butterflies in my tummy

September 1

Tomorrow is the day, everyone.
The day we meet our homestay families. Eek! I have all sorts of nervous-excited-scared-deer-in-the-headlights sort of emotions rumbling through me. For a couple of reasons:
I will be introduced to my brand new family tomorrow afternoon. And I won’t actually be able to communicate with them in words.
Tomorrow this gig becomes REAL. (!!!)

But now for today:
First day of arabic class!! We spent the two hours at the Annexe learning Darija (moroccan arabic)...which by the way is really different from MSA (modern standard arabic). Darija is combined with Berber and French, so basically it’s magical sounding. Let me tell ya.

In the afternoon my friend Tulsi and I walked around the medina once again, I took some photos, etc.

Tonight’s dinner was actually really special: we were able to break the fast with the traditional Fotour meal. It was delicious! Soup, boiled eggs, dried dates and figs, delicious honey-soaked treats, bread, and a something resembling spanikopita. One of the program directors also interpreted the prayer for us up on the terrace as we heard the call to prayer. Getting a peak at this tradition was really special...i’m excited to share some of it with my host family this next week. (even though waking up at 4 am to eat breakfast will be a semi-struggle)

OH YEAH...we also stumbled upon this carnival on the riverside! It was great, really. A bunch of us walked through the medina to this carnival we had heard about, and had a blast walking around and going on rides...well, okay, I went on one ride..but it was great!
The end.

Pictures to come...promise, promise, promise.