Wednesday, February 25, 2004
thanks to everyone who expressed concern after the earthquake here 2 nights ago. sorry i didnt get a chance to write yesterday but i am fine and Rabat was completely unaffected. therefore i did not shake it like a polaroid (charlotte). however my 12 year host brother keeps trying to scare me by shaking the table during meals.
on another note, there are some fabulous postcards in this country. if you send me your address i will send you one.
on another note, there are some fabulous postcards in this country. if you send me your address i will send you one.
Monday, February 16, 2004
just got back from an interesting but busy weekend in fes. there is really too much to tell so instead i would like to focus on my host family because they really have the largest influence on my moroccan experience.
my house is in the heart of the medina, a traditionally tiled house with a courtyard and all. we live on a dead end right off the produce market. i am starting to have a good understanding and sense of direction walking around the medina, and i appreciate the managebility of rabat's medina after seeing fes.
amina, my mother, is incredibly sweet and loving. she only speaks darija (moroccan colloquial arabic) so our communication is limited and involves lots of kisses. however, lately i have begun to suspect (understand) that she has ulterior motives in being so nice to me so that i will 1) convert to islam, 2) marry her son, and 3) teach them all english.
nasser, my 21 year old brother, speaks the best english in the house and is very nice, but overprotective. dont worry, i do not plan on marrying him.
asma is my 17 year old sister and roommate. we knit together and she likes to play my shake it like a polaroid #3 party mix on repeat and im getting her into ani. it almost drowns out the call to prayer. luckily i am learning to sleep through the 5am call.
and finally haryt who is the "crazy" 12 year old boy. although we go to the bathroom in a hole, we have a playstation that haryt lets me play with him. he also is really excited about learning frisbee.
and sadly, i have to report that morocco lost the finals to tunisia.
my house is in the heart of the medina, a traditionally tiled house with a courtyard and all. we live on a dead end right off the produce market. i am starting to have a good understanding and sense of direction walking around the medina, and i appreciate the managebility of rabat's medina after seeing fes.
amina, my mother, is incredibly sweet and loving. she only speaks darija (moroccan colloquial arabic) so our communication is limited and involves lots of kisses. however, lately i have begun to suspect (understand) that she has ulterior motives in being so nice to me so that i will 1) convert to islam, 2) marry her son, and 3) teach them all english.
nasser, my 21 year old brother, speaks the best english in the house and is very nice, but overprotective. dont worry, i do not plan on marrying him.
asma is my 17 year old sister and roommate. we knit together and she likes to play my shake it like a polaroid #3 party mix on repeat and im getting her into ani. it almost drowns out the call to prayer. luckily i am learning to sleep through the 5am call.
and finally haryt who is the "crazy" 12 year old boy. although we go to the bathroom in a hole, we have a playstation that haryt lets me play with him. he also is really excited about learning frisbee.
and sadly, i have to report that morocco lost the finals to tunisia.
Thursday, February 12, 2004
the turkish knew a few things about hygiene. and despite the fact that morocco resisted the spread of the ottoman empire, those turks found a way to leave their mark. yesterday i had my first visit to the turkish bath (hammam as we call them in arabic). it was a fabulous 3 room, multi-bucket, much scrubbing, 2 hour, sauna-like experience. i highly recommend it to anyone who gets a chance.
as for the turkish toilet, i still have mixed feelings. the design is good, but i need the addition of western toilet paper.
in case you havent been following the african cup (soccer), morocco is in the finals on saturday and it should be an exciting game. people took to the streets when they won the semis yesterday, so i can only hope that there will be ruckus if (when) they win the whole thing!
as for the turkish toilet, i still have mixed feelings. the design is good, but i need the addition of western toilet paper.
in case you havent been following the african cup (soccer), morocco is in the finals on saturday and it should be an exciting game. people took to the streets when they won the semis yesterday, so i can only hope that there will be ruckus if (when) they win the whole thing!
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
william calls me a loser for having a blog. i have one, i just chose not to use it. why? because i never forget to check my email, but i often forget to check your blogs.
