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.

The Joy of Living and Working in Morocco

Traditional dress, my new jilaba 

My host neighbors granddaughter, Mediha

So adorable

A favorite, Tutors daughter

Fish lunch at tutors house

This cat has been well fed this winter

This is the correct way to use a washboard  

Beautiful sunset from my apartment

Apartment decor flag from the states-yoga space 

Tomato soup, spicy lentils and green beans

 First batch of cookies, chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin

I have reached a point in my service that seems to be sustainable and gratifying. As the weeks pass, time seems to be going by rather quickly. I am starting to grasp that I need more than two years here as I am only scrapping the surface of Morocco, the culture and it's people. Another job found me this week as I have been content with my schedule. A few men in the village want to learn English, so I have decided to take on this opportunity in order to help those that request it. The class will be an additional 4 hours a week at the Association. I have been invited to learn about the water treatment in my village and hope to learn more about what is called the, "sagia". I started language lessons with a new tutor in a town closer by and now finally can read Fosha script, standard Arabic! I received a few more packages from the states, one with a recorder and I have been playing music in hopes to play for the girls and woman in my village. I just finished two collages for the students regarding the environment and health to incorporate into my English lessons. I have plans this Spring to do a mural for earth day and hope to take on a project play, 'Cinderella' as the girls want to perform for the local village. I keep reminding myself that Spring is just around the corner. Although I am getting used to being cold, it's still difficult. I have a routine of when I open my windows, have a hot shower, and what to wear when in terms of all the layers that are required. It's very pleasant outside maybe 55-60 degrees and is mainly very cold indoors where no heat is available. When I can, I spend a great deal of time on my roof where I'm still enjoying those amazing sunsets.  

Christmas in Tauoma with Friends

Christmas morning

"The Train Set"

The Olive Christmas Tree

Stockings

Our Christmas meal

Relaxing

Me and Jim in the kitchen

Fortune Telling

Massage train

On our hike, Pace and Marc

Look what I found!

Hike in the mountains

Christmas in Tauoma with old friends and new friends, low stress, no high pressure gifts, games, sharing stories, recipes, laughter, staying up late, movies, hiking, visiting with Moroccan's and shopping. What more could you ask for? Photos, compliments of Jim Dana, Ryan Scheidt and Marc Gimbel.

Sena Sieda L'mgrib; New Years Morocco

Local woman in village

Mud and earthen homes in the bled, village

Place that stores fresh oil

Handmade rug, zrbia

Popular vase made from pop-cycle sticks

Suq bus, transportation (30+ locals)

Suq in Ouargui

Neighbor girl took photo of me in my kitchen

My living room space

Cozy bedroom

Bathroom

New creation made from old socks

Neighbors made me a snack, called sphinge

Girl came to see her drawings on my wall

Engagement party for my host sister

Wedding ring

Playing with silly bands

She showed me Moroccan card games

Girls working on community mapping project

                                    

Girls showing me school project

It continues to be exciting in my village. My host sister just got engaged and has moved to Kalaa, her wedding will be in February. I have been invited to more areas of my village that I have not seen before. I am meeting more people everyday some of which are local workers. It feels good to be getting back to my routine and finding more unexpected surprises each day. As the community opens to me, I am humbled to find that in return, I receive so much more than I am giving. I have become very comfortable here. It is a nice feeling to be greeted so warmly by the community and to be asked how my New Years was as well as where am I going each day? The women at the Association are getting used to my funny ways and make me feel very welcomed. The girls at the Dar Taliba are gracious and charming as they thank me after class and tell me they have missed me if a day has passed. The community jokes with me and still finds me amusing. If I am late coming home, they ask after me. I am appreciating the value of gift giving even more than before. For no reason at all, someone I don't even know will give me a piece of fruit, tell a story, share a meal, invite me over or give me a necklace. The hospitality in Morocco is truly amazing, like no other place I know. Despite the struggles people face here, they are happy for the most part and make the best of the situation. As my learning continues, I am being myself finding creative ways to surprise others.