As I’m writing this, I am quietly celebrating the one-week anniversary of my arrival in Rome. But, to be honest with you, all of the exploring, meeting new people and eating has made my first week feel like my first month! Don’t worry, this is a good thing. Within the first few days I’ve already seen some of Rome’s major landmarks and have explored multiple neighborhoods. By the time classes started today, I was really comfortable commuting and getting around.

Hello everyone! Now that I’m officially in Rabat and two weeks into my program, I wanted to share my experiences and key takeaways from the on-site orientation program in Meknes. This series of events ended up being so crucial to helping me settle into life in Morocco and taught me five essential lessons to carry into the future.

Takeaway Number 5: Be in Touch with How You’re Feeling and Your Boundaries