A Day in El Sharij

El Sharij douar village

Friends donkey and chicken 

Meat Tajine cooked with more heat

Traditional bread basket

Happy child

Tea and nuts before meal

Balloons are fun to give to kids

Baby lamb

Before prayer

Laila and Laila

Meat and veggie tajine

Kitty in the sun

Playing 

Lemon tree

Friends house

I had the chance to visit a town close by called, 'El Sharij' where I often go to get my mail. My friend invited me to have lunch, meet her family and see the village. It was an incredible day filled with laughter, seeing new things, eating good food, jumping rope, playing, learning about the village, and sharing gifts. I am making so many new friends, I am having trouble keeping up to get back to their homes. Morocco is all about hospitality and visiting one another. The locals don't work much and have an abundance of time on their hands. Cooking a lot is just one aspect of life here. I am learning all about rug making, embroidery, cooking, places to visit, milking cows, getting food from the fields for the animals which people own need to be fed. Milk, eggs, whole-made bread, olives and fresh oil all are a part of what I get to experience while visiting friends and family here. Before I leave my bag is loaded up with these items. Although it's cold and there is no heat and homes have nothing fancy, the overnight accommodations are well worth the travel and time involved in making the effort. I am getting used to sleeping on large rock pillows, blankets upon the concrete floor and rising early for breakfast. I will always cherish these unique experiences. 

Friends house

When Times Are Cold and There is No Water

High Atlas view from village

New home in village

Love the greenery

Donkey

Boy plays with corn cobs

Making dinner in my new Jilaba at the Dar Taliba

Pigeons are abundant here

Happy ducks

Hen's palace

Construction in town, new Police station known as Kiad

Sunset over Mosque

Luckily I haven't been to the Pharmacy

Winter sunset from rooftop

The only time I'm warm is in bed, when the sun is out or exercising!

Sign in front of where I live

Coffee shop below my apartment

Eating Fisa, so yummy

Got the honor of pouring tea

Cookies I baked

I have been visiting the village a bit more frequently these days as the water tower in my village is not working. The motor is broken and the town doesn't have the means to fix it at the moment. I am forced to purchase drinking water and walk to the 'sagia', the water run off from somewhere else, in order to get water. It's a pain, but I can't complain, at least there's a means for water. It will be interesting to see this unfolds, I have a feeling it may last awhile. It makes it difficult for workouts, laundry and dishes. But alas, I am still happy. February will be the coldest month yet in Morocco, then rain and warmer weather will proceed. I am looking forward to having a thermometer to see the actual temperature inside and out, which is coming in the mail soon. The only times I am warm is on the roof or outside when there is sun, in bed with all my layers of clothes on, or exercising. I know that this too shall pass. The students and woman have left for vacation called '3tla Sieda' until mid February which has lightened my teaching schedule completely. I made cookies to take to the event today, I've never seen a plate of cookies disappear so fast, I think they were good but I didn't get a chance to try one. We had fun eating, 'Fisa', bread and lentils with cow's stomach, many cakes, cookies, nuts, tea, soda and Moroccan pancakes. It was nice to visit and be together while trying to forget about the cold.

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.