Class of 2008
Major: Society, Technology and Policy / International Studies (Double Major)
Project Center: Ifrane, Morocco
Major Qualifying Project: Moroccan migration to Spain and its economic and political ramifications on both countries.
Virginia Ward
October 11, 2007
It's hard to believe I'm leaving Morocco in only a few days. It has been a long and interesting few weeks, but I think I'm finally ready to get back to my life in the US. There is still quite a bit left for me to accomplish before flying out including 2 finals, finishing up my MQP, and figuring out how to pack everything into two not so large suitcases. Although I am glad to be going home, I will miss the people I've met here and some of the beautiful places I've been to. Even though this term has flown by, I feel like I've been in Morocco for a very long time.
Both of my classes are finishing up and all that is left for me to do is take the finals. Since AUI runs on a semester schedule, versus WPI's quarter schedule, we will miss the last half of Islamic Civilization. It feels a bit odd leaving half way through the term, but I'm glad I got to learn so much in the short time we have had here. I have a much better understanding of Islam, its history, and basic tenants. My Arabic class is made up of just WPI students so we have been going at faster pace than the other classes. Though it has only been two months, we have learned the entire alphabet, basic vocabulary as well as some grammar rules. It has definitely been a challenge trying to absorb such a different language. Although I have learned only the very basics of the Arabic language, it seems much less foreign after living in an Arabic-speaking country. Being in Morocco has made it much easier to absorb and understand everything I have learned in my classes. Rather than learning about a language or history from thousands of miles away, I have been able to hear the language I'm learning everyday and see history everywhere I visit. I've learned more during the past few weeks than I ever thought I could.
Since the term is winding down, it's crunch time for my MQP. I've been working on it steadily this whole term, but it is time to wrap everything up and produce my final product. I still have a good bit of work left to do in the next few days. I have some more details to fill in and editing to do. Since I stayed at AUI last weekend, I was able to accomplish quite a lot on my paper and I think what still remains is a very manageable amount of work.
Before flying home, we are going back to Casablanca, where I am flying out from. Since I have a morning flight and Casablanca is about 5 hours away from AUI, we are staying overnight at the same hotel we stayed at for our first few days in Morocco. I'm excited to see if the city looks different to me after seeing more of Morocco. The first days in Casablanca were overwhelming because at that point Morocco was new to me. I think I'll get a much more accurate picture of the city now that I've seen other cities and know more about how to get around.
I'll be writing one more entry about my last few days in Morocco and what it's like to readjust to the US.
-Virginia
