That's right. I finally made it. After a delay in Atlanta, a brief visit in Paris, lots and lots of problems with Air France, even more problems with the petit taxi drivers in Rabat, creepy Moroccan men hassling me on the street, a slightly terrifying (but slightly relaxing) train ride, and an accidental date with a Moroccan guy who looked suspiciously like Mario Lopez, I'm here! I couldn't be happier to have found my home for the next three months, and to be in such good company. Quite a few of the students staying at the Villa are gone traveling for vacation, but the ones that are here are incredibly nice. It's nice to finally be somewhere and not be terrified out of your wits to go outside alone, because you'll most likely have to walk the gauntlet of Moroccan men who are just waiting to whisper creepy things in your ear, or grab you by the elbow to come with them. It's also nice to know that I have a new family in Fez, even if this new "family" consists of about ten other students only a few years older than me. Tomorrow we're having family dinner; apparently brown sugar is impossible to find here, and all the other students have been dying for American-style chocolate chip cookies. Laura, the self-proclaimed Mom of the group, got some brown sugar in a care package for Christmas and will be making an assortment of pastas and cookies.
After the past two terrible days in Rabat, I'm so glad to finally be here, safe and sound. Monday we start classes and I just got my schedule today. It looks pretty good--a few early days, but it's nothing I can't handle. Then I saw it: the number 2 next to "class size". This means there is only one other student with me? Really? I have mixed feelings about this. I am half-terrified and half-estatic about it. I really don't know what to think about an immersion class that intense, but in shah Allah, it'll be really good for my Arabic.
Okay, off to bed. I've been running all around this country all day and I need to rest my feet.
B'salama,
Danielle
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5 comments:
Danielle, what does "in shah Allah" mean? Trying to use context clues, but anything I come up with doesn't seem to match anything I would think you'd say in english. We're so glad you're finally there and in good company!!!
But really, what does in shah Allah mean?
It means "God willing" or "if God wills it", I think.
YAY! You made it. I just caught up with your blogging. Did you see our professor there? I don't know if he's back yet. We start class Monday too. Arabic 200.01. I went to get books today today and it turns out I only need the grammar book so I'm excited that I don't have to use the second book. Anyway, not much else is going on here except that it's cold and miserable. Thanks for the birthday wishes. And hooray for surviving my 21st birthday with my liver still in tact. I will do my best to keep in touch.
P.S. I still have the kitchen robot and Kelsi's movies. And I've added you on Skype. Do you see me? My name is fariba.par.
Mom is right, so good job to you!
Fariba! Naw, I haven't run into Abderrahim, but I'm so glad you survived your 21st! I'm still a little sad I couldn't have celebrated it with you, but we can have a giant combined celebration of all the important dates I missed when I get back.
As for the kitchen robot and the movies, I obviously am not going to use them, but if you want to get rid of them to make more space, you can call stacy and find a good time to drop it off (614-738-2128). I also fixed whatever I had to and now I see you on my Skype list, so we can Skype away! Do keep in touch--I miss ya!
Oh dang, sorry Uncle Frankie (I'm assuming you're the only Frank I know who would be following my blog) but I totally gave kudos to my mom for figuring out "in shah Allah". I saw the "fran-" part and immediately thought it was my mom. You guys are too similar. Like twins born a decade and a half apart....with some other siblings in between...but twins nonetheless
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