While on the bus to Marrakech, our fearless leader Elsa Wiehe looked up the city on Lonely Planet and read aloud one amusing review that said Marrakech is a "slap to the senses." I would argue that the entirety of Morocco has been a slap to the senses, and this is a mindset that I would like to take back with me to the United States.

One reason people like to travel so much is that it opens their horizons to new food, sights, cultures, languages, and experiences. When you travel to a new place, you notice everything around you in acute detail and take lots of pictures because you don't want to forget anything. There is a sense of wonder that accompanies travel, and it's magical. The problem is that when you return back home to a familiar place, your senses get muted. You don't stop to appreciate the sights and little moments like you do in a new place.

While this does make some sense, it also makes me sad. I want to return home and be a tourist in my own city and state. I WANT my senses to be slapped daily. I never want to fail to appreciate the beauty of the world around me, no matter how familiar or exotic the place.

Thank you, Morocco for teaching me how to fully embrace my senses and truly seize the day, everyday.