I might want to think about packing

In 10 days I am to report to Philadelphia for 2 days of general orientation, form signage, shot receivage, and preparation for my next 27 months in Morocco. My assignment is to the Peace Corps Youth Development Program.

I arrive in Rabat for my initial training, which lasts 11 weeks. Then I will be assigned to my community for the next two years. When I begin in my community I will be living with a family, teaching English, getting to know people, making connections, and being as charming as I can be in order to make it easier for me to move into the next stage of my assignment, developing programs for youths and for those who affect youths, specifically girls. These projects seem to range from English teaching to sports teams and women's health programs.

For the most part, I know very little right now about my life for the next two years. I could be in an Arabic-speaking site, or I could be in an area where the people speak one of the three Moroccan Berber dialects. What French I have left could be useful, or its possible I remember only the things that will be prove entirely useless. My Arabic is not great right now, but even if it was, Egyptian is so far removed from Moroccan that I will necessarily have a lot to learn.

I think that mostly sums up my attitude going into the whole thing at this point, I have a lot to learn. It will certainly be challenging, hopefully rewarding, and undoubtedly interesting.

I look forward to sharing my experiences and hearing from everyone. Please do not hesitate to email me or leave comments.

For those of you who are teaching back at home, there is a Peace Corps program that helps keep US classrooms in contact with Peace Corps Volunteers, so if that makes sense for your classes and you are interested, please let me know!