Well I’ve been a bit hesitant to update all those who read this because it feels like I’m breaking the spell that is Morocco. It definitely feels like another world sometimes.
There have been so many wonderful moments and events these past few months and I really want to share them, yet, at the same time, don't.
Once I start to write them down they don’t seem as funny or exciting as they were when they occurred or as they were to the other teachers/students/Moroccans who I was with.
Anyway, I’ll try.
Medical- Mushi Mushkil (No problem)…everything is good here medically, although I have gotten plenty of advice on ways to stay healthy. Take my 12 year old student, Anass. I was out from class with a stomach virus and the next class I came in with some orange juice. The first thing he says to me is “Oh teacher, we don’t drink orange juice after stomach problems. You should give it to me!” Oh sure Anass….my freshly squeezed-by-my-own-hand juice….not a chance! Also, I love how he said “WE”. That is so big here….that “we” as in “Moroccans” don’t do this. It’s not in the culture.
Athletic- So many fun things have happened!! I joined the AMIDEAST Softball team with a few fellow teachers and have been playing every Sunday. We were in first place as of last week but kinda lost it this Sunday with losing both doubleheaders by a ton! The finals are next week and the anticipation is killing me! The team is headed my Trent, a fellow teacher, and mostly Moroccan men. They're all great. For the most part, very sportman-like except for this past week which had a few temper tantrums. It’s been nice having some exercise, throwing the ball around although I hate playing catcher for fear of getting a big ol’ softball or bat swung into my face!! Eekk! The games usually end with Gabriel, Michael and I getting a smoothie at SaHbi. Mangue, Kimi, Fraise or Panache…yum!
Social- Beach, bars, coffees, dinner, outdoor concerts…what else? May and June have finally gotten nice and there is so much to do. Just tonight I went to listen to Jazz and then had a drink with some people after. Two weeks ago was Mawazine- an international music festival where I was able to see Idir and other Berber musicians, some Senegalese and Guinean singers as well as AMR DIAB!!! <3 Habbibbbiiii Love him! The past 3 weeks I have also gone to the beach, sometimes both days of the weekend. The one beach is mostly for surfers so it has big waves and the other one, Skhirat, is nice and calm and clear water. So beautiful. We also dare each other to swim out to the island nearby…”C’est possible!” haha no way!
I guess that's it for now. Such a wonderful group of people I have around me. Oh how can I forget the AMIDEAST staff! Mounir, Outman, Hamid, Noureddine, Neyet, and Sanae. There are of course more but these are the ones I'm close with. It will be so difficult to say good bye to them. I'm going to miss the silliness that occurs whenever the boss is gone…and how it get exponentially sillier when the internet cuts out for an hour or two. Sitting in the teachers room, it's hard to miss the sound of Mounir's laugh and of cats mewwing, especially when its coming from your coworkers!
Darija lessons with Michaela of course…as much as I get tired on not understanding things, she's been incredible in teaching me. Friday morning coffee with the girls. Every Friday, the ladies in our group meet for breakfast and coffee that usually includes loads of gossiping, laughing at each others' words for different vocabulary and plans for the week ahead. Also, as much as I dislike hearing the 'call to prayer' in the wee hours of the morning, I know I'll miss it when it's gone for good.
This and so much more is why I love where I am, love Morocco and kinda don't want to leave :(
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