Laugh Loud and Often

As I continue to learn more about Khemisset, I feel that much more comfortable and fortunate to be assigned to this site. I learned recently from my host-family that in 1990, one of the rivers cutting through the Meknes region overflowed its banks and flooded the valley (no one was hurt). In spite of seeing more rainfall during the last couple of months than in California annual rain-cycle, there has been no flooding in the region this year.

The rain has made it difficult to dedicate time to house-hunting; the upside of this is that I can check for leaks when it is raining. The housing situation has not changed, I am still with the homestay family; but we're back to a "normal" diet instead of sheep at every meal.



I came across a herd of goats climbing and foraging trees by the river banks. I spoke briefly with the shepherd, who was curious why I was taking pictures of his herd. In my very broken Moroccan Arabic, I told him that I had never seen such a thing¹; he did not think it was unusual for his herd to be in the tree. Due to perspective, it is difficult to tell that the goats were a good ten feet off the ground in the picture.

The countryside continues to burst in a profusion of colors in response to the warming weather² and rain-soaked loam. Note the solar panels on the house in the last picture; I did not notice the solar panels at the time and only came to my attention when I was reviewing reviewing images to delete.

ethereal box of randomness in buying poultry according to my "health handbook": if possible, by a live bird and fatten it yourself for a week or two. choose a lively full-feathered bird. the coxcomb should be bright red and the feet smooth and not too scaly.

1. Volunteers in the Southern regions said it was a common sight, but did not realize the phenomenon was also seen in the Northern regions; as I was on my bicycle, I'm pretty sure I had not reached the Southern regions.
2. It is now warm enough that I neither require three pairs of socks to be comfortable going to bed, nor five layers of shirts (and a windbreaker) to walk around outside.