The Beginning of the End

**Note: Post date is August 12, 2009**

I woke up, packed and pondered on how I would use all the rest of my Durham. I had a substantial amount and they won’t exchange Durham easily in the United States. My phone rang. “I can’t find my camera anywhere,” says Erika. I rush to her room to help her find the most precious item to anyone on this trip. After tearing all the sheets and all the blankets off the beds, rummaging through every drawer and crevice in the room, the camera was no where to be found. The waterworks didn’t take too long to start. We had taken some unique and wonderful pictures, along with videos, of our travels through the Sahara desert and back. Not to mention the value of the camera alone. But pictures are undeniably worth so much more than any other monetary value. Erika began to cry.

The others: Becca, Kate and Nicole had went back to the square earlier in the morning she finish some shopping. It was about a half an hour before we had to leave and they return. Erika and I explain to them what happened as we rush down to the concierge to try and resolve the missing camera mystery. There weren’t many possibilities for Erika and I were 100% sure that she left it in the hotel for the entire night. She calmly but emotionally explained the situation to the hotel manager who was very quick to help us. He frantically paced the hotel to acquire records of the times in which the door was open. Erika was still in a state of panic and tears. I had to gather my bags together and so I went upstairs. Along the way I stopped to update the girls on the situation. Nicole had been keeping some stuff of mine her bag. When I got to her room she had put my stuff in a pile. In that pile was none other than Erika’s camera. I scream out of both excitement and frustration. I grab the camera, run down the stairs and relieve Erika of her heartbreaking worries. It gave me relief too, because these nine days home would be completely different if Erika had lost her camera.

The day was pretty simple. To drive back to Marrakech. And so we did. We made some stops in which I tried to use up more Durham. I still have much more but Edwin, our cabin steward, will be back here with Semester at Sea in only a couple of weeks, so I can tip him in Moroccan currency. The drive was another long one, but no mountains this time. It was emotional to have to leave, especially knowing that we were heading into finals week and a lot of writing papers. Once we arrived at the boat, however, it was a relief to be home. It was nice to wave bye to those over cramped minibuses and nice to just relax. We stood in line, souvenirs in hand, as we awaited the last time we would ever walk up the gang plank and get on the M.V. Explorer.

We left Morocco an hour earlier than planned. We now head off into the Atlantic ocean once more. But this time, instead of traveling the world, it is to return safely to our homeland that we call the United States of America. I got in a little argument with Kevin tonight. I even got a little upset. He was quick to say that he didn’t want to live in the U.S., because he didn’t like our government. Seems like a valid statement and his opinion is his opinion. But it made me furious that even after all the devastation and poverty that we have witnessed on this voyage he would still take for granted the luxury and security we are blessed with each and every day in the USA. There are people that would trade their most prized possessions just for just a chance in the “free world” and he was throwing it around like it was a pair of die. America should not be glorified or praised but it certainly should be appreciated.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

~Michael-Anthony

P.S. I’m on my way!