7 days

The packing preparations have begun. Slowly, but surely, I have starting compiling anything thought to be completely necessary for the next two years. Underwear... check. Hiking shoes... check. Parisian coral scarf I'm obsessed with to let me feel pretty once in a while... check.

I've decided to stick by my rule of leaving anything behind that falls under the following categories: belonged to either one of my grandmothers; cost me more than I'd like to admit; reveals thigh or cleavage (what little there is to be shown); would make me cry if I and/or United airlines lost it.

That pretty much leaves only jeans, a bunch of t-shirts, and a plethora of gladiator sandals, but I and PC staff deem those appropriate, so be it.

I've also executively decided to leave the hair dying until arrival in Morocco. Give it a try as a blonde and document the reactions. I look forward to posting them here.

Exchange rate looks decent, however. About 8 and a bit Dirhams to the Dollar, so any money spent will be negligible. Especially when I get a... well... allowance - for lack of a better word - from the PC.

Can't believe I'll be on a plane in a week. Well, literally will have landed in Philly by now for staging. Still, won't be back to visit home until Christmas 2010. Yeesh.

Ah yes, fun detail: Ramadan will still be going on when I arrive. Sweet kick start to my Donniell will return home tan-brunette-and-skinny plan. I am, however, a little saddened by the no-pork situation for the next two years. Anthony Bourdain would understand.

Peace x

T minus 2 weeks

Good Evening Folks,

So tonight, August 25th, 2009, marks the moment my anxiety sets in. I've been back home for only a few days since returning from London via a New York vaca, and it seems I have a lot of Arabic to catch up on. And by catch up, I mean begin.

The question I kept getting the whole summer was 'Oh my God, you must be so anxious, what are you most nervous about?' Which was usually followed with a response of 'Not much, after all I have lived abroad for the last four years.' -said with hair flip and arrogant wrist spin of a brandy glass-. Well it's just set in, I'm close to crapping myself over the intensity of language learning to be done. Truth be told, I am quite confident in all other aspects of moving away for the next 27 months: culture adjustment, friend making, climate change, distance from home, etc. I've just never had to submerge myself into being fluent in a foreign language before. Don't get me wrong, I was French Club president in highschool and got nothing but straight As, but this is a different ballgame folks. No cramming for 15 minutes before test time, this is for real and the butterflies are kicking in. Bring on the web-based language lessons. Yee-haw.

In other news, I'm still procrastinating on dying my hair. Simultaneously freaking out and internally combusting with excitment. Such silly emotions surround me and my hair. My hair and I. I've made a packing list, however. Impressed with myself that I've kept the shoe list as short as it is... but I have managed to let 11 cardigans make the cut. What... I'm forced to always waer long sleeves, so I vote it's practical. You forget, I can justify anything. My dad still offers to pay for law school.

Well, I'll let you know what crises come up before take off in 2 weeks. Let's cross our fingers and knock on wood that I don't have to.

Over and out,

Donniell xx