Blog Post 3: Shepard

My biggest fear as I embarked on my journey in Morocco was not living in the moment. The month would whiz by, fading into a vague memory in a couple of years. I wouldn’t have the life changing experience I was promised. Luckily, there isn’t much room for daydreaming in Rabat. In the Ville Nouvelle, crossing the street involved lots of running across places without crosswalks. And in the medina, you needed to be on the lookout for motorbikes squeezing through crowds of people. Plus, it’s not like I had any desire to drift off into another world. The one I was in amazed me. The market was filled with towering mosques, ornate fountains, and smells of grilling meats and spices. We met a very kind old friend of a Lakeside teacher who gave us keychains with Arabic calligraphy. That night at dinner we talked to a trip leader’s relative. He told us all about Moroccan geology. Why did I ever think I’d get bored?





Popular posts from this blog

Blog 9: Natalie

Image
Flowing out of our neighborhood of homestay houses in a desert trail leading into more rural country and farm houses. It passes by cascading sandy hills and groupings of cacti and shrubs. Almost every day we have spent here, our GSL group has trekked this trail right before sunset. Our group is never alone, as we are always accompanied by village kids of all age ranges for our 1-2 hour excursion. These are kids we all teach during the day, however I feel we are able to make the most impact during these daily walks. On numerous occasions, I have walked and talked with different kids, trying to use phrases taught in English class or learn more Darija through the timeless game of pointing around at things. As I hold hands with these kids, sharing my huge sunglasses or sips of my sun-boiled water, I have been able to learn the immense patience these kids have when speaking to us. The walks are a safe space where we can form bonds that are difficult in a classroom setting, and they are also...
Read more

Blog 34: Ellie

Image
Dear Souk al Hed (or at least our little L-shaped corner of it), Thank you for having us– it feels like just yesterday when we first stepped off the bus, but already we will soon be saying our goodbyes and getting back on the bus for Rabat– and then Seattle. Getting to know you has taken a lot less time than I expected, for you welcomed us immediately into your home, but still, even on T-minus 1 day until our departure– I am still meeting new people and learning new things about you: the most effective way to cat whisper (pspsps), how Moroccan pizza is made, how to weave palm leaves into the shape of a flip flop… It’s really true that the more you know, the more you don’t know– I am definitely coming out of this experience with more questions than answers. I will miss your warm smiles, abundance of cats, and beautiful sunsets…our evening walks together, soccer on the roof, and listening to you at all times of the day– your crickets chirping at night, your pigeons cooing in the morning,...
Read more

Blog 33: Syndiely

Image
Dear Future GSL Student, Now that I have completed (almost) a full GSL trip, I wanted to write this letter so that anyone preparing to go on a GSL trip would be ready for anything. Preparing to leave your home for a month can be scary. With or without preparation you may still feel scared, nervous, or homesick. But, going on this trip is something I will never regret and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.  Tip #1: Be open. The thing scaring you the most right now might be the fact that you don’t speak the native language there. Guess what? That’s okay! As long as you are open to trying new things you will build such a powerful and strong connection. I was lucky enough to find connection primarily in joy and laughter. Our family loves Uno, so playing and laughing with them is how I have best gotten to know them. Tip #2: Be aware. While this trip will and should be fun, that’s not necessarily the primary goal. As you wake up every morning and head out to do service, remember ...
Read more