Mabruk Ramadan

Neighbor kids doing yoga in my apartment

Peeling beans for traditional Moroccan soup

Pounding pepper for Ramadan meal

Cow is waiting for it's meal

Boy eats yogurt

For sale

Men working in the field by my apartment

Hanut where you can find  a lot of stuff

Tajine for cooking

Mosque in another village

Boys playing in the trees

Woman picking carrots

Lots of fresh veggies

Mosque in my village

Beautiful sunset into Ramadan

 Souk day of Ramadan

In the Bled

Making bread or hobbs for meal at 3am

Kitchen or kuzina 

Boy waiting

Woman on roof

First Ramadan meal

The making of my dresser or mario

Ramadan Tajine with quince

My bike!

Going to the Mosque

A nearby village I bicycled to 

I am very blessed to be a part of the Ramadan experience in Morocco. Ramadan is taken seriously in Morocco and Moroccan's are very proud of being Muslim. My first meal called Al-ftour comes at dusk about 9pm and breaks the fast throughout Morocco. I started with one date to cleanse the palate and help the stomach digest as fasting happens throughout the day. Followed by a sweet meat tajine, carrot orange juice, bread, salad and water, I enjoyed every bite as though I have never eaten before. At 11pm the second course of hard boiled eggs, dates, coffee and prickly pear was just the start. At midnight, the third course of traditional Moroccan soup called harira was served. Harira is a delicious tomato based soup made with meat called shebakia, cilantro, pepper, hummus and beans and a few other spices. It's very satisfying. Fruit, melon and watermelon was the final course. Stuffed and sleepy, it was especially fun to be with a family I have made good friends and feel very at home with. Afterwards, I slept for a few hours until I was woken up at 3:30am when the next meal was served which was fruit, harira, bread and dates with coffee. How was I going to eat again I wondered? I told them I was full and they sent me back to bed. Tired and hungry, I walked home the next afternoon in the heat where I ran into other women and children sitting under the shade of the trees preparing food for Al-ftour all over again. I stopped to chat and they sent me on my way and invited me to join them for the festivities. When I reached the center of town the men working at the hanuts wanted to chat and ask me how I was doing and if I am fasting? One of the most interesting experiences I have had thus far, has been the observation inside a mosque at night after the breaking of  fast. I was invited by a family in a nearby town whom I've met before. After our beautiful meal, they asked me if I'd like to go to the mosque. How could I decline, I wondered? They wrapped my head up in a scarf and located a jilaba that I could wear. My hand was grabbed and we walked to a nearby mosque where the entrance was separate from the men, a smaller prayer area where lattice and beautiful blue tile dived the room. I felt very humbled to be participating during such a crucial time of year. I wasn't sure what to do, so I moved up and down with the others as I listened carefully to the reciting of the Koran given by the official. He faced the tiled wall in the opposite direction of the men praying as the reciting was coming through speakers to the back of the mosque. I have only seen this in movies or on television and have always wanted to be a part of this process as it's a very spiritual event. A small girl came in late to find her mother and sat by the side watching me all the while. "Slli", she whispered over and over. It means, "pray" in Arabic. I shook my head "no" and smiled back as I was in awe about this once in a lifetime experience. Although I am not Muslim, I am so grateful for these very experiences as the natives are open to my arrival here and think they are appreciative of my efforts.

Azrou, Another Mile Stone

Azrou

Celebration of boy to man ceremony 

Sunset behind the rock

Mosque with birds in center square

Graveyard with interesting tree

Carnival

Fabric store

Giant pastry from coffee shop in town

Narrow alley way

Man playing instruments

Making instruments

Environment Staj going to Gayla
party to meet Health Staj

Friends in Peace Crops 

Azrou, which translates to ‘rock’ in  Amazigh Arabic Berber dialect., is located in the center of this beautiful town. It is a large black volcanic outcrop which one can hike to in order to have a good look at the city. The Middle Atlas rise above Azrou and the cliff faces toward the mountains serving as the only break in the landscape. The city also serves as the foundation of regional trade and social life. It is, so far my favorite place in Morocco and is quite far, about 10 hours from where I live. Although it is reminiscent of a miniature Switzerland, I think it's the European feel that draws me in. During a week stay, I successfully completed my post service training with Peace Corps and feel good that I am approaching my first six months. I had a chance to see the city, spend time with friends, eat pastries, popcorn and ice cream, go to the carnival, practice language, go to a fabric store, watch instruments being made and window shop. As August is just around the corner,  I have decided to take part in Ramadan fasting this year.As there are many challenges that come with Ramadan, I am determined and eager to give it a try for a full month while in country. Although my experience will be different than that of a Muslim, I want to try something new and learn what the natives do each year.   

'nt3llum'; "I am learning"

Boy playing with bricks in wheelbarrow

Neighbor kids coloring in my apartment

Mosque in a nearby town

My feet after being henna'd

Fresh farm eggs from my host sisters

Moroccan woman in my village

Women from the Association

Tomb in a town close by

Beautiful happy cow

Child waiting in a window

I find cats everywhere 

Children making cabinet doors

I can't believe I found a rubix here!

Woman making bread

As I continue to learn the facets of Morocco and my village, I am encouraging myself to continue meeting new people and trying new things despite the language barrier and cultural obstacles. It's easy to stay inside but then nothing is gained in doing so and like back home, it's just not in my nature. Although the children here play rough and are set free for the summer months without much supervision, I invite them to play and spend time in my apartment. They enjoy drawing, playing ball, juggling, eating snacks and reading or running around. Many of them are workers at the local shops in town. The other day, I was taken to a carpentry shop where several children were staining and cutting or measuring wood for cabinets and doors. I asked if I could take their photo as many of them are particularly shy. I am amazed at the craftsmanship and have decided to support my community by having a bed frame and dresser made. To my surprise I was invited for a cous-cous meal to meet the family of the shop owner. Earlier this week, I visited the family of the hardware shop owner in a town close by, they immediately took me in to show me their house and all their animals. They asked if I had a camera and wanted me to take photos for them. We spent the afternoon eating a big tajine lunch, talking about my life here and back home in the states while three women henna'd my hands and feet. Some of the most intricate and beautiful henna I have seen yet. They begged me to spend the night and I told them I would come back to visit. They sent me with olive oil, whole made bread and eggs. On my way out, I saw a beautiful graveyard and asked my friend about the process of death in Morocco. He told me a beautiful story... I am hopeful that the women's association meetings that I attend will get easier and that sometime soon I will have a role. It's always nice to be welcomed by a group of women that are eager to make a difference within their community. I am learning that as I continue to be open, the world keeps opening up to me.