friends at cafe clock
Moroccan food... yummy yummy
henna foot
One of the men that many of the Americans go to to buy things, because he gives fair prices and is very friendly and kind.
Yes,t ehre truly was massive store rooms with lots of treasures.
Joab- the skalliwag who also sells things at a good price
A bake sale in the swimming pool
playing games outside on a chilly friday
teachers
5th grade... it was a very cold day.
Jennifer and her son, Naveen became like a mother and brother to me during my stay in Morocco.
Another friend came and picked us up and we went to the airporrt. The man at the check-in took forever to work the system and get my bags checked to New York, but after waiting for about 15 min. He finally figured it out and then told me I had to pay for one of my bags, which made no sense, because I didn't pay a thing on my way here and he changed his story from being that Delta wouldn't let me take more than one bag, to being that Royal Air Maroc was the airline that wouldn't let me take the two bags. Anyways, we argued for a while that it didn't make sense and then gave up, because our flight had been boarded by this point. So, I tried to pay with my card and he told me I had to pay in cash, so I went to the ATM, got some cash out and paid. Then, a lady had to type out a reciept for me and finally I could get in the line for security/ customs. Eventually I got through that line and was the last one on the plane, but Praise the Lord... I made it.
When I got to Casablanca, I found a phone and called the friends who had helped me get on the plane.
The trip from Casa to New York went well. The man next to me said it usually only takes about 6 1/2 hours, but it took us more than 8 hours... there must have been a lot of wind. After the flight, I checked in to my flight in Chicago and the lady said that Delta no longer allowed any free bagage, so I had to pay more money.
Anyways, about 22 hours, and $250 after I left my friends' house, I arrived at 10:30 PM (4:30 AM Moroccan time) in Chicago.
On the way, the first thing I noticed that was strange was that I didn't recognize almost every white, english-speaking person. At the airport, I ordered some food and was shocked at how easy it is when you know that the person on the other end is going to understand what you're asking for. On arriving to Chicago, I realized that it's not quite as easy to forget that it is the holiday season as it is in Morocco.
It is good to be home with my family and I am looking forward to seeing my brother and his tomorrow, when we are going to bake cookies togehter. I will miss the people, the adventures, the tea and oranges, the sights and sounds (not the smells), and the mountains (both literal and metaphorical) of my time in Morocco, but the Lord says,
"do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland. " Isaiah 43: 18-19
Welcome home dear Erika. It is a great joy to have you home and to enjoy the meaningful celebration (indeed, there is reason to celebrate) that God became man and dwelt among us. We can learn from the past, and it is especially significant when it has also been redeemed by the One who became one of us and understands us well. Blessings. Let us keep praying for Morocco, especially for the people that you came in contact with. We love you dearly. Mom and Dad
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