Can't Sleep- Might as Well Research!

It's midnight. I need to be up in like four hours but I just cant sleep! So I've been further researching about Morocco especially about the town of Ifrane where AUI is located.

First and foremost, what is really appealing about this town is that it is known as the cleanest city in Morocco! Another amazing part is that it is known as the first ever winter resort in Morocco as well. This is so exciting for me because I love to snowboard and I do love the winter season. (a true New Englander)

Ifrane is very close to the famous city of Fez as well as Meknes. In addition it is quite accessible to get to the city of Casablanca, which is a very popular tourist area. On top of that, I can get an extra cultural experience being an hour boat ride away from Spain!

Ifrane is a place where many international tourists like to go to experience the outdoors hiking, rock climbing, and cycling. In addition Ifrane is the location in which one could visit beautiful waterfalls at the famous Ain vital.

It truly seems like such a beautiful place and it makes me more and more exited every time I research. I can't wait to experience it all first hand!

Okay my eyes are getting heavy. Definitely need to continue doing more research though soon!

Here's an article I found about 20 reasons why people should visit Morocco! Ohhh yeahhh:)

http://m.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/oct/12/morocco-wintersun?cat=travel&type=article

Flight Tix$$

I'm currently looking for flight tickets and wow are they expensive. The lowest price I have found so far is $1659 but they go all the up to around $3000! My parents may or may not have a heart attack. But tonight my parents and I will sit down to research more prices and alternative options to make this trip as cost efficient as possible.

I've received quite a few emails from Al Akhawayn University regarding the day I should plan to arrive and depart. I am to arrive around August 23 or 24th at either Fez Airport in time for orientation on the 25th of August! The school has offered to pick me up at Fez Airport and bring me straight to the school which is very convenient for me and comforts me a little to know that I won't have to find my own ride. It says that the travel distance from Fez Airport to Al Akhawayn is about an hour and a half.

Finals are to end December 18th so I will have to try to find a flight out on the 19th to make it home in time for Christmas. It still seems so unreal that I am going but it's starting to hit me a little bit more each time I continue on with the whole process. I bet it'll seem even more of a reality once the flight is booked! So I am crossing my fingers that my family and I will be able to find something more affordable. I guess I'll keep you updated on what is to come!

Pilot Blog: Application on Application

Once I received my acceptance and approval to study abroad at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco, I didn't think for a second the kind of responsibilities I had to take on in order to finalize the details to my trip. Currently I have my mandatory IE meetings, plan of study, and online applications completed, but there is still a long list of things to do! Course registration scheduling, financial aid applications, and actually booking the flight to Fez Airport by the 25th of August are all on the top of my list!

Currently I'm working on my study abroad financial aid application called the Santander Universities Study Abroad Scholarship Project and I have to form a proposal on what kind of cultural investigation I want to do while I embark on my adventure to the foreign of the foreign countries of Morocco.

I am currently sitting at Seasons pondering what I want to write about and figured I'll try out the whole blogging thing. Quite enjoyable actually!

Well, I'll post what I propose in the upcoming blogs. I guess I'm going to use this after all!