I Made it to Marrakech!!!

Yeah! I can't believe I'm actually here! It looks better than the pictures!
To my surprise the trip was rather simple. I had wheelchair service from JFK to Casablanca and then to Marrakech so I did not have to lift a finger. It was somewhat embarrassing being wheeled through the airport but got through the fastest I've ever gotten through an airport and I just wasn't up for any more drama. 
After I landed there was someone waiting for me with a car. I was taken to my apartment and immediately began to unpack. The others have been here 10 days already....nothing like trying to play catch up and still not bare too much weight on one foot. These are pictures of the apartment as soon as I walked in. Again, pleasantly surprised and can't wait to add my own Moroccan flair. 

Total luggage weight 275....for 2 years.....ain't too shabby. Those puppies were Packed!

From my balcony

And I have 2 sliding glass doors to a huge balcony

Bring on the sunshine and a cold beverage! 

I love the details in the ceiling.

Received my welcome packet, some spending money and a new phone (but an old style) lol

 Bedroom

Bedroom closets

 Yup, that's a coolie washer...1st time for everything. 

The Unpredictable...The Outcome

8-30-13

Do you remember the childhood game “Red Light, Green Light, 1-2-3?”

100 feet or so separates you and some friends from the caller. The caller would have their back turned to you calling out “Red light, green light 123”…. As this was being called, you had to run from your spot to the caller as fast as you could, BUT as soon as they said “3” and they turned around you had to freeze. Then the caller turned back around repeated the same phrase as you ran, and stopped, ran and stopped until finally you reached the caller and tagged them.

Well this seems to describe my journey just getting to Morocco. I’m doing everything I need to do to prepare, full speed ahead, focused on the ‘caller’ and then I’m forced to freeze. Then I’m back on track moving forward to get to my destination, and then I have to freeze.

My last post says 1 week left in the US. Well, I had to freeze yet again. As most of you know I had ankle and foot surgery on 6/3. I spent the summer recovering and preparing for the trip. As hard as it was I listened to the doctors, PT’s, my body, took it easy, and did my therapy.

My love for dancing on a warm summer night to a great band and hours of lounging on the beach, followed by yoga were not in my plans. Almost 11 weeks post surgery and 10 days before my move, I decided to get my toes back in the sand and smell the salty air. (The beach was where I tore my tendon last year to begin with, dancing in the sand.) But the beach remains my favorite place.

I felt confident in my body knowing that I had done the rehab and wasn’t going to walk too far. I did the research and picked the perfect day. After about 4 hours of bliss I headed back home. That night my ankle began to ache. Damn it!

To make a long story short, that 200-yard walk was probably the Best thing that could have happened. While it tore my rinaculum which hold the tendons in place, mine was now dislocated.

It leads me to an emergency surgery.

That emergency surgery revealed an underlying infection that was already brewing. That infection lead to a 5 day hospital stay on IV antibiotics, followed by another 5 days at home with IV therapy. The next ten days home involved two ER visits due to PICC line issues in my arm and a reaction to the medication. I still had to pack the rest of the house, sell my car, and then move in with my brother-n-law.

S-T-R-E-S-S over load.

The day I was released from the hospital was the day I was supposed to be leaving to Morocco. The time I was to be boarding the plan, was almost the exact time to the hour my 18 bags of IV medication showed up. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. Gee Whiz! Really? But Why? I don’t understand.

For those that know me well, know I’m extremely organized, ok, perhaps a bit anal, but setting long-term goals and working to achieve them is something I thrive on.

This was NOT in the plan. This was SO far out of the plan. It was almost like a bad dream I was living.

Month by month, week by week, the checklist was being checked off.

How does one really prepare to move abroad for 2 years? I decided on 4 suitcases, a carry-on, and a backpack. Sell the car, rent my Co-op, my dogs would be in the care of my brother-n-law until I return for Xmas break, and I took a leave from work.

After many days of tears, hours of doctor visits, and trying to heal in the same house my sister tried to heal in, it became clear.

The Universe has a much bigger plan. Mine was changed for a reason. And I may never know why.

So, I was forced to look at the bright side. Had the surgery not taken place in the US, it most certainly would have been done elsewhere. And that is definitely not part of anyone’s plan.

8/30 and just 2 weeks post surgery the doctors cleared me to fly. Not recommended, but cleared me. I will be on oral antibiotics for 4 weeks and will continue seeing an orthopedic doctor in Marrakech while hopefully getting physical therapy for the next few months and beginning to heal that ankle once again.

I made it through the airport with wheel-chair service, which actually was rather speedy. The quickest I have gotten to a gate in my life. I’m on the plane, seat next to me is empty, and leg is elevated.

It’s time for take off.

I’m doing it. I’m Finally going to Morocco!!!!!!

1 Week Left in the US!

I feel butterflies in my stomach today....I rarely get butterflies.

Emotions are running high now. As if it wasn't stressful enough moving abroad, then having ankle and foot surgery, and Then having not recovered as quickly as I had hoped is very overwhelming. For those that know me well, I'm far from a "sit down gal" so it's been a tough summer. I did as the docs and PT told me to and unfortunately still in pain. For now, I'm pressing on and will just hope and pray and perhaps drink some 'jungle juice' when I get there, and see what happens. 

A Huge yoga saying I used to hear over and over while practicing Bikram sticks in my mind...

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” by Mahatma Ghandi

Sometimes we take for granted being healthy and having our bodies function the way we want them to. I know I did. Perhaps all the races I've done over the years has caught up with me....perhaps it's time to slow down and look around. Really look around. 

Icing time is done. Back to packing. 7 days until Morocco....being Mindful in Morocco. 

39 Days until Moving

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

C.S. Lewis

7-13-13

So it’s 5 1/2 weeks until I’m off on this new chapter in my life and everyone keeps asking, “How do you feel?” I decided for the 2-year journey I would journal. I’ve never kept a continuous journal in my life. I will also create a blog with everything that happens. The good, the bad, and the ugly. After all, this is not just a vacation. This is a work opportunity like no other, picking up and moving to Marrakech, Morocco. It’s located in the most north western part of Africa. It’s a Muslim country which speaks primarily Arabic and French. I’ve never been there before, and to make such a commitment to a place I’ve never seen, with a culture so different, is both exciting and nerve racking, and to some people it might be crazy. So how do I feel? 

When I was in Boston for international interviews I said to myself I would not “choose” a country to work, but rather have the country “choose” me. South America was enticing because I have family there and wanted to learn to speak Spanish, but left it up to the universe to put me where I’m supposed to be. So how do I feel? Excited and nervous about sums it up! The unknown is scary. The unknown is not in my control.

The comforts of home will no longer exist, and will be up to me to create a new comfort zone...a place to call, for 2-years...home.  

39 days to go...French classes on-line, reading Culture-Shock books, viewed tons of YouTube videos, spoken to many people who live or have visited Morocco, and did a slue of research. I bought a new camera, mini iPad, brand new purple suitcases, and have begun the undesirable task of packing and cleaning. The physical parts of getting ready for the transition are underway. I will worry about the mental later....after all, I think it will be a while before my brain catches up to what I really have gotten myself into. I will be documenting with photos, maps, quotes of the day, audio, video and hope to bring this experience in my blog as real as it can be. 

      So how do I feel? I feel happy and truly blessed. 

Listen; there's a hell of a good universe next door: let's go.

e. e. cummings

7-15-13

First trip to Storage Unit....OK, this is feeling real now. AHHH!!!!!

7-21-13

30 day countdown has begun. This entry is being written on a steamy, sticky, summer evening on my deck. I’ve got my Xmas lights lit under the umbrella which offers pretty, warm light, and until a moment ago it was quiet. Fireworks still being lit off well past the 4th of July. Hmmm...where will I be next 4th ofJuly? Will I even see fireworks? 
I have gotten a lot done, but feel like there is so much more to do. How does one truly prepare for such a move? I never went away to college, so this will be the longest I’ve been away from home. 4 suitcases...thats all I’m taking.
Packing, cleaning, purging, donating, packing, cleaning, purging, donating. The process itself is surprisedly cleansing. I’m really forced to take a look at what do I Need.  What are the things I’m keeping just because? Things would be going a little bit faster but I’m now told to take more time off my feet elevating and icing as per my Physical Therapists. Edema has set into my ankle and that’s not the direction I want to go. As hard as it is, I’m resting during the day as needed and has allowed me to start my blog. :) 
So many people have asked the most natural question “What made you want to do this?” The same question was even asked during my interviews, which I anticipated. The answer is very easy other than the obvious ‘why not?’ I have been traveling to other countries for almost 20 years now. My first trip abroad at age 23 and spent my 24th birthday in Amsterdam while back packing with friends. Since then I have been lucky enough to experience over 20 countries and fell more in love with the experience of culture, music, food, customs, flora, meeting new people, and the sense of adventure. I can’t think of anything else that makes you feel more alive than being in a place you have never even imagine existed and then, there you are...you just needed a plane ticket to get there.