Tauma Visit with Friends and the Realization of Cultures

Carmos, prickly pear

Rural village in Tauama

Hanna leaving Peace Corps after 2 years

Ram for L3id

Dried desert mud

Mosque 

My new earring creation

Peace Corp friends Mark and Jennifer

On our hike

Cemetery  
              

Grazing sheep

Breezy and pleasant weather                

Sahara turtle

Halloween mask made of recycled                                                                                                                                                                  materials, milk container, paper and feathers.

(Library) school supply store   

Laundry day in the bled

Artful shot at neighbors house

Families sheep for L3id Kbir

A morning with the children

Trash problem in douar

Sun sets from village

Moroccan crepes       

Looks just like Dizzy kitty

Moroccan cranes

Washing the rugs

Catching a chicken

Family chicken

             

Posing on families roof              

In a continuing effort of gratefulness, I remind myself that it is all the little things such as having running water which is good. I am grateful that I have a hot water tank which is luxurious for showering and laundry and dishes as the season is getting colder with rain. My apartment stays around 60+ degrees and is often warmer outside. I have found a way to insulate the windows using large sheets of plastic tied to the shutters while open so sunlight can enter which works well on days that aren't too windy. It’s fun to retrofit my place with limited supplies and to realize I don’t need much and do with what I have as I am comfortable here. In America, I may have taken a lot of these simple things for granted. Such things like sun, sunsets, water, food, a roof over my head and the path that brought me here. 

A good day is waking up early to the Quaran , sipping hot coffee while checking my email followed by  a rigorous stair or yoga workout. Meeting my sister in the village, going to the next town to run errands, window shopping, meeting her friends for lunch at the library, picking out pastries to bring home to the family for tea time, studying and teaching Arabic and English then gathering to watch, “The Doctor’s” on tv, while having coffee and pastries followed by an early tajine meal with all the family. Then sleeping early in my sister’s bed telling each other stories. Waking up early to the smell of whole-made msinmn bread and coffee, walking home as the town is waking up and the workers prepare for the day. 

One of the biggest challenges I am struggling with is not feeling that the gifts I have to offer in the States are of any worth here in Morocco. As the culture is so very different, most Moroccan's just aren't interested so much in my past. It's a difficult job to explain my role here as well as letting them know I don't want to get married and have 10 or 12 children and cook and clean all day. The cultural differences are so great that here in Morocco you are raised to believe you are just another girl or boy and you do what you have to in order to get by happy or not. In America, we are raised believing we are special and we have choices as our birthright. We strive for happiness as it's a choice, we often struggle because we have choices and we struggle because we are looking for happiness. I am beginning to identify that in Morocco the difference may just be that there is a kind of certainty about life without choice, therefore there is no struggle or search for happiness.    

 

'Twasl', communication

Olives are in season

Waiting....

Spices at suq

Sunset after a rainy day 

Content

The start of a rug

The beginning

Sister weaving, it's a tedious process

Two neighbor boys

Men walking home after prayer 

Tool used for rug weaving

Squash season

Green beans, eggplant, sweet potato fries

Artsy photo                               

Visiting friends in douar

Sunset in a nearby village                          

I am learning the difference between third world and developing countries. Morocco is a developing country, so what does that mean exactly? Morocco is a difficult place given it's history and sophisticated technology. There is indeed a lot of poverty and abundance of food here. It's challenging to figure out the mindset of people in the rural village as it's very different from the bigger cities. The illiteracy problem is big and there is a very high percentage of the population, about 65%, which is under the age of 25. Youth is where it's at here. I am soaking up all I can get in terms of information in my village from local harvest crops to how things are handled in the bled with families, marriages, and revenue in town, what are the struggles people are having here? How can I help? The daily smells and tastes are still new but becoming more and more familiar. Things like burning plastics and trash gnaw at me constantly and remind me that the pollution problem is grandiose and I'm am not certain how to change it? This is one of my dilemma's, or problem solving challenges. Spreading my message about carcinogens and cancer aren't going far, especially when locals believe there isn't a problem. It's all too easy to get frustrated, feel lonely and blue here. So, I have decided to combat that with visualizing my efforts in small ways and try different avenues while integration is still a big part of my work. In addition, I am still keeping in shape between stair climbing for my body and yoga for my mind and soul all of which makes me feel balanced. I am getting plenty of rest and cooking great meals. I bought some new spices at suq to experiment with. As things have naturally slowed down, the rhythm seems to go against my natural pace, even with regular meditation. Nonetheless, I am enjoying quiet time and have come to accept the up and down days as they are present and frequent. Although language seems to be getting easier, communication is still challenging even with those that do speak English, which is few.The message gets crossed or often misinterpreted and I keep wondering why? I believe the differences between a direct culture and indirect culture are more than we can understand. This point in my service is called; a 'lull'.  

A Day In Marrakech at Jemaa El-Fna medina square

Jamal Efna (main square)

Never seen a stray cat pee in a
public drain before?

Cool doorway

Recycled tin lamps

Recycled tin lantern

Old  unique doors for sale

Window shopping

 Beautiful pottery    

Ribbon galore

Fabric by the meter

There's nothing like spending time at Jemaa El-Fna the main medina square in Marrakech. It's a treat to spend time window shopping and pretending to be a tourist. There's a lot to see and I am learning the city and transportation. It all starts from my site where I leave in a suq bus to the next town over and from there catch an hour taxi to Kech. I have a permanent bruise on my left thigh from all the taxi drivers shifting into my leg as sometimes four sit up front and generally 4 or more in the back. The taxi rushes well over 100 miles an hour passing large trucks, donkey carts, bicycles, sheep and pedestrians crossing the main road. I have learned to just look out the side window in fear that at any moment will be my last. There are no real road rules and no respect for other drivers. From time to time it's nice to get away to the big city not to feel so isolated. It was a treat to spend time with other volunteers for a day wondering the medina, eating kefta sandwiches and ice cream. I spent some time looking out onto the medina from a hotel having a coffee, people watching. I find myself ambivalent towards tourists, but can enjoy blending in and enjoying myself speaking the same language. Perhaps one day, I will look back on Jemaa El-Fna and remember the pungent smells of spices everywhere, motorists in the alley's, tourists galore, overpriced Moroccan wear, monkey's that do tricks, large snakes dancing to music, horse and carriage and food stands as sweet memories....