Firstly, (I like that word and it seems to me that it is severely underused!.. thanks to "First of all") Taniya is a real trip! I like her most of the time. She is sweet sometimes and definitely amusing running around everywhere and dancing with chicken legs... (see video), but I haven't yet had much success with getting her to not scratch and bite... I've heard removing claws can be effective... but other suggestions? Anyway, she is young and plays all the time. It's quite cute.
One day, when I was feeling a little down, Moumi decided we would take our bikes out on an excursion! Well, that was a great idea, but it was one of the windiest days here so far... so that, in combination with my lack of much aerobic exercise and the small mountain we were climbing on the way back made it a little difficult... The whole route was about 10 km and it was gorgeous. and it was right here riding on the outskirts of town :)
After that, we were to have another exhibition in the capital city, Rabat. It was scheduled to be a two day event, but what would have been a weekend trip turned into a 6-day adventure! I went to the doctor and the dentist, met my new Program Manager (and had a 3 hour talk) and then there was the exhibitions...
The first day was in a city 40 km outside of Rabat, and although there were a lot of people there, it was clear we had targeted the wrong audience... We were at what seemed to be a programming session for new students at a University.. There were some professors there, but no one was particularly interested in us. The second day was at the Institute (same institute as before, but this time near the Teacher's lounge and Stables). This was a better location, but it started raining and we went inside the cafe/lounge.
Not very happening in there when the weather is as such. So, this led us to the possibility of staying a few extra days and trying to sell some more. We did and we did :) We moved to the restaurant where most of the teachers eat and our sales definitely increased, but only at lunchtime... Until, the owner told us we should stick around because a lot more people come at night! The restaurant turned into a teacher's bar! We exhibited in a bar in Morocco! How crazy is that? The night was passing and no one was buying. The bar was to close at 9, so we started packing up and all of the sudden, there was a huge influx of people buying! I was in debate about if this was because 
they were all waiting to buy things when they left or if they were impulse buying at this point, but either way, it was nice to make some sales. The exhibition overall had more sales than the first exhibition, but when you consider the length of time we were there, the transportation and the percentages given to the artists, the association didn't make any money... So, we had some talks about what was good, what wasn't, how to make the percentages fair and equitable, publicity, etc. I think next time will be better. It's still early, so it's good that they are taking notice of where their weaknesses are and such. The following weekend, the association took a group
of involved kids on a "trip." I went too! 
We visited a waterfall. It was sort of a Moroccan tourist destination, but after a 4 hour drive there (geez!), we had a nice relaxing time, with a full on (brought a gas tank and cooked a tajine!) picnic. It was a lovely place and people there had built these little huts you could rent for about $5 (seemed like a lot for them, but with so many of us, it was more like 30 cents each). We stopped at a national park and ate breakfast on the way and stopped at a lake on the way back. It was a really long day, but everyone enjoyed it and it was a generous thing for the association to do for the kids (who otherwise might not be able to visit a place like that). Another member of my "extended family" had a baby about 2 weeks ago. Mina - I guess she
would be like a cousin. She lives on my street and after the baby was born, they again asked me what to name him! I was really surprised at this, since I had already named my host sister! I told them I didn't know. I didn't really know many boys names... Mostly, I was uncomfortable with the idea of naming someone's baby that I feel like I only sort of know... So, they named him - Omar. I took them the two outfits that Angela had sent before we knew my host sister was a girl and I gave his two older brothers two toy cars she had sent. No one else took the other boys presents, so they were especially excited. They always liked me a lot anyway, but this put it over the top. They make sure to see me in the alley and say hi everyday (sometimes while playing with the cars). They are adorable. So, ever wondered what a baby party looks like? I was (of course) at the women's gathering (in the afternoon). There is a dinner party for the men... It's similar to a wedding reception in a house, I suppose... Many times after the eating, there is music and dancing, but both parties I've been to so far included neither... although, there were tea and cookies prior at both.
So, after all that, I stayed home for a while... but what is stranger... I ate lunch with a different family each day of the week! I didn't plan it at all, but it worked out that way. I've never done that before! Monday was the baby naming lunch (for lack of a better term - certainly wasn't a ceremony), Tuesday I unknowingly sat next to my neighbor at the hammam and she had me to lunch with her husband, Wednesday I visited my host family, Thursday I had lunch with the woman who I pay my rent to and sometimes does my laundry and her family, and Friday I had couscous with the barista of the cafe where I go for internet and his family (he had been insisting on this for weeks). They were all very nice and I didn't eat too much (for the most part, which tends to happen with Moroccan families...) Normally, I have two meals with my tutor each week, so it was particularly weird that I had 5 meals and none were with her or my counterpart, the president of the Association. People here certainly are very inviting and generous. Always welcome :)
This week, I also found out that I'm going to have another volunteer placed nearby towards the end of the month. He will now be my closest volunteer and he is will come to my town for all of his necessities - buying anything, hammam, internet, etc. He is a health volunteer and therefore has a very remote site, where he will be working to help them work towards clean and reliable water. So, I imagine, I'll be seeing him pretty frequently, up to twice a week. He seems nice and not crazy (smiles), so that's a good start... There are a few others being placed in the area as well, so I'm hoping to invite them all to my house next month for a welcoming party!
If you didn't believe me that it got warm here... this Sunday, I was planting seeds (broccoli, basil, and tomatoes!) on my roof for about 2 hours and received a more than mild sunburn... It actually made me flu-like ill for a couple of nights. But with a few meds, I'm as good as new and looking forward to my new tan :) A note that I don't think everyone would be interested in reading, but it's so worthwhile... so, Women, Read On! I have just completed my first week wearing the "Diva Cup" and it was great! It's an environmentally friendly, efficient, and convenient alternative to tampons... Check it out. www.divacup.com And if you need more convincing, do a little research about the ongoing problems tampons cause in waterways...
And... BONUS!!! There is an exhibition coming up among PCVs in June here. I've started drawing again! I also plan to paint and incorporate some glass! Something to show for it soon... The drawing is going well (and making me happy!)
Again, more pictures posted at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12973534@N04/
Peace and Love to you all... send me a note :)
