1. The Food:
From couscous to tajine to dates to yoghurt, I love the food. All the main dishes in Morocco are mostly vegetables-fresh vegetables. They're cooked until soft and served either with bread or couscous. Couscous days make any day spectacular! The vegies piled high on a bed of couscous and the deliciously sweet date, raison, and onion sauce on the side. It is impossible not to gorge oneself into a food coma. I think this is the reason why couscous days in our family are not necessarily always on Friday. Instead, couscous is served on days when everyone has the afternoon free. As for snacks, I love getting dates and trying all the different kinds of yoghurt this country has to offer-pistachio, mango, date... mmm! 
As for dessert, Moroccans usually lay out a plethora of delicious fresh fruit-melon, grapes, pomegranates, and other kinds of exotic fruits that, as far as I know, we don't have names for in English. If you prefer more of an American style dessert, bakeries can be found on almost every block and they sell a delicious assortment of cookies, cakes, and French goodies like eclairs!2. Mint Tea:
It is deliciously refreshing and warms you up from the inside out. It makes getting up so much easier-not because of caffeine, but just because I look forward to drinking it! Plus, I think there is just something so culturally important with drinking tea, that you just feel more Moroccan when you have it. It is at every event, every major purchase, and every visit. It is welcoming and comforting, and just so... Moroccan.3.Riding to school with your arm around some strange man and your foot caught under a Mercede's front seat:
Yep, grand taxi adventures! The grand taxis are big, old Mercedes that shove 4 people in the back seat and two people in the front passenger seat. Yes, six people can fit, but no, they don't fit comfortably. By the time you have situated yourself in such a manner as to allow the last person in to sit and close the door, you realize that your arms are not at all where you would have prefered them to be, but to move them would mean hitting 3 or 4 people in the face and then once you moved them, there wouldn't necessarily be a better place to stash them. Then your foot falls asleep, and you begin smelling armpit from the guy next to you (no one really wears deoderant here). Alright, it doesn't sound fun, but it is an experience. And personally, I love any good experience!
4. Studying in the cafes:
The first reason I like this is because I feel kind of bad ass sitting with all the men. I refuse to go upstairs to the "women's section." I prefer sitting outside where it is sunny and smokefree! The other reason I love it is that you can get an espresso for less than a dollar, and they let you sit there for hours. I people watch, read, and do homework, and I hardly ever get bothered. Sometimes I even get to practice my French a bit with the waiter.5. Hammam:
In my first description of hammams, it may have come across as a kind of scary thing, but in all reality, it is relaxing and quite lovely! Hammams are a very social event in Morocco. It is where women go to gossip and even talk matchmaking. Once again, for only a few dollars, you can relax in a nice warm room for as long as you like, get a massage, and walk out feeling the cleanest you've ever felt.
6. Weather:
Two months in, and I can count the rainy days on one hand! The skys are clear and sunny 9 days out of 10. Sure, it was hot to begin with, but now it is hovering right around the mid 70's which is such a beautiful temperature, especially for a girl from Minnesota where October usually means 40's or 50's (if we're lucky).
7. My family:
I couldn't have asked for a better place to live in Morocco. My family is so open, down-to-earth, and fun! My host mom loves a good dance party in the living room. My little brother is obsessed with Michael Jackson and American films. My older brother is such a talented musician, and my host father is such a sweet man and is very patient with my French. They have made Anne and me part of their family, not just people who stay in their house and eat their food. They love to take us to new places and make sure that we experience everything Moroccan.8.The variety:
From mountains to ocean to desert, Morocco has it all. I've gotten to swim in the ocean, hike in the mountains, feed a monkey out of my hand, stroll down city streets, and barter in ancient labrynths. All of this, and my adventure is only about halfway done. I still have yet to experience the legendary Marakech and ride a camel in the desert!
9. Seeing friendly faces:
Nothing says that you actually live in a place quite like running into friends on the street or at the store. I feel like I've finally gotten used to the cheek kissing, and I've been improving on my French skills, and my Arabic skills for that matter!
10. The new lock:
For those of you that don't know, I'm not exactly a morning person. I dread rolling out of bed, and it takes every ounce of my strength to behave like a kind, conversational person before 8am. Therefore, the tiniest things can make the morning go from bad to almost unbearable. Before I lost the key, the sticky lock was one of those little things that made mornings just that much worse. I'd sit at the door for a solid 3 minutes, cursing under my breath while I tried to get the darn thing to budge. Post key incident however, mornings are a little bit better, the lock slides easily away!
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