Reality Check!

Life has been crazy busy for the past couple weeks! It's that rush to the end of the school year, teachers trying to cram their students brains full of everything they didn't have time for. This year seems especially busy and exciting, probably because each day brings me closer to my dream of Morocco! Since I last wrote, I went to my first wedding ever, which was extremely exciting! I enjoyed the wedding from start to finish, all the delicious food, great music, and happy people! Congrats Beth & Ernie! I'm hoping to go to a Moroccan wedding so now I have something to compare it to, if I get the chance to go!

Last Thursday, my Peace Jam club had our banquet at an Indian restaurant. A night of Indian cuisine and laughter with my Peace Jam friends made me very happy! I can't imagine what this year would have looked like without our weekly meetings to look forward too, and it makes me sad to think that most of them will have graduated when I come home from Morocco. We also watched Half the Sky, a documentary about turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide. Definitely inspiring well worth the watch! Check it out here! 

On Sunday I headed over to Ann Arbor for a soccer game and walk around the University of Michigan. School session ended a couple weeks ago, so there weren't many students around, but I'm glad I got a chance to look at the campus. Because I won't be here for junior year, I'm trying to get in college visits before it's too late. Plus college visits are always fun and exciting. The size of Michigan intimidates me a bit, but the Honors Program and other Learning Communities seem like they could be a good fit for me. I'm impressed with how many languages they offer! Not just your typical French, Spanish, and Arabic...you can brush up on your Urdu or Woolof, among many other lesser taught languages. 

I received my long awaited 45 page pre departure handbook for Morocco! Reading all the little cultural tidbits renewed my excitement for Morocco. Not that it ever really faded but this made me realize that this is actually happening! I'm almost three months out from departure and that feels like a long time but it's not! I'll be in Rabat before I know it! 

I gave a presentation at international club today, I think it went well and I hope some of my peers will decide to apply to YES! I'm the only person from Michigan on YES this year, and I'm making it my mission to get more Michiganders involved in YES and other state department funded exchanges. Because it's AWESOME!! 

I also had my final day of assistant coaching for Girls on the Run Practice (GOTR). Girls on the Run is a program for 3-5th grade girls. It teaches self esteem and positive life skills through running and culminates in a 5K run. We did our community service project--making cupcakes and cards for the birthday parties held at our local homeless shelter. Like anything with GOTR, it was a blast. I've so enjoyed the past ten weeks of coaching, watching the girls grow and gain skills that will benefit them for years to come. I'm so proud of all of my Girls on the Run! 

The end of school feels closer each day. I love seeing the countdown in the hall telling me how many days are left. On one hand, I am bubbling over with excitement for summer, PDO, and departure, but on the other I know I will miss my friends and this place. I'm trying to balance both emotions but the excitement for school to end overpowers my other emotions (for now). Who knows what the next few weeks will bring though? All these endings are giving me a series of much needed reality checks, reminding me to slow down and enjoy the present moment, because it can be just as beautiful as any moment in Morocco. The biggest reality check was my realization that I only have two more English classes left. I love my English class (true confession of a nerd) and the English program I have been enrolled in for the past two years. I've had three amazing, inspiring teachers and expanded my world view and writing abilities in numerous ways. Though I've grumbled about the papers I've had to write, I really have enjoyed my classmates, teachers, and the material we've covered. I'm going to miss everything about it (except maybe the AP practice tests). 

Well, that's all for now! I'm sure more hectic-ness will ensue in the next couple days! Until next time, enjoy this picture of BEAUTIFUL RABAT MY NEW HOME!! 

Doors of Morocco

After finding out about Morocco, running around my house, and calling everyone I knew, I sat down at the computer and entered "Morocco" into a Google image search. In a quarter of a second, Google called up endless pages of images--displaying maps of North Africa, drawings of flags bearing a single green star, snapshots of medinas full of carpets, and pictures of Moroccan homes, office buildings, and mosques. The search also linked me to portraits of Moroccan doors, many of which display beautiful mosaics and carvings.

 

 It's in Rabat and apparently the blue color keeps away the mosquitoes? Anyways if that's the case I have one more reason to paint my future home this color (as if I need one, I love this color!)

These doors are in front of the Hassan 2 Mosque in Casablanca, the largest in Morocco and one of the few that non Muslims can enter for tours. It was commissioned by the King in memory of his father to be the most ambitious structure in Morocco. 

Doors at the Palais de Roi (King's Palace) in Rabat!

In the Medina of Rabat. (The medina is the old city)

Beautiful! 

This is a door on a mosque in Rabat. 

Not sure where this is but I love the pastel colors and pattern. I have never seen such intricate doors before! 

This door is in Chellah, Rabat. Chellah is a complex of Roman ruins. 

Not sure what the symbols stand for. 

These are in Rabat as well!! 

Another shot of Rabat. 

I can't wait to take my own pictures of Moroccan doors and of everything next year! Thank you Pinterest and Google for helping me to find these pictures! 

My New School!

There's less than a month left of American high school! I'm breathing a sigh of relief as my major projects and AP exams are wrapping up. Today is Project Day at the Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center (KAMSC)! We're required to do research each year, and on Project Day, we put up our tri fold boards, turn in our papers, and celebrate having our research behind us. At night, we all come back for an awards ceremony. I'm looking forward to it!

I had my first AP exam today (AP English Literature/Composition). Four hours of scantrons and essays later, I emerged from the testing room a little dazed and extremely relieved. I have AP Language/Composition tomorrow and AP Government next Tuesday and then I'm done with AP until Senior Year! My AP-free year in Morocco sounds all the more amazing right now! 

We had our School Webinar last night! We will all be attending L'Institut De L'Agdal, a high school with grades 10-12. I'm going to be in 11th and will probably in the Economics or Social Sciences track. Our school has around 100 students and they are helping AMIDEAST to find host families for us! I also found out that we're going to be doing a final project for AMIDEAST. I'm excited to learn more, this year the students are taking photography classes and making a portfolio, though I don't know if we will be doing that. School in Morocco works differently than it does here, as it operates on the French system. We have school on Saturday mornings, I'm still trying to open my mind to this idea. We don't have classes for seven hours a day, all day, instead, our classes will meet for two to three hours on a couple days during the week. This results in open hours during the day, perhaps I can sneak a nap or two in there, though I doubt I'll have time for it! Here's a picture of our school that one of the current students took for me!

MY NEW SCHOOL!

I positively cannot wait. I've been reflecting on my American high school experience and how I will explain it in Morocco. So as a test run, for everyone who doesn't live near me, I thought I'd explain my American high school. 

This is Portage Northern High School, where I'm a current sophomore. 

I go to Portage Northern in the afternoon, for my social studies and language classes. There are about 350 kids in my class and our mascot is the huskies! I've enjoyed being on swim team and forensics here, and my school has been amazingly supportive of Peace Jam, a club they helped me to start this year. Happily, it will continue next year, though I will miss being a part of it very much!

I spend my mornings at the Math and Science Center (KAMSC). There are 80 kids in my class, we take math, science, and computer classes there. I can't find a picture of it anywhere online, but it's on the fourth floor of a very old building, resulting in daily 84 step walk up the stairs. I applied to KAMSC in 8th grade, and I will return to KAMSC after my year in Morocco. My classmates come from high schools all over the area and because our class is so small, there is a definite sense of camaraderie, which I will really miss next year. 

At this point, I'm not too sad about leaving. A year is a long time, but it's not forever. It hasn't really sunk in yet that I won't see all my amazing friends for a year, and I'm not sure when it will. I will be leaving behind two great communities, both of which have supported me and challenged me in different ways over the past two years. Of course, high school is high school, and there are inevitably bad days and good days (and the year isn't over yet!). But on the whole the good days have outnumbered the bad ones and I will remember PN and KAMSC from L'Institut de L'Agdal in the fondest light! Lots of love! 

Five Lists of Ten

In celebration of the ten months I will spend in Morocco, I've decided to take a study break from APs and make five lists of ten! Enjoy!

Ten Things I'm Excited For
1. Feeling the plane wheels touch down in Rabat and knowing that THIS is my new home.
2. Meeting my host family and seeing their house!
3. Going to school and making Moroccan friends!
4. Our trips around Morocco!
5. Becoming close with my fellow YES-ers.
6. Gaining insight on the United States from a Moroccan perspective.
7. Learning more about Islam and hearing the call to prayer.
8. Going to the souk and bargaining!
9. Our Arabic classes!
10. Living in a BIG city!

Ten Things I Will Miss
1. My family and friends (obviously)
2. My dog, Amber
3. My house
4. My awesome English class.
5. Swim team
6. The bike path near my house
7. My Girls on the Run Team
8. My room
9. Being able to understand what's being said all the time
10. Wearing shorts

Ten Things I Will Take With Me
1. TOMS
2. Laptop
3. journal
4. Longer skirts/dresses
5. host family gifts
6. scrapbook
7. Christmas ornaments
8. scarves
9. Cameras
10. My blankie (can't leave the country without it)

Ten Things I Will Leave Behind (Material wise)
1. cell phone
2. books
3. hair straightener
4. shorts
5. tank tops
6. Mini Christmas tree (hoped to bring it, but too big)
7. Winter boots and coats (yay!)
8. Krumkaka iron (used to make Norwegian Christmas cookies)
9. all of my old journals and scrapbooks
10. most of my dresses

Ten Places in Morocco I Want to Go
1. Kasbah
2. Fes
3. Marrakesh
4. Essaouira
5. Atlas Mountains
6. King's Palace
7. Beach
8. Chellah
9. Hassan Tower
10. National library

5*10=50, the number of days left until our PDO in Washington D.C.! Can't wait for PDO and the adventure ahead! Until next time, ma'a salaama!

Frequently Asked Questions about YES Abroad

I've decided to a frequently asked questions post about the YES Abroad program!

1. What does the application process entail?
The application process has two rounds of selection. The first is an online written application, which was due in early January this year. The application had three essays, one host family letter, and a ton of other information to fill out. If you become a semifinalist, you will advance to the second round of selection, the In Person Selection Event. In late March, YES Abroad will pay for you spend a weekend with them. This year it was held in Chevy Chase, but it's been held in Denver and Houston as well. At IPSE, you have interviews and group evaluations.
2. What is a timeline for acceptance?
For this year, the application came out October 20. It was due January 10. We were told we'd hear back about semifinalist status in Late February, which means the last day of February. The IPSE was March 22-24. Everyone heard back about finalist status on Friday, April 12th. The last day for alternates to be accepted is the day the PDO begins. The time line for alternate acceptance varies for any given year depending on who drops the scholarship.
3. How many people apply? How many people get in?
YES has never released specifically many people applied, however, we do know that over 1000 students started the application. (We don't know how many of them finished it.) 120 semifinalists were sent to Chevy Chase and 65 finalists were chosen, along with 10-15 alternates.
4. What should I wear to my interview?
I wore a skirt and blazer, most girls wore dress slacks and a nice shirt or a skirt and a nice top. Guys wore knakis or slacks and a button down shirt. It doesn't really matter, as long as look presentable and feel confident!
5. What is the French Interview?
If you've taken three or more years of French, you will have a French interview at the IPSE. It lasted about 10 minutes and was conducted completely in French. It does not affect whether or not you become a finalist, just where you are placed if you are chosen.
6. Am I guaranteed to get my top country?
No. When you apply for YES, you get to rank your country choices. However, there is no guarantee that you will get a certain number choice or above. Most people get within their top five, but people have gotten lower choices than that before. This is why they stress the importance of being open to all countries. Before I went to IPSE, I really wanted one of the countries in my top five. But after I learned more about YES and the countries, I realized I would be honored to be chosen for any of them. Many of my fellow finalists felt the same after they left. It's okay to have a preference, though, you can explain why you want a certain country in your interview.
7. How many kids get chosen for each country?
That depends on the country and the year. YES Abroad can send students to Bosnia, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Oman, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, and Turkey. However, due to unrest in Mali, Tunisia and Egypt this year, students were not sent to these countries. The 65 scholarships were divided among the remaining countries. There are eight of us going to Morocco, but there are fewer students going to other countries. The amount of students ranges between 5 and 8.
8. How can I convince my parents to let me go?
Because my parents have been really supportive about exchange, I didn't have to deal with this. However, many of my friends have had to work hard to convince their parents. They've made slideshows, had their parents talk to YES staff, set up phone calls with alumni, and begged incessantly. If you're having trouble convincing your parents, the best thing to do is explain the situation to your fellow applicants and them for suggestions. And check out this blog--it's my friend Caillean's mom who is blogging about her experience as a YES parent! http://www.rootsandwingstooman.blogspot.com/.
9. What is included in the scholarship?
Everything. Your airfare, room and board, school fees, visa, health insurance and a stipend. The only things not included are extra spending money and, in some countries, additional trips throughout the year. In certain countries, the cost of these trips around the country are also included. You do have to buy your own passport though.
10. What type of support will I have while abroad?
YES Abroad gives grants to American Councils, Amideast and AFS, all of whom have representatives, coordinators, or offices in your host country and town. Throughout the year, they'll be able to give on the ground advice, set up volunteering activities, and/or run trips within the country.
11. On the website, it says gap years are not allowed or recommended for certain countries. Does this mean gap years cannot apply to YES?
No, it just means that gap years cannot go to certain countries. They can go to: Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, South Africa, Oman, Thailand and Turkey. 
12. What are they looking for in a candidate?  
Qualified candidates come from diverse backgrounds, with varying experiences and skills, but according to the YES website: Finalists will be selected based on their demonstration of qualities that are necessary for a successful exchange experience. These include but are not limited to: global awareness, interest in diverse cultures, curiosity, open-mindedness, and flexibility. 
13. Will I receive orientation before I leave? 
YES! We all receive a packet in May with more specific information, packing lists, and other guides. The Pre Departure Orientation (PDO) takes place in late June (June 26-29) each year. All finalists go and learn more about their host countries, visit their respective embassies, and tour the State Department. We also have conference calls and webinars with the other finalists to our countries to learn more about our upcoming year. Some finalists have an additional orientation in New York before leaving and most of will have some sort of orientation when we arrive in our host country. Just to make sure we are very, very oriented. 
14. What is an alternate? 
An alternate is someone who will take the place of a finalist if they are unable to go abroad for any reason. If a finalist drops out between now and the PDO, the alternate will take that spot. 
15. How do they choose finalists?
The application process is fairly opaque, but I'm told that your application is read and scored by two people. You are then interviewed and scored by two other people and evaluated in a group by two people as well. They then use these scores to make an informed decision.
16. If I apply for a less popular country, does that increase my chance of being accepted?
No. YES chooses all the finalists before assigning them to their countries, so how you rank your countries doesn't affect if you are accepted or not.
17. When will I leave?
That depends on your host country. Students going to India and Thailand left right after the PDO this year, while other students leave throughout the summer. Malaysia leaves in mid July. Bosnia leaves early to mid August. Morocco and Oman depart around the same time in late August, and the rest of the programs in the first week of September. Your return depends on when you leave, but it's usually 10 months following your departure.
18. Can my parents visit me?
Visits are strongly discouraged by YES Abroad, and your parents must get permission to come. My family is  planning on visiting me, and as long as it's after Christmas, they should be approved to come.
19. What are other ways to get involved in YES?
You can host a YES student from another country in your home or at your school! Check out these links: http://www.yesprograms.org/host-family and http://www.yesprograms.org/host-school.
20. Should I apply to YES Abroad?
YES!

I hope this is helpful to all the hopefuls out there!

Renewal of Funding for the YES Abroad Program

I came across this story while reading my Exchange Student Survival Kit:

“In an old story of a long running war between two kingdoms, the kings agreed to a peaceful exchange. Each agreed to send his daughter to live with the family of his enemy, to be cared for in another kingdom as if she were the daughter of that family. Each put his faith in the other to care for his daughter, and committed in return to care for the other’s daughter as if she were his own. These daughters also came to understand and became attached to the new kingdom, making it impossible from then on for either of them to raise war against the other.”

I know that one teenager headed for a foreign country won’t bring world peace. It’s never that simple. That being said, I really do believe that exchange brings a global and understanding perspective to the individual and to the community at large. James Bradley, son of a flag raiser at Iwo Jima and exchange student to Japan, wrote, “If more kids from more countries went to live in homes abroad and had a second Mother and Father, we all would benefit from the mutual respect, understanding, and love that impact both families.”

I’ve wanted to study abroad since the age of twelve. Yet it wasn’t until I discovered YES Abroad that I started to think more deeply about the importance of exchange. Exchange allows us to develop critical skills for our future, in particular, language learning. It allows us to become more competitive in an international job market. But no matter how important these skills are, their significance pales when compared to the wider purpose of exchange and in particular, the YES Abroad program. Created after 9/11 to foster better relationships between the U.S. and Muslim nations, the YES Abroad program strives to accomplish its goal one exchange at a time.

Misunderstandings of other cultures and religions exist both in the United States and in the YES Abroad countries. During my exchange, I will work towards alleviating these tensions, a critical step towards establishing a more peaceful global community. While abroad, I will represent a curious and respectful side of the United States, one that is not often seen in the media. When I return, I will bring with me an understanding of Islam based on my experiences in Morocco, instead of what is presented in the news. I am honored to study in Morocco, as I will truly be part of the important process of increasing understanding between citizens of the United States and of the Muslim world.

I am ready to experience life as a member of my host family and to see the vast differences between Portage and my host community. But I also am prepared to draw parallels between my two homes. I don’t simply want to observe the readily available differences; I want to discover what characteristics we all share, no matter where we live. I am confident that these similarities exist and that I will seek to identify them during my year abroad.

Despite the fact that we may live on different continents, speak different languages, or practice different religions, we all want the same things in our lives – peace, health, and happiness. This coming year, I will seek to gain a full understanding of my host community, and I hope to combine their values and beliefs with my own, to create a balanced multicultural identity. By using all the resources available to me, I will transition from the curious girl I am today to the global citizen I will be tomorrow. None of this would be possible or probable without the YES Abroad program.

I’m grateful to YES for all my new friends, for my incredible weekend IPSE, for the conference calls and webinars. But most importantly, I am grateful to them for facilitating a program that is truly part of the change I want to see in the world and for allowing me to a part of this program next year. YES Abroad has already changed my life, and I cannot wait to see how it will change many more lives in the coming years, whether I remained involved as an alumni or not (though I hope I will)

However, there is no guarantee that the YES Abroad program will continue. As you may know, YES Abroad is sponsored through the State Department and is funded by government money/tax payer dollars. Today, April 18, there was a Congressional hearing to renew funding for all the State Department funded exchange programs. Our nation currently faces a time of great economic hardship, but the YES Abroad program, and other State Department exchange programs, deserve to continue their important work. I have emailed my Congress people, and I urge you to do the same. A simple email or a phone call can confirm your support for the renewal of funds for State Department funded exchange and can enable the exchange dreams of thousands of students! Thank you for your support. 

Moroccan Government

I don't know anything about Moroccan politics, government, or current events, so here is my attempt to learn a bit more!
The government of Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament and independent judiciary; historically, the king has been the dominant authority. In July 2011, the King announced a series of reforms that would transform Morocco into a constitutional monarchy.  Executive power is vested in the government, while legislative power is vested in the two chambers of Parliament. The House of Representatives has 325, elected for a five year term. Only 30 seats are held by women. The House of Councillors has 270 members, elected by local councils, professional chambers, and wage earners. Mohammed VI is the current king, and he became king in 1999 after his father's death. His official title is "His Majesty the King Mohammed the Sixth, Commander of the Faithful, may God grant him victory." (quite a mouthful!). He has a son and a daughter. He is the latest ruler in a dynastic line, and because of his direct lineage with the Prophet, he serves as his nation's moral and spiritual head. The King can appoint or dismiss the prime minister and dissolve the legislature. Moroccans over the age of 18 have the right to vote.The population is estimated to be almost 34 million. While Morocco has a developing economy, modern tourist facilities and means of transportation are widely available, though the quality may vary depending on price and location.  

On March 2nd, 1956, Morocco gained its independence from France. Independence day is national celebration held on November 18 with parades and celebrations! I'm excited for it! European interest in Morocco grew in the late 1800s, which let to a clash between Spain and France. However, the Sultan signed an agreement saying that Morocco was a French protectorate in 1912. The demand for independence grew after World War 2. The Sultan stressed the need for complete sovereignty  In 1953, France exiled the current Sultan. In the wake of public outcry, France let him return to Morocco. Independence day celebrates his return to Morocco. 

The flag of Morocco features a red backdrop with a five pointed star. Each point represents one of the Five Pillars of Islam. A seal was added to the flag during colonial times, but was removed after Morocco gained independence. Green is the color of Islam, the dominant religion, and red represents the ruling dynasty. 

Hot button issues in Morocco include: the Western Sahara territory, the Spanish control of certain islands and water, Algeria's border with Morocco, and Morocco's position as one of the biggest producers of the illicit drug hashish. Morocco serves as the launching point for many illegal immigrants to Spain. 

Reading all this has made me realize all I am going to learn this year about Morocco! I'm hoping to post more about Morocco-US relations soon!