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Eight days until I leave for Morocco. I will be there for five golden weeks. I wish I could say that the anticipation is kicking in, however beyond initial packing and list making, I've not done much. Actually, I have done one thing - I have been listening to recordings on iTunes, as well as watching youtube videos of the Islamic call to prayer. I cannot wait to hear it again, reverberating throughout the city, multiple mosques issuing their own call, as the city grows quiet(er) in the collective moments of salat, be it fajr, dhuhr, asr, magrib, or isha'a.  The Adhan (Call to Prayer)

A side note- I am reading a wonderful book, written by a female Muslim-American about growing up as such in the American mid-West. The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf: A Novel. It is edifying and entertaining to say the least. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to better understand the religion of Islam, the role of women in the religion, and their lives in the US mid-West.

My stress dreams lately have been very real. My sleep has been uneasy, frequently awakening and struggling to fall back to sleep. I wish I could say they were because of my impending trip. In truth I think they have been for a number of reasons. 1) My stress levels have been through the roof, trying to deal with some medical procedures I've gone through in the past week. 2) I've been struggling to not revert to habits of drinking to deal with said stress. 3) When I awaken, my mind goes to WORK, and WORK PEOPLE, of all things, the last things I want to be worrying/stressing about! I blame these THINGS primarily for the stress dreams, since they are what come to mind once I waken.  I need to focus on the good people at work, not the ones who cause me duress. I wish this was as easy as it sounds.

Headaches galore, I know I'm clenching my teeth in my sleep. I'm doing it right now even. I have to make a conscientious effort NOT to clench and grind them. Because of stress I have allowed crud germs in, I've been sneezing near constantly since I woke up this morning. This is unacceptable.

Another source of stress, but good stress now, are the prospects of graduate school. I am beginning my search for them. My list grows long, my hopes high. Boston, Connecticut, Washington DC, New York, Chicago. I am going SOMEWHERE else.

I will be (hopefully) posting to this blog frequently while in Meknes next month.  Maybe it will inspire someone. :)