10/2/10
This week is pretty heavy on homework and midterm papers, so I figured I would write an entry before things got “hectic”.
I cant believe its already October! I have a little under two and a half months left here in Morocco and it has reached the point where I’m beginning to make sure I can fit in everything that I want to do before leaving . This is my first weekend in Rabat since Ramadan finished so I am using it to catch up on rest, my three page to-do list, and to explore the city better. Not only do I not have much time left, but I also know the beautiful weather wont last and it is soon due to get cold and rainy.
One of the greatest mysteries of the Middle East is how is everyone always so relaxed? People just don’t get stressed out here. When I first arrived, the lack of stress was actually what was stressing me out most! I found some extra activities to keep me busy like tajweed classes (reading the Quran), tennis lessons (which I have never played before in my life), teaching an SAT class (for some extra cash), consulting interview prep, and going for runs in the morning. One of my new favorite pastimes is watching American movies in French. Its amazing how much you can learn by watching a movie! I also bought the kids version of Madame Bouvery to start reading, am half way through Naguib Mahfouz’s Palace Walk, and read a few too many books on Women in Islam (extra reading for a class).
I also realized that I didn’t really write about my family much so I thought I would do that. They are amazing! I was incredibly lucky with my placement. I have three host siblings. Siham is 23 and works full time while also going to school. She’s really reserved and always busy, and its sad that we don’t spend more time with her. Saads 18, the only boy in the family, and clearly the mom’s favorite. They’re always arguing like school aged children and she keeps referencing him as fat, even though he clearly is not. Then there’s Zobeida who is 12 and she LOVES music. We’ll find her randomly walking around the house singing and dancing. She also seems to have a really heavy homework load because ever since her school started she is always studying when we come home. I am always helping her with her math homework (which is in Arabic), and constantly surprised that teacher assignes them so many problems!
Despite having three siblings around our age, Julianne and I are both much closer with the parents. Our host mom keeps referencing us as her daughters and is so happy that we’re happy and comfortable in her house. She also loves to teach! She explains everything to us in both French and Arabic, which we greatly appreciate. One day we stayed out after school until 8 pm and when we came home she was like, I was waiting for you two to come home all day and I was surprised by how much I missed you both! The dad is also really nice and its cute how every morning when we wake up he says good morning and shakes our hands. He also helps out around the house a ton and enjoys cooking. In the mornings he prepares our breakfast and lunch. Our mom is really appreciative of how great of a help he is and constantly says that he is a blessing from God.
The last thing I want to update you on is Rabat. I have fallen in love with the city. If I ever move to Morocco I cannot see myself living anywhere else. Yesterday I spent my Friday afternoon in a café in the Andulacian Gardens, which is completely filled with traditional tiles and overlooks the ocean. There I sat drinking mint tea while doing my homework. There’s also the Kasbah which I love. It overlooks the beach and was built in the 11th century, the site of the original ribat and citadel of the Almohads. The gate, Bab Ouaia is enormous and has this magical ability to make you feel like you are standing there 10 centuries ago. The entire city is filled with rich history that doesn’t have the touristy feel of other attractions around the world because it is still in use by the city and incorporated into everyones life. Thats why playing cards on the terrace at the top of the Kasbah, which was once a strategic defensive base for pirates is completely normal! Oh how I love Rabat!
