Dispatch 1: The eagle has landed

I hit the ground running on Friday afternoon at the Rabat Sale airport and promptly tripped. My baggage was left behind in Amsterdam(n).

No worries. I took a taxi and checked into my hotel. Next step: sustenance. It felt a little like a reality TV survival game where I'm dropped in a land where I don't speak the language, have limited resources and have to rely on basic hunter gatherer skills to survive. I beat that level and got safe looking street food and bottled water in the market, just around the corner from my hotel.

Re-hydrated and with a short nap in me I hopped in a taxi and headed back to the airport for a three hour hassle to get my luggage. Another success. Another harrowing yet exhilarating taxi ride back. I love how they drive here.

Got a mighty dose of sleep and spent most of Saturday and Sunday walking the beaches of the Atlantic coast, reading in the shade and spray of the waves and watching fishermen fish. Sunday evening - now - I've connected with the rest of the group and had an amazing dinner at the CCCL (Cross cultural center for learning) where we will be taking classes.

Met a young boy while walking the beach today named Hakim. He learned all his English from TV. Quite impressive. I hope to be at least half as fluent in Arabic by the end of my stay.

Rabat is a beautiful city - quite stunning really. Calls to prayer and dazzling sunsets envelope the rooftops with tranquility.

-Simeon