Almost There! The One Year Mark

My tutors daughter

New way to wrap my hair, locals love

Morning after the chant for rain in the village

Bottlecap earrings and newspaper necklaces 

Button and beaded cap bracelets

New idea, old sock gloves called 'ligett', making these at the Association 

Every Friday I am learning to make cous cous for the girls at the Dar Taliba

They love yoga and photos

I love my job and these girls

I am learning to crochet and embroider

A young student at the Association

Too adorable, he asked me for this photo

Kalaa mosque and ball field

Fish tajine made by family in Kalaa

Popular paint sold in Morocco

Having tea at neighbors

The lessons I am learning are priceless. Each day I am so humbled to find a new opportunities, no day is like the previous. I often wonder how that's possible? I started a new advanced English class at the Association two times a week which will be challenging and also useful as I try to understand the Arabic language. The gentleman who requested it is a science teacher in a nearby village. He is interested in the environment and said he wants to help me to achieve bettering the village of Ouargui. The woman at the Association are continuing to like the yoga and we are working on reducing tummies. As rumor has it, they say I don't have a tummy and want to be more fit. In addition, I have found this a good opportunity to incorporate health and diet. As I practice what I preach, I feel I must be extra diligent here. As the locals are getting very used to my presence, I am having fun joking with them and getting closer to those that I work with. I am still finding invites and trying to give from my heart. I am also finding new places that I didn't know about from village to village. Once in awhile, I find it fun to walk around and photograph, shop for clothing or veggies on the street and talk to locals. It gets me out of my comfort zone in my apartment and helps me improve my language. Although all of this is still hard, I am finding more joy in it and as I am in the moment, I am realizing that this experience is so unique and is really becoming a part of my life and I see a glimpse of how I am changing. Little things like taking the suq bus to town enables me to meet new people, joke, use proverbs, tell a story, and share a piece of who I am. I know I will always be a foreigner here, but reflecting back nearly a year ago, I never thought I'd be where I am today. It's an amazing experience to feel loved and supported so far away with so much difference in culture. It really comes down to, we are all human after all.