So here we are the start of another school year- the rituals remain the same even though this year I start my career as a full time teacher. I came back to Casablanca to be the English 7th, 8th, 9th grade teacher even though last year was, how do I put it a rocky year. I should probably explain why. I find that however crazy and mixed up life here in Morocco can be, I have found part of myself captured by it, and strangely enough by the students. I have made a real connection with most of them especially those that I coached during soccer season and those that I got to go on field trips with. I find that the way that our students act in class can be very different from when they are free to be passionate about something of their choosing. I found that about myself as well. As soon as I started coaching and became actually active in my life here, I found a niche that fit me perfectly. Yes there were days where nothing could forgive some of the things and situations that the school put me through. But it seems to me that there are politics in most areas of life and that I simply had to find my way to avoid them as much as possible.
Anyways- a new year. I came back this year with the rest of the new staff, and even though I ended being more of a guide than someone brand new, it was a new beginning for me emotionally. Last year there were a lot of unjust happening at the school and I lost a lot of my friends to new places or simply because they were forced out of the school. But coming in to a sea of fresh faces and fresh attitudes made it so much simpler for me to let go and let it be. I found myself constantly happy, or as some of my new colleagues would say "way too goddamn enthusiastic about life." But as I told them right back- when you come back even after a tough year you have to start out without holding grudges or letting bad feelings cloud a new year. Of course I am no longer naive about some of the people who run the school, and that will guide a lot of decisions I make in order to protect myself.
The new group of people are very young and most are single, which may sound like an unimportant statement but it is significantly different from last year. That means that we have found a great group who are really willing to go out and experience all types of new things together. We have had several nights of good dinners on my new balcony which is pretty awesome.
Which brings me to another benefit of this year... MY FIRST APARTMENT ALONE!! Over the past 5 years I have had over ten roommates and finally being on my own is fantastic. Not that I didn't have some great roomies, it is just the feeling of coming home and being able to take over and do what you want without even thinking about it is indescribable.
Which brings me back to what one Nelson Mandela once said- coming back an altered person and being able to see a place with new eyes. Knowing the quirks and downsides of the culture and the school can't overshadow the benefits of living abroad and being able to live life as an international teacher. Being able to come back knowing what I have to face made me able to come back and appreciate the rest of it much more. And that has simply made me a more positive person already.
I can't describe how excited I am to have my first day of school on Wednesday and to be able to share a year of experiences with great students, colleagues, friends and our makeshift international family. I just hope that this year continues to be as hopeful as the past couple of weeks.
Au revoir, Besslama, until next time...
