Final thoughts on Morocco before I jump into Jordan

At this time last year, I was just getting acquainted with Morocco and peparing to meet my host family. I have been thinking a lot about my study abroad experience lately because for one, I can't believe a whole year has passed already, and two, I can't believe that I am about to go on a similar journey in 19 days!!! This whole thing is still just so surreal... I was looking at my Morocco blog and realized that I never really made a closing statement...I went straight to France right afterward and never really took the time to reflect on my experience. That being said, I will do so now: Going to Morocco completely changed me as a person, for the better of course. Since I was out of my element, I was faced with so many uncomfortable situations from which I learned so much. I never realized how lucky I am to live in a country where school is mandatory and the illiteracy rate is fairly low, a country whose currency is relatively strong, where electricity and running water are easy to come by, and jobs pay well. I know the economy isn't that great right now, but regardless, we as Americans still have so much more than a lot of other people. How many people in our country nowadays have to get their water from a community well? How many people dump water over their heads on a regular basis as a means of showering? I am also so incredibly thankful for the group I was with. With just 12 of us, we bonded and formed a really great friendship that is bound to last a lifetime. I will never forget what each person brought to the group! Lastly, I must reflect on my host family, the Chiadmis. I never really got close to my brother, Mohammed. In fact, the first time we had a real conversation was my last night in my home stay. He was very kind, and he is getting married this summer! My father, Baba Abdelilah always took such great care of me. Mama Khadija was a smart, hard-working woman, and my little sister Aya was fun to play with. She was so shy when we first met, but after about a day, she was constantly chatting my ear off! She loved to brush my hair and she was a huge fan of Dora the Explorer. And of course, Zineb, my sister that was my age. She and I still keep in touch regularly. I miss her so much- she was so helpful and easy to talk to when I first moved in, even though I was so nervous, as well as throughout my home stay. She is studying Law at Mohammed V University, and she is bound to be very successful! I was blessed to have such a wonderful family to live with and I can't wait to see them again! Anywho, those are my final words/reflection on Morocco that I never got to. More to come on Jordan very soon since, well, this blog is about my trip to Jordan!