Readjusting to life in the States wasn't bad. My brain had to get used to hearing English in public again, but otherwise my culture shock was surprisingly minimal. If there was a difficult part, it was trying to sum up my trip to people who asked how it was - I don't think I was able to fully express how meaningful and educational it was to me.
In terms of the rabies scare, ten shots later, I am good to go! I may have to get shots every two years for the rest of my life though just to make sure I'm still rabies-free, according to our county health department ... it's a curse.
I've been talking to my host sister via What's App and I'm in touch with other "cousins"/friends on Facebook, although I have had a lot of random friend requests from Moroccan guys whom I've never met. Weird, but whatever.
My fall semester has started off well (knock on wood). I'm taking four classes this semester, one of them being part of a program in which I'm expected to complete a 10-20 hour internship in the spring. I just have a lot of reading and application-writing, which is time-consuming but doable. I've usually been going to bed early when I feel I'm getting tired and then waking up early to focus and get stuff done, which seems to work!
Other activities include ...
- Language House
- Flagship
- 6 hours working at the Honors Office per week
- 8 hours of research per week
- teaching a class of freshman Honors students
- going to the gym whenever possible
Flagship is the program that sent me abroad this summer, and I do plan on applying for the capstone year back in Meknes, Morocco. The applications have been released but I haven't started yet ... I do have until mid-January though! It'll be the winter break of applications because I'll be applying for a major national study-abroad scholarship too.
As for future plans ...
- In the spring semester, I'll be taking two classes and completing a 20-hour internship (at the place where I've done research the past two semesters). I will "walk" at graduation but not officially graduate if I go to Morocco for a year.
- As for next year, I am not 100% sure where I'll be. I'm applying to government work/half-hoping that a job could be created for me at my current place of research, I plan on applying to the year abroad in Morocco (as previously stated), and I'm going to apply to graduate school at UMD (which I can always defer if I decide to go abroad). I have several options but it's all about if I have the money, or can find suitable work. (If I can find work where Stephen ends up, that's always an option too!)
Overall things have been busy but going well. It's always sad when another chapter in the book of life is about to end, but I'm really excited about the future too. Hopefully I'll be able to travel even more in the years to come!