Bullet points are cool, too.

Training is wrapping up, and its time to take a look back at the experience. In no particular order...

Pleasant discoveries:
-doing laundry by hand is relaxing (best done without an audience present).
-the غ is so much easier to say after having studied a Berber language!
-running water trumps electricity.
-not having a mirror isnt so bad after all!
-making friends with the shop owners, taxi guys and cafe owners is the best thing you can do here to become a member of the community.

Not-so-pleasant discoveries:
-spiders, mosquitos and bed bugs are pro-American.
-the donkey doesnt like the flashlight... and what he says, goes.
-Darija and Berber languages are anti-vowel.
-seeing your reflection in a mirror after weeks of going without, sucks. I know I look exhausted and that Im covered in bug bites and that my scarf is only half on. Thanks for rubbing it in.

Life in Morocco was better before:
-the discovery of Maruja chocolate, imported from Spain. As if I dont get enough sugar in my diet from drinking sugary tea and coffee six times a day, lets add the occassional chocolate bar!
-my first hammam. Bucket baths arent nearly as satisfying anymore.
-my love affair with dates.

I still cannot wrap my mind around...
-pigeons being revered as clean and beautiful animals.
-donkeys being considered dirty and dumb, even though EVERYONE HAS ONE AND THEY DO SO MUCH. Im not an animal person, but jeez!
-pajamas sets -- the more brightly colored, the better! -- being acceptable outfits for work, play and weddings. In fact, you cannot be fully Moroccan-ized without a pajama set.

Things that still scare me:
-Souq busses
-sending my luggage alone on a CTM. Lets hope it all comes back one piece...
-bargaining in the souq using franks, ryals and dirhams (and at least two languages at a time). My pocketbook doesnt mind this, however.
-winter!
-well water
-black henna... yikes.

This list will be fun to look at in, oh, say two years or so... :)