Off to the Arab world again. It's one day before I leave for orientation in Washington, D.C. for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) program. I'm currently watching the Spain vs. Croatia game in the Euro 2012, sitting next to Lily on the leather chair - last time I'll be in this position until 2013.

CLS is an 8-week, intensive Arabic program, and I absolutely cannot wait for another immersion+travel experience. Like the program I did in Egypt (see my blog for more info: monicaegypt.blogspot.com), CLS is sponsored by the U.S. State Department to promote the learning of languages deemed "critical" to national security - Arabic, for example. A group of ~30-40 undergraduate and graduate students will be in Tangier this summer.

I just got back this morning from a wonderful trip to California to visit my relatives, and now I have to finalize packing and other details. It wouldn't have been difficult to pack for a summer in Morocco, but I won't actually be back in the United States until the end of December. After Morocco, I'm stopping over in Cairo to visit my host family for a few days before flying to Amman, Jordan to begin my fall semester abroad. I will also be studying in an intensive Arabic program through CIEE (Council of International Educational Exchange), a non-governmental, non-profit organization for international student exchanges. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but here's the website for the Arabic language program I'll be doing: http://www.ciee.org/study-abroad/jordan/amman/arabic-language/#1rightForYou.

And after Jordan, I'm planning on traveling around Turkey with a good friend from Rice on the way back home - here's the rough schedule for the rest of 2012, since it's easy to lose track:
June 21-August 21: Tangier, Morocco
August 22-26: Cairo, Egypt
August 26-December 21: Amman, Jordan
December 22-30: Turkey
December 31: Home! (Charlottesville)
January 5: Back to Rice for classes

This outline is the basis for the title of this blog, which can be roughly translated to "possible" - not too original, but I think it sums up the next six months well because anything is possible, no matter how difficult or unexpected. First, both of these programs are immersion, meaning NO English allowed, and even though this will be challenging, I seriously can't wait. Moreover, I'm armed with not one, but TWO Rough Guides - one to Morocco and another Jordan, so I plan on traveling and exploring as much as possible. Perhaps some Matsumoto Tours! (it's actually a real thing, just look on Facebook) if I can find other students who also love to explore the country and culture. Plus, "mumkin" is one of my favorite Arabic words to say.

That's it for now, but more details later, for sure. And a last tribute to the country I'll miss, despite its imperfections, and the people in it: