This trip I've decided to adopt an "open book" policy on my experience. Normally when I travel I internalize my shitty days and homesickness. I would only ever tell my friends about the good times I was having. Which is great and maybe inspires people to travel as well but might not help them once they get there.
I'm not going to try to sound cool about my first few days in Morocco. They were tough. Like really fucking tough. And I don't think I read any other blog about what a shock it is.
Granted I'm a solo female and did fly into Marrakech and that city is just overwhelming. I learned to see it as a good overwhelming. But none the less it was hard.
I think my first "crisis" was brought on by the fact that I was sleep deprived. At times of almost tears in a sleep deprived state I remember my first day in Limerick and how I cried over my busted converter. Why do I recall this? To remind myself that a little sleep solves all the problems.
My "crisis" was thus. People stared at me more then I had prepared mentally for. Everyone tried to compliment my hair. My host wasn't as good with English as I thought, so my fast talking slang wasn't doing me any favours. His family didn't speak English so I felt rude and inconvenient to them, I hate that out of place feeling. I also walked around the city that first day. Trust me tired and Marrakech don't work.
I ended up messaging my mum. I was whiny and upset and strangely homesick even though I'd been away only 5 days. She nicely put me in my place and reminded me why I had gone in the first place.
The next day I walked around with new eyes. I was trying to pick out places and settings from my favorite book series, Daughter of Smoke and Bone. That helped quell my wacky feelings. This series is essentially why I came to Morocco. Side note it's by Laini Taylor and it's amazing so go read it!
I felt accomplished when I found my hostel in Marrakech my last night. I did have help but I still felt good. I got on the bus at 9h00 to Merzouga and arrived at 21h00. It was a long day.
My near break down there was iver stress of not knowing how to get to my next city if Azrou. I ended up deciding I didn't give a fuck where I went next and BAM I made it to Azrou.
So lesson learned stop giving so many fucks about every little thing. I know plans change when you travel and they have in the past. This time it was just tough for me to take the different environment and plan mix ups in stride. But I'm on my last leg of Morocco! I can do this!
Cheers,
Taylor
