the end of December I was walking the post office and I see all the gendarmes (police) in front of it. I didn’t really think anything of it but then the post office was closed for a week and I began to wonder because I was hoping for some packages: two from Peace Corps (one with books and the other with the always important prescriptions) and one from my mom (was really craving some gum from the US it just isn’t the same here). I started to ask questions and found out the postmaster had gotten arrested for stealing over 4 million dirhams. After a few more questions I found out that all the mail was stopping a few towns over, a town that by public transportation is not all that easy to get to. So don’t worry, I still get mail so please don’t stop sending it. I love getting mail and it makes the trip to the post office worthwhile.

In the beginning of January, an association (Youth for Youth) from a nearby city came with the Delege of Youth and Sports and put on a program at the Dar Chebab. The great thing is they were all in their early 20s and although we spoke a mix of broken English and Darija I actually felt like an adult. In my site, I'm usually with a group of old women or groups of 13 year olds. At the end of the day when they were handing out the prizes I got to be one of the "adults" handing to the kids and congratulating them (the others were my acting mudir, the presidents of the associations present, and the delege) I felt important until they wanted me to say a few words and I completely froze. I finally had gotten better at public speaking in the states but here being unprepared in a different language I was not ready for it. It all worked out and the delege talked for me.

I am hoping to move into my own house soon. It’s a small apartment above an internet café with two rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. I’m excited but now I’m just waiting for the landlord to fix the roof before I can officially start moving stuff in. I can’t believe that the first time I will be living on my own I am in a different country.

I have a small notebook that I write down new words or phrases I learn. I was reviewing my notebook with one of my counterparts at the Dar Chebab when she pointed out that my notebook was a compilation of 5 different languages if you include English. Most of the words were in Darija (Moroccan Arabic), then French, then Tashelhit (the local Berber dialect of Arabic) and finally Modern Standard Arabic. It’s times like these I really wish I could find a tutor to help work all of this out, so I’m not mixing languages every time I talk.

And that's it!

Okay, it has been requested so I am updating my blog-Jeff and Sarah’s mom.

I was officially sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer and moved to my permanent site November 13th.

My new town is relatively close to Marrakech. The main stretch of town is about a mile long (not much bigger than Mary Wash) and there is one main street running in and out of the town. The buildings on the side of town with the Dar Chebab were all built after 1998. They are beautiful buildings. The Dar Chebab is smaller than the one at my CBT (Community Based Training) site but has a much nicer soccer field and it is much newer. I have a fairly active Dar Chebab, there is a woman who teaches a class for women every day to teach literacy in Arabic. The languages here are spoken languages (Moroccan Arabic and the Berber dialects) but anything written is in modern Standard Arabic. So in addition to not knowing the script these women are also learning a different language. There is also a music club. Every afternoon there is a large group of boys who come the Dar Chebab to play soccer. I have been tutoring English to random groups that come in and this week I am starting to officially teach classes at the Dar Chebab. I am very nervous.

My new host family is wonderful. There are three girls 13, 15, and 17 who all speak English pretty well which helps a lot. Our house is a lot like an ancient Roman Villa. It has an open courtyard in the middle with 2 olive trees and an orange tree. I have made friends with a women who lives across the street from my host family-in part because she is a great cook! Not really but she has made me pizza and she makes the best cookies.

A Thanksgiving without turkey, mashed potatoes, my grandfather’s famous salad, green bean casserole, or family, which really reminded me where I am and made me miss home. Now it’s December and it is weird, I haven't seen a single commercial or seen Christmas lights, or heard Christmas music anywhere.

I experienced my first Moroccan L3id Kabir. The holiday began the Saturday after Thanksgiving and lasted 5 days. The holiday remembers the act of Abraham when he offers Isaac for a sacrifice but at the last second God switches Isaac with a sheep. Here every family gets a sheep and it is sacrificed on the roof of their home. The day before I saw a man riding with a sheep on his motorbike, I really wish I had my camera then because it was quite a site.

I still can't belive I'm in Morocco!

The first thing about the Cyber Cafe...the keyboard is in French. After figuring out how to change the keyboard to an American keyboard life has been so much better. A boy in my group left after the first and now we are down to four PCT (Peace Corps Trainees) in my CBT group.

Lots of things are happening here. I can now speak entire sentances in Arabic, I can successfully buy things from the stores, I mae bread from scratch, I learned how to peel potatos with a knife (which is a skill). All the small things I do feel like huge accomplishments. Just being able to wash my clothes is a big deal. I have been washing my own clothes since I was 13 but here washing your clothes is a skill. The women here have this awesome ablility to hand wash clothes and get them cleaner than my washing machine at home ever did.

They don't form lines at hanuts (stores) here. The hanut owner waits on you based on how well you are friends with him. I go to the same hanut every morning for bread for our lunch and breaks and now I am one of the ones who gets waited on first even if there were other people there first. :) We have a converstation every morning in darija(moroccan arabic) and he gives me the price VERY slowly in rubals which I then have to convert to durhams in my head. I am getting pretty good at it. But he is very patient and is helping me learn.

I love my host family. Last Sunday they told me that when I first came here all I could say was "hello, how are you, I'm fine, my name is Rachael" and now I can understand them when they talk to me and I can speak in full sentances (granted I only know the past tense but it's a start).

The food here is amazing! So much fresh fruit..a little too much bread. My host family has a garden with peppers, tomatoes, mint and sheba (for tea), olives (I didn't like olives in the states but here I love the plain green olives), and cucumbers.

I am finally in Morocco. I spent a week for an orientation with all 63 people in my training group. It consisted of a few shots and lots of paperwork. I am now at my CBT (Community Based Training) site in the mountains of Morocco. It is such a beautiful view. The 4 other people in my CBT group are a lot of fun and it should be a good 2 months here. I have learned a lot of Arabic in the past two weeks. It is very intense with Arabic classes for at least 5 hours a day. My host family is awesome. The two daughters teach English and have been a great help in learning Arabic. The first day with the family was overwhelming with a lot of Arabic spoken to me at once. I am finally starting to understand what they are saying to me--hand motions help a lot along with pointing to things. Learning to use a Turkish toliet was definitely an experience. Now I'm off to dinner with my host family.

I am sitting here at the Staging hotel for Peace Corps Morocco, feeling much better about my decision to join the Peace Corps. There are 63 in my training class of Youth Development and Business Development Volunteers, and everyone is excited and nervous. After hearing everyone here had the same concerns/anxieties it definitely helped. Knowing that we are all going in knowing very little Arabic and having no idea if we will be able to wear the clothes we packed. Tomorrow will be a busy day of shuttles and the plane ride to Morocco. It is amazing that I will be in Morocco in a little under 30 hours.

Why did I join the Peace Corps? I don't even remember the reason anymore. I have always liked helping people and traveling. The Peace Corps seemed like the perfect way to combine the two. I kept reading articles about Mary Washington alumni joining the Peace Corps and I knew that that is what I wanted to do. I had a lot of support from the faculty at Mary Wash, my boss, and my family who encouraged me through the process. Two years is a long time, and it is the main reason that deters people from joining. However, it is a once in a lifetime experience and two years is not really that long. I spent four years in college and it seems like a blur now.

My Peace Corps Time Line:

The whole process was exhausting, full of anticipation, waiting, and lots of forms. Overall it was the most lengthy, time-consuming "job application" that I have ever endured. In the end it was worth it...well I hope since I don't leave for a week. It has been over a year since I started this process:

July 21st 2008:

Submitted Peace Corps Application.

July 31st 2008:

Received an e-mail from my recruiter.

September 2008:

After a lot of phone tag with my recruiter I FINALLY had my interview. After a lengthy, two hour phone interview I was nominated. She told me I had been nominated for the Caucus Region of Eastern Europe (including countries such as Azerbaijan and Armenia). I was stocked!

Then I received my medical paperwork and began making doctors appointments-doctor, dentist, and eye doctor.

January 2009:

Finished all the doctors appointments and mailed in my medical paperwork.

February 14, 2009: Dentally Cleared!

March 2009: Medical Clearance!!

April 2009: A placement officer called. I had officially been offered and invitation to serve in the Peace Corps, however she did not tell me where I was going, I had to wait for the mail. 5 days later it came! A huge envelope. In it my invitation to serve as a Youth Development Volunteer in Morocco!

--Morocco, I was so surprised since I had been nominated for another region entirely. However, I was ecstatic with the news.

April 23, 2009: I accepted my invitation for Peace Corps Morocco.

And you that that was all?? Once you accept your invitation there is much more to do.

-Fill out a Government Passport application (which is different than a personal passport) and take new passport photos.

-Then send in an aspiration and motivation statement. I thought the essays were over after the application, apparently not.

-Send in a resume and my transcripts.

-Every so often the Morocco Country desk will send an e-mail with a questionnaire. It is to help them with placing you with a family and the structure of training.

August 2009: Recieved the information about staging. I finally knew where the first leg of the journey was. I will be going to Philadelphia, PA September 8th then on the 9th we will be bussed to JFK and will fly out that night.

Here is what the Peace Corps writes about communicating with Peace Corps Volunteers:

Mail:

It normally takes 10 to 12 days for an airmail letter to arrive from the United States. Surface mail takes from one to four months. Mail that goes through the Moroccan post office is subject to customs inspection, censorship, and currency control. Mail delivery is sporadic. Also, do not send cash through the mail, as it will seldom reach me. Please check the U.S. Post Service website at www.usps.com for the latest updates on how best to send your letter or package. Currently, the USPS recommends air Parcel Post (not surface mail) for packages, or airmail for letters.

Packages should be sent in brown padded envelopes. Make sure they have the green customs label and are marked as gifts, which should prevent the imposition of fees. However, packages can not be sent during training, it is best to wait until volunteers have a permanent address. My training ends in November so I should have a permanent address I will post then.

E-mail:

Volunteers, typically, are able to access e-mail and the Internet at cybercafes. Most Volunteers do not have a cyber café at their site, but most are within a few hours’ travel from one. I should have internet pretty close to my site. Youth Development Volunteers often are placed in larger cities which have more internet capabilities.

In short, don't be worried if I don't respond right away. I am not sure how often I will have internet or how long it will take for mail to reach me, so be patient. Thanks!

So, this is my first blog. I promised everyone I would create a blog to detail my adventures in the Peace Corps, so here it is. I can't believe leave in less than two weeks. It was a over a year ago I put in my application for the Peace Corps, then there was the interview, the medical and dental forms, and finally my invitation to the Peace Corps which arrived in April. It has been such a long process. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I finally bought some luggage, who knows if it will be the best type of luggage, but you live and learn right?

I have kept myself busy this summer visiting all my friends and family who I will not see during my time in the Peace Corps. It has been a great summer full of wonderful adventures in the US before I head over seas. I spent a week with my aunt in Waco, Texas. We went to Austin and San Antonio. Then I spent a week with my grandparents in NJ. My grandmother took my mom, aunt and I to NYC where we spent the night in Times Square and saw Lion King on Broadway! I also went on a two week road trip. We went to Chicago, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Salt Lake City, Denver, and St. Louis. It was a trip I will not soon forget.