1 airplane down, 2 to go.

Hey All!

As per usual I've been busy. Busy finishing up Ramadan insomnia (You get so used to being awake at night that being awake during the day is weird), finishing doing nothing (people are coming back to town?), and finishing meetings held in the big city. For the last week, I've attended a volunteer training session, did some serious shopping, then went to another meeting for all the volunteers in the region. It's been busy and I think it will continue to be busy because so many people have returned, school has started, and the feeling of efficacy is in the air. 

First of all, I'd like everyone to rejoice in my purchase of a drip coffee maker. Many of you know that I have a serious coffee drinking problem, but am unwilling to change it. Therefore, in order to celebrate being in Morocco for ONE ENTIRE YEAR, (minus the two weeks I went home) I enabled my favorite vice. Point for me. 

Other cool things to update about: I'm really getting back on the saddle fast; I'm in the works of setting up a girl empowerment camp to take place in January. Inchallah, it'll be fantastic! I'm sincerely blessed by amazing  counterparts who want to work with me. 

Second, I may be doing an trash education project (or as I like to say, 'trashcation'), but more to come on that next month. 

For now, I'll leave you with a post I wrote in the Rome airport while freaking out about how to get to my next terminal and get a boarding pass. Proceed with caution as it was 7am and I still had two more planes to go before reaching home.  

August 2^nd, Rome Airport-on my way home to see the ‘rents.

Here are some important lessons from today’s not-yet-finished adventures.

First lesson: The ONCF train is so awesome for going straight to the airport and not giving me extra hassle when I’m already stressed out.

Second lesson: I found out through empirical means that the Casablanca airport is open and quite busy during the night.

Read: I arrived there at 9:30ish and left at 2:25 in the a.m.

Third lesson: try and get all yo boarding passes.

I think I’m going to give the Casablanca airport one thumb down for not giving me boarding passes all the way through. I mean, I’m only giving them one thumb down because they tried but were unsuccessful for some reason for not getting me my passes. However, half a thumb up for sending my luggage directly to Seattle. Good move there Casablanca.

Fourth lesson: Drink wine when it’s free.

The airline Alitalia is probably the coolest airline I’ve ever been on. Ten thumbs up for giving me free white wine.

Fifth lesson: Don’t panic and bring a towel.

Due to lesson three's occurrence, me getting off a plane to be ferried around by random buses going random places did not make me feel secure. Also, the fact that I knew I had to go talk to some desk at some terminal in which I did not have that information in order to get a boarding pass, did not make me feel good. In fact, it made my heart race. And then I tried speaking Arabic to everyone because doesn’t everyone in Rome speak Arabic? Needless to say, I’m having a really hard time not speaking in other languages while I’m in this airport. I definitely had a moment where I had to go, “Pull it together, Williams!”

Also, washing your face without a towel is uncomfortable.

Sixth Lesson: Cappucinos in the Rome Airport are delicious.

I’m pretty sure that doesn’t require explanation.

So, in conclusion, I think the best way to make me have an anxiety attack is to put me alone in the airport in Rome, when I know that I have to somehow check in and don’t have flight numbers or airline carriers etc. Check.

However! Rome isn’t as bad as I’m making it seem! I mean, if you’ve got the logic powers of a 10 year old, you too can triangulate destinations plus times in order to arrive at the correct gate, sans panic attack. C’est bon, no?

Hope you enjoyed that.
I wanted to put a picture of the Charles de Gaul airport in here....but I realized I already posted that...haha new picture? Ok! Here's a picture of me and my buddy Simo at a birthday party. Yay!