Less than 2 weeks!

I know that I'm very excited about the upcoming trip. (Although, I have no idea how I will fit everything into one suitcase. No idea how some others on the trip are thinking about using only a carry-on! Wow! I certainly don't have that skill. Lol.) It's been great having a really amazing host teacher to communicate with in advance. I keep thinking of things that I want to bring for her and her students and then I remember that many of my ideas would require multiple extra bags to bring them all. Lol. Hopefully I can figure out how to balance luggage space with all my ideas.) :)

Speaking of host teachers, they are truly a key part of this program and we haven't even gotten to Morocco yet! I participated in a Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar program about 15 years ago (loved it) but the teacher I was assigned was more for me to just shadow a couple of days (she was great...but they purpose was different back then). In comparison, I have WhatsApp'd (can I make that a verb???) with my TGC host teacher almost everyday or every other day for a few weeks now. She has such fun ideas that she runs by us to see if we are interested in them or not. (I've said "yes" to almost everything except for the Hammam since I was worried about my asthma in the steam (I really like breathing.) I'm thankful that our host teacher was so considerate in asking about our interest level for it.)

Since I was most concerned about the hotel funds and train tickets for the portion when we are in our host communities, here's the info from this year...MACECE will take care of the train tickets and we are supposed to get funds from IREX (to help with our host community's hotel cost, etc.) a few days before we travel. Most of us will be taking the train to our host city (I think there is only one pair that needs to take a flight.) I was also concerned that the amount (same for all of us on this trip) might not be enough for my host city--Marrakech--since it is so popular. However, my host teacher was super helpful and found a couple of hotels she thought would be great for us (and are within our budget). She even made the reservation for us (Thank you!!!) It is really close to the train station which should help us when we arrive. So, if you have the same concern, talk with your host teacher since they probably have some great ideas to help you out.

For any future TGC participants, IREX and MACECE are really well organized and will let you know information as you need to know it. For those of you who like to plan way in advance, I'm sure you will be wanting to have the info sooner and/or want to have the hotel funds sooner to make reservations, etc., but there are reasons that they are waiting to send the hotel funds, etc. So...Don't worry! BTW, the pre-departure orientation is a 3-4 weeks before the trip and will answer many of the questions that you will most likely have (I was actually presenting the evening of the session but fortunately they recorded it so I could get all the details/info that I needed.)

Can't wait!!! :)