She'll Be Comin' 'Round The Mountain When She Comes

3.16.2014

Istanbul, Turkey

New mosque, Eminunu-bridge fishing

Boat taxi with Mounaim

One of many mosques seen from boat taxi

Local graffitti

Egyptian bizzare, Eminunu

Boat taxi

Fish market, Karakoy

Eminunu dock

Topaki Palace, Serkeegee

Galata Tower, Karakoy

New Mosque, Eminunu

Inside Blue Mosque, Eminunu

From Galata Tower-overlooking city, Karakoy

New mosque view from dock

Famous Blue Mosque, Eminunu

Hagia Sofia Plan

Outside Hagia Sofia

Youth Hostel

Eating Shwarma-donner

Community volunteer Project building near hostel

Turkish delight, Grand Bizzare, Eminunu

From boat taxi

Feeding the gulls

Local costume antique shop, Taksim Square

Taksim square trolley

Taxsim square local musician

It was a much needed break to finally visit Istanbul, Turkey. We walked and discovered a lot between the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, castles, palaces, shopping, boat rides, eating new delicious foods and meeting new people. It was great to have a travel companion and share the experience. As protests were happening due to the death of a young boy who was killed by a tear gas canister last year during protests, locals were banging on their pots and pans blowing whistles and hitting the metal window grates of their homes while the smell of tear gas was bothering my eyes and throat, parades of police in full uniform scour the streets for protesters who broke glass at the banks, we watched from our hostel window peeking in awe of what was happening...This will be my last adventure abroad for awhile.

2.16.2014

Letting Go...'nmshat' in Arabic

It's getting close to the time of departure with only a few months left. As I have been filling my time with work, yoga, meeting people, marathons, one thought comes to mind: 'It's time to stop saving the world and save myself'. As I am reflecting and looking toward my future life, a new life, a life I so desperately lean toward, I know I have to let go of what has been a apart of my life for the last 3 years and 3 months. I cannot know how morocco will affect me moving forward and I can only hope the work will benefit me and I have paid it forward. I have a few things to look forward to to keep me occupied as well as each day packing and giving a little of myself to others while I detach. I suppose this part of my service is normal and expected, but it doesn't make it easy. I continue to be here, in the moment knowing my heart is missing a part of my old life, the people who know me and a basic understanding of American culture.There is always a beginning, a middle and an end. It seems I have come to the realization that I have begun the process of an end to my service in Morocco.

Bracelet making with youth

Association of girls, aerobic group

Happy Valentines Day muffins!

Thursday English class

Desks anyone?

Paper chain art project with preschoolers

Weekend running group, youth

Lilou....

Muslim (hijab) scarf wrap

A family I visit from time to time.

2.09.2014

Marrakech 1/2 Marathon, 'A Job Well Done'

At the start line-9am

Peace Corps Voluneers, Annie, Laura, Jane and Mounaim-pre race

Ready, set, GO!!!

Post race 2:45 or so...

Medal happy

Marrakech Katoubia-post race

Mounaim's sister and her children, Marrakech

We did it-21 kilometers!!!

All Peace Corps Volunteers gather pre race-start line!

Annie and I displaying our efforts

So happy to be finished!!!

After nearly 9 hours to get to Marrakech, we finally arrived where it was like summer..we have been training in the cold up North. After all the training we were ready to show Marrakech what we have been doing the past several months. Although the race was overall challenging with lack of water, (or none) available on the course, no maps including poor organization and planning on behalf of Morocco's Marrakech marathon, we finished running all the way in roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes, even after getting lost twice. Kind of comical...It was worth the effort in training, and few days of sore muscles afterwards and I'm not sure if I'll run another marathon, but I will always be able to say I participated training with others and completed a marathon in Morocco.