Hello Morocco! (Part Deux)

Route from airport

My flight started out relaxing after I managed to calm down and cool off from the mad dashing.   I spent time doing the usual things people do on flights until hours later when the turbulence started.  Usually I get sick during turbulent times because, as I finally discovered, my seat tends to be on the wing.  This time I requested otherwise and gratefully so.  The plane began to shake violently as the wind was chopped by our plane.  I hadn't experienced turbulence like this before.  It actually sounded as if we were on a roller coaster.  We were being jerked like so as well.  The plane was actually jolting side to side and not just in its usual up and down motions.

At one point we hit the wind so hard, or perhaps it hit us, that someone yelled, "Oh God!" followed by another's "Shhh".  After what seemed like seven minutes of deep breathing - my motion sickness prevention technique - the plane seemed to settle.  An elderly gentleman got up to go to the restroom and immediately did a U-turn to his seat.  A voice then came over the intercom, "Please remain with your seat belts fastened. It is not safe to be up at this time."  First in English, then in French.  Never before have I been on a plane where they dared to utter the words 'not' and 'safe' consecutively.  "No fear of scaring the passengers in this plane," I thought.

Luggage Purgatory

Unscathed, I arrived at my final destination.  My suit cases didn't.  A day later the two I originally checked at the ticket counter turned up.  A day after that I checked again for my checked carry on and it's nowhere to be found.  By then I was angry.  In broken French I asked where my bag could be and told them to stop passing me from person to person in English.  The workers are too nonchalant for my taste and were not taking this seriously.  Finally I got an English speaker who told me to come the next day.  By then I tell him I'm done coming and they need to make arrangements to send it like any respectable air port would do.

This is where I learned where I really am.  Folks, I have to preface this by saying that in Morocco, anything and everything I blog can and will be used against me by the government here.  Even my interview was wired and tapped.  I'm paranoid more than ever about FB now.  So let me put it shortly.  Everything here is laid back and leisurely.  This is good when forming relationships.  It's not good if you want your suitcase before the next Ramadan.  After days of calling and getting connected to the same dead end number repeatedly, I gave up and filled out the form I was given during my last visit to the airport, sealed it with a prayer, and mailed it with faith that the person receiving it will actually care to do something about it.


In the meantime, I have been without casual clothes, make up and jewelry among other things, but have been blessed by people who offered toiletries, scarves, trips to the larger stores, and meds.  I concentrate on getting acquainted with school policies and the ins and outs of my job too since the orientation scheduled got canceled on the day of and I began working instead.  Then there are set up procedures like banking that I must contend with.  The apartment had a few water and electrical issues, but my main concern was with the malfunctioning shower.  It was fixed today so I'm happier because of that.



I took a taxi alone two days ago for the first time and if you saw how many people they pile into them, you'd understand the significance of that.  Also they all drive crazier than in Korea so to make it home without trauma is also a great accomplishment.  I can't wait until I know the names of places - the sites - so I can venture out.  You have to know where you're going.  They don't usually take addresses in taxis, just intersections or names of buildings and places.  I know neither.  Gone are the days when I would ride the subway and get off "when the spirit moved me."  Soon I'll know this place like I did Korea though.

What a learning experience this has been; what a stressful experience this has been; what a WEEK this has been!  Overall I still like it here and am happy that I came.  My apartment proved to be lovely, my roommate is very easy to get along with and helpful, and my school is pretty awesome so far.  Despite the turmoil, I still feel the blessings and am eager to bless others in return.  Let's not forget, I got to bring in the new year with Moroccan flair!  Bonne Annee!