In twenty-four hours, I will be on a plane on route to my destination of Morocco. Due to my discomfort while flying, I have been more focused on how to survive the plane ride rather than living in Morocco for two months. Excitement comes in and goes, like waves. The idea of me starting my journey by myself, sharing experiences that a group of people and I will only experience, and going to AFRICA makes me reflect on how lucky I am to have such privilege.

 

Growing up, my mother emphasized the importance of culture and traveling. She wanted my sister and I to step back from our “little world” and see the bigger picture, so to speak. Weeks leading to my trip to Europe when I was in middle school, teachers and friends would ask, “Are you excited?”, and of course as a younger Domenica, I didn’t process that I was going overseas, so I just brushed it off my shoulder. In my head I was imagining something similar to Peru, where most of my family resides in, but I was quickly hit with culture shock. In our stay, my mother wanted to take advantage of already being in Europe, and so we went to four different countries. Between country to country, everything was different. It was that moment in time that I truly understood how big our planet actually is, and how not everyone lives like the “American lifestyle”.

 

Going to a Morocco, my main worry is communication. Between reading, writing, and speaking Arabic, I would say speaking is my weakest front. However since I am living in a Arabic speaking nation for two months, I am forced to speak or stay mute for the entire time. I have heard from previous travelers that everyone is very friendly, and tries their best to make you comfortable. So much so, a great number of people speak English in Morocco. This is very reassuring to me, although ideally I would want to speak Arabic for the entire time. However, I am not at that level yet.

 

The anxiety of arriving at WPI freshman year is nowhere near going to a foreign country. Firstly, living close to WPI, I was already comfortable with the environment I will be living in. Not in Morocco. Secondly, I will have the opportunity to grow a relationship with not only my peers and professors, but the inhabitants of Morocco. I feel as though it will be a more difficult culture to adapt to than WPI’s culture. Thirdly, I have high hopes of going to Morocco, more of which I had when coming to WPI, because I know no matter what, I will be satisfied in doing the little things. Little things such as walking down to the Medina, going to the markets, and waking up every morning breathing the Moroccan air. 

 

As the time approaches for my departure, I am eager to experience Morocco. Do I regret anything in my decision in going? The nine hour flight for sure! But I know once I get a glimpse of the city streets, it will all be worth it.