"You Send Me"

C.R.E.A.M.

It's been two days since I got back from Morocco. Before arriving in Morocco I was excited and a bit anxious about what my experience there would feel like, look like, smell like, etc.  largely because I know it would be unknown to me and especially because I did not know the language. My biggest worry was if I would be able to relate to people, and if sharing stories and/or experiences with them would even be feasible. Let me tell you though, Morocco was not only a novel experience, but also one which allowed me to let go of any biases that I did not know I had but that I thought nonetheless. It's one thing to see a culture and observe it, but it another to live it and understand it, and I’ve recognized that.

All my senses were heightened while I was there- my smell, my taste buds, my alertness. But, at the same time I felt pretty chill and relaxed. The language barrier sucked because I couldn't fully connect with the majority of the people, but at least I had one opportunity to talk to someone who spoke Arabic, Berber, Spanish and French at the Zagora Desert. You see, the majority of the people speak more than just one language and they have a greater notion of geography. As Sam pointed out, they don't just assume that one is Mexican for example, they attempt to guess where you are from and that was cool.

The highlight of the trip was driving North, across the Atlas Mountains, through the different cities and Berber villages towards the Zagora Desert. The trip took longer than expected and people started freaking out, thinking that we would end up in Algeria or something, it was like 94 of us, so really? It was amusing when some of them decided to call the US Embassy. When we arrived to our destination, there were camels waiting for us to take us to our camp. My camel almost dropped me, it was quite hilarious actually and just a little scary lol. Good times! It felt quite surreal to think we were in the Sahara. Underneath the stars, counting the shooting stars and feeling the fresh yet warm sand on feet. It was there, that a couple of us engaged in conversation with Ahmed, the 23 year old young Berber man that welcomed us at the camp with some mint tea (DELICIOUS!!!). Here was a young man who spoke to us about his dreams of one day going to school, a dream deferred for he carried on his shoulders the responsibility of providing for his family. This story is the same across continents and countries. The poverty, the crime, the lack of education, the lack of humanity that spreads throughout this world. I saw this in El Salvador, Guatemala and Brazil. And thought about my relatives who also lived this plight. The more you meet people, the more you realize that life for the majority of the people who inhabit this world is not all that different, what differs is their specific social context but what unites them is the plight they live with grace.

I learned that I suck at bartering haha! I shall get better though ;)!  I loved the cous cous with chicken…mmmm!! Oh! And I was also asked how many camels I was worth, it was quite a compliment . Good times in Morocco, from Casablanca to Rabat, the the Zagora Desert and then to Marrakesh, indeed a good run but definitely not enough time to soak in all that Morocco has to offer. Till next time :) And before I come back I shall take some language classes for sure!!

Now we're on our way to Ghana. Super excited!!!!!!!  My time on this ship has been interesting. It's still a very surreal feeling and I have to remind myself, "hey I'm on a boat!" I wake up every morning to the sight of the ocean, that I see through my window in my cabin. I don't have a notion of time, that is, I don't know what day it is, just the hour. The distance gets to me sometimes. Like I said in the previous blog, I am learning how to care for people at a distance, how to keep things intact or at least try which I know will not always be viable. In the end of all of this, I know I'll be stronger and the art of loosing if it is the case, will allow me to explore beyond what I perceived as truth.

This is my time to be enlightened and astonished and I welcome it without reservations. I have big dreams that I have not yet been able to fully articulate. I am hoping that this trip will help me do this because if I don't I shall become a dream deferred (ref. Langston Hughes “Harlem”) don’t want that.  These past few days I feel like I'm making peace with my complexities. There is so much that is unknown to me, not only the future but also my everyday course of life. My thoughts fluctuate consistently, I feel by thinking.

Last night I went to a talk with Adam Braun, founder of the non-profit Pencils of Promise. It was pretty inspirational. Here is this young man, SAS Alumni, who found his purpose, articulated his goal and has now built about 40 schools in the developing world- Laos, Guatemala and Nicaragua. There is a lot I took from his presentation and from him as a person, but there was one thing that stood out: nothing is impossible. Sure he did have the networking and coming from a pretty well-off suburban family did help and put him at an advantage to kick off this dream, but he began with 25$, he did it virtually on his own.  Look up Pencils of Promise, it really is something :)!

"Cash rules everything around me C.R.E.A.M. dolla dolla bill ya’ll." Gotta be conscious of this as it reflects world relations, sadly. But I also have to be aware that "the most powerful element of youth is that we're too young to know what is impossible." I can't be safe all my life, in order to be free I have to hold on to my truth and fly with it.

Hope all is well with you all!!! I don’t have much access to internet at all so e-mail me  at jbrenes@semesteratsea.net.

Take care and God Bless.

<3 Jenny