After a relaxing for 3 days at my friend Almudena's house in Madrid, Spain, I am on my way to Morocco--well, almost.
I woke up and took a very proud picture of my suitcase; however, little did I know that I had jinxed myself when--to my surprise--arriving at the Ryanair check-in stand at the airport. With their strict rules and regulations I was only allowed 1 bag on board the plane when ideally I was hoping to not check any of my bags for fear of loosing my checked bags. In the middle of the Ryanair terminal I had to unzip my large red suitcase and see what other things from my backpack that I could jam in so that I would not have to pay an extra 100 Euros. I also discovered that Ryanair is only really for simple and cheap travel as many locals use their services for quick 1 or 2 day trips to domestic destinations, and not for students like me trying to get the quickest and easiest way to their final destination. On the plane the cram in all the passengers as if in a cattle call, allowing you one cabin bag of 55 by 40 by 20 centimeters and a maximum of 10 kilograms.
During the flight the beverage and snack services don't come cheap either, everything from a small bottle of water to a simple sandwich costs anywhere from 3 Euros upward. In addition to the cheap service, it also flies to the smallest and inconspicuous airports like Girona, a half hour from Barcelona, but in the middle of nowhere. After 4 hours in the middle of nowhere, but with a jamon serrano y queso bocadillo and Coca-Cola Light, I board another Ryanair flight to Fez, Morocco. The plane was packed again with screaming children and smelly tourists--including myself. Flying over Morocco there was wide spacious farm land with several rows of trees spreading out for miles on end. Touch down and the first thing I see is a tractor plowing a large field next to the airport--yes, I had arrived in Morocco.
Passing through passport control then withdrawing Moroccan Dirhams, I began to feel unease as I wondered where these Al-Akhawayn University people were to pick me up and bring me to the school. I step out where the arrivals are as a sees crowds of people; some staring, others asking me if I need a ride, and some speaking to me in a combination of Arabic and French that I'm definitely not up to speed on yet. Finally Briham, my program assisstant, spots me with a confused look on my face and escorts me to the van. In 40 minutes, after windy dirt roads, cows, more farm land, huge trucks, and bumpy highway, the mountains break through with the peaks of the log cabin like dorms of Al-Akhawayn University.
Yes--it was a bumpy road to Morocco, but the destination was worth the trip!
I woke up and took a very proud picture of my suitcase; however, little did I know that I had jinxed myself when--to my surprise--arriving at the Ryanair check-in stand at the airport. With their strict rules and regulations I was only allowed 1 bag on board the plane when ideally I was hoping to not check any of my bags for fear of loosing my checked bags. In the middle of the Ryanair terminal I had to unzip my large red suitcase and see what other things from my backpack that I could jam in so that I would not have to pay an extra 100 Euros. I also discovered that Ryanair is only really for simple and cheap travel as many locals use their services for quick 1 or 2 day trips to domestic destinations, and not for students like me trying to get the quickest and easiest way to their final destination. On the plane the cram in all the passengers as if in a cattle call, allowing you one cabin bag of 55 by 40 by 20 centimeters and a maximum of 10 kilograms.
During the flight the beverage and snack services don't come cheap either, everything from a small bottle of water to a simple sandwich costs anywhere from 3 Euros upward. In addition to the cheap service, it also flies to the smallest and inconspicuous airports like Girona, a half hour from Barcelona, but in the middle of nowhere. After 4 hours in the middle of nowhere, but with a jamon serrano y queso bocadillo and Coca-Cola Light, I board another Ryanair flight to Fez, Morocco. The plane was packed again with screaming children and smelly tourists--including myself. Flying over Morocco there was wide spacious farm land with several rows of trees spreading out for miles on end. Touch down and the first thing I see is a tractor plowing a large field next to the airport--yes, I had arrived in Morocco.
Passing through passport control then withdrawing Moroccan Dirhams, I began to feel unease as I wondered where these Al-Akhawayn University people were to pick me up and bring me to the school. I step out where the arrivals are as a sees crowds of people; some staring, others asking me if I need a ride, and some speaking to me in a combination of Arabic and French that I'm definitely not up to speed on yet. Finally Briham, my program assisstant, spots me with a confused look on my face and escorts me to the van. In 40 minutes, after windy dirt roads, cows, more farm land, huge trucks, and bumpy highway, the mountains break through with the peaks of the log cabin like dorms of Al-Akhawayn University.
Yes--it was a bumpy road to Morocco, but the destination was worth the trip!
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