I distinctly remember writing about my first 90 days here,
and as crazy as it seems…now I will be writing about my last. Hard to believe
the time has come when I will be saying goodbye to living in Africa. It has been almost 2
years living abroad. I should rephrase that somehow. It has been SO much more
than just ‘living’….so much more.
For those of you who kept up with my blog, I know it has big
gaps. Unfortunately,
Youssef, who I began dating shortly after coming here, did not want to be a
part of it, as he is very private. The more time I spent with him, the more I
experienced and couldn’t write in detail (as I had hoped). He thought no one
read it. Silly him! I had to respect his privacy but put in a few
highlights…getting engaged…and then married! Even before marrying a Moroccan,
and him an American girl, has led us in many cultural debates. We had to come
to understand each other’s point of view, and (if not fully understand) respect
it, on many different topics. It has made us not only appreciate one another’s
culture, but each of us learning different things. I loved it all! And I know
he did too!
So as far as this story goes….first came marriage, and then
came baby!!!!
I have never been pregnant, never really tried….but always
wanted children.
As the years passed, and relationships came and went, I
simply thought it wasn’t supposed to happen for me. I thought maybe being a
teacher was what my calling was, and I was ok with that.
Before coming abroad, I released the idea of motherhood altogether
to the universe. However, the idea of family doesn’t leave you that easily, especially when you grow up in a huge one.
After our marriage, Youssef and I began to try, but given my age, I really had
my doubts. We scheduled an appointment with an adoption lawyer here in Morocco
and were approved to adopt within 6-12 months. Wow! That’s it! We would be a
family after all. Girls were harder to adopt and were generally given to Muslim
women as first priority. That’s ok, boys are cute right?!
We were told we could get a boy with no problems. “Sounds great”….”how do we get started I
asked?” Youssef immediately told the guy that we were still trying and not
giving out hope. Fair enough I thought….even though I researched the
percentages of a natural conception....poor guy is an optimist. lol
Well…low and behold….after only 4 months of trying, we found
out the day after Thanksgiving, and just 3 days after meeting with the
lawyer that indeed WE were expecting! I could hardly believe it! Holy crap, my
body still works after all! Hooray! Hamdollah! As Youssef said. It means “thank
you God”
It has been just over 5 months now and everyone back home is
thrilled.
Crazy Aunt Nina is having her very own baby!
The sex will be confirmed in the next 2 weeks…I thought girl
from the start, but honestly don’t have a preference. Healthy and happy is all
we ask for. I was not so keen on spending the majority of my pregnancy here not
being able to communicate the way I want to, and have access to the best
prenatal medicine if something were to go wrong….but….I don’t have a choice.
All is good so far, and any additional blood work I have
asked for was sent to France. It really has been interesting in itself this
whole process.
Genetic testing is against the culture here and therefore not
done. Being American, I asked for the testing, and was allowed to get it, but
not without a million papers to sign and again more blood being shipped to
France. Reading the results has been another frustration, but have gotten used
to it over the last year and a half. Thank goodness for Youssef and Google. I
did pick an OB who speaks English and very sweet, but it’s just not the same. Please
keep us in good thoughts as I plan to leave at 30 weeks of pregnancy. The
doctors have suggested 25 weeks but I would like to finish as much as my contract
as possible, and wait for Youssef to get his spousal Visa approved so we can
come as a family. Sammi and Finster too of course. :)
Lots and lots of 'stuff' have happened over my time spent
here. Since I won’t be able to catch up on all that I missed I plan to document
in photographs the last 100 days.
My plan is to photograph not the necessarily things that I
will miss….but the things that have become a part of my life during this time;
some good, some not.
My next blog will be the beginning part of the 100 things I’ve
grown to love and not love about Morocco, in photographs and captions.
Walking into 5 star hotels as if I have a room there and chilling for bit, was lots of fun.
Eating food other than Moroccan was always a highlight for me! Indian anyone? Yummy!
So I don't believe all good things come to an end....they just change into different things. My journey home as a wife and mother to be will be just the beginning of the next phase...the next phase of "good" things!!!
~Mindful in Morocco
