Tag Archives: Morocco

The To-Do List

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Time Management Skills to the Test

My To-Do list is slowly dwindling.  With less than 18 days to go, I have 30 things left to do.  This is completely doable.  It’ll be a busy 18 days, but they will fly by so quickly.  Some of the things are going to be easy to do.  Such as:  20.  Get a Haircut & 28.  Put all files into a three-ring folder.  Others will be much more difficult.  Such as: 3. Find Cheap Cloud Space to allow for Computer backup & 14. Figure out Tax Information needed while abroad.  As long as I mark off three a day, I will feel comfortable   I’ve already marked off one so far today: Talked to the Bank.  I’m hoping to mark off a couple more today.

I am going to change up a few things here.  First of all, I am going to start with a daily Haiku.  I hope you enjoy these quick reads.  I will also experiment this afternoon with a Vlog.  It’ll be a great way for me to let my readers get to know me and understand me on a different level.  I went back and forth on this, because I prefer writing.  But I can’t help but look up to the legendary John Green.  He is an incredible writer and I love his vlog.  An artist shouldn’t limit himself to one art form.

We are almost done with the romantic poems of my teenage years.  The ones I am uploading today are by far my favorite.  At least read “One Day Down.”  You will not regret it.

Why?

One Day Down

My Fear

Starting to Pack

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Today feels like the start of a different phase in my adventure.  I spent several hours shopping to make sure I was ready to leave for the Peace Corps–getting everything from an indestructible water bottle to a Swiss Army Knife.  I now am very close to ready on the packing front.  I am going to spend this evening and tomorrow seeing how everything packs and coming up with ideas.  With 18.5 days until I leave for Morocco, I feel like I need to start preparing.  Since my parents are heading back East for a week, I have a full week to myself to figure out everything I need to.  After that, it’s going to be crazy.

I’m trying to do a few things for myself before I leave.  I want to get in a better reading and writing habit.  More than anything, however, I want to get back into music.  I feel like I lost my love for music over the last year or two.  After going to a metal rock concert with a close friend, I realized I needed to re-explore the world of music.  I think a large reason I haven’t been enjoying music is because I don’t like a lot of modern rock.  So I’ve been exploring 8Track to find some new stuff.  I must say…I’m a little surprised by how much I enjoy Macklemore.

I’m getting more excited about some of the poems I am posting.  Although they are still from my teenage years, they offer something I love.  Teenager writing is so purely emotional.  Even if the poetry isn’t as good as I write nowadays, it is portraying something that I want to recapture.  The ones today are rather quick reads.  Enjoy!

Without You

Who I am

I Don’t Want to Fly Alone.

Merry Christmas

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It’s been a great Christmas.  With dozens of family members here last night, the evening went by in a blur.  I received the most amazing gift from the most beautiful girl I’ve met.  A large leather-bound journal for my travels.  It is something I will cherish in my time away.  I am so happy to have people in my life who understand me so.  I love each and every one of you.

I started off today by watching Les Miserables with my parents.  It’s pretty much a tradition in my family.  We have gone to many Broadway shows in New York over the years…but nothing could beat out Les Mis.  The story is so powerful.  Love.  Heartbreak.  Revolution.  Inequality.  I do wish to read Victor Hugo’s novel some day.  Maybe while I am in Morocco.  I have a long list of books to read.  With twenty days left until I leave, my list of things left to do is dwindling.  It is enough to keep me busy.  I will be in Morocco soon enough.  As those around me always like to remind me–my time in Morocco will be over soon enough as well.  Hopefully my lovely lady will be there when that time comes.

I can only hope.

Here is a new batch of poems my nearly a decade ago:

Live a Little

Guiding Light

Seat One.  Seat Two.

A Very Bronco Christmas

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I wrote a lot today.  I’m not one for giving gifts.  I just can’t bring myself to buy things–even if it is for other people.  So I write personal letters.  I ended up writing four this morning.  I only have three left to write.  I’m going to do my best to write them tonight; I like the idea of resting during Christmas Eve and Christmas.  It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas.

I’m watching the Broncos kick butt right now.  This will be their 10th win in a row.  I am going to miss watching them when I am in Morocco.  I mean, the game is fun.  But it’s a great way to spend time with my father.  I will definitely miss that.  Well, 22 days to go until I leave.  I’m trying to cross at least three items off my to-do list today.  Today it went from 41 to 37.  I need to keep it up.

Here are today’s poems.  They’re getting better.

4 Waves, 1 Finger

Don’t Give a Damn

I Can

Living Wills & Other Difficult Questions

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I’m spending most of my days learning Arabic and going through hundreds of pages of manuals for the Peace Corps.  I am trying to do as much as I can right now so I can take a couple days off and truly kick back and enjoy myself for Christmas.  It seems to be going pretty well.  I believe I just finished the last of the readings.  Now I just have a checklist and lots of language preparations left.

There are a lot of interesting questions that have cropped up.  Cross-cultural understanding.  Universal rights.  A lot of these questions I will encounter once I make the move to Morocco in 23 days.  The big question right now is a living will.  I am leaving one behind with my parents.  We’ve talked about it before, but I understand the need to put it all in writing.  It’s strange thinking through the multiplicity of way you could find yourself in a end-of-life situation.  Moreover, I’m a little surprised at my own beliefs …and how little I would want to be kept alive artificially.

Here are today’s poems.  Enjoy:

We as One

Our Truth

‘Twas a Problem

 

A Month Without Her

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I spent a month (Oct. 20 through Nov. 20) falling in love with a girl who lived 1,300 miles away from me.  It was easily the best month of my life thus far.  Now it’s been a month without her.  It’s been strange.  It not like I think about her everyday.  No.  That would be easy.  I find myself thinking she would make each destination in my daily life so much better–so much fuller.  Some days are easier than other–but some days are downright lonely without her.

I’m moving forward in going to the Peace Corps.  Which means another 800 days without her.  The idea frightens me.  I know I asked for this by letting myself fall in love with her so soon before leaving the country.  The thing is, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  Period.  The time apart will be impossible.  It’ll teach us much about ourselves and each other.  It may rip us apart.  But it may make us stronger.  I do not know the future.  All I know is that, right now,  I see no other option.  The Peace Corps is where my life has been pointed for years.  With it finally on my doorstep, how do I walk away?  What kind of life will be waiting for me if I do?

The internal conflict burns inside of me as–each day–I read over more forms and learn Arabic.  It’s like I’m living two lives at this point.  At some point, one of those lives will have to fall into a hibernation–hoping to be reawoken in the near-future.  At this point, I expect that to be the life with her.  I do not like that.  I hate that that is going to be my decision.  I try every day to re-imagine what life would be like if I stayed in the states….but it’s getting harder and harder to see it.

This blog is going to transform in the days, weeks, and months ahead.  As I make the transition to living overseas, it will remain my writing blog.  But it will also take on the aspects of a Peace Corps Journal.  Although I am not legally allowed to share my specific whereabouts or doings, I will be able to share my personal thoughts and writings.  That will not change.

I have much from my teenager years that I still want to upload before I leave.  I think I need to up it to three per update.  Here’s today’s batch of poems from nine years ago:

One Thing Left

What It’s All About

Our Autumn Fall

 

2012 in Review

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I learned the first three letter of the Arabic Alphabet yesterday.  It’s going to be difficult, but I think I can pull it off.  I need a good way to fill my time over the next 29 days.  Spending a good deal of time learning a new language sounds like the best way to occupy myself.  Now I just need a good place to study.  My coffee place seems to have decided to start making shitty coffee….which kind of throws me for a loop.

For those of you who do not know, I am a Broncos fan.  I have lived my entire life in Northern Colorado.  This team has always been mine.  It has been an incredible season.  Even though I am more of a baseball fan, this is hard not to get excited about this season.  I mean, nine wins in a row.  Come on!  I’m starting to think about how far they can go….and I hate that I won’t be in the country for the conference championships or the Superbowl.  I will have to find a way to watch them with fellow Peace Corps volunteers.

Today’s writing is actually my year in review. I do this every year.  Same 40 questions.  Feel free to steal the questions and fill it out for yourself.  It’s a great way to reflect.

2012 in Review

30 Days Out

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With 30 days until I leave for Morocco, two things are on my mind.  First and foremost is the girl I am set to leave behind.  I know I’m going to leave my family and friends behind…but I don’t entirely regard that a bad thing.  Although I will miss my friends and family, I know they will be here for me when I get back.  When it comes to romance, life works a little differently.  We know full well that we can’t ask each other to wait.  It really isn’t sane to expect a 27 month long-distance relationship to last off of a one-month romance.  A part of me desperately doesn’t want to risk losing her.  That part want to stay behind.  The other part of me reminds me that everything I’ve ever wanted (except romance and a family) is offered by the Peace Corps.  Ambitious friend.  Helping people.  Travel.  Help towards a great job.  I can not expect either of us to wait…but I can hope.  Still, I cannot help but imagine my life if I decide not to leave her.

One other thing is on my mind.  Arabic.  I am not great at languages.  In 30 days, I will be thrown into an intensive 8-week course where Arabic and the culture of Morocco will be taught.  I need to get a good head start.  In order to get going, I am going to force myself to work on it every day until I leave.  Today is focused on skowering the internet for ideas on how to start learning the language.  Tomorrow will focus on buying a couple language books (and a tourist book of Morocco) so that I can get a real start on my studies.  I will let you know how it goes.  I may even try to write some Arabic poems or Haikus.

Here is today’s update from my teenage past.  Some of these poems are a bit embarrassing (this one included).  It almost looks like I wanted it to be a song rather than a set poem.  It sounds like a crappy pop song.

True Love

Overdose of Peace Corps

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I read through all the documents in my Peace Corps packet again.  With 39 days until I leave, it seems necessary to figure out as much as I can.  I sent an email to my director.  I got a response this morning that my Peace Corps Passport has already been issued and will be waiting for me at the staging even on January 14th.  I should get more information on the staging event before Christmas…but from what I’ve read, it looks like it may be in Philadelphia.

Over the next 39 days, my time will be divided up between learning Arabic, reading, writing, and hanging out with friends and family.  Oh, and watching the Denver Broncos kick some ass.  As a result, I will be updating new stuff sporadically based on what I am doing each day.  I will, however, continue uploading old pieces for you daily.  I really like the one for today.  I hope you do too:

’cause I know