Out with the old ~ In with the New!

It's the holidays but I don't feel it. According to the calendar I should be all anxious that I haven't finished shopping, hear endless Christmas songs  playing over and over reminding me of Christmas pasts, while over indulging in cookies that I don't even really like.
But I don't "feel" it. Christmas is coming right?
So do I decorate anyway here in my apartment to remind me of what I usually do?
What I have been conditioned to do...my whole life?
I did.
I will shop because I'm going home for the holidays, but it has amazed me how removing myself from a culture really plays on how you associate feelings regarding the holidays. The spirit of Christmas lies within right? We are so influenced by what everyone is doing, buying etc...and don't get me started on the brain washing of the media.

Speaking of media, I am proud to say I have not watched one minute of US news while being away. For a second I was curious how Kim Kardashian was doing with her new baby? Did she lose the weight? lol......But nah, I remained obstinate. It actually was refreshing. My mind clear of nonsense. And I like that.

So I did buy a tree, if you want to call it that. It's close enough. It made it feel like Christmas in my apartment. I went down to the medina where they have a big plant section. I spotted this poor thing and thought 'perfect'. The cab driver charged me more to get home because of the weight of it. Seriously? I tried to act like that is totally ridiculous by lifting it up high in the air and showing him it's not 'that' heavy, but....he wasn't budging. Scrooge. I paid him what he wanted.
It's Christmas time right?

The decorations in the store are limited for obvious reasons, so instead I asked the kids to help me.
They were thrilled! They all drew flags of the countries they are from and made paper candy canes etc. So this was how I decorated my tree this year. And I LOVED it!!!

There are so many beautiful hotels in my neighborhood. One day I walked in randomly with my friend Annie. We asked if we could use the pool and spa services. For a small price the answer was yes! And so off to the private sauna I went!
30 mins.....ahhh....felt like the hot yoga classes my body has been craving. Gosh, I REALLY miss my yoga classes. I have never been one to do exercise tapes in the house.
The collective energy I feel being part of a class is one of my favorite aspects of working out in a gym and or my old yoga studio.

Christmas shopping in the souks with more than enough choices.
One for sister, one for me. lol

Bought my mom homemade pottery. She's going to love it!

Stopped for lunch. This place was awesome! So fresh! The best part is that some random guy just took us here. One of my favorite parts of this whole experience so far is the random things that "just happen." I'm a pretty planned out and focused person but have learned to let go, and go with the flow. It's just the way it is here. And it's working for me so far. :) Why is it easier here? Because everyone is like that? Perhaps.

I got mail! Thanks sister Chelly for my Thanksgiving card! It took only 3 weeks....I guess that's good? lol....None the less, it made my day! Thank you!

Went back to see "Carpet Boy" JUST for carpets.
He welcomed us in his shop with tea, and we bought.

He explained that different patterns and fabrics come from different places and tribes in Morocco.
I bought one for the wall. (will post a pic when it's hung)

Bathroom stop. I had to go. Ugh....really? Ok, if I must. :(

Most nights we end up here for a drink of wine or homemade personal brick oven pizzas. Coming from NY I can say this. The pizza IS really good here! My friend Annie from Chicago agrees.
It's called Casanova. It is one of the nicer and more expensive restaurants but the food is good, the waiters speak English (huge plus!) and it is right down the block from our apartments. It's become a staple for us.

Small but delightful surprises! One of my students gave me this! It IS the little things that matter!

Veggies cooked and ready for the week made by Naima my maid. :)

Annie sells Arbonne and decided to have us over for a lil pampering. Green masks...trying to get that youthful glow. Def having products shipped to the US in time for Christmas!

I met with the vet today and he was Very reassuring! He gave me all the info I need to know to bring Sammi and Finster back to Morocco. Nervous doesn't begin to explain how I feel about this process. Faith needs to kick in right about now.

Celebrating a birthday dinner with some colleagues.

A sick day spent sick away from Marrakech. I wasn't feeling well, but felt the urge to get away from town. I caught a bus and went to a town called Essaouira, a place I have been to a few times. I love it here because it's right on the water (another reason I picked Marrakech to live) I would only move to a city and country that were close to an ocean. Coming from Long Island and an absolute lover of the beach, this was a must for me!

This was a beautiful riad! Very relaxing, and even though I was under the weather, I enjoyed my stay.

Taking a stroll through the streets.....

Lunch time 1st day!
One of my favorite tagines so far....chicken with onions and raisins. I Must learn to make this before my friends come next month!

Roses on all the tables at the riad

So.....what am I buying my surgeon as a Xmas gift? I already bought him a Moroccan shirt, too boring? Wanted something different.....what do you buy? A leather belt? Stupid.
The special Moroccan slippers with the curled up toes? Even more stupid. Grrr...Not a clue.
But I knew it had to be good!
And then...and then.....I found it!
I was strolling around the streets and saw some iron sculptures. hmmmm "Do you have a doctor?"
He brought me inside his shop and basically gave me a pad and pen and told me to draw what I wanted. Ummm....I dont know! Ah! Too much pressure. lol…

So I did my usual sign language gig, and spoke a lil Spanish (I go to that when I'm nervous) and he basically walked around his shop picking things up off the floor and dusting them off and telling me what they would become. He then opened up a magazine and showed me a pic of himself and the write up of his work. I acted very impressed and gave him an advance for the job. We drew up a pic, and I told him I will be back at 2:45pm. (I had a 3:15 bus back to Marrakech).

As I walked away, I thought....omg....is this stupid? I'm giving the doctor iron?
Oh well....I will trust that it will come out ok. I paid more than I wanted, but the guy insisted he was worth it. I'm a sucker for artists. Anything authentic and organically created.....well, how do you beat that? It's fine. "Ok", I said....'see you later' and pointed to my watch with persistence to the time I would be returning.

More strolling and photographing...

Stopped for lunch 2nd day....OMG this was Amazing!

So now it was time to go back to the shop and then catch the bus for a 2-hr ride back to Marrakech. I began my walk and then.....holy crap! I couldn't locate the shop! I thought I knew where it was...but apparently got confused somewhere on the corner of the souk with wooden camels and the spice stand.

My paced picked up as I really got turned around. Shit!!! Are you fuc$ing kidding me???
Where the hell is this place? I am really good with directions....but HORRIBLE about going back.
Naturally I started to ask shop owners....and naturally no one knew what the hell 'iron' was!
Then I started to chant out 'sculpture, sculpture!!' as if speaking louder meant they could understand. AHH!!! :(

I thought to myself, I am NOT leaving here without this freaking thing! And now he Better like it!
Then I started to jog....first time in a year. Yes, jog! With the back pack on! It was the kind of pathetic jog as if I was the last contestant on the Amazing Race. My prize? Getting the damn doctor's sculpture and making the 3:15pm bus back to Kesh.

Finally a man said "follow me"....so I did. He brought me to a silver shop! WTF?
I told him no, no, no....this is not it! Iron not Silver!!!
Another man then pointed to a different street I had not taken....fingers crossed I began dodging donkeys, carts of fruit, people with small children and almost did a full run!
And then....and then....there it was! Hooray!
When I saw the guy he said "oh I forgot to make it" .....WHAT??????
Then he said 'just kidding'…no time for jokes pal. I paid the balance, thanked him, barely looked at it, and ran to the bus.

So here it is!!!! I think he will like it. :)

Ortho sculpture for the Ortho surgeon custom made...
It has a doctor bag with a foot and ankle, scissors, and that is Not a paddle but supposed to be a knife! lol
I hand wrote Shukran in Arabic on it, which means thank you.

Homemade minced pies and English soap from my English student
just on a random day in December <3

Moroccan student dressed in traditional clothes for the holiday concert...I stopped him in the hall for this picture. 

We gave a collection of money to the 'gardeners' / what we would call custodians for Xmas. They were SO happy and surprised that within 20 mins of opening the cards, fresh roses were hand delivered by them to all the teachers who contributed (they cut them from the gardens outside the building).
Now I'm feeling Christmas!!!!

The day I was leaving for NY was the first day of the World Cup here in Morocco.
Leading up to it, the streets were packed with excitement! I need to start learning the game!

I had my traditional Polar Express party after I explained to the kids how I do it back home. They begged me! Please Ms.Viviel. SO....the ingredients and name brands are different but we adapted. And a fantastic Polar Express Party it was! (btw, that white tub is handmade whip cream from a parent)
I know, right!!!

Letters from former students from the US! YEAH!!!! This totally made my week!!!

Time to travel home for Xmas. It's been 4 months away from home. Took a 3 hour car ride to Casablanca for the afternoon and stayed the night. I will fly out tomorrow from Casa to JFK. Here is the famous Hassan 2 Mosque. It was too late for us to go inside.....but I was there. Check off the list!

This really was a beautiful building.

Started to get hungry and literally stumbled upon the famous Rick's Cafe....so....reservations we made.

http://www.rickscafe.ma

Me and Lexi...hungry and tired

Casablanca at night time....I like Marrakech better. ;)

Food was RIDICULOUS GOOD!!!!

Goat cheese balls anyone? With lavender and honey drizzled on top.

Casa airport....and then the delay.
It was only an hour thankfully.
This is it.
In 8hrs I will be home. I'm excited. But have some weird feelings that I cannot place.

HOME! Well, not really. My Co-op is being rented so I stayed with a friend. Saw my nephews 1st thing! "Aunt Nina can we sleep with you?"
I didn't cry as I thought I might. .....still can't place emotions.

Me and my Godson Luke

Xmas eve, and truth be told I was sick the WHOLE week. When I can't eat or have coffee in the morning I know something is wrong.
Really? My 'plan' was to Eat when I got home.....like all the things I missed.
Didn't happen. :(

Me and Brett

I truly loved spending time with the boys. It brings me closer to my sister, which is still vey hard having Christmas without her.
My favorite part of being home was being with them. But to be honest.....I finally recognized what I was feeling.

I wasn't home.

I have a new home. A new life. And while I was in NY….these feelings kept coming up for me.
Do I miss it here? The answer was no. And then I felt bad thinking that. But it was the truth. I have a new life right now. I live in a new community....new friends....new job....new 'someone special'.
And most importantly, I really like living in Morocco.
This IS where I'm suppose to be right now....and that is a GOOD thing! A really good thing!!!
I'm happy in Africa. I'm happy in a country I have never traveled to….and never really knew too much about. Is that weird?

Time to go. I planned to spend the rest of my vaca relaxing in my apartment in Marrakech.
Sammi doesn't want to be forgotten this time! lol

Neither does Finster!!! Every time I turned around a different dog was in a different suitcase. lol

The plane ride was an anticipated nightmare!!!! I got a lil teary when watching Finster go with the airline crew. There he goes, away in his crate for a 6-hr plus ride underneath with cargo!
Jesus...please let him survive. Sammi was small enough to come with me. Over 10 pounds must go under they said. Finster is 15 pounds.

Turns out....the flight was empty!!! I had a whole row to myself! When does that ever happen? I let Sammi out of his lil dog bag and covered him in a blanket. We watched movies. lol

When I got off the plane I walked over where you are not allowed to go....and looked for his crate coming off underneath the plane. There he is!!!
I tried to take him but they said "no."
I met up with him a few minutes later and he was FINE! Perky in fact!
Omg! I made it! Me, 2 dogs, 4 suitcases of more stuff….and, we are all ok!

So it CAN be done. And I did it. Pretty proud. :)

(I also spent $450 on international health certificates that NO ONE ever looked at!)
I just brought 2 dogs to another country and no one blinked an eye!!!!

Spending New Years Eve home in Marrakech.
I arrived at 6:30AM……first rest.....then a party!

Delightful dinner with new people from all over the globe.

This couple met on Couch Surfing 5 years ago. She's from NY, he is from France. Now they are both living their dream of traveling throughout South America for 2 years while writing a book about food, photography and culture. This woman Joanna is a friend of a friend from LI.

I met her a few years ago at a random party one night. When she told me she was leaving her nursing job to pursue this dream I instantly became inspired. What? Really? That's So cool! Are you afraid? How are you doing something like this?

I told her this already….but our conversation that night helped shake the seed that was lying dormant within me. I too, wanted to travel, and have been, but wanted to live abroad, just didn't know how to do it.
Thank you Joanna!
I love, love, that total strangers, can have a small, but powerful conversation that can actually change someone's life. You are an inspiration to me! And to see you in Morocco was fantastic! Just made everything go full circle. :) Happy New Year!!!

These fancy motorcycles mean the King is around…..one day….one day, before my journey is over I will see him.

Happy New Year Everyone!

2013 was the worst year of my life, as far as my health was concerned, but got accepted and offered a position in Feb 2013 to teach abroad. I knew good things were to come…just didn't know when.
Also didn't know I would have to have really bad things happen first. Big Lessons learned this year for me.

2014...I'm looking forward to feeling stronger, and getting back to the healthy life style I enjoy, the one that's me!
Running, hiking, and all that good stuff!

Huge thanks to my surgeon who helped repair my body when I was at my weakest.
Oh, btw,….He Loved the sculpture! Score!

Again, I can't explain how blessed I feel to continue to be able to experience all that I am.
And the best part of it all?….I feel, at home. :)