Finally - Dari Zweena!!! (My Beautiful House!)

So, I moved into my new house Feb 4 and have since then gotten most everything in order :) It's a lot of fun decorating it and making use of things on a limited budget. I have priority mail boxes for a dresser, mosquito nets for curtains, my heater box for a bookcase and a apple crate for a nightstandwell. I love it. It's the one I had described before as being much bigger than I needed, but it fit all my requests (, actually, no the water in the tap didn't happen, but I'm making due.) and it was under budget, so all is well and it's pretty fantastic!


I took a little video to share... hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think - I wonder how different things are outside the PC perspective... I had two trips to move my things (first trip with my host sister, brother, and cousin, helping move cleaning supplies and blankets... They helped me clean too, so sweet! and second with the donkey cart! I paid him about $2.50, which was overpayment because he helped us carry it all up into my house too!)

Some other work activities (I have had a very busy month. *again* - not thinking that will change anytime soon) We had an organization come to town and do Aids testing for the women here. They tested them in this well equipped van here and in nearby towns. Praise God, everyone here was negative, but not the case in surrounding areas... a Health Volunteer came from a nearby town and helped too. Unfortunately, there is a surprising number of prostitutes in most cities in Morocco and the disease is spreading.
We took a trip into the mountains to visit an association that had come to a training they did for associations prior to my coming. We talked to them about their goals and about roles of officers, etc. It seemed motivational for them and like they will benefit. It was the first time I felt really removed from urbanization and the developing world. Everything was as it was many years ago, living off the land and their livestock in their mud house without electricity, etc. It was great, what I expected of a PC experience - but that's where the flexibility and adaptability come in - no problem. Still, it was beautiful and I had some of the best natural butter ever and I think I'm in love with fig jelly! yum. They made us a great lunch too.







This past weekend, we launched "Eco-Tourism" in town! A group of 25 came from the north to do a 50K hike in the surrounding mountains, including waterfalls, old villages, beautiful trees and stone, etc. They stayed two nights in a tradtional home here, with tradtional (and wonderful) breakfasts and dinners. They hiked Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm and followed with Berber dancing and singing. Each person pays a small fee (about $30 this time) and it helps the women cooking, cleaning, the guides, and the association. We are increasing this experience to include options for donkeys, massages, changing the length of the hike, etc. Very exciting :)




I also attended a 4 day workshop on natural dyes and weaving to better understand carpets and helpful information for artisans currently making them... This weekend I will be attending a 4 day workshop of the "Volunteer Support Network" to have a better understanding and training of how to support other volunteers (these are great life skills as well - active listening and general support).


During all this, I've also heard some excellent news about what is coming up! We will have another exhibition in Rabat in March combined with a conflict resolution/yoga workshop! We will be working with a French group to start an aromatic plant center in town (and they have also promised to later donate a car!), the president of the French association we regularly send carpets to is coming today and will stay for a month to work on projects with us (and me). I had a couple of the other volunteers from the province come and meet with us as well and they are super excited to work with us as well... We will be planning a Natural Dye Workshop for Artisans in the province, so they can learn the traditional techniques for dying their wool (this also increased the value of the carpet, as well as being good for the environment and maintaining traditional techniques). We have a lot ahead!