I think the worst part of doing something absolutely crazy and new is the lull before all the activity begins. Since yesterday morning at 2am we’ve been running on adrenaline, trying to find our flight gate or our taxi or our passports or our friends. But once you’re back from the business of setting up, just sitting can be a bit glum.<\/p>\n
But we win’t have that problem for long! With the daily bus to the school leaving at 7:30am (well, nominally at least), the 2 hour long placement exam tomorrow, orientation day, around 6 hours of lessons per day and group outings at the weekends, tonight is probably the only calm for a while.<\/p>\n
Taking advantage of that, tonight we went for a walk to find a supermarket. Since we hadn’t a clue where to begin, we asked 5 separate people for directions. One of these groups didn’t even speak Arabic, but even if they had it wouldn’t have been much use, since we didn’t know the word for ‘supermarket’. The moment you step into a language you’ve only ever learned in a classroom, you get humbled very quickly. And, in our case, land with rather a bump.<\/p>\n
Just from this simple little walk today, we’ve already learned rather a lot about the people in Rabat. Most of the women disapprove of our bare arms. Most if the men honk their horns, or try to be our best friend. “I like the way you eat your pizza” was probably the best comment of the day. Most of the shopkeepers just find you really funny. But maybe that’s just when you’re saying “where is the big market for food?” in funny broken English-accented Arabic.<\/p>\n
One thing about an international language school is meeting all the other people that are pursuing the same language. And if getting tongue-tied in front of Spanish restaurant-owners didn’t humble you enough, this simple experience certainly would! There are people who are absolutely phenomenal at this language, feigning worry about the entry exam, when inside little Arabic-Elective-Pathway-Hannah is going “hello again Beginners One…”. Nevertheless, the company is literally brilliant, the flat is enormous, and has a very Rabat atmosphere (mainly due to the broken window in the room off the kitchen), and thank the good Lord for the breeze!<\/p>\n
Anyway, I have to join the summit for Get Up Time and Blanket Order On Beds with my flat chums. All of the fun!<\/p>\n
Lots of love!<\/p>\n
Hannah<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I think the worst part of doing something absolutely crazy and new is the lull before all the activity begins. Since yesterday morning at 2am we’ve been running on adrenaline, trying to find our flight gate or our taxi or…<\/span><\/p>\n