The Time Has Come...

It is 1:07 am in Chicago and, therefore, it is November 30th (a.k.a. the day I start my journey overseas). I haven't even left the country yet and it seems as though I am learning things already:

Learned Thing #1- I have a SERIOUS procrastination problem. Literally had an entire week to get myself packed, and yet here we are the morning before my flight and I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. I blame Netflix.

Learned Thing #2- I am more of a toiletry slut than I thought I was. Oh well, if any of my fellow study abroaders need anything (i.e. bandaids, toothpaste, facewash etc.), they know who to come to.

Learned Thing #3- I wish I knew even more about the culture. We spent an entire quarter of school learning about Moroccan culture and I still feel like I'm going in there blind. This gives "learning on your feet" a whole new meaning.

Enough of that. Moving onto things I am eager to do (and some things I am not as eager to do).

I'm SUPER-D-DUPER excited to experience a hammam.

I'm equally excited (and a little nervious/intimidated) to meet my home-stay family. I honestly don't know what to expect. How much English will they speak? How do I act around male family members?
Will they welcome me with open arms? Is the gift I bought them, chocolate, a crappy gift?

I'm also excited to see Volubilis. Ancient things excit me. I can't explain it.

Very excited to be proven wrong in many things.

Paris has always been a big goal on my 'To Do' list, and I'm glad that we get to spend a few days there before returning to Chicago.

On my 'Not So Eager For' list?

 Honestly, there isn't that much, except for bargaining. Not at all eager for bargaining. I've worked in a mall for most of my adult life and I already know that I'm not the type of person who has patience when it comes to the sale/purchase of merchandise. It'll be interesting how my 'Western' sense of rushed shopping clashes with the Moroccan style of purchasing via bargaining.

The Travel Bug Battles The Couch Potato

As finals time at the university rolls around, I can't help but notice the campus-wide panic that seems to be in every students' eyes. Every time I look in the mirror I see the same fear.

"What the f*ck was I thinking?!" is running on autoloop in my mind at the moment. With the stress of 5 classes and a total of 23 pages worth of final paper writing still on my To Do list, I'm beginning to feel a bit more fatigued than anxious.

Part of me thinks Why did I apply for this study abroad trip? I could have just lazed about all winter break, worked a bit, baked delicious holiday cookies (fattened myself up some more), and vegged in front of the tele watching Cary Grant films.

And sure, maybe spending countless evenings in front of the television, enjoying the general splendor of the season sounds appealing to my currently fatigued and mentally-exhausted self.

But when I begin to feel this way I just pick up one of my readings from my study abroad class and it reminds me that while the trip itself is sure to be an exhausting one, it is a small price to pay for a bit of world knowledge. I don't know exactly what I'm looking to get out of trip, but I'm okay with that. A little mystery is good every now and then.

Making a list, checking it twice...thrice?...ummm...four times?

Confession time: The only time I've been out of the country was on a family vacation to Canada. Soooooo, traveling to a different continent for 3 weeks is an entirely different bag of bones. Am I excited? Yeah! Am I also a tad bit nervous? uhhh, heck yeah!

So I'm taking a page out of Santa's book and making a list:

Pre-departure Check-list

1. Learn as much as I can about the culture before I leave. Sounds easy, but not so much.
2. Learn as much of the language as I can before I leave. Again, NOT easy.
3. Learn how to efficiently pack...(perhaps the most difficult challenge)
4. Come to terms with the fact that, despite all my best preparation, I'll still face challenges while abroad and that it's all part of the learning process.

 Let the countdown begin!