Morocco is all around, part deux

Oh em gee! I just caught the tail end of Tyler Florence doing an episode of Tyler's Ultimate featuring -- wait for it -- flavors of Morocco and North Africa! Check out the recipes for grilled za3tar flatbread, apricot couscous and brick chicken here.

Morocco is hip, trendy AND smells nice.

I'm not sure if they're to be considered 'signs' or I'm just on the path to being hott stuff, but Morocco is everywhere I look these days.

Back in December, The Office's Christmas episode was called Moroccan Christmas. It can be viewed here, thanks to my good friend Hulu.

Febreze is also releasing a scent called Moroccan Bazaar in its Destination Collections. While I don't kiss and tell, I'm more than willing to sniff and tell. Something tells me, however, that Moroccan Bazaar will smell more like pineapple than the souq.

Chicago: a final road trip?

For Martin Luther King, Jr weekend, Selma and I ventured west to Chicago to visit Gurl, my former roommate. Yes, the snow was intense. No, we were not involved in the eight-car accident we saw in Marshall (hamdillah!). We made it in five hours, and once we properly celebrated our arrival by changing into sweats, had three glorious days to enjoy ourselves and our independent womanhood.

While I have only been a handful of times, I have decided that I love Chicago. And I'm not talking 'luv' or <3, but actual... love. Mm, love. :)

While in the editing process, something happened to the paragraph leading up to these links. Blah blah blah, this is what the girls and I laughed at, for hours, instead of doing things like Showering, Eating, or Showing Up On Time To Anything. Please enjoy.

Scarlet takes a tumble!

...shoulda put a ring on it.

B-I-R-F-D-A-Y.

I just ate a grape and I...

Two-minutes in heaven.

And, an old favorite: my boyfriend* gives me a present!

*I've already cleared the use of 'boyfriend' with Boyfriend, don't fret.

The rest of our weekend was spent at IO, Shedd Aquarium, bonding with the CTA and squeezing in a brunch with Mr Patel. Oh, and planning my going-away party. And talking about Morocco, that thing I have** to wear on my head, etc.

**It's actually worn by choice, and I made that choice. Muslim women are not oppressed, or repressed, or depressed. More on this later, inshaAllah.

Selma and I returned safely, hamdillah, on the night of MLK Day. Then, 'twas back to the real world... and the realization that that was probably my last true American road trip for a while.

First Post/Last Swim

Although I've had this bad boy set up for a while now, I initially felt silly posting before I've actually left for Morocco. While out on a girl date with the Selma this past weekend, I ran the idea past her, and didn't receive the scoffs I had anticipated. Finally, after seeing that I'm already linked on Nasir's blog, I felt that I should start posting. So, I've chosen to write my first entry on what looks to be my last day in the Fishbowl (a popular campus computer lab). The circle of life? Perhaps.

As for my Morocco prep (that's what you're all dying for, I know), let me provide you with an itemized list:

Medical
I've just had my final medical checkup, and everything looks as right as rain (but send up a little prayer that the labs come back normal anyway, just to be sure). This is all the detail you want, trust me.

Linguistic
I've been shirking my Darija (read: Moroccan-flavored Arabic) responsibilities a bit, as I'm scrambling to finish seasons three and four of Lost before the new season starts up next week. This is not a good excuse, no. But I'm giving up my materialistic life for two years; back down, brother (said in Desmond's Scottish English). You'll be happy to know that Darija is nothing like the MSA or the Levantine Arabic that I've studied in the past, so it's almost like learning a new language all over again. At least I can read the script this time. :)

Note: Arabic is a linguist's muse. So many dialects - many unintelligible to one another - to choose from, such little time! Plus, they're all considered to be 'Arabic', and speakers often consider their version of the Arabic language to reign supreme, second to Qur'anic Arabic. Score!

Social
I'm putting off saying my good-byes just yet, although Morocco is all anyone wants to talk about anymore. Next month will be hard.

Employment...al
My last day of work is Thursday, 5 February. I will cease to drive any commercial vehicles after that date. I've heard that the urge to drive a Gillig again will be strong, but that I must resist temptation.

Hygenic
After the aforementioned last day of work, I will return home to clean out what's left of my undergraduate life from my parents' basement. This will also give us (my family) the chance to argue and get sick of one another, just in time for me to leave. InshaAllah this will keep the tears to a minimum at the airport.

Spiritual
There is now a scarf on my head. I'm also making efforts to talk to God more. One step at a time...

Financial
Oh Lordy, this is my least-favorite part to the process. I still have to transfer my Power of Attorney over to my parents (so they can take care of my income taxes, etc), print out some loan-deferment forms and invest my money. I also have a few bills to pay off, thanks to all of the health-related nonsense Peace Corps had me take care of. I look to be in good shape for departure and return, however, which is quite a load off the ol' noggin.

Back to reality: I just realized that I'm surrounded by people I know. There's a group congregating to my left, and another sitting kiddie-corner from me. I often had to avoid the Fishbowl during final leg of my collegiate career due to over-exposure (read: I would talk too muh and not get anything done), so I'm wrapping this up and heading to ERC, where I will grab a hot cinnamon spice tea and start Slaughterhouse-Five. Goodbye, Fishbowl.