Sesame Orange Cookies

In the past couple days, 3 notably exciting things happened.

1. I taught my first dance class at the conservatory here. By the end, no one was crying and the women were smiling and sweating, so you know. Success.
2. I took my first ride in a Moroccan grand taxi. If you've been here you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you haven't, picture a can of sardines. Now picture a car of sardines. Now picture a small car of 7 people (driver included) who look like sardines in a can, smushed together for an hour on the way to Tetouan. It's an essential if not slightly uncomfortable experience.
Somehow I managed to squeeze my hands down to my purse, pull out my camera and take the following picture of the stunning mountains surrounding the city.

Challenges & Quiche

I am the kind of person who likes a good challenge. For a while I was thinking of maybe moving to California or New York to find internships or continue my studies, which don’t get me wrong, are both incredible cities where someday I might like to live, but there was this weird pushy part of me that kept yelling “It’s too easy!” I felt this need to go somewhere that would seriously challenge me, teach me about different cultures, open up my mind, and from time to time make me feel as if I know nothing about the world at all.

And so I chose Tangier. Or, as they say, Tangier chose me. I’m not really sure yet.

Garlic Greens & Golden Tahini Sauce

Well here I am. Back in this weird, wonderful city we call Tangér, Tanja, Tangier.

I can't believe that I almost forgot how much I love this place. In less than twenty minutes you can walk through the busy bustling medina, through the markets, through the maze of the Kasbah, and suddenly you walk through an archway and the portal takes you to out onto a stunning view of the bright blue sea, sailing beyond colorful patchwork rooftops.

Un Jour á Paris

Between Berlin and Tangier, I had a one-day layover in Paris. In the past, I’ve had kinda mixed feelings about this city. My first time I found the general population cold and distant, while the air was filled with a false promise of romance.

The second time was near the end of my 9-month euro-trip and I met up with my mom for the week. Seeing the city through her eyes showed me a place filled with beauty and sweet nostalgia- much better than the previous visit.

Unknown

New year, yet another new chapter. After being home for a lovely three weeks, I am back in Berlin, sitting in my favorite cafe of all time (see above), soaking in last bits of the city before I fly south to Morocco on Monday.

This is clearly going to be quite the year.