Reflections Upon Reflections
The first 100 days in Morocco, celebrated on Dec 21st, were strewed with explorations, revelations and discoveries, including:
This post is dedicated to frankysbride who sent me a surprise Christmas/Holiday Greeting card (right); though post-marked Dec 5, I got it on Dec 29. I understand other cards were sent, but the mail system can be a bit slow. Thank you to everyone for their emails and text messages of well-wishes and holiday cheers in recent weeks; I have yet to suffer from the effects of homesickness.
The New Year weekend was spent with Volunteers VS1 and EH1 in Khenifra (in the Middle Atlas mountains). Though the visit was short, we had a great time with the host-family.
The drive to Khenifra, along the Middle Atlas mountains, was beautiful.
Papa Noel does stop by Morocco! However, due to his exhausting trip to visit children the world over on Dec 256, he traditionally stops off in Morocco on Dec 31.
L'Aid Kibir [Big Feast Festival, Sacrifice/Slaughter of the Sheep] starts Jan 10 or so, and many people were out buying their sheep. As EH, VS, and I passed a livestock truck, we could not help but sympathize with them. Click here for a close-up.
We wandered into Khenifra's world-renowned carpet souk.
Making my way from Khenifra to Khemisset, the bus had a flat tire just after leaving the town of Azrou. While waiting for a spare tire to be driven to us, I took a short hike and came upon this shepherd and his flock. Cultural observation: most of the men stood smoking near the bus and the women sat quietly inside the bus.
2 it is called the "Dirty South" because of the high prostitution population in the region; though I am reminded that there are prostitutes all over Morocco.
3 this is taken directly from Peace Corps Volunteer SAJ's own list of experience in Morocco.
4 there are phrases for daily and special occasions, including birth, circumcision, death, sickness, traveling, begging, wedding, etc.
5 this is too long of a story to go into here.
6 Kallun reminds us that Santa Clause exists outside the realm of Newtonian and Einsteinian physics
7 for those who asked about the hemman experience, practice patience .. I am on email back-log .. I have neither forgotten nor ignored your emails and questions.
- fasting 25 of the 30 days of Ramadan
- eating more than ten breakfasts for Aid Segir [little feast]
- going on a field-trip to Morocco's sub-Saharan "Dirty South"2
- devising strategies to stay clean when bathing is possible only once a week
- being scrubbed from head to toes at the hemman [public bathhouse] by both host -dad and -brother at the same time7
- knowing that when it is cold outside, it is COLDER inside3
- using the Turkish toilette is, indeed, more ergonomically than the Western-style toilette
- reading the paper is difficult while using the Turkish, unless you have the balance prowess of a Cirque du Soleil performer
- wearing a djallaba [hooded overall] inside the house, outside around town, to bed, to work, etc. for several continuous days is acceptable; the bonus round: the hood doubles as a pocket for books, snacks, etc.
- turning on the lights and having one's name yelled is a common way to get woken up in a Berber family
- waking up to the surprise of electricity-free days is a gift; they are the only days I am allowed to sleep pass 8:00AM
- peppering conversation with Allah phrases win cultural points for non-Moslims4
- naming livestock is not encouraged as they are just temporary pets until the next meal
- burning trash is better for the environment than hauling it to the dumpster where it does not break down due to lack of oxygen and sunlight
- coming home from the cyber to find the host-family "asleep" AND the carbon monoxide detector warning of dangers
- slinging spa-quality mud at the neighborhood kids is ok, they deserve it5
- rebirth - going by the name of "Amin" in Morocco because "Nam" translates to "Yes"
excitement - starting on an adventure with the Peace Corps
sadness - listening to a friend-in-need during difficult times
cleansing - loosing documents due to laptop crashing
healing - starting a blog can open doors to unlikely friendships
... it was the year that everything changed.
This post is dedicated to frankysbride who sent me a surprise Christmas/Holiday Greeting card (right); though post-marked Dec 5, I got it on Dec 29. I understand other cards were sent, but the mail system can be a bit slow. Thank you to everyone for their emails and text messages of well-wishes and holiday cheers in recent weeks; I have yet to suffer from the effects of homesickness.
The New Year weekend was spent with Volunteers VS1 and EH1 in Khenifra (in the Middle Atlas mountains). Though the visit was short, we had a great time with the host-family.
The drive to Khenifra, along the Middle Atlas mountains, was beautiful.
Papa Noel does stop by Morocco! However, due to his exhausting trip to visit children the world over on Dec 256, he traditionally stops off in Morocco on Dec 31.
L'Aid Kibir [Big Feast Festival, Sacrifice/Slaughter of the Sheep] starts Jan 10 or so, and many people were out buying their sheep. As EH, VS, and I passed a livestock truck, we could not help but sympathize with them. Click here for a close-up.
We wandered into Khenifra's world-renowned carpet souk.
Making my way from Khenifra to Khemisset, the bus had a flat tire just after leaving the town of Azrou. While waiting for a spare tire to be driven to us, I took a short hike and came upon this shepherd and his flock. Cultural observation: most of the men stood smoking near the bus and the women sat quietly inside the bus.
2 it is called the "Dirty South" because of the high prostitution population in the region; though I am reminded that there are prostitutes all over Morocco.
3 this is taken directly from Peace Corps Volunteer SAJ's own list of experience in Morocco.
4 there are phrases for daily and special occasions, including birth, circumcision, death, sickness, traveling, begging, wedding, etc.
5 this is too long of a story to go into here.
6 Kallun reminds us that Santa Clause exists outside the realm of Newtonian and Einsteinian physics
7 for those who asked about the hemman experience, practice patience .. I am on email back-log .. I have neither forgotten nor ignored your emails and questions.
tags: peace corps.africa.morocco
another point of view ...
At least you finally met Santa Claus, hehe.
I had a laugh when you said, "naming livestock is not encouraged as they are just temporary pets until the next meal." Wow they are so literal with these?
THE DUTCHED PINAY: yeah, i don't get attached to the livestock here; and the concept of 'pets' is very much lost .. mumkin [maybe] a post for another day. we have a sheep on the roof now, in preparation for aid kbir [big feast] where the sheep will be sacrificed. i'm not looking forward to the bleating of sheep throughout the town. many roofs have sheep now, but i think it will be weird/sad when they are all slaughtered at the same time.
FRANKYSBRIDE: gosh, THANK YOU so much for such a nice surprise. i really love the cards, and the artisans enjoyed it too .. they are carving me palm trees :-) i'll post pictures when they are done.
Hey guy, you are great!
I was enjoyed reading your article. It is so funny.
I am still laughing.
Very funny Santa Klaus.
speak up!
Jo Travels
At least you finally met Santa Claus, hehe.
I had a laugh when you said, "naming livestock is not encouraged as they are just temporary pets until the next meal." Wow they are so literal with these?
Nam LaMore
THE DUTCHED PINAY: yeah, i don't get attached to the livestock here; and the concept of 'pets' is very much lost .. mumkin [maybe] a post for another day. we have a sheep on the roof now, in preparation for aid kbir [big feast] where the sheep will be sacrificed. i'm not looking forward to the bleating of sheep throughout the town. many roofs have sheep now, but i think it will be weird/sad when they are all slaughtered at the same time.
FRANKYSBRIDE: gosh, THANK YOU so much for such a nice surprise. i really love the cards, and the artisans enjoyed it too .. they are carving me palm trees :-) i'll post pictures when they are done.
Hey guy, you are great!
I was enjoyed reading your article. It is so funny.
I am still laughing.
Very funny Santa Klaus.
speak up!
previous 10 posts:
- Personal Portal: Morocco
- McHappy in Morocco
- That Time of Year
- Make Mine Khemisset!
- Crossing the Line
- Credit Where Due
- The Assignment
- The Gaza Strip (not really)
- The Secret Kitchen
- Shopping at the Souq
