Spring in Khemisset
Though it rained non-stop for the last forty days and nights, requiring me to inquire about the possibility of when and where to embark on the Ark, the weather is starting to improve. Instead of snow in this part of the region of the Middle Atlas, I get plenty of rain here during the winter months. My homestay family says it will be like this for another month or so. When it is not raining and swiya [a bit/little] dry, I try to go on a long bike-ride to explore the country-side. It is far too cold to stay indoors this time of the year. Everything is so green and lush; indeed, spring is here.
The homestay family has been great; however, I can officially move out Feb 1 into my own dar [house/apartment]. In a fairly large town (as far as Peace Corps is concerned), I thought I would have the pick of the litter when it comes to housing1; after a few weeks of looking at more than 25 housing options, here are the highlights:
Aside from the wild paperwhite narcissus, I have not a clue to the names of all the wild flowers and plants springing up in the country-side. Lacking any Berber folklore stories about the Rite of Spring, here is an abridged version from Greek mythology: the semi-annual visit from Persephone, Queen of the Underworld and Eternal Spring Daughter, to her mother Demeter, the Great Mother of the Harvest, brings about joy and happiness between Mother and Daughter, creating the seasons of Spring and Summer.
My bike rides into the country-side are done with some randomness. I am still in the exploratory stage and really don't know what will be around the next bend. As the months pass, I'm sure to find favorite spots2 and will return often.
Stopped by a douar [small village, characterized by mud/clay baked homes, this one had brick buildings lining the main street] to get some water from the common well. I would have stopped by the farmhouse and Candyland (really an olive farm) for water, but "Keep Out" & "Trespassers Not Wanted" were clearly written all over these places.
Seems that some of the sheep managed to escape from Aid Kbir of last week, or maybe this Berber shepherdess and her family are vegetarians.
Sunset calls to prayer from the surrounding mosques helped me to keep a good pace as I furiously biked home at neck-breaking speed before the impending storm and darkness that evening.
Just so American tax-payers do not think I am here living the good life3, here is one of the multiple projects I have been working on. This draft-catalog4, still researching and writing textcopy as of this post, will target corporate buyers and wholesale/retail distributors. I hope to have this in a satisfactory condition in another few weeks; it will remain in English until my French and/or Arabic improves.
1. Housing options are limited to the generous (by host-country standards) monthly rental allowance. I can deal with outdoor plumbing if necessary; I know I can make this work.
2. One of my favorite spots so far was discovered on the first bike ride into the country-side a few weeks ago.
3. Am cold because I am in the Middle Atlas without heat in the house, and with fun illnesses as traveler's sickness, pink eye, etc
4. My vision for this "brochure": change the focus of the sales brochure and add more content (text and images) so it can be a proper coffee-table book; however, that requires more than Monopoly money. Anyone got a contact at Simon & Schuster? No, I'm not kidding.
The homestay family has been great; however, I can officially move out Feb 1 into my own dar [house/apartment]. In a fairly large town (as far as Peace Corps is concerned), I thought I would have the pick of the litter when it comes to housing1; after a few weeks of looking at more than 25 housing options, here are the highlights:
- option #1: the rooms are spacious; however, the apartment has no windows
option #2: the roof-wall (facing the street below) is below waist-level.
option #3: the neighbor to one side has livestock on their roof; a chicken came flying over while i was looking at the apartment (not a problem, mind you), but I would rather not fetch stray livestock if I can help it.
option #4: the bathroom/WC the size you find only on airplanes, under the stairwell; when I commented the bathroom/WC was too small, the landlord only retorted, "How much time do you spend in there?" Good one.
option #5: the busy neighborhood did not bother me, but the apartment was next to a butcher shop; I had considered this one, but crossed it off the list after the sheep slaughtering experience of last week.
option #6: leaks created a pond (an added feature) in the living room; the landlord said it would dry up in a few weeks.
Aside from the wild paperwhite narcissus, I have not a clue to the names of all the wild flowers and plants springing up in the country-side. Lacking any Berber folklore stories about the Rite of Spring, here is an abridged version from Greek mythology: the semi-annual visit from Persephone, Queen of the Underworld and Eternal Spring Daughter, to her mother Demeter, the Great Mother of the Harvest, brings about joy and happiness between Mother and Daughter, creating the seasons of Spring and Summer.
My bike rides into the country-side are done with some randomness. I am still in the exploratory stage and really don't know what will be around the next bend. As the months pass, I'm sure to find favorite spots2 and will return often.
Stopped by a douar [small village, characterized by mud/clay baked homes, this one had brick buildings lining the main street] to get some water from the common well. I would have stopped by the farmhouse and Candyland (really an olive farm) for water, but "Keep Out" & "Trespassers Not Wanted" were clearly written all over these places.
Seems that some of the sheep managed to escape from Aid Kbir of last week, or maybe this Berber shepherdess and her family are vegetarians.
Sunset calls to prayer from the surrounding mosques helped me to keep a good pace as I furiously biked home at neck-breaking speed before the impending storm and darkness that evening.
Just so American tax-payers do not think I am here living the good life3, here is one of the multiple projects I have been working on. This draft-catalog4, still researching and writing textcopy as of this post, will target corporate buyers and wholesale/retail distributors. I hope to have this in a satisfactory condition in another few weeks; it will remain in English until my French and/or Arabic improves.
delivering a breached baby logically, i know the steps to delivering a breached baby. on a cold, bored evening recently, i flipped though "where there is no doctor" and decided to read the chapter about delivering a breached baby. |
1. Housing options are limited to the generous (by host-country standards) monthly rental allowance. I can deal with outdoor plumbing if necessary; I know I can make this work.
2. One of my favorite spots so far was discovered on the first bike ride into the country-side a few weeks ago.
3. Am cold because I am in the Middle Atlas without heat in the house, and with fun illnesses as traveler's sickness, pink eye, etc
4. My vision for this "brochure": change the focus of the sales brochure and add more content (text and images) so it can be a proper coffee-table book; however, that requires more than Monopoly money. Anyone got a contact at Simon & Schuster? No, I'm not kidding.
tags: peace corps.africa.morocco
another point of view ...
Wow, that tree pic is so pretty, and your catalog draft is also. The photos are great!
Sounds like one has to be 'hardy' to live there. For some reason I thought they would be vegetarian because of religious beliefs?
Hope you find a good place.
A dar of your own! Good luck - I am sure you will find one that is perfect, inshallah!
That was a great post as usual - thanks. Still three months before I hit the ground in Fez - can't wait. Stay safe.
PERI: you do have to be in good health to be in the Peace Corps -- the medical and dental screening uncovers everything. Meat is a big part of the diet here - no meal is complete (except breakfast) unless meat is included!
SAMIR: looking forward to your arrival, but I bet it is warmer wherever you are than in the Middle Atlas (though it is nice to wake up to a pile of blankets).
Your pictures are great. I hope you find a good place to live. I thought all places came with a window.
MQUEST: and i think your pictures are great, too! i want to learn the secret of adding nice borders and text. i like your inspiration captions of mquest, jr.
i'm very certain that moroccans like the interior of their homes to be nice and dark, gives a sense of privacy.
the secret is here:
http://flagrantdisregard.com/flickr/
It is for flickr- but I bet you could save the images and pot them with out using flickr.
speak up!
Wow, that tree pic is so pretty, and your catalog draft is also. The photos are great!
Sounds like one has to be 'hardy' to live there. For some reason I thought they would be vegetarian because of religious beliefs?
Hope you find a good place.
A dar of your own! Good luck - I am sure you will find one that is perfect, inshallah!
That was a great post as usual - thanks. Still three months before I hit the ground in Fez - can't wait. Stay safe.
Nam LaMore
PERI: you do have to be in good health to be in the Peace Corps -- the medical and dental screening uncovers everything. Meat is a big part of the diet here - no meal is complete (except breakfast) unless meat is included!
SAMIR: looking forward to your arrival, but I bet it is warmer wherever you are than in the Middle Atlas (though it is nice to wake up to a pile of blankets).
Unknown
Your pictures are great. I hope you find a good place to live. I thought all places came with a window.
Nam LaMore
MQUEST: and i think your pictures are great, too! i want to learn the secret of adding nice borders and text. i like your inspiration captions of mquest, jr.
i'm very certain that moroccans like the interior of their homes to be nice and dark, gives a sense of privacy.
Unknown
the secret is here:
http://flagrantdisregard.com/flickr/
It is for flickr- but I bet you could save the images and pot them with out using flickr.
speak up!
previous 10 posts:
- Aid Kbir: Sacrifice of the Sheep
- Directorial Debut
- Reflections Upon Reflections
- Personal Portal: Morocco
- McHappy in Morocco
- That Time of Year
- Make Mine Khemisset!
- Crossing the Line
- Credit Where Due
- The Assignment
