Vanessa Santana

As with any study abroad, there comes a time to say goodbye. Although today was not our last day on the trip, it was our last chance to take time to appreciate the company, friendships and memories we have made with one another before the chaos of the journey back home.

If you've ever been to Meknes, you know the Medina is a must. The Medina is a bustling square in Meknes filled with vendors, shops and everything and anything you could want.

A group of the students, me and some locals took today, our free day, to venture out into the Medina to look for last minute souvenirs and treasures. I'd like to note that looking for something in the Medina is never just an 'in and out' process that your dad requests when going into Walmart for butter. Going into the Medina is an adventure in and of itself. The streets become mazes, with walls composed of shoes, clothes, tapestries and anything else able to be sold The streets vary in noise -from music to hammering- and smells from meat, spices and old clothe. The Medina is not a high end mall, but rather an upscale shopping plaza that's environment could never be replicated.

I should add that the Medina is notorious for bargaining. You must must must bargain at the Medina. The bargaining is a culture. It is a language of the Moroccans, one that must be learned to navigate the merchandise and laws of the Medina. Without it, you may walk away with a rug for 600 Dirham, when in fact it's only worth 200, or with it, walk away with a tapestry being sold for 800 Dirham to walk away with it for 180 ( true story!).

This dinner being our last one together, absolutely required some dressing up. We had some dresses, and running up and down the halls asking for hairspray and straighteners! At not too long past 8:30 we began our dinner at a single long white table, dressed in glasses and cutlery for the 24 students, 3 Purdue teachers, Moe, our guide, Yayah, and Daniel, both a part of the ISA staff, and two Moroccan locals. Our dinner consisted of, of course, a three course meal that we have been pampered with throughout our stay in our hotel.

The most important part of our dinner, however, was not the meal or the fancy table clothes, but the speeches given by each and every individual at the table. Now, these speeches weren't those given at a soccer banquet, but rather filled with the emotion and sentiment given at a wedding by the best man. Personally, I am not one for public speeches, but I mustered the courage to thank everyone who came along the trip, those who made our trip possible, and to every individual on the trip for contributing to my experience abroad.

Needless to say there were tears, as we know one tear opens the gates for the flood works of everyone in a one mile proximity. The night ended with a group picture (That I missed!), and many others by instructors, and other students.

I'm in the middle of Colin and Nathan

A smaller group picture

Farewell Dinner Group Picture that I missed