Salaam alaikum!

Salaam alaikum! So, I just finished my first Arabic class. I can say that I'm beginning this literary journey literally from zero! I had no idea how to even respond to hello when I entered the class. As I sat there struggling to write the basic 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet, I had the scary (but awesome) realization that by this time next year, I will hopefully be able to speak this language well enough to teach Moroccan youth in a variety of subjects. I'll continue to include updates on my language training in this, as I think readers may be interested in my progression.

Oh, so, you may ask why I'd be speaking in Arabic and teaching Moroccan youth in Latin America? Well, here's the surprise that you've all been waiting for (well, really none of you, because you'll already know by the time you may read these first entries!)...

I'm going to Morocco! Yes, Morocco! No more Spanish speaking in my immediate future. I need to focus on learning Arabic and immersing myself in Islamic culture, as I'll be in a completely foreign land in less than four months.

My first thought when I opened my invitation email was that it had to be a mistake. I was seriously so taken aback that I didn't even read when I'd be leaving or anything else...I immediately opened the Peace Corps page on Morocco to see the basic facts, such as how long volunteers have been there and how many are there. The rest of that day I was gulping down every basic fact about Morocco that I could find. Since then, I've been reading blogs of current and former volunteers to find out what life is like for Americans in the Maghreb. I'm extremely excited about this turn of events, and I think it will be even more of a great experience to explore a completely new part of the world and an entirely new people and way of thinking.

Ma salaama.