May Blues

Carpet weaving season

Made from old sweaters

Residents bird

Neighbor kids

Woman in village working on carpet 

Spring time in Morocco

My apartment is becoming cozy

I made bookmarks for the women at the Association

Dar Taliba girls with bookmarks

Olive tompanade 

New police building in village

Mosque on Friday, day of prayer

Tea party at Dar Taliba

Kitchen window sill succulent plants

New plants in my apartment

Sleeping kitty at family's house

Although it’s been nice to be in one place after the past month on the go,  I have started to become homesick for the first time in country after one full year. The weather isn’t as cold, but skies are cloudy and there is rain. Recently,  I have experienced more problems with electronic inconveniences which has been very frustrating not to mention a major dent in my monthly stipend which has been unsettling and difficult. The technology here although still advancing is amazingly sophisticated. I am hoping to have wifi in my apartment this week which will help with internet connection and keeping in touch regularly. I recently dropped my second camera in the sand at the beach in Agadir leaving photos cloudy even after having it fixed at a camera shop. Although I am trying to live a comfortable and happy existence here, knowing my language skills are still somewhat limited, it’s continually aggravating to battle these technical issues in a culture that sees no importance on time or much compassion when things don't work sufficiently. I keep doing my yoga, creative art and journaling routine to combat the feelings I have and place them in some sort of outlet that makes sense and seems healthy. The culture here is extremely confusing, leaving those of us who are committed to helping out our communities left wondering why things are the way they are. With so many contradictions, uncertainties, and constant frustrations, I keep thinking of things that make me happy and stick to those. At this juncture in my service, it appears that I will never fully understand the culture here and I just need to come to accepting it for what is is and my role in it. I realize I will not have the opportunity to be closer with family and friends in my community due to the cultural differences and I now struggle mostly with having my freedom. It can be stifling and exhausting at the same time. On occasion, I sometimes see a life for myself in Morocco, but more often I know it just isn’t realistic and the experience has already changed my outlook on the world. I would be lying if I said I didn't miss home, even though I am continuing on in the moment. A change of scenery is well overdue.

Bike Tour: A New Adventure

Ouarzazate; Gateway to the Sahara, staff at hotel

First real view from our bikes

               

First day riding col Agdz

First lunch

Zagora Sahara camel trek

Mosque to the Sahara

Pottery ccoperative

Man making vase

Pottery Coperative

Pottery kilns

Trek on camel with gandora and cheik

Staff at Bivouac, tent on Sand dunes

Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate

Ait Ben Haddou, oldest Casbah 

View after Sahara approaching the Titchka Pass

Tichka Mountain Pass

Guided hike at Tik Fist, Ouirgane

Local Berber man on hike

Local family we visited for tea and bread  

Olive press in Morocco, Ouirgane 

Oldest mosque, Tin Mal

Oldest Mosque in Morocco

Local woman making Argan oil

Argan Oil Center and staff posing yoga

Fish market, Essa

Boat at Essa

Door knocker; Hand of Fatima, Essa

Kitties in box in alley, Essa

Lunch in Essa

Medina someone built in sand on beach

Laila, my name in the sand

Early morning yoga with Jen in Essa

Moroccan woman woman on beach, Essa

Goats in trees

Essa pier and boardwalk 

Mason Berber Carpet store, Zagora

Koranic Library, Zagora  

Goats are so sweet

Giant road bike without clips...and I made it! 

The bike tour was amazing! I had a great time and enjoyed wonderful clients. I learned more than I studied even being here a year. I managed to make new friends and utilize the Arabic language here in a way that made me feel proud. The two Moroccan drivers of the SUV's were so much fun to work with and such a delight to be around. It was a unique opportunity to work with males in Morocco for the first time which was special and unusual. The tour took us through Ouarzazate, gateway to the Sahara, through the Draa valley where dates, palm trees and wheat is the main source of production there, into Zagora, where we rode through a sand storm and eventually traded our bikes for camels and slept on the dunes under the stars eating cous cous. We rode over the Tichka Pass about 7200 meters over a very windy narrow road towards Asni and Ouirgane, a beautiful valley of lush gardens located near Ich Ben Haddou and Tamegroute.  We viewed this area as it is the biggest and most beautiful Casbah in Morocco. A few of us rode from the oldest Mosque, Tin Mal.  After, we headed for a tour of the oldest Koranic library and viewed an original pottery cooperative where green pottery was developed in Southern Morocco. We stopped at a Berber carpet outlet where we had tea and bargained for goods. After, we went toward Essaouria and saw goats in tress, Argan oil and the quaint beach town. We shopped, walked on the beach, cycled and ate fresh fish. We had a morning tour of Essa and some well deserved rest. Back to Marrakesh with a caleche horse and buggy ride, gardens of Yves St. Laurant and Bahia, Tombs, Marrakech square, Jamaa Elfna, and a lovely evening dinner together on my 40th birthday, what a memory... What a treat to lead this group, I am honored and grateful.