Speak Up,

I seek Truth. Taking risks makes life interesting, no matter the outcome.

[ieg]

[missgreenwalt]

Ftour was a success last night! We made delicious chocolate chip cookies and ate all of them. Dinner involved a little bit of tagine and a lot of sweets. We used five different languages and somehow everyone still understood each other. We laughed a lot and even played a game of spoons after. I think maybe we will do it again next week.

[beeslikehoney]

[missgreenwalt]

Tonight the girls are coming over to bake desserts together, then a few other friends will come to join us for ftour. Yay! I really love being able to open my apartment for people to come and enjoy themselves.

[missgreenwalt]

Finally started feeling better Wednesday afternoon, hallelujah. By Thursday, I was feeling 99% better and even made it out to Rabat—where I got my documents to legally work in Morocco! Woohoo, now I just need to get a California police background check, then I can get residency!

[dsxsbx]

[missgreenwalt]

I haven't wanted to eat anything for the past three days. The doctor said I could eat rice, but no vegetables or fruits or milk or juice. Basically I've been eating about five bites of rice for each meal, then feeling sick and full. Last night, though. Ohhhh, last night I had an appetite. I went to a cafe with Alaâ and ordered a burger. And then I CRIED when they brought it out because I was so happy to have an appetite again. And because I'm a bit emotional from fatigue. Alaâ just laughed at me while I told him how beautiful the burger looked.

[missgreenwalt]

I've got some intestinal virus and have been dead for the last couple days. I was supposed to go to Rabat today, which is two hours away. But instead I laid in bed all day and ate maybe five bites of rice. This is the worst I have ever felt. But my boss still wants me to do training for the next three days in a city an hour away. There is no way. She isn't understanding how sick I am, but I don't even have the energy to be frustrated with her.

[missgreenwalt]

I haven't been to Mohammedia since the beginning of November, but today I went back. I plan to move and raise a family there someday, inshallah. It is one of the most perfect, peaceful places for me.

[missgreenwalt]

My work visa application was denied because the lady reviewing it was on a real power trip. She denied it based on a false technicality and even threatened to void one of our other employee’s contracts when we tried to fight her over it.

I was on the edge of tears by the time I got off the train in Casa. Ten hours of my day were completely wasted and I have to go back on Monday, to face the same lady and try again.

Then I got home and collapsed on my bed and cried. Alaâ was sweet enough to call me and comfort me, since he knew what’s been going on all day. We have a dinner scheduled with friends for tonight, but he said if it gets over early enough then he’ll take me to the movies.

Even on difficult days, I am surrounded by the best people.

[missgreenwalt]

Sometimes you have to just laugh at the all the terrible things that happened in your day, then look forward to tomorrow's fresh start. Today I woke up early to take the train to Rabat to get my work visa. I didn't get much sleep, maybe four hours. Then I stepped in mud while walking to the office. After turning in my papers and waiting two hours, I found the administration hadn't even looked at my papers because they forgot them in their office. Not to mention I had only a banana for breakfast and have been sick all week. While feeling like death, the administration left for lunch. I've been waiting three hours but they'll probably take an hour and a half lunch, then get to my paperwork. So I took lunch too and happened to choose a cafe that probably holds the record for grossest food in Rabat. I don't even know what kind of meat was in the tagine because it had the consistency of jello and I didn't eat it. Even the chocolate pudding had a strange consistency. And I've still got another hour to wait for paperwork (minimum), then a two hour commute back to Casa. To top it all off, it's shark week and I've felt like crying for no reason for the past three hours. But with everything that's gone wrong, it just makes me laugh. It's all so ridiculous and life can't be taken too seriously. I'll get home and take a nap, then meet friends for dinner. The bad will pass and I'll remember the good.

[missgreenwalt]

Tomorrow I will finally be getting my work visa inshallah and begin teaching private english lessons. Soon after I'll be getting my residency and won't have to leave the country every three months! Praise the Lord! I don't know how things have worked so smoothly for me, or why. I didn't have many thought out plans when I moved here seven months ago, but the Lord has provided everything. An apartment, two jobs, a roommate, friends who take care of me, free language lessons... Seriously, everything has fallen into place.

[missgreenwalt]

I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life.

[inferrance-deactivated20200120]

[missgreenwalt]

Perfect nights in Morocco always involve deep conversations with close friends. It seems so normal now to forget to check the time. Hours fly by without any notice. And it's perfect that way.

[missgreenwalt]

Found some old photos of my parents during their college days. They posed as American Gothic. The second photo is my favorite.

[missgreenwalt]

It feels so great to be back home. Six weeks is much too long to be away. I love falling asleep to the sounds of the city. It's a soothing sound because it's familiar. I love hailing a taxi and speaking arabic and walking along the beach and eating moroccan salads. I enjoy eating tagine and negotiating between paperwork and reading french menus. I hope to never leave this place.