Catching Up (Again) and Some Farewells

Once again, I'm going to have to apologize for not writing in a while! I've been traveling a lot recently (just got back from 4 days in the Sahara, which was absolutely incredible! Check out the pictures!) and had finals and projects to finish last week for my classes, as well as my independent project which I will be completing tomorrow! On top of everything, the AUI campus is basically shut down this week due to the Eid al Adha holiday--so the internet was not working until late last night. But I'm back!

And just in time... I only have 2 days left here in Morocco. It's hard to believe that my time here is coming to a close. On Friday we had to say most of our goodbyes to our Moroccan friends, many of whom were going home for Eid. It is a strange thing to know that you are likely seeing someone for the last time ever. Lives overlap sometimes for such a short period, make there impression and then move on. I wish I could say that I know I'll see Othmane again, or Alae and Asmaa, or the other friends I have made on campus. Seven weeks is such a short time to be here, and a great part of me wishes that I could share life with some of these beautiful hearts for a longer time, getting to know them better than the little that I have. I guess I can only hope that my short time here has made some positive impression on them, and that I can remember the great impressions that they have made on me: Asmaa's smile lights up a room, and she makes you feel a little more loved and happy whenever you see her. Alae has such a sweet spirit, and Othmane (although he was quirky and drove me crazy sometimes!) was so generous and hospitable to us, even having us in his home in Fez for a weekend and helping us find a place to stay when we went to Asilah. I hope that I can keep up with these and some of my other newfound friends, and I know I will remember them for a very long time.

I have to go now, but I plan on writing in more detail about our trip to the Sahara very soon!

Til later,