Well, this will be the last post from the United States. We arrived in Philadelphia yesterday for staging and met the other 63 or so Moroccan volunteers. Everyone seems extremely nice and chill and in different stages of excitement and nervousness. Ourselves included. Monday was a long day of orientation into Peace Corps policies and core expectations, talking and drawing about our feelings of anticipation and aspirations and concerns. At the end of the day people split off into last meal desires, while one group went out for steaks and burgers, and some went for asian fusion a large contingency including us went for sushi. Thank goodness for our per diem.

This morning we met in the lobby at 10:00 am to board the bus for JFK airport. Our flight departs for Casablanca at 7:01pm. So, we are currently sitting at our gate waiting for boarding, and have been so doing for the past 3-1/2 hours and have another 1-1/2 to go. Luckily the iPhone has an app for that, since there is no free wifi, I’m able to make my last farewell from the states.

Thanks again to everyone who attended our going away party and a VERY SPECIAL thanks to Meredith, Carolynn and my parents for throwing us such a fabulous party and putting so much thought and effort into making it so fun and memorable. Also, to Josh, Kate, Mason and Levi for braving the snow storm and going to such great lengths to get here from Colorado. It meant the world to Dave and I. So thank you all for your thoughtfulness and appreciation.