tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47083195224991692252024-03-19T04:46:37.539+00:00Live Peace MoroccoLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-38636646231801049362009-12-29T06:10:00.003+00:002009-12-29T06:15:29.129+00:00<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-Ne7hvaUbVxskxccHEzhemnMjC0R111X3837VS7H46hkUTYay3TJG0XVcULhUdOZQfkJbaNaRKbOvq9U3LmVWsZp0pBQRyajINtw-M4nu6btxja5IXz-wfPCYZ0TKGK3OeY6G1LLPA/s1600-h/100_4287.png"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I've been thinking about this idea... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">"Think Local, Act Global."</span> I think maybe they have it backwards... It seems the Peace Corps perspective would apply better if it read <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">"Act Local, Think Global."</span> In order to really enact change, I believe you have to start small. PCVs works in small communities to try to make individual changes that will eventually spread to create a larger effect.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Update on the hammam project... This week, a boiler was finally installed! Also, the project as a whole (including meetings and funding) is going to be implemented again and new volunteers are being trained to carry on this project in other regions of Morocco. Sustainability. Awesome.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Update on me... I'm back in the U.S. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-Ne7hvaUbVxskxccHEzhemnMjC0R111X3837VS7H46hkUTYay3TJG0XVcULhUdOZQfkJbaNaRKbOvq9U3LmVWsZp0pBQRyajINtw-M4nu6btxja5IXz-wfPCYZ0TKGK3OeY6G1LLPA/s320/100_4287.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420537523358271074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 308px; " /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I've been visiting family and friends and celebrating holidays. It has been wonderful. I applied to 4 graduate school programs for Public Administration/Public Policy. I think this will be a good way for me to become more involved, more informed and affect more change! If you are interested in hearing more, send me an email :) So far, I haven't made any concrete plans between now and the Fall (when I would hopefully start), but I'm hoping to find some interesting opportunities. Let me know if you know of any!<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663333;">"Let no one be discouraged by the belief there is nothing one person can do against the enormous array of the world's ills, misery, ignorance, and violence. Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. And in the total of all those acts will be written the history of a generation." - Robert F. Kennedy</span></span></div></div></div></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-41227853462732291162009-09-29T16:05:00.011+00:002009-09-29T17:42:15.453+00:00Jbel Toubkal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBe_1R9M3SjxpFjP5VS5UUanCJA_AJljNJ2LdW7UfGQcK2qCkGwbBSy-zblRhxMSmXR3KB-3eammcqpNaG29kL59Llb2rvQobE-teMfgoc9cMjZL25vmsJtGQ59wCAbxm2fSGPMZEZ8g/s1600-h/IMG_2192.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx_mE7c6egx9Nzg1vEhGqWGgcOnYypYZBAlwsCL3XrLRbOkstcAfaPValWy2fAmZ7AOkg8ORSc4S4KwtsGx8zLVx8hOy3_5X2qfWCEStknNbcdqtvkCGFJF2sR8cFuwCWQ4uzPLM0wQ/s1600-h/IMG_2199.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx_mE7c6egx9Nzg1vEhGqWGgcOnYypYZBAlwsCL3XrLRbOkstcAfaPValWy2fAmZ7AOkg8ORSc4S4KwtsGx8zLVx8hOy3_5X2qfWCEStknNbcdqtvkCGFJF2sR8cFuwCWQ4uzPLM0wQ/s400/IMG_2199.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386921795499332370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">A couple of weeks ago, I climbed a VERY BIG mountain! Jbel (meaning mountain in Arabic) Toubkal is in the High Atlas Mountains in the south of Morocco. It is the tallest mountain in North Africa...and I climbed it! Logan and I went to Imlil, a town tucked in the mountains at the bottom of the mountain (elevation 5,709 ft). From there, we spent 6 hours climbing to 10,522 ft where there is a refuge, in which we slept and ate. The following morning, we climbed the remainder of the mountain to the summit at 13,671 ft. This ascent was much steeper and took us 3 hours and 20 minutes. We descended to the refuge in another 3 hours, where we had lunch before hiking the last 3 hours and 20 minutes to Imlil. </span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">I had never attempted anything like this, but somehow I didn't have any doubt I could do it. I guess I've always been kind of like that - "I can do anything!!" But it was good to have this attitude because I never had a thought of not following through. We were lucky that it hadn't snowed up there yet, although we did find some ice. The most challenging part for me (in addition to having a cold) was the wind. At the top, it was so windy, I had to lean into the wind to not fall backward. It was really intense. Logan estimated it was 40-50 knots. What a challenging and wonderful experience! It was so Gorgeous up there!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-Trzz9ngpNkD6AAvh-F8lSQ0Yp5Hz3tmaj7HaH294vKWyj1ui0Y0gCgb1VTFDJZfsCYD2HNbMkUZrz205Q3aNhyphenhyphenV0td2oXOZg4GIC4iA0R69qx0hIuiEWZujPVApdXj37FMqc6oskw/s320/IMG_2108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386923778413687730" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> villages tucked into the mountains on our way up<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MLKMxSQuU4fLk-W6KJVL8amsAVJevbCmDqRiBNHgZCDFoD0YFZQe8DMXRI0eAiU7-4j7H-Yte2iM32edl4NDe6R2MsrdQ-8OCoZbQ1fMtTCHWzI24aG6RuL47Y7nEchcFb6YT9BQKg/s1600-h/IMG_2149.JPG"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ih7WNkL24oP2k4INUYD6FRuFQTh_WJlx6palkRigO234ZrC2Kd9F6itE9Sjcve3eNOscmMBqSZOrhucYSi5qxzD_b0A8JR-YgL5cj0cNZHdSvhhNIU5r0SnoHMyW8CkyzTDICrkcjw/s320/IMG_2140.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386923786618358578" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ndjg-E2JiN1RjANUIVFBM8mFLyAxYgIfB1WgG96VZwAyLS7T1t9wg3Bnb-EhkmY8PsfGXsj6wRfmhOk25c7NvJJtmkmzxZ1MvQd7lRwod1HZQ443nX6Y9PxG_6vGixSczPLC7NoaeA/s320/IMG_2177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386926183574747042" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">there was just a little climbing, where I used my hands.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfJ6-bgy8MmUAyroc9F2-qkhekcN2pCL_GTcJCO7TPeUdwwx2LGwy8q4jiQxS8W1pHDP8b8AxsOx4rIUYAlRkw41JyRGuOfS3K3_UbmnoeVmnIOAI4-SiwW9R3pUzrK0q0Ha9sNPMkA/s320/IMG_2168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386923797919901474" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">in this picture, you can see the refuge (it's reddish in the bottom right). It's hard to get a good idea of how steep it is from pictures, but you can imagine.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MLKMxSQuU4fLk-W6KJVL8amsAVJevbCmDqRiBNHgZCDFoD0YFZQe8DMXRI0eAiU7-4j7H-Yte2iM32edl4NDe6R2MsrdQ-8OCoZbQ1fMtTCHWzI24aG6RuL47Y7nEchcFb6YT9BQKg/s1600-h/IMG_2149.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MLKMxSQuU4fLk-W6KJVL8amsAVJevbCmDqRiBNHgZCDFoD0YFZQe8DMXRI0eAiU7-4j7H-Yte2iM32edl4NDe6R2MsrdQ-8OCoZbQ1fMtTCHWzI24aG6RuL47Y7nEchcFb6YT9BQKg/s320/IMG_2149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386923794700450050" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx_mE7c6egx9Nzg1vEhGqWGgcOnYypYZBAlwsCL3XrLRbOkstcAfaPValWy2fAmZ7AOkg8ORSc4S4KwtsGx8zLVx8hOy3_5X2qfWCEStknNbcdqtvkCGFJF2sR8cFuwCWQ4uzPLM0wQ/s1600-h/IMG_2199.JPG"></a></span></span></span><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></b></span></div></span></div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 0, 153); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFN88gRjLXvNXsR5U_MEJVvttwd2thbyQgcamMaWaw23J1xRgxAcGpItbDNNCBtzr4QgCzKJ1bBVOfIqjafHj2CwZpXiOkpJHo7c-BSlzxUrY1GtKy0JZyykg-2NUIAljQ9v0D6ZAig/s1600-h/IMG_2186.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFN88gRjLXvNXsR5U_MEJVvttwd2thbyQgcamMaWaw23J1xRgxAcGpItbDNNCBtzr4QgCzKJ1bBVOfIqjafHj2CwZpXiOkpJHo7c-BSlzxUrY1GtKy0JZyykg-2NUIAljQ9v0D6ZAig/s320/IMG_2186.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386933058222614418" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm2fthuW3rixU-OYPAYCu-N959fnIxTdr1XX87YtspIjUjXOB1Cg6tzhz2NGt4OI0TWUzByfod-juVXZjqd6OFjf4_dbWc-GGTR93gV2ce4M1PiLcTgaHnBRglNky8D-Dv3XwJ1EOQw/s1600-h/IMG_2317.JPG"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx_mE7c6egx9Nzg1vEhGqWGgcOnYypYZBAlwsCL3XrLRbOkstcAfaPValWy2fAmZ7AOkg8ORSc4S4KwtsGx8zLVx8hOy3_5X2qfWCEStknNbcdqtvkCGFJF2sR8cFuwCWQ4uzPLM0wQ/s1600-h/IMG_2199.JPG" style="text-decoration: none; "></a></span></span></div></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">this is the summit (where we were heading.) If you look close, you can see the pyramid shaped sign on top that is in the next picture as well...</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBe_1R9M3SjxpFjP5VS5UUanCJA_AJljNJ2LdW7UfGQcK2qCkGwbBSy-zblRhxMSmXR3KB-3eammcqpNaG29kL59Llb2rvQobE-teMfgoc9cMjZL25vmsJtGQ59wCAbxm2fSGPMZEZ8g/s1600-h/IMG_2192.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBe_1R9M3SjxpFjP5VS5UUanCJA_AJljNJ2LdW7UfGQcK2qCkGwbBSy-zblRhxMSmXR3KB-3eammcqpNaG29kL59Llb2rvQobE-teMfgoc9cMjZL25vmsJtGQ59wCAbxm2fSGPMZEZ8g/s320/IMG_2192.JPG" border="0" 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src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pfC1NzcwkQ0ITvQWV1Ix8t88HHfJZ36ihqdaEMnQvWvdLvyjvMzT46yE5CdFblHwfocgxB3kczGBjGQJELe1tUxyZYmG83_QJXVxGyEdnXwmybDIF474hm8S0DIvzDHavIH7gJgsTw/s320/IMG_2224.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386929986029697186" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm2fthuW3rixU-OYPAYCu-N959fnIxTdr1XX87YtspIjUjXOB1Cg6tzhz2NGt4OI0TWUzByfod-juVXZjqd6OFjf4_dbWc-GGTR93gV2ce4M1PiLcTgaHnBRglNky8D-Dv3XwJ1EOQw/s320/IMG_2317.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386930009094411266" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_mNF6OKIvA10yNaH_wjYAmoPAqP1aX5Nz4R7mvYY9bVlCDSGX3AbrP56TPynYUJTTngnIMKSMqxssWibEP7Dl8_zXmgb_Jn-Ig-3H4XqBbMcuH5lP3l5NM771tLbUtmCb51EFNZzbw/s1600-h/IMG_2322.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_mNF6OKIvA10yNaH_wjYAmoPAqP1aX5Nz4R7mvYY9bVlCDSGX3AbrP56TPynYUJTTngnIMKSMqxssWibEP7Dl8_zXmgb_Jn-Ig-3H4XqBbMcuH5lP3l5NM771tLbUtmCb51EFNZzbw/s320/IMG_2322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386929990570590850" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDVC6ezSwrecgjcZbdNZUCgbCcaUoceaZb02RCuNQ6RQhh8UnhgkVy6B9o394m1BVjwQRFpH9HyPm_cSfQUH_Tq0u9cxJbj-kq8HMxcGSMf-Jt5oD1k4GdWu7bn-Gy884y7wmkdsiqw/s320/IMG_2344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386929996434362642" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;color:#330099;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman', serif;">On the way back, we walked in the clouds!</span></span></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-86364619838889800712009-08-30T21:21:00.019+00:002009-09-22T16:35:56.501+00:00Summer Engagements...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5nvRYXm4vK45I5zQdUYTN9Zc2I2xeSjhuyuK1xzMtXIeV54wZiV000HthRtoEEkdihVemYDjRF0i3CjrgQOxL3t3HLRD6vtYl_O7rmh5tnG-RS7_7l_zlez2-fn4fciJQYZBbpfacw/s1600-h/IMG_1772.png"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">Hello again! <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So much to share...</span></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">First, let me update you on the "Hammam Project." <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(hopefully you'll remember the previous details, if not - refer to the last posting)</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">a successful endeavor...</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#663366;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">After some d<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">elay, the meeting with Midelt hammam owners <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(plus a few from Boumia)</span></i> took place<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"> on July 29</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">. We arranged for a prototype boiler to be on display, which greatly increased the effectiveness of the meeting and the interest of those attending. The programming assistant for the Peace Corps Environment program gave an introductory talk t<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">hat explained the project and especially the environmental reasons that motivated PC to participate. She also explained to the hammam owners that the volunteers do not profit from the sale of the improved boilers. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO25gvS8eI19WcuW7c9vYSKjbChoP2sfixvXx5UIj2ci7RMV0K42gdU_G8-C7mSCoUGnyIwK7zRJvppZSF2EMDYvhNGHbVfyA4OavlsK_a3Gqxb8zK5a2_q381gUOY3PS5eBc1NFA9jA/s320/IMG_1772.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375906243913954018" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">Next, Mr. Makouai from The Center for Renewable Energies (CDER) gave a presentation explaining how the boiler works and how it would b<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">e financially beneficial to hammam owners. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">Throughout the project, we have stressed that the boiler is a good investment in addition to its environmental advantages. A boilermaker from Marrakech who has co<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">nstructed over fifty improved boilers accompanied Mr. Makouai. His experience and expertise were key in addressing the issues brought up by hammam owners. A spirited debate followed in which hammam owners seriously considered the implications of converting their hammams. The main remaining obstacle delaying conversion was that hammam owners wanted to see a functioning improved boiler, which at that point we were unable to provide. Other concerns included how the boiler would function in Midelt’s cold environment and the fact that some owners had recently bought new boilers for their hammams. Nonetheless, owners were very positive about the idea and several left seriously considering making a conversion. When Peace Corps told the hammam owners that there was a possibility of funding assistance for the conversion, we received some interest in immediate conversion. Some of these hammams were not suitable, but following the</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOpy-I2Z4T2E0dzOPW4k4zGw_fR6d9Y_EPo8PqWTBQ8coYZP6IbF0pUHM_NdONthWwA_uhuOtiRiAed6o3qJNvBxKrX2pb3Bxl4FR7WGngWRzxXl8JSIiIYsTl1jtyNDX7deyk1kPQA/s320/IMG_1755.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375895948692513618" /><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">meeting, we pursued the suitable hammams and just this past week, we had one commit to the installation. We are currently in the process of having all contracts signed and submitting a grant to support the installation. In addition, we were recently informed that 4 other owners had contacted the boiler maker directly, in consideration of converting their hammams independently of the financial assistance!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#663366;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>We are really pleased with how well everything has gone so far. We have had many obstacles, but we've also noted our accomplishments:</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#663366;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">The meeting had two primary goals: First, to push one or two hammams towards immediate conversion (with the added incentive of financial assistance) <i>- serving as a demonstration for other hammams in the area and starting the reduction of wood consumption. </i>Second, to make the rest of the hammam owners aware of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">technology and pique their interest enough to make them consider conversion when they next replace their boilers, <i>which <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>will later make a significant difference in the area's deforestation.</i> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">Check. Check... </span></b> Furthermore, we identified increased human capacity in the groups we worked with, specifically CDER's ability to make a targeted presentation to hammam owners and the local Association Jeunes Sans Frontieres' capacity to create and implement a large scale project plan. And not least importantly, we have documented an increased community awareness of the environmental threats posed by deforestation and irresponsible use of natural resources.</span></i></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">Humdullah!</span></i></span></div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tlsH5uxD40xOTeDAtUTU7eWheojVYFQKvWfDVxihc_hFgwK2df-qWVu-fdoM9ewmoyva9MtdXH5OSjpLRlO8zIFnlEf27l3EcuR1eI-CsFFSWr240WmB4vt6RcDzhVeByQ4zVyt-0A/s320/IMG_1658.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375896205447644786" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We rode our bikes between hammams in Midelt (there were 20 and they were very spread out!)</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#663366;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">Before that, in June, my host sister got married! What an event! It was for me a 5-day event, with the bride wearing 7 different outfits and the groom only arriving for the final evening.</span></span></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOhY3cXeecc6fg1_q3l0FIKdsP_8NH5h-N9NFfsOSdv80t-jvtwEYqRVxc_u43UYohTOPJ4oBg4X10rbLHCEacQ8Q5GV4NJJ4te9p3JRdCjtpEW4C7r0dvHH5tIZNsdS-n6ZQF2Vpmw/s320/100_2635.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375908010982465234" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">The first night, I just went to have dinner with the family and wish them congratulations (but little did I know, there were a lot of people doing that - and it turned into an all evening event with dancing and singing). The next evening, the men gathered to sing the Koran as a blessing for the couple and the family. I just stayed with my host sister in a side room. The third day, the women gathered while my host sister had henna applied to her hands <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">and feet. <i>(Henna is a plant indigenous to this area with orangish dying properties. It is traditionally used to decorate hands and feet for weddings and special occasions).</i> That evening, the community women gathered for dinner and celebration. The following night was for the men and the final evening was for everyone (including people from out of town). During the day, a lot of people visited and then a parade was organized bringing gifts from the other side of town by donkey cart with drum<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">mers and trumpets playing. I borrowed a pretty dress from a girl in town :) and was there all day and night... I finally made it back to my own house at sunrise the following morning (around 5:30 am). </span></span></span></span></span><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEbEr-o7fJHuED5zKRBZg-sdf9y4xTTWx2PMxFKTfmB2IseL4yHfApcRZpaA4Jkj2TPJv8l26pTj2qEJKUrbNEkX7juM-snUog_Ufpac1e36mzGjL9ijTVaUveMoWIqGtHdwmmii3sg/s200/100_2660.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375909898850135106" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">That same day, the family took my sister to her new house (in Azrou), about 2 hours away, where she now lives. <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here's a little background... </span></i>This wasn't exactly an "arranged marriage." Her husband came to my town "looking for a wife." He asked around who he should approach and three people all told him to ask my host sister... so, according to my host sister, this means that it must have been "God's will" that they be married. He asked the family and after a month of decision, they agreed. She talked to him quite a bit on the phone after they were officially married, (between signing the papers and the wedding), but prior to the papers, they had hardly spoken and never spent any time alone before their wedding night. She seems to be very happy to be married. She wants very much to have children...</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#663366;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-WiZY6AsSLGvvkG4wvUtPMsjaIZh9XuZmL7rpIUjTPg6gjvtXa1_RAXApH7H6yi7XkClBh1Ilfpv1OcO4d2V0lKd5RCE77oKfDmaz20N-4lvQ9u0y28wliFBxtNfD6qtmK0QWUqXsw/s320/100_2962.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375872403069082642" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#663366;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#663366;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrEfjzlAbszFilnxONuZJDDlXhsHthqH7J-KBc9Zf3Tp_w5CPIyEWdI1PPquFEqgB3GfXqs8F28ZUBx05nO9Zl3jhfNEF03BA71u6gy1Nnj-hd0JiwS0QRAsfaHlBytuBZqH4GcDrEw/s320/100_3049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375879594798397426" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#663366;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#663366;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#663366;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">This past month (Aug 5 -22), I had the good fortune to go back to</span></span></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIW7XMGS7fExP4NgjgDhTMeQ_FQwYHmK48zLWKMXbulOfZiK_TaVrgQ0DmE1Hh0vYE2gGYyLDIJzr7Cz_YT0W-7fQ6Fy87B4XiN-0LnI9L6ve7bayYt3WzzsQ41_5_GES2vnZGLgV2A/s200/5889_120312211529_622466529_2328579_7247880_n.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375900299943298290" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"> America to visit my family! My sister and her family came from China, my other sister came with her two children from Colorado and we all stayed at my parents (newly renovated to hold us all!) house.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">We had a wonderful time going on family outings (Dinosaur Land and Wildlife Park!) and having a lot of fun at home too!!! I can't even explain the fun we had on "Pickle Day," but here are some pictures... <i>(it was my first time being a pickle) </i>To top it off, two of my close friends were able to come visit me! It was so wonderful to catch up and reconnect. I am not sure if I've ever been so filled with gratitude as I was during this trip... Every little thing excited me... TREES!!!! WATER! </span></span></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKHiwbgUZqut1hyphenhyphent4t-Ag7kRskrlWeGR9axujz3EnsU_V9d9zpsP6ta5H8lDqc-5odHtfiYOHVeHt8xZXWiNyJWYCxW_ExQqCDPxX8ZBBk7ax6djN9swHZycESYY46XM0xVcLEd1ATA/s200/5889_120315531529_622466529_2328649_3356495_n.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375893602360808914" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">it's all so clean... a seat all to myself in the air-conditioned car and no exhaust or associated nausea... People are so NICE! Of course there were some things I didn't like too... high fructose corn syrup, unimpressive television, intolerance, and the like, but still, I was happy to see I could at last see such good in a country I was very eager to leave 2 years ago.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">Immediately upon reentry into Morocco <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(after a quick swine flu update... don't worry, I'm fine)</span></i>, I met my stagemates (the group of Volunteers I originally arrived to country with) at a hotel in Rabat. We had our "Close of Service" conference, which included all the administrative stuff we need to do, medical schedules and information, some presentations by Returned PCVs and a USAID worker, and a lot of other "Adjustment" information. Other than the admin stuff, I think the main point was for us to all get back together, to bring a little closure to this whole experience. It was all pretty surreal for me... I'm not sure if it was because I just got back from vacation or because I don't have any determined plans for afterward or what... but it was nice to see everyone and get an idea of what everyone's experiences have been like<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> - (all across the board!)</span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">In addition to returning to my COS conference, I returned to Ramadan... This is now my third Ramadan in country, so I suspect you should get the gist by now... a month of fasting (sun up to sun down, nothing enters their mouths) and praying (all 5 times a day) and lots of sugar. They also are more modest and pious in general. I have been having "break fast" with just a few families that I am closest to, but I doubt I'll do it everyday... We're still pretty early in the month.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">So, as far as I can tell, it looks like, God willing, I will be replaced by a male volunteer when it's time for me to go. Unfortunately, I'm going to have a maximum of three days of overlap from the time he comes to when I leave, so I'll be spending a lot of time developing a community guide (including work info) for him. Things are getting a lot better in a lot of ways, so I should have a lot to tell him :) So, that will be towards the end of November. <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Where will I be heading, you ask?</span></span></i> That remains to be determined... I'll be sure to update you before then ;)</span></span></div><div><br /></div></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-68413540482365812462009-05-14T16:37:00.002+00:002009-05-14T16:38:42.276+00:00applying energy (at long last) again..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; "><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); "><div>Some people couldn't read the text in the last post, even after I tried editing the font... So, I'm just reposting it again... Hope this works...</div><div><br /></div>So, it's been awhile... sorry about that. I'll try to condense the last 3 months into an overall brief summary to catch you all up.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); "> </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); ">Basically, the winter was miserable, but now it's over :)<br /><br />It was a lot colder than last winter and mostly I spent a lot of time sitting around in one room with a wood fired stove fueling it and trying to stay warm (but most of the time not achieving this goal). Work had become pretty non-existent and I found myself feeling that there must be a better way to spend my energy than just on staying warm... I tried finding people around town to work with and the association but came to lots of dead ends. I became less and less positive and more and more angry at the inefficiency of my wood stove....<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); "><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; ">Well, now - there's something!</span><br />Everyone in this part of Morocco uses these poorly designed wood stoves that don't burn the wood hot enough to prevent smoke (often even in the house) and only really heat the immediate area around them very well (which is usually the corner of a cement room)... And, even worse, all the hammams (bath houses, sort of like steam rooms, but with water) burn a huge amount of wood all over Morocco to keep the water and the rooms hot with often nothing more than the near equivalent of a big fire pit with a pipe above it.<br /><br />Long story shorter: We now have a small group of volunteers (myself included) working directly with the Ministry of Energy (specifically the Center for Renewable Energy) to first develop a diagnostic system to evaluate hammams and homes and then set up the hammam owners with welders who have been trained to make fantastically more efficient furnaces that will be sized to fit each individual hammam. Later we also hope to design an efficient home furnace to replace the common ones in use. While at the same time, meeting with builders to talk about inexpensive ways to insulate homes and buildings..... <span style="font-style: italic; ">Yes, I know - this all sounds wonderful,</span> but we've still got a long road ahead of us. There is huge resistance to change, even when its in the best economic interest of the business (in this case, with the wood use reduction, hammam owners will pay off their initial investment usually in less than a year and be making a large increase of revenue after that), so we are pooling all our resources to try to get at least one hammam to get on board this July. Additionally, the initial diagnostic data is hard to obtain. We aren't positive if it's distrust or cultural (but we suspect both), but no one has yet given us accurate numbers for their business operations... "How many people come in a day? How much wood do you burn?" etc... so we will have to both explain the project and our intents more thoroughly and also think of ways to ask questions that will allow us to increase our likelihood (and be able to double check) if we are receiving accurate information. <span style="font-style: italic; ">...Sociology Masters anyone?...</span> </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqANK2npZKNoP7eXFccqb-rMI8Z44TzqSGJerdc3vvntVT_AjXPNIkzBTrZKruAgDjIOg8ZRKJGbEQIPtN7ER9V04RWjfslfLdRC1JNdZb4n9rNEK1xftDWSkbWteKrxo0nRl0z4xqNw/s1600-h/100_1912.png" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqANK2npZKNoP7eXFccqb-rMI8Z44TzqSGJerdc3vvntVT_AjXPNIkzBTrZKruAgDjIOg8ZRKJGbEQIPtN7ER9V04RWjfslfLdRC1JNdZb4n9rNEK1xftDWSkbWteKrxo0nRl0z4xqNw/s400/100_1912.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335459001311669538" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); " /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size: 100%; ">Here is a picture from our first meeting with hammams in Itzer... we actually organized it as a Energy Efficiency Workshop, talking about solar and wind power, etc too, but in the future, we are going to keep it specific and just target changing hammam furnaces to more efficient ones.</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span><br /><span>In addition to this big new work opportunity, the association I've mostly been working with in the past has taken some steps to get back in the swing of things... They led two Eco-tourism groups on hikes/cultural visits. We also have two exhibitions this month and are trying the find more women that are really motivated to make carpets. I've designed two new carpets that several women have begun making and they are turning out really well... I also made the Association new Cous cous labels (on stickers!) and a banner to hang at exhibitions </span><span style="font-size: 85%; "><span style="font-style: italic; ">(We're still corresting the french)</span></span><span>. They are really moving up in their professionalism markings. And it's not to say that I do this all for them... They really take a lot of what I tell them seriously and we work together to make the best outcomes.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbgoiDhE04voJZ0vstN0QkgvRUl8a5tfWxgf8YgaaRAODf54Tx2ITTxXv3u3NkeuOOYaeKjcpjGmvpEaWFiv0E7t8OIP_Jta2orOWL-4tr9LbmfiUmENVBfTCUJ2jthalIB1HcPE3yw/s1600-h/Fitar+AFC.png" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbgoiDhE04voJZ0vstN0QkgvRUl8a5tfWxgf8YgaaRAODf54Tx2ITTxXv3u3NkeuOOYaeKjcpjGmvpEaWFiv0E7t8OIP_Jta2orOWL-4tr9LbmfiUmENVBfTCUJ2jthalIB1HcPE3yw/s400/Fitar+AFC.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335455207405596178" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 195px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryC48HwJuXAG5ElAsR5uL0aLuoorXHH1NT7kBS5lUsysyUpybhy62iTTDPGsrZnnMiM5KqwrqDJ8A7plpXS6y9GuRoLvNgBrJTtyETXkLpcVTB0YYzJa8DnntQ_R-wmlUVwpSUTsM0A/s1600-h/couscous+sticker+Wheat.png" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryC48HwJuXAG5ElAsR5uL0aLuoorXHH1NT7kBS5lUsysyUpybhy62iTTDPGsrZnnMiM5KqwrqDJ8A7plpXS6y9GuRoLvNgBrJTtyETXkLpcVTB0YYzJa8DnntQ_R-wmlUVwpSUTsM0A/s400/couscous+sticker+Wheat.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335447403312859730" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); " /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); ">In leisurely days of yore... a friend of Logan's came to visit for 2 weeks and we really enjoyed spending time with him and traveling around. I finally got to see the dunes! My last big site of Morocco - the Sahara... well, sort of. They were beautiful, but since we just went to the smaller ones, they weren't quite what I expected. I thought they'd be more prodigious... but they were nice none the less and exceptionally good for pictures :)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUslli6HP4xfDqFVC3IEum00U0hT32CZHCoO-InL_kGH9nfZIDvwaqKGCXZw-ueHAsMDINTyCti-Qa74y-HXqcPc_OpmKEQO0ImL9qF4PeIWur42JxAPpb41uQwZsReR-XM1enToZZyQ/s1600-h/IMG_0425.png" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUslli6HP4xfDqFVC3IEum00U0hT32CZHCoO-InL_kGH9nfZIDvwaqKGCXZw-ueHAsMDINTyCti-Qa74y-HXqcPc_OpmKEQO0ImL9qF4PeIWur42JxAPpb41uQwZsReR-XM1enToZZyQ/s400/IMG_0425.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335441632101190562" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); " /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); ">I'm starting to think a lot about post peace corps plans... high on the list for the time being (key, because it changes pretty often): Culinary School <in argentina="">, summer work in Alaska (any leads, please let me know!), grad school... some way to make money (again, any leads... please...) Hopefully I'll figure it out well before I finish up in November.</in></span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); "><br /><br />So those are the big highlights.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); ">Peace to you all!!!</span></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-88245384264072161042009-05-13T22:35:00.016+00:002009-05-14T11:40:15.876+00:00applying energy (at long last)<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">So, it's been awhile... sorry about that. I'll try to condense the last 3 months into an overall brief summary to catch you all up.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">Basically, the winter was miserable, but now it's over :)<br /><br />It was a lot colder than last winter and mostly I spent a lot of time sitting around in one room with a wood fired stove fueling it and trying to stay warm (but most of the time not achieving this goal). Work had become pretty non-existent and I found myself feeling that there must be a better way to spend my energy than just on staying warm... I tried finding people around town to work with and the association but came to lots of dead ends. I became less and less positive and more and more angry at the inefficiency of my wood stove....<br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); "><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">Well, now - there's something!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><br />Everyone in this part of Morocco uses these poorly designed wood stoves that don't burn the wood hot enough to prevent smoke (often even in the house) and only really heat the immediate area around them very well (which is usually the corner of a cement room)... And, even worse, all the hammams (bath houses, sort of like steam rooms, but with water) burn a huge amount of wood all over Morocco to keep the water and the rooms hot with often nothing more than the near equivalent of a big fire pit with a pipe above it.<br /><br />Long story shorter: We now have a small group of volunteers (myself included) working directly with the Ministry of Energy (specifically the Center for Renewable Energy) to first develop a diagnostic system to evaluate hammams and homes and then set up the hammam owners with welders who have been trained to make fantastically more efficient furnaces that will be sized to fit each individual hammam. Later we also hope to design an efficient home furnace to replace the common ones in use. While at the same time, meeting with builders to talk about inexpensive ways to insulate homes and buildings..... </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">Yes, I know - this all sounds wonderful,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"> but we've still got a long road ahead of us. There is huge resistance to change, even when its in the best economic interest of the business (in this case, with the wood use reduction, hammam owners will pay off their initial investment usually in less than a year and be making a large increase of revenue after that), so we are pooling all our resources to try to get at least one hammam to get on board this July. Additionally, the initial diagnostic data is hard to obtain. We aren't positive if it's distrust or cultural (but we suspect both), but no one has yet given us accurate numbers for their business operations... "How many people come in a day? How much wood do you burn?" etc... so we will have to both explain the project and our intents more thoroughly and also think of ways to ask questions that will allow us to increase our likelihood (and be able to double check) if we are receiving accurate information. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">...Sociology Masters anyone?...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><br /><br /></span><a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqANK2npZKNoP7eXFccqb-rMI8Z44TzqSGJerdc3vvntVT_AjXPNIkzBTrZKruAgDjIOg8ZRKJGbEQIPtN7ER9V04RWjfslfLdRC1JNdZb4n9rNEK1xftDWSkbWteKrxo0nRl0z4xqNw/s1600-h/100_1912.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqANK2npZKNoP7eXFccqb-rMI8Z44TzqSGJerdc3vvntVT_AjXPNIkzBTrZKruAgDjIOg8ZRKJGbEQIPtN7ER9V04RWjfslfLdRC1JNdZb4n9rNEK1xftDWSkbWteKrxo0nRl0z4xqNw/s400/100_1912.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335459001311669538" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">Here is a picture from our first meeting with hammams in Itzer... we actually organized it as a Energy Efficiency Workshop, talking about solar and wind power, etc too, but in the future, we are going to keep it specific and just target changing hammam furnaces to more efficient ones.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"> </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">In addition to this big new work opportunity, the association I've mostly been working with in the past has taken some steps to get back in the swing of things... They led two Eco-tourism groups on hikes/cultural visits. We also have two exhibitions this month and are trying the find more women that are really motivated to make carpets. I've designed two new carpets that several women have begun making and they are turning out really well... I also made the Association new Cous cous labels (on stickers!) and a banner to hang at exhibitions </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">(We're still corresting the french)</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">. They are really moving up in their professionalism markings. And it's not to say that I do this all for them... They really take a lot of what I tell them seriously and we work together to make the best outcomes.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"> </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbgoiDhE04voJZ0vstN0QkgvRUl8a5tfWxgf8YgaaRAODf54Tx2ITTxXv3u3NkeuOOYaeKjcpjGmvpEaWFiv0E7t8OIP_Jta2orOWL-4tr9LbmfiUmENVBfTCUJ2jthalIB1HcPE3yw/s1600-h/Fitar+AFC.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbgoiDhE04voJZ0vstN0QkgvRUl8a5tfWxgf8YgaaRAODf54Tx2ITTxXv3u3NkeuOOYaeKjcpjGmvpEaWFiv0E7t8OIP_Jta2orOWL-4tr9LbmfiUmENVBfTCUJ2jthalIB1HcPE3yw/s400/Fitar+AFC.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335455207405596178" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"> </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryC48HwJuXAG5ElAsR5uL0aLuoorXHH1NT7kBS5lUsysyUpybhy62iTTDPGsrZnnMiM5KqwrqDJ8A7plpXS6y9GuRoLvNgBrJTtyETXkLpcVTB0YYzJa8DnntQ_R-wmlUVwpSUTsM0A/s1600-h/couscous+sticker+Wheat.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryC48HwJuXAG5ElAsR5uL0aLuoorXHH1NT7kBS5lUsysyUpybhy62iTTDPGsrZnnMiM5KqwrqDJ8A7plpXS6y9GuRoLvNgBrJTtyETXkLpcVTB0YYzJa8DnntQ_R-wmlUVwpSUTsM0A/s400/couscous+sticker+Wheat.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335447403312859730" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"> </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">In leisurely days of yore... a friend of Logan's came to visit for 2 weeks and we really enjoyed spending time with him and traveling around. I finally got to see the dunes! My last big site of Morocco - the Sahara... well, sort of. They were beautiful, but since we just went to the smaller ones, they weren't quite what I expected. I thought they'd be more prodigious... but they were nice none the less and exceptionally good for pictures :)<br /><br /></span></span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUslli6HP4xfDqFVC3IEum00U0hT32CZHCoO-InL_kGH9nfZIDvwaqKGCXZw-ueHAsMDINTyCti-Qa74y-HXqcPc_OpmKEQO0ImL9qF4PeIWur42JxAPpb41uQwZsReR-XM1enToZZyQ/s1600-h/IMG_0425.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUslli6HP4xfDqFVC3IEum00U0hT32CZHCoO-InL_kGH9nfZIDvwaqKGCXZw-ueHAsMDINTyCti-Qa74y-HXqcPc_OpmKEQO0ImL9qF4PeIWur42JxAPpb41uQwZsReR-XM1enToZZyQ/s400/IMG_0425.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335441632101190562" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">I'm starting to think a lot about post peace corps plans... high on the list for the time being (key, because it changes pretty often): Culinary School </span><in argentina=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">, summer work in Alaska (any leads, please let me know!), grad school... some way to make money (again, any leads... please...) Hopefully I'll figure it out well before I finish up in November.</span></in></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"> </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><br /><br />So those are the big highlights.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">Peace to you all!!!</span></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-37334577956477231482009-02-13T02:19:00.004+00:002009-02-13T02:33:13.365+00:00Weather conditions cause devastation as authorities struggle to address the humanitarian crisis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzXD-gdW-CFptp1iP86filHvBlF3lLG8RVdj6LYtcLmXjLgZilb7fxfR55XZRYwni8d1IGyYoMUaS6gqB_w6DpPU_K8sBKCtLBroAKsRnrW65m77jM1nKuOiXPN5YjJDBp3h6XEmJtw/s1600-h/000_0290.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzXD-gdW-CFptp1iP86filHvBlF3lLG8RVdj6LYtcLmXjLgZilb7fxfR55XZRYwni8d1IGyYoMUaS6gqB_w6DpPU_K8sBKCtLBroAKsRnrW65m77jM1nKuOiXPN5YjJDBp3h6XEmJtw/s320/000_0290.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302103768333761154" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">On Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 3, 2009, just a couple of streets away, a 47-year-old woman and her 10-ten-year-old son died when the roof of their mud home collapsed on them. Flooding and heavy snowfalls left several regions of Morocco devastated and affected hundreds of families. The old part of my town is comprised of about 400 mud homes, over 250 years old. As a result of these torrential rains and snow, the houses were declared unlivable by the government and the families were evicted, becoming effectively homeless. Many of the families were able to stay with friends and family in their homes, but close to 100 families in my town became residents of the local youth house (previously unused, it is comprised of about 5 rooms, one very large). My counterpart with local teachers and community members worked together to try to make the shelter as accommodating and livable as possible. For one full week, 80 families lived in this building (5 of those days being quite inclement weather, in which people became somewhat hysterical about the state of their houses). Sunday the weather began to brighten and the following days were full of warmth and repair. However, the houses are still not livable by the government's eye and although many people have decided to remain living in their homes, many others have no choice. As of yesterday, a new area for the refugees was opened up and now 40 of the families are living in garage style storage units while the other 40 are still staying at the youth center. They are happy to have their own private spaces, but without ventilation and the winter weather returning, I'm worried that this will not be a sustainable arrangement. The government is trying to come up with aid for the many affected people across the country - According to a statement of the Interior ministry, about 56,000 hectares of land are under water in the fertile agricultural region of the Gharb - 12 villages of 5,000 inhabitants were submerged by floodwater -The exceptional rainfall led to significant run-off and caused some dams to exceed their maximum capacities. The government has offered to provide tents to accommodate the refugees, which has been acceptable in some of the affected regions, but in my region, the temperatures are often dropping below zero and tent sleeping isn't an option for the majority of the population. Some families were supplied with meager food supplies (canned sardines and bread), which the Association was then resourceful enough to exchange with local vegetable and food sellers. The community has also been generous, providing some food and assistance to these people. Conditions are poor here at best...We also may not be over the worst of the bad weather...</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk__uXZ92BaBtmoQBGuDAerAIzr8fxeYOSACr5-XXJWJktqwq5rRM1SG3eVZ5vsY6QmnBSjR_t-Najo9Mv_5W0sp20obqFAEHjsOQwMyuGgvko5XfFl8aNe7d6qiq43GJuGNfzS31JLA/s1600-h/100_1625.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk__uXZ92BaBtmoQBGuDAerAIzr8fxeYOSACr5-XXJWJktqwq5rRM1SG3eVZ5vsY6QmnBSjR_t-Najo9Mv_5W0sp20obqFAEHjsOQwMyuGgvko5XfFl8aNe7d6qiq43GJuGNfzS31JLA/s400/100_1625.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302104025072205506" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">There are always so many people so much less fortunate than ourselves, but sometimes it takes someone-you-know's life to be affected before you realize your good fortune. Let's try not to live that way. </span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-70987083192334028182008-12-11T20:25:00.010+00:002008-12-11T21:02:07.967+00:00Happy Eid!<span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >On Tuesday, we celebrated another year with a lot of sheep slaughtering... This year, I had henna done on my hands the night before and slept at my host family's. We woke early and had cookies and such for breakfast before visiting the neighbors (for more tea and cookies) and then they slaughtered the sheep... Typically each family slaughters a sheep (or a goat, but here it's all sheep) to call to mind the sacrifice that Abraham was willing to make in the Old Testament. Afterwards, everyone grills up the innards and bbqs. They remembered that I'm not a fan of the sheep insides and they actually grilled me some chicken! awesome... I visited about 6 other families homes as well and think I had about 15 glasses of tea that day. I think I'm the only person in the country (minus our vegetarian friends) that has eaten no sheep in the past few days...</span> <a style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQS2BS8txyPFYHdeJBUWvMDRK0XLgJfCK3H7iBl8CaTYyG11UI61Rcb6-Mz3CgBYbK9WvfjbcbNAl-pvpwb0bfkVAXM67uMf3NfQ1V3zanuRBNDQSFkysbn4pqDwJnyG2hoINFgzU3g/s1600-h/000_0204.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQS2BS8txyPFYHdeJBUWvMDRK0XLgJfCK3H7iBl8CaTYyG11UI61Rcb6-Mz3CgBYbK9WvfjbcbNAl-pvpwb0bfkVAXM67uMf3NfQ1V3zanuRBNDQSFkysbn4pqDwJnyG2hoINFgzU3g/s320/000_0204.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278633326655417858" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >Here are a few more pictures from my parents trip :)<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCI1rDCl3Z7fy77ax3CYbZn8MXWUZhJ7M0k__GIi21IihDqFP4989bxGPgMqwiRUNDXCOArsL1gRRqWg991XRxSjI7WF4fmyHSC31btMBFDzhR4a_-2WRSK5dNPN51S2H0q13QAO0OQ/s1600-h/My+Family.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCI1rDCl3Z7fy77ax3CYbZn8MXWUZhJ7M0k__GIi21IihDqFP4989bxGPgMqwiRUNDXCOArsL1gRRqWg991XRxSjI7WF4fmyHSC31btMBFDzhR4a_-2WRSK5dNPN51S2H0q13QAO0OQ/s320/My+Family.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278635273891486354" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh3SZPN5q-weFdZKKtGIjcgX9fTJrmKXsXiFFI3W9LjU7-sPdBqVeSi6sOdxdBnxX1Um_mxVKUmmF3pbhjeQEIcQ4XKNzs67ivmTFAp0CibCpgFo6nV7FMnmoLQ6xaw4-4rhqbbGOXQ/s1600-h/P1050893.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh3SZPN5q-weFdZKKtGIjcgX9fTJrmKXsXiFFI3W9LjU7-sPdBqVeSi6sOdxdBnxX1Um_mxVKUmmF3pbhjeQEIcQ4XKNzs67ivmTFAp0CibCpgFo6nV7FMnmoLQ6xaw4-4rhqbbGOXQ/s200/P1050893.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278636394547562434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">My parents with my host family... me feeding a monkey in Azrou... me with my host family and the 2 new volunteers they hosted for training.... sight in the village of Tanourdi (Logan's site)... me and Taniya with our suitcase of goodies from America... the mosque Hassan II in Casablanca</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ofybJzHxAhCybh4gjX9FXqZok5fq_Qz0tctsM70fm2nbmL0X5CrKjMgk4PISub_-RufP5tCfNA3Y7GbzBJCllh5T4nrL6PocSNELQPTIacG8zXH7Qxrlj5y5YORd6soUR8O113c4Aw/s1600-h/P1050809.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ofybJzHxAhCybh4gjX9FXqZok5fq_Qz0tctsM70fm2nbmL0X5CrKjMgk4PISub_-RufP5tCfNA3Y7GbzBJCllh5T4nrL6PocSNELQPTIacG8zXH7Qxrlj5y5YORd6soUR8O113c4Aw/s320/P1050809.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278636008424595538" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-HYx2s1A0Q4bInocU9t3gdvZTiH6DVDLUj4yzi_0agG9W09oSe0FAPuNsHnGp1i11LbIDIA-HmCdUY7AFgPC2AeWMGWoYQyydWE4dwf5XBLhNWbtj_9m31YuWX5LsQPIEipqd4icBQ/s1600-h/P1050927.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-HYx2s1A0Q4bInocU9t3gdvZTiH6DVDLUj4yzi_0agG9W09oSe0FAPuNsHnGp1i11LbIDIA-HmCdUY7AFgPC2AeWMGWoYQyydWE4dwf5XBLhNWbtj_9m31YuWX5LsQPIEipqd4icBQ/s200/P1050927.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278637001161693714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNzj7Qx100-bt7BSclzBIPAhbIdxMtAr8PIikbMdDkaSecmptAbbPGAMauVh-mQUkn9-jCJrrJanmnD-vdubmmxgV6ZR2fzKdm5zU_8lyTvQxZCly49oEkpIzxKReh153fS7KSKVRgA/s1600-h/P1050921.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNzj7Qx100-bt7BSclzBIPAhbIdxMtAr8PIikbMdDkaSecmptAbbPGAMauVh-mQUkn9-jCJrrJanmnD-vdubmmxgV6ZR2fzKdm5zU_8lyTvQxZCly49oEkpIzxKReh153fS7KSKVRgA/s320/P1050921.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278637494530745474" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe1lTwodlFC42KqRZNHt-rdv00X0g4_MAkwSI47i56yIx7h1xGMp9aRgstLK226L2bZIuvo9Q3Oe6a8VpnzTgV7ZP4ybBVqNXtln-Xuo38eBuxIuwBOk1-pbo80axLXeCqeX9StlNcQ/s1600-h/P1060145.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe1lTwodlFC42KqRZNHt-rdv00X0g4_MAkwSI47i56yIx7h1xGMp9aRgstLK226L2bZIuvo9Q3Oe6a8VpnzTgV7ZP4ybBVqNXtln-Xuo38eBuxIuwBOk1-pbo80axLXeCqeX9StlNcQ/s320/P1060145.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278639539670386530" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >Lots of Love to you all as the season unwinds...</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-54850377742374178192008-12-05T14:24:00.008+00:002008-12-05T15:19:08.502+00:00A Life Update :)So much has happened... and I haven't kept you all updated! I'm really not sure where to start...<br /><br />Let's just start with now... It's COLD here! It snowed for about 3 days and now my alley is about 2 inches of ice. Many of the roads were closed for several days (which caused me some very difficult travel), but now things seems to be back to normal (with the exception of the windy wonderland weather). It kind of hurts to walk around outside... Today I wore 7 layers!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU0Qiw9OZKIVauiO_fK1jlLbLFk0RPcnFUNnv7JKzoqhILh0W5AXmUg1PAEC22QHeeAD3JllYka02mbYuPjCpuG_fNg1Szjui0c6IsDCxyWvzxlycNRa75TBUeBS6Sws6N53vpARi5w/s1600-h/TripMap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU0Qiw9OZKIVauiO_fK1jlLbLFk0RPcnFUNnv7JKzoqhILh0W5AXmUg1PAEC22QHeeAD3JllYka02mbYuPjCpuG_fNg1Szjui0c6IsDCxyWvzxlycNRa75TBUeBS6Sws6N53vpARi5w/s320/TripMap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276312154133931410" border="0" /></a>Back in October, my parents visited! They were here for almost the whole month. It was fantastic. It was their first trip out of the U.S. and they were amazing! I was so impressed with how they took everything in stride, even though some pretty crazy stuff happened and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXK59pFShycF9WCwn6Ara05Bpn3yL54AtFmaEepSCogQb3xMlmgTei2VtyK4Ic0-KmrwnpUhVARLX-WZ7RQM_lDxeoLksjsrpkB3FQ9UlsYLp-UQJTQehDqGUoP8E063nsTt3Wq1oIg/s1600-h/P1060070.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXK59pFShycF9WCwn6Ara05Bpn3yL54AtFmaEepSCogQb3xMlmgTei2VtyK4Ic0-KmrwnpUhVARLX-WZ7RQM_lDxeoLksjsrpkB3FQ9UlsYLp-UQJTQehDqGUoP8E063nsTt3Wq1oIg/s200/P1060070.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276322455028917378" border="0" /></a>Morocco isn't the easiest country for travel. We traveled all over Morocco (renting a car was definitely worth it) and took the ferry over to Spain. I made a map to show you our journeys! For the specifics, you should definitely ask them about their experiences here! I also posted a bunch of our pictures on facebook, but I took over 400... so... visit and I'll show you :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAwKCTC4hsRphvNO9mt3GQI8QHjFjwDksfDADriv0HEcvh-8ZcK2fPCJUASVmnbUB3cLE0rRNweUChPEiKiPK-SVdwv43uq8lWSiutQ66OWCLStT35-_gcDhCxqD8NE31ePnQXXcUmg/s1600-h/P1060019.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAwKCTC4hsRphvNO9mt3GQI8QHjFjwDksfDADriv0HEcvh-8ZcK2fPCJUASVmnbUB3cLE0rRNweUChPEiKiPK-SVdwv43uq8lWSiutQ66OWCLStT35-_gcDhCxqD8NE31ePnQXXcUmg/s200/P1060019.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276318581661231138" border="0" /></a>I had a surprisingly doleful week two weeks ago... I found out a lot of pretty crazy news all at once... I lost 2/3 of the money that I possessed in stocks... My camera and IPOD were stolen... and I found out that I've been exposed to Tuberculosis! What a week, right? Sounds dramatic... and really, I think it is, but through it all... my spirits haven't fallen (hardly at all!) For me this is evidence that perhaps I've arrived at the positive attitude I've been seeking to have throughout all of life's beauty and obstacles. I really can't help but feel blessed. From my perspective, money isn't important - sure it would have been nice to have, but I didn't have exact plans for the money and I can just act like I never had it in the first place. The camera and IPOD are covered by my property insurance :) And the exposure to TB has a very high chance of being eradicated with treatment. So, life is still beautiful and I'm loving living it. I also am constantly putting my circumstances into a grander perspective. The suffering that a huge percentage of the world endures everyday is a reminder of my many blessings.<br /><br />In the time that I've managed to be home (not so much lately) work has been busy! Before my parents came, the CBT (community based training) group arrived and I was able to work with them on project ideas with the Association. They were a really great and hardworking group! While I was gone with my parents, they tackled almost all of the projects I had suggested and had some pretty impressive results... they developed brochures and flyers for Trekking weekends (also posting this online in a few places), developed a small mailing list of places that might be interested in hearing about and posting the information, did some studies and documentation of carpet motifs, started an ordering process for the carpets, helped Mohamed the artist document his work, worked with one of the weavers to improve a handbag design, and developed a website! It's so amazing what can be done with a focused group of people committed to working! Great work team!!! Here's the website: <span style="font-weight: bold;">www.afcmaroc.org</span> (we are still working on some improvements but it's a really nice base). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61Uhh4eoJkGrvFAwI6EqnTegJybH7eMb6Cmsq80TZ4dDglO6DsLnBvZnxt6uzjKqcLZkRLsTQ5edrBZyviKFzSJx0r_F81nNa_oKUsoNp4ODactSH7WU7K_dpu-jnOFpXEqnbvlbEgw/s1600-h/IMG_0133.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61Uhh4eoJkGrvFAwI6EqnTegJybH7eMb6Cmsq80TZ4dDglO6DsLnBvZnxt6uzjKqcLZkRLsTQ5edrBZyviKFzSJx0r_F81nNa_oKUsoNp4ODactSH7WU7K_dpu-jnOFpXEqnbvlbEgw/s400/IMG_0133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276316398026408386" border="0" /></a> After that, I've been working on carrying out some of these projects and helping prepare for more exhibitions. We just came back from a small exhibition at the Rabat American School, which went well (with the exception of all the rain and snow).<br /><br />Thanksgiving was great! It's so nice to be around wonderful people with great food and to reflect on life's wonder and God's grace. I am constantly overwhelmed by the incredible blessings showering my life!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-27818447548655426092008-11-05T04:31:00.003+00:002008-11-05T04:35:47.805+00:00It's Happened!! It's really happened!Barack Obama! I'm so happy for our country's future! This is probably the most important and historic moment in my lifetime. Humdullilah! Bless you all.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-49875757102435444172008-09-18T20:19:00.009+00:002008-09-18T20:34:40.962+00:00Oh! Busy, busy Life!<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I took another Vacation :) There was a Wed/Thursday Moroccan Holiday, </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2X7Ht4i6XOBvym4zIfHwjInWQmSdrqYW9SMwkgrwsJTiLMx3nWWbP_Sxg_g5Ji8K4KJaMrGd6u91ZW8zas5wbAHOglKzYYFcPHUoDVKDzySUuN4D7QdAnmQPv9i4Bi64pl9Vk5X1zA/s1600-h/P1050364.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2X7Ht4i6XOBvym4zIfHwjInWQmSdrqYW9SMwkgrwsJTiLMx3nWWbP_Sxg_g5Ji8K4KJaMrGd6u91ZW8zas5wbAHOglKzYYFcPHUoDVKDzySUuN4D7QdAnmQPv9i4Bi64pl9Vk5X1zA/s320/P1050364.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247460140567850354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">so I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a 5 day holiday with only taking one day off! A small group of </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-f7QY8eBNnKBq7vKx0k88DCbg68_AR-nlmZjnTFjd6djIos9-10phyphenhyphenWXDCuC0Zc2gpz18ierQtFYceK67bbirELQqb3cb0p0S7jqDw6G_f37XTDsISYV1CeW0gLgu2e21w_cn1uoj0g/s1600-h/P1050347.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-f7QY8eBNnKBq7vKx0k88DCbg68_AR-nlmZjnTFjd6djIos9-10phyphenhyphenWXDCuC0Zc2gpz18ierQtFYceK67bbirELQqb3cb0p0S7jqDw6G_f37XTDsISYV1CeW0gLgu2e21w_cn1uoj0g/s200/P1050347.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247461966832314034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">us headed to Chefchouen, the "Blue City," about 8 hours away; it's a small, relaxed city in the Rif Mountains and we later made our way to the Mediterranean, where I was happy to finally swim! We had a nice time, relaxing and discovering.</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt6FbGsfpDqbfu1nM0nwPdRBqBmyTVY6kaoXv4wxvwkYpC5Fo5Bvd0kOJZRkao4qpYSRzXbluje9fmE2h7f3umYPGHLcoW-q1jnnH3xaEYMRgU76u5mMMoHEhyphenhyphenGtop1IAzzskCNzbGQ/s1600-h/P1050399.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt6FbGsfpDqbfu1nM0nwPdRBqBmyTVY6kaoXv4wxvwkYpC5Fo5Bvd0kOJZRkao4qpYSRzXbluje9fmE2h7f3umYPGHLcoW-q1jnnH3xaEYMRgU76u5mMMoHEhyphenhyphenGtop1IAzzskCNzbGQ/s320/P1050399.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247460355663963138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Just before that, I finally attended a Moroccan wedding... well, actually, just one of the three nights (and I think this was one of the less interesting nights)... women all sat in one room, singing and dancing... we ate dinner... then we all headed to the roof top, where men also joined us, and a band played more music and we danced... I didn't see the bride or the groom the whole time (I was told they were coming tomorrow)... very strange. I stayed until 3 am, but it continued on till dawn!</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVO1FnVRp6mHPfwgRhI9QwHLu9eYXUAw_venP3w1V1cRWHse8EfktKzjlF2SKbMFHb-y7nwSjTA-ooz2MA9okYjORrFlFnVwGHDpUA-7_HTWCPWHaMsHeq2a2humro7HZzK9oMB0u9A/s1600-h/P1050282.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVO1FnVRp6mHPfwgRhI9QwHLu9eYXUAw_venP3w1V1cRWHse8EfktKzjlF2SKbMFHb-y7nwSjTA-ooz2MA9okYjORrFlFnVwGHDpUA-7_HTWCPWHaMsHeq2a2humro7HZzK9oMB0u9A/s320/P1050282.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247459254576893506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">So, now it's Ramadan... Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting, basically the whole month of September this year. It's meant to teach the person patience, sacrifice and humility, a time to fast for the sake of God, and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance into the future, ask for help in refraining from everyday evils and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. I fasted for a few days with them (from sunrise to sundown), but determined this style of fasting as rather unhealthy and have modified it, so I can stay healthy and still participate in the fasting and festivity of the month. Each evening when the sun sets, each family prepares a special "break fast" meal with food only made during Ramadan - usually at least dates, different types of sugary treats, special bread prepared with animal fat, and a tomato based soup. It's fun to eat, but not really very healthy... Then I'm full for the rest of the night, but Moroccans eat a very late dinner (anywhere from midnight to 2 am), then sometimes eat something small again right before the sun rises (and go back to bed)... My modified plan is drinking water all day and having only a breakfast when I wake up and the "break fast" meal... maybe a yogurt or something small in the evening... It's been a great time to get to know more people and integrate further... Any family in town would be pleased for me to show up at their "break fast," however, I've still just waited for invitations... I've eaten somewhere every night except two...</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Rnicz5cgmq3shXm2jUE8MYDb-rf68Mt1kgUhbfCxwUlljtVVDvc6bzkLz9kT2m8XdTlDoADS-rGgyBg6iWuXC7cg5dVZmGVtgWeiJ1cVsCX12smjxzPrrmS8I4zURsyj4790sD_QrA/s1600-h/P1050453.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Rnicz5cgmq3shXm2jUE8MYDb-rf68Mt1kgUhbfCxwUlljtVVDvc6bzkLz9kT2m8XdTlDoADS-rGgyBg6iWuXC7cg5dVZmGVtgWeiJ1cVsCX12smjxzPrrmS8I4zURsyj4790sD_QrA/s320/P1050453.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247460635058094994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">One of those nights, two of my nearby volunteers stayed the night and we made a HUGE and wonderful meal for our "break fast." It included fruit salad, pasta, cheesecake, garlic bread, and bubbly water... It was so filling... we were all in serious pain. It was silly to eat so much, but SO fun. We have been cooking a nice meal together almost every weekend (that we are all in town), which so far has been 3 times... but that's about to change... Logan, one of the two, has decided to move to my town. His counterpart (Moroccan working partner) will be living here and he has determined it too difficult to commute. We found him an awesome old house the other day, so he'll be here the first of next month. We have so many plans for cooking! I think we are going to have the best food in Morocco in my little village... soon we will both be receiving all sorts of Thai and Mexican ingredients :) Jed, the other of the three wishes he lived here too, but he comes every week to go to the market and we've just decided to all have French tutoring sessions together once a week!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">In addition to Logan's coming, about 6 other volunteers will be here next week, for training. They are in the Small Business Development Program (like me) and will be working with my association, so I'm really interested to see how this goes and meet them all! I'll only be here for part of their stay (because I'll be traveling with my parents), but they'll be fully integrated in my life during that time (working with my association, home staying with families that I know, and living in my little town, school right around the corner from my house). So, when I first moved here, it really seemed I was sort of isolated, not being on a main road and not that close to other volunteers... if I didn't leave, I didn't see other volunteers... but that's really changed. It's a welcome change :)</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCybmfU7-XQofBO2wv0BkVyhDAkRusM6hhlQhecsWH1asUP9bmPPmABqXE1o99RkHLdyrothhyphenhyphenUJ01e7kOKRTcBXsfxy_4kDGV_20yOf_5Sv1kB3KnHMiHgFxsLynb0C0FyvEjYNDGyQ/s1600-h/P1050483.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCybmfU7-XQofBO2wv0BkVyhDAkRusM6hhlQhecsWH1asUP9bmPPmABqXE1o99RkHLdyrothhyphenhyphenUJ01e7kOKRTcBXsfxy_4kDGV_20yOf_5Sv1kB3KnHMiHgFxsLynb0C0FyvEjYNDGyQ/s320/P1050483.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247460832964291106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">As far as work goes, this month is usually a down month for any type of work... however, my counterpart isn't like everybody else. He works more. Since he's not eating, he uses that time to work... We managed to get a grant proposal sent out to support the "tadart" project. I've been working more closely with some of the weavers (I put in 3 commissions for my family and helped another woman come up with a new design). We hosted a French Association to come and give away clothes and wheelchairs to the disabled, orphaned, or abandoned people in town. Plus, we've been getting the school ready for the new </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z08K-DgtTx6_v4yDLi_bXw2ex-vC9CzvYG9j7q_xmftqqOpQDh1AXvUwbdBELyjC4imcB7MFXOo4_HGF7lZ9x0Gepc62SCd5snmfCkBI8D-C26TEDGQybt8wEvNuC7kPLCCsT4BVoA/s1600-h/P1050493.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z08K-DgtTx6_v4yDLi_bXw2ex-vC9CzvYG9j7q_xmftqqOpQDh1AXvUwbdBELyjC4imcB7MFXOo4_HGF7lZ9x0Gepc62SCd5snmfCkBI8D-C26TEDGQybt8wEvNuC7kPLCCsT4BVoA/s200/P1050493.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247461192688030018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">volunteers, among other things! Busy, busy...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">During all this, I also managed to get my cat to Fez to have her spayed (although getting the stitches out hasn't been successful just yet) and went through a painful process of getting my NJ driver's license renewed. If you ask me, I think Peace Corps Volunteers should get the same extension privileges as the military... but hey, I guess they just think we are SO much more resourceful... we'll just figure it out.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Other than all that... I've spent all my free time planning a country tour for my parents! They'll be here almost the entire month of October and we are going to see a lot of the country (unfortunately the South had to be cut out). It's going to be intense and probably exhausting, but I think they'll have the time of their lives and I'm so excited to see them! I love that I'll have the opportunity to share all I've learned about this amazing country with them and that we'll have this to share for the rest of our lives! How special :) So, look forward to the next update: Parental adventures in greater Morocco!</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-1823614460767108812008-07-28T20:30:00.034+01:002008-07-29T21:27:18.717+01:00perusing life... and the country.<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >Oh so much wonderful travel! This country may not look big on a map, but let me tell you, it's a never-ending source of beauty... and it's all different. </span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >In June, I had the pleasure of spending time in Mahri's site, Tafraoute. It takes a long time to reach the other side of the country... but well worth it :)</span> <a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzKTzJCDebg5M_xcUiEIUpxY1_97BRe1T55MmL-FHMct3mNtRR0GWM6GBaboWmLXOaFK98REoLN2Jg4O4ql5-NV48LC739laxU3Uwc1XJ4qI9LD6SYCX7bhyphenhyphen1TY2U1fP-Mw0ZJwEvrQ/s1600-h/P1040678.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzKTzJCDebg5M_xcUiEIUpxY1_97BRe1T55MmL-FHMct3mNtRR0GWM6GBaboWmLXOaFK98REoLN2Jg4O4ql5-NV48LC739laxU3Uwc1XJ4qI9LD6SYCX7bhyphenhyphen1TY2U1fP-Mw0ZJwEvrQ/s400/P1040678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228159544031466402" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >Tafroute is known for these painted rocks... a Belgian Artist painted them in 1984, about</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" > an hour's walk from Tafraoute </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >into to the squat desolate valley, about 15 tons of blue paint was applied to rocks indistinguishable from a thousand others on the horizon.</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >..</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >sounds a bit strange, but when you think about how long it must have taken and the amount of paint used, it's interesting to wonder about his motivations...</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br />It is pretty incredible to stand in the presence of these enormous rocks and wonder about how they maintained or morphed into these shaped. What wind or rain... the stacking... the variety<br /><br />I've posted a lot of pictures of this gorgeous place (and others) on flickr (link at the bottom of post). There is a Lion's Head in the side of a mountain and a rock formation of Napolean's hat! (also famous sites). After some great hikes and great time with Mahri, we headed south to Tiznit to visit Amelia...</span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKt7n7LD_ZjkUKjaLMOLgz0BHzy_08NNekJCizrrqspMVgY01k4ogMjuxpWZYOGjDBXwgOn1J-AMO7q1SLApEovmjqaklTlqqHsDOVJ5PDFoo7fS-m6qeSklIoEicLN2tq5qpEV0akVw/s1600-h/P1040649.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKt7n7LD_ZjkUKjaLMOLgz0BHzy_08NNekJCizrrqspMVgY01k4ogMjuxpWZYOGjDBXwgOn1J-AMO7q1SLApEovmjqaklTlqqHsDOVJ5PDFoo7fS-m6qeSklIoEicLN2tq5qpEV0akVw/s320/P1040649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228160119456120434" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MTmD9THCwCdewqPyU6fNJfXHl1QO-YNYoCmqzqneCC3QHg_ynXNO4vUFJXOeLeWSI5jGyld7XcPe8rPV_AY_cUk5pGSWioNUMybDXrWVCz7jhW9whm_TRgViooe05t2aYix1fHk17g/s1600-h/P1040705.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MTmD9THCwCdewqPyU6fNJfXHl1QO-YNYoCmqzqneCC3QHg_ynXNO4vUFJXOeLeWSI5jGyld7XcPe8rPV_AY_cUk5pGSWioNUMybDXrWVCz7jhW9whm_TRgViooe05t2aYix1fHk17g/s200/P1040705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228158256032574354" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >Amelia has a gorgeous "Riad" style house, with 2 courtyards in the center and rooms coming off of those. It's nice to feel outside and still secluded :) She was a fantastic hostess. I had treats I'd not imagined in this country - blue cheese! Real (rich) chocolate ice cream and a real (and comfortable) bed! woo-hoo! Thanks, Amelia!<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">From there, we all headed up to Essaouria, for the annual Gnaoua Music Festival, which is a free world music festival, but highlights Gnaoua music, from the Sahelian region of West and Central Africa. There were 10 stages for 4 days. It was a wonderful experience and Essaouria was really lovely. </span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTewGLi5XT_l448j0ythdpX5aqw7zPn70N9WMOFwp7hEndIypA3cDbC5_ywEkn9sbq_EBsYvhqJA_zmAQazyXHne7a-dlir7h0T3MefaLvuuUZSqxnKlxnNVPKu4PXQvsOV7-Tzg54A/s1600-h/P1040722.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTewGLi5XT_l448j0ythdpX5aqw7zPn70N9WMOFwp7hEndIypA3cDbC5_ywEkn9sbq_EBsYvhqJA_zmAQazyXHne7a-dlir7h0T3MefaLvuuUZSqxnKlxnNVPKu4PXQvsOV7-Tzg54A/s320/P1040722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228155403619836018" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">We ate </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">fantastic food (western!), we watched the water (we </span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kMah6j9j4Cxn0Vak8RGelTnJaxFGHh5lquqB3i9brShLwB3fiUZhy99Wm_HczWBGJaMHB6aCKygQwwvzKYGjigO4rHwiBQ3wSXgB1RMzzUi4dzO9uWZE7lDgls7HEGRHzNtAgr_8Zg/s1600-h/P1040707.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kMah6j9j4Cxn0Vak8RGelTnJaxFGHh5lquqB3i9brShLwB3fiUZhy99Wm_HczWBGJaMHB6aCKygQwwvzKYGjigO4rHwiBQ3wSXgB1RMzzUi4dzO9uWZE7lDgls7HEGRHzNtAgr_8Zg/s200/P1040707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228163373715167090" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">tried to get in once, but our feet went numb and we retreated), we shopped, and of course, we listened to some incredible music. Oh! and we even had lunch one day with one of the Artistic Director's of the festival! odd how these things happen... We really enjoyed just sitting outside our hotel room, on this roof, where we could watch the waves crash and feel the ocean breeze... felt like I was in another world there.</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br />I hosted a 4th of July party (on the 5th). It was pretty incredible. I (to much suprise, even my own) served Chicken and Beef Kebobs, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Pasta Salad, Peach Cobbler, Watermelon, Wheat Bread, and Iced Tea (all from scratch, mind you!) and my guests brought peanut butter cookies, spinach dip, deviled eggs, and chocolate cake!) Talk about good food!</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >Here you see what happens to people after having peeled and cut up 4 kilos of potatoes. Brian and Mahri are such good sports! I wouldn't have survived with out them :) So, in the end, great party, but next time... maybe I could find a caterer. Glad the new volunteers could come and everyone got to meet each other. We had a nice hike and people even stayed to help me clean! (bless them!) </span> <a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5rR5sy15HKbKihHVRxmi6edJ2p-mQpfHt2JzYXQP75mZ9lOyQhM3EMsQylv4TxVIOrD4quj-zahMYfzL9XUa5H1HCzCjk95hB8dFgVas5DMCrxIJVPnLJpy6GZeL1WTODn0nfZH3gg/s1600-h/P1040935.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5rR5sy15HKbKihHVRxmi6edJ2p-mQpfHt2JzYXQP75mZ9lOyQhM3EMsQylv4TxVIOrD4quj-zahMYfzL9XUa5H1HCzCjk95hB8dFgVas5DMCrxIJVPnLJpy6GZeL1WTODn0nfZH3gg/s320/P1040935.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228167714442348082" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />One day a couple of weeks ago, Moumi and I rode our bikes to a nearby village... 7 km to talk with the government representative there and see which land we would like to have to build "Tadart" on. They are donating the land and we had our pick! It's on one of the main roads that tourists travel, so it'll be a nice location. </span> <a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF_FSjkSNihObRo0Wes6k2HgTMA8c9MaLlfeIxXpaPhVdCwDUgRAT4epiNo4jn7tFW2E1Tc-cmDGWQuPKULFopNVGB4UNj-PurqmP4xfIyG76FgFImcG3RSXTAUeNZXFCDFGbceukVg/s1600-h/P1040965.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF_FSjkSNihObRo0Wes6k2HgTMA8c9MaLlfeIxXpaPhVdCwDUgRAT4epiNo4jn7tFW2E1Tc-cmDGWQuPKULFopNVGB4UNj-PurqmP4xfIyG76FgFImcG3RSXTAUeNZXFCDFGbceukVg/s320/P1040965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228179687662538626" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >Below you see the view from the land we chose. One side you see the mountain road coming in to the town and the other is a nice view over the town and you can even see my town from there... the majestic mountains and extinct volcanoes... I don't think we could have chosen a better location for a tourist destination!</span> <a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMn8d7tTh1twDNE9TGcTah8runmMFNTT31gV3CORBvrMTWNNUesFBF3pzFPrdwdvBRSQ3UaLkYsq4BohRobjznpUdpXuK91rV-aTLWVv3iOhFXvXxJAxnqEnV6xpFapsnO8Z3liOL7Q/s1600-h/P1040960.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMn8d7tTh1twDNE9TGcTah8runmMFNTT31gV3CORBvrMTWNNUesFBF3pzFPrdwdvBRSQ3UaLkYsq4BohRobjznpUdpXuK91rV-aTLWVv3iOhFXvXxJAxnqEnV6xpFapsnO8Z3liOL7Q/s320/P1040960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228178710594030130" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHyEpDi7rBpkj7YH9elcticsYHr4532twyayQTuPL7c2989XwObwXzABMIeNhozvFxtcyS_69M2zSreFf2bc0rh7YWl9cuDsD_AGw1mIKpc_WnmmGu722SlNszTDgvBvKCUH7lZx0Jg/s1600-h/P1040519.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHyEpDi7rBpkj7YH9elcticsYHr4532twyayQTuPL7c2989XwObwXzABMIeNhozvFxtcyS_69M2zSreFf2bc0rh7YWl9cuDsD_AGw1mIKpc_WnmmGu722SlNszTDgvBvKCUH7lZx0Jg/s200/P1040519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228173964911495778" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >Here is a little insight into how </span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB84cYbo_4G_Q55EmsNQ73cYfYn6eXpwhoYlJcUdmxHwMMY4tAQeeVEGsl6RAyED5e5Jn2XucMFyOOxrgmzZaQ45TKWsH7Jsrw6mxNu97UBy9knyHp9bV5ZdSJkYbmqi7CJ9MbT_apQ/s1600-h/P1040596.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB84cYbo_4G_Q55EmsNQ73cYfYn6eXpwhoYlJcUdmxHwMMY4tAQeeVEGsl6RAyED5e5Jn2XucMFyOOxrgmzZaQ45TKWsH7Jsrw6mxNu97UBy9knyHp9bV5ZdSJkYbmqi7CJ9MbT_apQ/s320/P1040596.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228170195872004482" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >and</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >what the women I'm helping make</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" > and do...</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >There was one day when all the women in town had a big party and sheered all the sheep... then there was a day when they all took their wool to the river to wash it (see left image)</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >After it's all washed and dried, they clean it by hand, picking out the </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >plants and what not... Then they spin it (see below) After it's spun, they prepare to dye it, washing the wool in </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >aluminum (so the dye will stick) and </span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ2uZIeEhODHC_f6zEqTbF9TyiB64u2spAe_-LtcgqRCJRPPtO_kqD3sNPYGShtkGdA0XDgLZKIVxdHfKpAVEY6n-GEHZDG9n4xAEfDgGPfym4L4IzeYI4Bt3oz8uw2sEu3sTBeKivg/s1600-h/P1040501.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ2uZIeEhODHC_f6zEqTbF9TyiB64u2spAe_-LtcgqRCJRPPtO_kqD3sNPYGShtkGdA0XDgLZKIVxdHfKpAVEY6n-GEHZDG9n4xAEfDgGPfym4L4IzeYI4Bt3oz8uw2sEu3sTBeKivg/s200/P1040501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228171414721855058" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >crushing the plants to put in the dye bath. (oh yeah, I didn't mention, they go out in the fields and pick the plants they need themselves too - one woman was showing me her cut up arms from collecting a particularly coarse plant).</span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFkiwScMRDsOyfY0YBHNxLUm4XaQAsx7lggneAo56_aHG8Ll5O8wNeRuu39p9rYd6VAt8xJytQbI96CbCmoQsI18RAqZVaRVLIfZ6XeQtbpDPpnEbuTducYJVLTq0wkid6ozm934E1g/s1600-h/P1040494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFkiwScMRDsOyfY0YBHNxLUm4XaQAsx7lggneAo56_aHG8Ll5O8wNeRuu39p9rYd6VAt8xJytQbI96CbCmoQsI18RAqZVaRVLIfZ6XeQtbpDPpnEbuTducYJVLTq0wkid6ozm934E1g/s320/P1040494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228170687742860274" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" > Below Raquia is crushing something to make a pinkish brown colored wool. You can see Fadma pulling the dyed wool out of her dye bath... </span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d9Xhg6HyHJRQcWpY-G1TOvLUTJIOgbaAGpL20_e1vHyAEeX9UwS81DUs3KZ3CWWLa6PJegclLapQufEtM2MIVyW4yWnEmRMQ4Ifc1sTTeIJCERA-ZvdWiSe71uUtBxHtAxkPePxorw/s1600-h/P1040570.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d9Xhg6HyHJRQcWpY-G1TOvLUTJIOgbaAGpL20_e1vHyAEeX9UwS81DUs3KZ3CWWLa6PJegclLapQufEtM2MIVyW4yWnEmRMQ4Ifc1sTTeIJCERA-ZvdWiSe71uUtBxHtAxkPePxorw/s200/P1040570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228175688347264002" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >They do </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >this all year, even though it gets </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >well above 100 degrees in that room she's cooking the dye in. And then, they weave it... They make beautiful carpets and rugs. I love these natural colors. They are one of very few groups still working in this traditional method. Here are a couple examples of things the women have made... one in progress still on the loom, one detailing the designs. </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >The last picture is one of an old carpet (not </span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhNwoq-fNtg8rj-d7zo4o6I294OWfD96pP8SmJwJjnLqcKKbgL0oA0aCs93ApkBd6k1YxCGDkqrCw2aq16Z-8jv4VHQSpIzYAO2Xikp4UundcvOQq8UuzGm_4zm42IutmLDgffAMIkw/s1600-h/P1040950.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhNwoq-fNtg8rj-d7zo4o6I294OWfD96pP8SmJwJjnLqcKKbgL0oA0aCs93ApkBd6k1YxCGDkqrCw2aq16Z-8jv4VHQSpIzYAO2Xikp4UundcvOQq8UuzGm_4zm42IutmLDgffAMIkw/s200/P1040950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228186284745613522" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >natural), detailing a motif that represents </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >camels. Each half of a symbol is supposed to be a camel, three feet and a head (can't get an answer on the 3 feet thing...) I'm collecting traditional carpet motifs and their meaning from the women, hoping to eventually make a book out of them, which would then both preserve the tradition as well as help others understand the carpet and what goes into them better.</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> </span> <br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcS9socuylM6mSaTxO3hDQ9N1EozlGbgkjbdKWrT0fZyBL7uf_BAsneHZkymdaq6m6Qd18ywGmHwHs-auTWCbc6TGaPfLkdhLEhdk7yPWOyOdZZajhtm_9es_Kyxi6MhRGvIjaBP4Cw/s1600-h/P1040511.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcS9socuylM6mSaTxO3hDQ9N1EozlGbgkjbdKWrT0fZyBL7uf_BAsneHZkymdaq6m6Qd18ywGmHwHs-auTWCbc6TGaPfLkdhLEhdk7yPWOyOdZZajhtm_9es_Kyxi6MhRGvIjaBP4Cw/s200/P1040511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228172647286002130" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhkjSjSx25UiTETmLCN4d8BM2W_Tgz4ABvwU8xDwRgUYTa66Qz2OjGYS-abeQYF29FdO03sld4xIXZJArnELOtSjnFWxL3zhCbUQw9ZCWO13WUo58scuwy3L_UxeC_qoJZLFt6j8Zwg/s1600-h/P1040974.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhkjSjSx25UiTETmLCN4d8BM2W_Tgz4ABvwU8xDwRgUYTa66Qz2OjGYS-abeQYF29FdO03sld4xIXZJArnELOtSjnFWxL3zhCbUQw9ZCWO13WUo58scuwy3L_UxeC_qoJZLFt6j8Zwg/s200/P1040974.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228180731658142274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >and then came my birthday!</span><br />Wow! I am so blessed! I couldn't imagine feeling so loved and not lonely so far away from "home."<br /><br />It really has been more like a birthday month... First, about 3 weeks early, I received 2 <span style="font-weight: bold;">big </span>boxes from my parents and sister, filled to the brim with first class treats and presents! Well, that was more than enough to make my birthday! Then, right before traveling, I started receiving wishes from all directions... cards by mail, facebook messages, cards by email, texts, emails, phone calls... and then a box from my other sister with homemade peanut butter cookies! whew!<span style="font-style: italic;"> I sure do feel like a special girl!</span><br /><br />Then, for my actual birthday, I decided to visit a friend for a nice quiet time, where we could maybe take a hike and go swimming. She baked me a cake. We made killer fajitas and lasagna (ricotta chesse from scratch!), watched some movies and took a trip to see a waterfall <span style="font-style: italic;">(so, the waterfall was dry for the season and the water was frigid... but we swam anyway! and it was </span><span style="font-style: italic;">a nice adventure!)</span> The next day, we went up to visit another friend and her artisans, that were <a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6vK4tPcK5_V-sUbn6fO-CTCxLTWwx-yya7bHNLTXAZpisUzXtFwqlhsuIccnr5ofNF11cHhYJ8TRLEFKG4Aa3ZZnYxRkU24vbV1hUf-9sWVzyuX-zAn6DE8Tnu8zryGe54jybxcsXw/s1600-h/P1050003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6vK4tPcK5_V-sUbn6fO-CTCxLTWwx-yya7bHNLTXAZpisUzXtFwqlhsuIccnr5ofNF11cHhYJ8TRLEFKG4Aa3ZZnYxRkU24vbV1hUf-9sWVzyuX-zAn6DE8Tnu8zryGe54jybxcsXw/s200/P1050003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228168733369795906" border="0" /></a>participating in a craft fair. I bought a couple of necklaces from them and later bought a fan for my hot house! I also cooked Thai food! Happy Birthday to me! <a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4G42Doqw0JR7PfL973-HyXA2ttO_nM2S484IalU7eiwVTQ7Y6JsAPiA1rsq6EYi1Q4L5SgIFRSEwADWKnpcZPdDWNHO2nmtE9QUDVMGPINASRa1PvnckevI9QRQXriUreZ5w1J8sQg/s1600-h/P1050008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4G42Doqw0JR7PfL973-HyXA2ttO_nM2S484IalU7eiwVTQ7Y6JsAPiA1rsq6EYi1Q4L5SgIFRSEwADWKnpcZPdDWNHO2nmtE9QUDVMGPINASRa1PvnckevI9QRQXriUreZ5w1J8sQg/s320/P1050008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228168187980439618" border="0" /></a>Then, we got some urgent phone calls from another friend of mine, asking me to stop there on my way back... he was having some problems and <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">really</span> needed to talk. So, I added that on to my trip and arrived there to a little surprise party with three <a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGqXTrfPjBsv_vjRT7mKchkiTUAuqXLBXmFFbj8ocuF6xQPAtCcgkHFPyyfp8soweWv7aXBp4_vmgA2f03weDFDqbTXoepwP8P0f60pvhQe_E2iwljXS4zuQSqoe-0ruBQ2EioYC-AA/s1600-h/P1050001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGqXTrfPjBsv_vjRT7mKchkiTUAuqXLBXmFFbj8ocuF6xQPAtCcgkHFPyyfp8soweWv7aXBp4_vmgA2f03weDFDqbTXoepwP8P0f60pvhQe_E2iwljXS4zuQSqoe-0ruBQ2EioYC-AA/s200/P1050001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228168390218670402" border="0" /></a><br /> more of my friends! And if you think that's enough, hold on... that night after arriving home, the Association I work with put together another little shin dig in my honor... I was exhausted, but there's always energy for a little craziness - including an American music cd mixed just for me, cake in the face (how did they learn about this idea!?), and a little more nonsense... <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76lFdW3N2vOLFV5ed1r9DWW1sAc0KRwpxJvQd9XnVpwb7_oNl2NE6vpgsPJdI9Gay7uvW4IxxrZXRiGR-bZJR-nZxRGHU33yCFnbzSWGtnerlXCPyMj5OwSJM6tO3LCNq6Hyn1cOZdg/s1600-h/P1040983.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76lFdW3N2vOLFV5ed1r9DWW1sAc0KRwpxJvQd9XnVpwb7_oNl2NE6vpgsPJdI9Gay7uvW4IxxrZXRiGR-bZJR-nZxRGHU33yCFnbzSWGtnerlXCPyMj5OwSJM6tO3LCNq6Hyn1cOZdg/s200/P1040983.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228169366841723186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" >So, after all that funness, I clearly needed some down time!<br /><br />I've been spending a lot of time at my house (with the heat, people don't much leave their houses between noon and 6pm)... I've built a new spice shelf, a compost bin (not quite up to par yet), and what was most time-consuming, I finished my green house! The bad part is now I don't have any plants to put in it :( They died... sad, I know. The African sun is <span style="font-style: italic;">intense</span>. Anyway, I'm working on getting some herbs and more veggies. I've restarted the basil and broccoli and a friend here just gave me some flowers, so I've planted those too. Hopefully, now things will go better :)<br /><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qqSNSF1duEpR3Bm5P5TcCU0_65eWU02SNU6gIZ3gLV5qXPf4Y4DG24Nr61nps0VHU-g4A9KH6T_WeIghA4M8piV7p7KVIfTpMDY8T2YdFszmisnu5Oxun3TUO5f5WH4Wjxn1oUJOPA/s1600-h/P1050025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qqSNSF1duEpR3Bm5P5TcCU0_65eWU02SNU6gIZ3gLV5qXPf4Y4DG24Nr61nps0VHU-g4A9KH6T_WeIghA4M8piV7p7KVIfTpMDY8T2YdFszmisnu5Oxun3TUO5f5WH4Wjxn1oUJOPA/s320/P1050025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228523320873694066" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Another important investment of time (that happened a while back, but still thrills me), my solar shower is now fully functional! It holds about 10 liters (2.5 gallons) of water on the roof and I have a hose running down into my "water room" inside the house. If I shower anytime between 11 and 8, the water is hot to warm :) <span style="font-style: italic;">and I've managed to get a quick shower down to about 3 liters of water!</span> Speaking of water... that situation is increasingly difficult. The water has stopped coming to my street... don't know why, but it seems to be excepted, so I am now filling water at the association.. this is about one city block from my house. So, now instead of up the stairs, I'm carrying about 150-180 liters (40+ gallons) about one city block each week... </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">hey, if it doesn't kill ya... right?... </span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">This is actually a minimum amount of water too... I do <span style="font-weight: bold;">serious </span>water conservation! No water goes down a drain unless it would have a distinct odor... I use it all... shower water, dish washing water, even the rinse from brushing my teeth... <span style="font-style: italic;">(all of those things go towards flushing the toilet in case you were worried...) </span>you think about these things when you are carrying your water... </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">feeling a little more "real" peace corps these days :)<br /><br />and to give you a little preview of things to come... my parents are visiting for over 3 weeks in October! Big trip planning going on there. Plus, from September to November, there will be a SBD training group in Azrou and CBTing in my site with my association! I'm going to have 6 new volunteers working with me periodically during that time! crazy, huh?<br /></span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Again, more pictures at </span>http://www.flickr.com/photos/12973534@N04/</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-3019385440476289202008-06-14T09:49:00.001+01:002008-06-14T09:52:16.441+01:00Pictures on Flickr :)<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Ok, I put the pictures up on Flickr now too. I don' t like it as much because I can't put them in order, but you get the idea... Enjoy :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/12973534@N04/</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-71104460068882381632008-06-13T12:31:00.001+01:002008-06-13T12:32:51.125+01:00<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Hi all. I just realized that you can only view my facebook photos if you are signed up for facebook... Sorry about that. I'll upload some to flicker soon and let you know when I do :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Love & Peace ~</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-25926288399236734542008-06-12T13:15:00.013+01:002008-06-13T12:30:44.870+01:00The Past Few Weeks of Travel...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKO0oQmx6jTVnw_ZYr88OGDBLSMO5oOMUPGkKSkta61Ki7CQiCXZXhfzgkyfYhquYIMbaYHvJLqlkeave22uyn06kzZcn0CwCJGHWSUXgF5zM0cWNJlAY8eJgJTEN2E6wAYc-aPrNbQ/s1600-h/home.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKO0oQmx6jTVnw_ZYr88OGDBLSMO5oOMUPGkKSkta61Ki7CQiCXZXhfzgkyfYhquYIMbaYHvJLqlkeave22uyn06kzZcn0CwCJGHWSUXgF5zM0cWNJlAY8eJgJTEN2E6wAYc-aPrNbQ/s400/home.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211069092628385282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">These are a few images from my "In-Service Training (IST)" presentation I did on my community and work... The others are posted on my Facebook page with some other recent photos..<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1085541521<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcX7_E_qbjIZPmUl7-yBsJRdkwWgvl3l1FBVoQesPnSWskcHpNC2z0vgIQ9oYp-pI3u3gVXIehV9j8LyHAER0nrZWRSq_h-2LZ70xLnv1dG_-FPpqv9ippuJaFfn74l9MiDyTR5Jjxg/s1600-h/Carpetsvillage.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcX7_E_qbjIZPmUl7-yBsJRdkwWgvl3l1FBVoQesPnSWskcHpNC2z0vgIQ9oYp-pI3u3gVXIehV9j8LyHAER0nrZWRSq_h-2LZ70xLnv1dG_-FPpqv9ippuJaFfn74l9MiDyTR5Jjxg/s400/Carpetsvillage.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211073710026567394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">These women are really talented! We have just taken on the incredible and immense initiative to make only natural products! All of the colors are made from using plants with natural dying properties and the women do the whole process from sheering the sheep to making the rug... It's great and traditional and sustainable :)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7u-ktXjveJBsZR1Bn4SNeWMYTONVcemeSbbhDUirH3nCuAkDSCArn1vVj5-vO_0FRMwxLTA5r7hDa2zEtIg2B49kJvMfjFOMZV_J82qIwF0BdFvnzNRh1SPx7BfbB_uaA9HybVwiUw/s1600-h/Natural.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7u-ktXjveJBsZR1Bn4SNeWMYTONVcemeSbbhDUirH3nCuAkDSCArn1vVj5-vO_0FRMwxLTA5r7hDa2zEtIg2B49kJvMfjFOMZV_J82qIwF0BdFvnzNRh1SPx7BfbB_uaA9HybVwiUw/s400/Natural.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211065923341175970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3BqvPY1wJEtqvaHxIxkT8iy9zlpjL8H11J7XOPjsWxcTjP7k2fkteUm7pRhV9URxdifXRAyaZBztByvBnWB2-NW34UbnuG6yWB5kbvk11t2Z4EXpoIFxr03Js60RxJxxLn_9lrvyEw/s1600-h/P1040327.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3BqvPY1wJEtqvaHxIxkT8iy9zlpjL8H11J7XOPjsWxcTjP7k2fkteUm7pRhV9URxdifXRAyaZBztByvBnWB2-NW34UbnuG6yWB5kbvk11t2Z4EXpoIFxr03Js60RxJxxLn_9lrvyEw/s320/P1040327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210974750425656546" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I made this piece for an exhibition titled "World Peace and Friendship" in Agadir. I also exhibited it in Rabat and Marrakech on the way to Agadir! I had a lot of positive response from the public and other PCVs. It felt really nice to make something. This piece is titled "Gardinier" or Gardener in Moroccan French. The man was the gardener at the Spring Camp I did in Oujda. They are pencil drawing on the top, acrylic painting on the bottom and a dried plant composition in the middle. The frame is made from an old hammam door (cutting it up, not the whole door...)!</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJmjjdxeQwTvJx17H0WSaOxZIh3Yx8hU9Iwwh_IZ9VyzQOidbAliDpda9FhQEDi0hmgJ2sP3K4XZVTGqIUbgIvuopi_TRZHvCjK2ICv0vow9vSq45YT0lAOqAnHeS6mLoL_koyp5f9w/s1600-h/P1040330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJmjjdxeQwTvJx17H0WSaOxZIh3Yx8hU9Iwwh_IZ9VyzQOidbAliDpda9FhQEDi0hmgJ2sP3K4XZVTGqIUbgIvuopi_TRZHvCjK2ICv0vow9vSq45YT0lAOqAnHeS6mLoL_koyp5f9w/s200/P1040330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210977022048939858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Here is a close up of the plant part...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So, here is a little timeline of the past few weeks (and crazy weeks they've been!)<br /><br />Sun - Tues, May 25-27 Exhibitions in Rabat<br />Wed - Sat, May 28-31 Travel and Exhibitions in Marrakech<br />Sun - Sat, April 1 - 9 IST in Agadir and travel home<br /><br />To put that in perspective, it was about 35 hours of travel time total...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSrq_3SpWu0DVHk2L5K2QGCTESjhaJ2PgYMiTLBWrweljXH21mskyA7GHa-5_tQnwn5xHnri_VJtA20HUfiFRUgIvwXf0u5jTs2k3m__ONTFXJupcdF4NxdKnCwHU_x5S_Dmjd2IyQw/s1600-h/P1040163.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSrq_3SpWu0DVHk2L5K2QGCTESjhaJ2PgYMiTLBWrweljXH21mskyA7GHa-5_tQnwn5xHnri_VJtA20HUfiFRUgIvwXf0u5jTs2k3m__ONTFXJupcdF4NxdKnCwHU_x5S_Dmjd2IyQw/s320/P1040163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211090294288528418" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-style: italic;">So, the first exhibition in Rabat was at a church... It went really well! We sold almost all of the natural production, plus quite a bit of the other. Unfortunately, the next two days at the Institute in Rabat were rather uneventful... We realized it's best to exhibit on weekends when there are a lot of people in and out (we were relying on outside sources to set up these exhibitions and are now learning that they don't necessisily consider some of the most important factors, so we are currently reevaluating our collaboration with them, which is important anyway and would make the association more sustainable)<br /><br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVevMWCxFLC895fb3heNoK5_qA8yvNSXmgGHWBDxuhC1_54rY3B3aZ75oZp5E6OYoqqBTHQo2u2tecy_H2q0Eucw8h0XGIA0Mxb2tgexfGAp_3Il3kJXsz-C2Mb96pCv8hfAEvtiLfNQ/s1600-h/P1040294.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVevMWCxFLC895fb3heNoK5_qA8yvNSXmgGHWBDxuhC1_54rY3B3aZ75oZp5E6OYoqqBTHQo2u2tecy_H2q0Eucw8h0XGIA0Mxb2tgexfGAp_3Il3kJXsz-C2Mb96pCv8hfAEvtiLfNQ/s320/P1040294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211091001784218338" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-style: italic;">The exhibition in Marrakech was a huge shock to everyone (except for perhaps this outside source...) It was 40Km from Marrakech center in the mountains! It was an Ecological Festival! Well, it was beautiful and obviously a lot of money went into organizing it, but unfortunately, it wasn't well marketed and was poorly attended. The benefits however, turned out to outweigh the lack of sales. The association was able to make a lot of great new contacts and gather some important information for seeking assistance and information... those hopefully will prove most useful in the future. Check out the facebook page for a look at just how crazy this experience turned out to be...<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-3a0yQ1pso8Yc7aR6UXOZpUc5yjLttVDWdS-Q-r94YSyZMP4_OaSTd6NcwZqCob_dz13ERVHzVuR5AfRryvLv6G2BmYBSdFtztCFAzi5W5zzKwhmjb9ziwkVVOksQI6Sn21z9xmo9g/s1600-h/P1040361.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-3a0yQ1pso8Yc7aR6UXOZpUc5yjLttVDWdS-Q-r94YSyZMP4_OaSTd6NcwZqCob_dz13ERVHzVuR5AfRryvLv6G2BmYBSdFtztCFAzi5W5zzKwhmjb9ziwkVVOksQI6Sn21z9xmo9g/s320/P1040361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211093562883030962" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-style: italic;">In Agadir, it was fabulous to get back together with everyone! It was like a reward for our first 9 months! We stayed in a nice hotel on the beach with a swimming pool and hot showers, good food, full of the PCVs that we swore in with! What more could a girl ask for? **Here you see the view from Mahri and I's window... It was absolutely outstanding to spend time with Mahri again!<br /><br />Here we are with Mahri's piece in the art show... She painted a mural in her home and this picture is the mural with some supplementary drawing added - lovely!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznZxoQoszGx12IjhCofWx_kFgomkMT5ONkmvKXKacgRDYAOZ7pQ5B1fRfbnXppMe8NA6h08eQUq4AlLWVTCjmCO4OC-AKahNTo1OXyHwesL2K2fXMvy0mZmSCNdLRBo42QPwvbaLJlA/s1600-h/P1040420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznZxoQoszGx12IjhCofWx_kFgomkMT5ONkmvKXKacgRDYAOZ7pQ5B1fRfbnXppMe8NA6h08eQUq4AlLWVTCjmCO4OC-AKahNTo1OXyHwesL2K2fXMvy0mZmSCNdLRBo42QPwvbaLJlA/s320/P1040420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211131276230859074" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-style: italic;">On top of all our fun and relaxation, IST was suprisingly helpful and insightful in many other ways. It was really good to hear about was others are doing in their sites and experiencing. It was good to talk with the new staff about our program and where we feel we are going and where we need support. All in all, it seemed very productive and I think everyone went home with a clearer picture of how to do our work. I wrote a Marketing Management & Promotion Plan for the association, which was a nice way to clarify what's been done and where we are hoping to move in the future...<br /><br />And now I have just a little time left (about a week and a half) until I head back to the beach (hard life I know) to Essaouria! I am going to visit Matthew and Mahri before heading to the Gnawa Music Festival!<br /><br />Oh!!! and I can't believe I almost forgot to mention... INTERNET @ HOME!!! Yes, it's finally up and running! and wireless nonetheless. I'm so glad the stress of that is over! It's been over 3 months! Praise God.<br /></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-86228037261281644112008-05-06T11:52:00.015+00:002008-05-06T13:05:45.507+00:00more exciting times...<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I bet you are impressed I'm posting again after such a lapse before my last update! I'm keeping up!</span></span><br /><br />Firstly, <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I like that word and it seems to me that it is severely underused!.. thanks to "First of all")</span></span> 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.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyYKO5I6DTzjwKRpHwC93HaebN7Zt5mNRZdHExy_gGvNNLTfBMCXa1eFX2pJX3F7MfeQRrPNqdUmULAwjqAew' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </div> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >So, the weeks are packed, as always, but these ones seem to have been a little more relaxing. I've spent a lot more time at home and that's been refreshing... it makes me feel like I am on top of things (more so anyway).<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPyUBemqCdBrfjs-npDpzW8w6GIxH4VdZ2Pld4FMz5x80Seb2w1M3nN-18_ZlklSm8RJD0O24LaHgFDzNeMZ-a50qgszSasDRLFyLC5qiuRl_AOQ4DZA7gdQW-NelYv9U_KWG0jIsDA/s1600-h/P1030966.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPyUBemqCdBrfjs-npDpzW8w6GIxH4VdZ2Pld4FMz5x80Seb2w1M3nN-18_ZlklSm8RJD0O24LaHgFDzNeMZ-a50qgszSasDRLFyLC5qiuRl_AOQ4DZA7gdQW-NelYv9U_KWG0jIsDA/s320/P1030966.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197235401223292434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >One day, when I was feeling a little down, Moumi </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >decided</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >we would</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > ta</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >ke 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 :)</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ynaNR8vQrvktUdQ8HSZC-IlM6qQbRaHQS_jYhn5lgWK7rNAm7LGcffdw3wuAKX0VJ0PzM_UpxrBgNEDEQywiVBYg0yAnDzh67UU50SQUNowK4rz78cx6ruME1Iha5xW6FqiVE47cMA/s1600-h/P1030950.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ynaNR8vQrvktUdQ8HSZC-IlM6qQbRaHQS_jYhn5lgWK7rNAm7LGcffdw3wuAKX0VJ0PzM_UpxrBgNEDEQywiVBYg0yAnDzh67UU50SQUNowK4rz78cx6ruME1Iha5xW6FqiVE47cMA/s320/P1030950.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197234915891987970" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />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... </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbZh6YTisUZ0ZKgWxxezK_FtNSio98askIDJda89MBWECISj-purA_gFufOgwMxP8KAHEsRRzY9jX-7YENWXDfNPLR-RLXSIPInsPsuYzpvG4pYWeaV5aH2mj1iz2griZsHWEbwDBRw/s1600-h/P1030983.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbZh6YTisUZ0ZKgWxxezK_FtNSio98askIDJda89MBWECISj-purA_gFufOgwMxP8KAHEsRRzY9jX-7YENWXDfNPLR-RLXSIPInsPsuYzpvG4pYWeaV5aH2mj1iz2griZsHWEbwDBRw/s320/P1030983.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197238798542423586" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >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.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGWR7SuJi1Nu3nQzFl_tzG-bmWeRs96avEvZSxr96qSrvIIgeh0SYEGofO4YRtgiyCwogzFMBkW2b2Kb_HhyphenhyphensSO1zDHrH5rzxIiyXMhOhrmSlGXb9fC4C3Kf8G6imEFfT4foGiPG6cA/s1600-h/P1030978.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGWR7SuJi1Nu3nQzFl_tzG-bmWeRs96avEvZSxr96qSrvIIgeh0SYEGofO4YRtgiyCwogzFMBkW2b2Kb_HhyphenhyphensSO1zDHrH5rzxIiyXMhOhrmSlGXb9fC4C3Kf8G6imEFfT4foGiPG6cA/s320/P1030978.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197239691895621186" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > Not very happening in there when the weather is as such. So, this led us to the possibility of staying a few extra </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >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 </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >packing up and all of the sudden, there was a huge influx of people buying! I was in debate about if this was because </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uqqcycROLwqcB0O2z0hG4HYPPYjFul4lhgJS5NV7PuDjn29Ucg6HrAHdlTGyJCgDaQmhD7FqnH1skS4bDvdBoY0Ku7Dd5yO4qch5W0tRbrWvtICaRTTta2-S9JemHARSwLH7QglOlg/s1600-h/P1040003.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uqqcycROLwqcB0O2z0hG4HYPPYjFul4lhgJS5NV7PuDjn29Ucg6HrAHdlTGyJCgDaQmhD7FqnH1skS4bDvdBoY0Ku7Dd5yO4qch5W0tRbrWvtICaRTTta2-S9JemHARSwLH7QglOlg/s200/P1040003.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197239176499545650" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >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.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /><br />The following weekend, the association took a group</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEHkpqjkt5JC8H8cQt_m6zMVeNIMULgnd6-84YZ25cp55MdSnznQAuz3l4f59Q5wze_y7KGeaA1BOFg2bjKeF8_l7JSLpZSAfQIBU713SdbkE7sJpYq9Fveg1vHg7FQlGNHEqaR0Ghw/s1600-h/P1040021.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEHkpqjkt5JC8H8cQt_m6zMVeNIMULgnd6-84YZ25cp55MdSnznQAuz3l4f59Q5wze_y7KGeaA1BOFg2bjKeF8_l7JSLpZSAfQIBU713SdbkE7sJpYq9Fveg1vHg7FQlGNHEqaR0Ghw/s320/P1040021.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197240323255813714" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > of involved kids on a "trip." I went too! </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gq8YbKjte7yZGdE2iwScPOSc-KeYbGdRH3nfM9flGwB6dn2tNHywSu9rDIdcQTgUGAGZYAczaTvC9BawAC-jwZQikqHx0KNVXEtNCZ9Yp7b8WMq8RmQaCJU8GCdZyvsFRWhkZqHqbw/s1600-h/P1040023.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gq8YbKjte7yZGdE2iwScPOSc-KeYbGdRH3nfM9flGwB6dn2tNHywSu9rDIdcQTgUGAGZYAczaTvC9BawAC-jwZQikqHx0KNVXEtNCZ9Yp7b8WMq8RmQaCJU8GCdZyvsFRWhkZqHqbw/s320/P1040023.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197241049105286754" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >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).</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /><br />Another member of my "extended family" had a baby about 2 weeks ago. Mina - I guess she </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTl8NdFh0zASyCd18z3AywnwzA5T77vmlkWcUzccUnc-K25yLJ1tyWYNjSQRsMYL9jP9PP-E2PoZ5GXfBF2ct_cnh5itchbPX-Na9rACHJ_mwEfcATSfBcZOAJfwhMac_9BHYFLBoSg/s1600-h/P1040050.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTl8NdFh0zASyCd18z3AywnwzA5T77vmlkWcUzccUnc-K25yLJ1tyWYNjSQRsMYL9jP9PP-E2PoZ5GXfBF2ct_cnh5itchbPX-Na9rACHJ_mwEfcATSfBcZOAJfwhMac_9BHYFLBoSg/s200/P1040050.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197243389862463106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78OSx5LSli_a7dogSA_9LGz4v1C-6LRAW6jVoKp76p_JvjizZ_aCeM7n9FL4ncbInTTZOmNyzYlNBoeCTVFq2BOnBhbW0ewjU0HG3ylOWNnNzo2sZDVNzeTggxvBYqgLY1EcLsQzXuQ/s1600-h/P1040049.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78OSx5LSli_a7dogSA_9LGz4v1C-6LRAW6jVoKp76p_JvjizZ_aCeM7n9FL4ncbInTTZOmNyzYlNBoeCTVFq2BOnBhbW0ewjU0HG3ylOWNnNzo2sZDVNzeTggxvBYqgLY1EcLsQzXuQ/s200/P1040049.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197243746344748690" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >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.</span> <br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;">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.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy_nq6jCO24CK3Hs17jFy0FWKDT_84nLK9ZY0AGA5avSJ-dDTsUQlPjrz5R0BlZI5dNEHxcxqvZQhTGJnEsng' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />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 </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >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 :)</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />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!</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDmKKBRcIJBPfCC1hmF8OOrcO-79Ja19IlrE52cpZKyFqEluw1hivd_GsiQJTqGU3qUD3F6L3xuDDhLbHA_152WO3pu844TRmzlODOkkFdMh_UTOpsZ4yw3T4iwAfUrdglj24n1swvA/s1600-h/P1040071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDmKKBRcIJBPfCC1hmF8OOrcO-79Ja19IlrE52cpZKyFqEluw1hivd_GsiQJTqGU3qUD3F6L3xuDDhLbHA_152WO3pu844TRmzlODOkkFdMh_UTOpsZ4yw3T4iwAfUrdglj24n1swvA/s200/P1040071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197242947480831602" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >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 :)</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />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...</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />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!)<br /><br />Again, more pictures posted at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12973534@N04/<br /><br />Peace and Love to you all... send me a note :)<br /></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-56628669859872910642008-04-15T12:07:00.031+00:002008-04-16T20:18:04.341+00:00A 2-month update!<span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >Well, a lot has certainly happened in the last 2 months since I moved into my house! For one thing, I do everything myself!!! Cooking, shopping, cleaning, collecting water and personal hygiene alone seem to take up over half of each day! Then if I try to fit in things like exercise, email and language learning, it's hard to find time to work! So, with the travel I've been doing, BEGINing to find this balance has been the basis for everyday life. </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >Then, there are times when one struggle seems to take over several days... for example: I have lost water in my house almost entirely now, so I have to go outside to the tap to gather it... well, this tap is also shared by three other families, so some days, the line of filling jugs doesn't make it to me before the water gets cut off! So, once I went three days before I was able to fill my buckets... Another struggle has been to get internet working in my house. It was no problem to get the connection (about a month and a half ago) but getting that connection to be recogniz</span><img src="file:///Users/laura/Desktop/blog:flickr/aya.png" alt="" /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >ed by my macintosh has consumed the better part of weeks... (and still to no avail) but even so, comparing these struggles to the things I imagined I would face as a Peace Corps Volunteer... they seem so trivial.. I mean I can have an internet connection in my house!!! Can I really complain? Yes, I can (and do at times), but I shouldn't.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnwDYgdF26jTzXTQPWX0C3zOYO8FHaizfJV82yjPBaeES6DgWrWqDdpmHhowuDGHkgcaIdo9wuecmAh_s8yURXp_wLDfIy_ZyibNERjLSm3aaLB3_tyxIr8nQQdlwj6VYpF6wBy3DAQ/s1600-h/ayalaila.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnwDYgdF26jTzXTQPWX0C3zOYO8FHaizfJV82yjPBaeES6DgWrWqDdpmHhowuDGHkgcaIdo9wuecmAh_s8yURXp_wLDfIy_ZyibNERjLSm3aaLB3_tyxIr8nQQdlwj6VYpF6wBy3DAQ/s200/ayalaila.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189457670426430306" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >Now, on from everyday life and onto the big events!</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >In February, my host mother had her baby! They don't name babies right away. They have a baby naming ceremony a week after the birth where the Imam (religious leader) comes and gives the baby it's name. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TmpvBKaL4EGLgEU4BWGyaWpZx82eQ0ySDvtCQ7EbcmNYnlF8yTogdLrGk68IcSHL4Ru1zNyAtKZLT9okjhJgFR1FTF5Xn7wKX3XE2wZyCR5wn9KI1XybbbtejAX66z3RHyUTzAMQzg/s1600-h/P1030325.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TmpvBKaL4EGLgEU4BWGyaWpZx82eQ0ySDvtCQ7EbcmNYnlF8yTogdLrGk68IcSHL4Ru1zNyAtKZLT9okjhJgFR1FTF5Xn7wKX3XE2wZyCR5wn9KI1XybbbtejAX66z3RHyUTzAMQzg/s200/P1030325.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189939771915472018" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >The day after she was back from the hospital (the day after birth), </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >I visited and they asked me what I thought would be a nice name... I told them I liked the name Aya. Then, came the baby naming... they told the Imam my suggestion and so it was!!! I named my new baby sister! Aya, I found out, is a modern Muslim name and is what they call the verses in the Koran.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >A couple of weeks after the baby was born and I was mostly settled in my house, I decided to have people over. I had my tutor over with her friends one evening and then my host family over the next evening. Around 5:00 pm each day, Moroccan families have "casqrout" or snack. Sometimes it's just tea and bread. Sometimes it gets quite elaborate. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Qr0UG64lnRs/SASq5J6xi6I/AAAAAAAAAZU/r9srwo82UwI/s1600-h/casqrout.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Qr0UG64lnRs/SASq5J6xi6I/AAAAAAAAAZU/r9srwo82UwI/s320/casqrout.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189460569529355170" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >My tutor's are always pretty elaborate... So, I went all out! </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >We had 10 herb tea, bread/</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >butter/cheese, olives, figs, strawberries, oatmeal raisin cookies (oatmeal is a novelty in Morocco... haven't met a Moroccan yet that was familiar with it), and brownies (they were more like cake though because I used Moroccan chocolate, which isn't very chocolately). I also had my wood burning furnace going, so it was very cozy. Everything was great and all were impressed! It gave everyone an opportunity to see my house and it gave me an opportunity to show a little hospitality back to them.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br />So, from the above, Yes, I bought a stove! My sister Angela's gift of an oven thermometer made me excited to get one! This has a little story too... </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgcNNFGfII8UU9-_zKbgzNQbimCllD2tJexvxWUM6R0Pv6FdlOvQtvgUkdedzssGkUOl2_YI0INXEiCUmzYj8HiIt1NIOIy22eLd850KsVnPbt_HYxb4qhFfKBtKTqhXlspSF_FxtNg/s1600-h/oven.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgcNNFGfII8UU9-_zKbgzNQbimCllD2tJexvxWUM6R0Pv6FdlOvQtvgUkdedzssGkUOl2_YI0INXEiCUmzYj8HiIt1NIOIy22eLd850KsVnPbt_HYxb4qhFfKBtKTqhXlspSF_FxtNg/s200/oven.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189466054202592370" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >The ovens here are interesting. They are basically metal boxes with holes in the back and gas burners through the middle under the shelf. So, the first time I light the burners, I smell paint fumes. This happened with my furnace too, so I assumed I just had to let the paint burn off... I opened all the windows and waited about a half hour. The smell wasn't fading, so I took another look.... oops! Turns out I was burning the wall this whole time!!! The gas was on too high and flames were shooting out the back of the oven and burning the wall! After that, I began moving the oven away from the wall when I bake! Aside from the wall though, I haven't burnt anything! Big thanks for the thermometer! Other volunteers are always having problems with their ovens... Aside, from the brownies and cookies, I've also baked cornbread and scones (twice!). Yum! </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenvEsmHXhc7SokmOXNEqdFzMxvixE283valU5xa7SQVbKsom28yzIYU_6te72ZKno1b8QLU8lR9AIDBv0oPnODrMHCBAD4xTG-n_iPz6ZdLtSzrGxtcbk2PnvdaHHUlWTNuSFjk-25w/s1600-h/rug.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenvEsmHXhc7SokmOXNEqdFzMxvixE283valU5xa7SQVbKsom28yzIYU_6te72ZKno1b8QLU8lR9AIDBv0oPnODrMHCBAD4xTG-n_iPz6ZdLtSzrGxtcbk2PnvdaHHUlWTNuSFjk-25w/s200/rug.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189465663360568402" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >I also commissioned one of the women of the Association to make me a rug of scrap material (you know how I'm all about recycling!) and it turned out quite nice (and warm!) Here she is with it half made on her loom.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5-Ogn1bk4DpHLSTSvdjNn-tNJStB77d3MhOwi0kusqNfTrn5ve7YlpPfE2xp2qOXbTiYidwIu4Gnh9dPMT6MgSa_lnbuyKDmCEV52cJRSx_JvVZdcMQhBulThtHgGiSKSm8GFXhG9Q/s1600-h/kech.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5-Ogn1bk4DpHLSTSvdjNn-tNJStB77d3MhOwi0kusqNfTrn5ve7YlpPfE2xp2qOXbTiYidwIu4Gnh9dPMT6MgSa_lnbuyKDmCEV52cJRSx_JvVZdcMQhBulThtHgGiSKSm8GFXhG9Q/s200/kech.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189461982573595586" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >I've been on some big trips too! For the four day weekend last month (celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed), I went to Marrakech to meet up with Mahri (my best friend from training). </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >To our delight two other friends came as well. It was a long trip (about 11 hours for me), but well worth it! It was so wonderful to be roommates again ~ relaxing, and just talking. Marrakech is such a</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SNEiGpFr5rhd_398hvcbaea1ZQn8fnpa_h9up3EdqE9dLi8I1f0ZP6OmbtrQwSq5MtYyud6-TuGd2oQrMIivGv6HQOVdGXkKc6otnkCy2gJ7IFFEIhPp1e97Cx15h9yfnnOKfHc3rA/s1600-h/P1030481.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SNEiGpFr5rhd_398hvcbaea1ZQn8fnpa_h9up3EdqE9dLi8I1f0ZP6OmbtrQwSq5MtYyud6-TuGd2oQrMIivGv6HQOVdGXkKc6otnkCy2gJ7IFFEIhPp1e97Cx15h9yfnnOKfHc3rA/s200/P1030481.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189462815797251026" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" > tourist destination that we didn't even feel like we were in Morocco anymore. It was a lot of fun to explore leisurely and to eat ice cream!!! We went to </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">the Yves Saint Lauren Garden</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >, which was lovely, taking in some amazing vegetation and lots of pictures! We ate in the intense and overcrowded Dje</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNuAp1aOjO4HyePOFdrCDgGwLFTJ2ZywH1Hdf-Llr0ckhsPZLRMWbvp9AakXqxAPYPWjREZMXwwP9dxhK487efuBCibqOKp1QeAX7hw1V9bJVSSvHM-lhQr_js2yxM1f1W_OFu2_aSg/s1600-h/gardengirls.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNuAp1aOjO4HyePOFdrCDgGwLFTJ2ZywH1Hdf-Llr0ckhsPZLRMWbvp9AakXqxAPYPWjREZMXwwP9dxhK487efuBCibqOKp1QeAX7hw1V9bJVSSvHM-lhQr_js2yxM1f1W_OFu2_aSg/s320/gardengirls.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189461647566146482" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >ma al fna one night although we were very money conscious, we accidently drank some coffee that cost over $3! I know this sounds fine, but it was 5 times the most expensive coffee would have been in our sites and still 3 times what it cost elsewhere in Marrakech. Oh well, at least it was just coffee. The trip was really relaxing and overall delightful! Next, we are hoping to take a camel journey to the dunes together!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWx_T8R82Mq7USxetLt64rcgF3Q6xcbhXyjVPJKd2POE8qPapwmrM_q737ZRgw53woiGbuxbfElatVtvjYjtEOAWABUEYfu-iyt4UF0495x-Q6jaShQTOG_yrN1Uqcc_Ge1RXFF0hEg/s1600-h/roomies1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWx_T8R82Mq7USxetLt64rcgF3Q6xcbhXyjVPJKd2POE8qPapwmrM_q737ZRgw53woiGbuxbfElatVtvjYjtEOAWABUEYfu-iyt4UF0495x-Q6jaShQTOG_yrN1Uqcc_Ge1RXFF0hEg/s320/roomies1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189465813684423778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >Shortly after returning from that fantastic trip, I set out to the most north eastern part of the country - Oujda, to assist with a Moroccan Spring Camp for teenagers. I assisted an intermediate English class as well as leading a "Media Club." Now, media was not my first (or second or third) choice of clubs to lead, but it was what the Director requested and turned out to be the most popular club of the camp. We made a short film in 4 days! It was great to see the kids take it on as their own project, after helping them establish roles of director, screenwriters, actors, etc. In the end, the film could've used some more time and focus, but I was proud of everyone for pulling together and getting it finished. Other interesting notes about camp: I met a kid who talked to me about vampires and gothic music (in Arabic!) Another boy threw a "love airplane" at me during English class (which said "You are beautiful") and spurred a full on paper wad throwing frenzy... We had kids crab walking, wheel barreling, tug of warring (which turned out to be unmanageable, but fun) and Boom ShakaRaka-ing! Moroccan staff REALLY love music and singing a lot - they have amazing energy! But, we (the 8 PCVs involved) were exhausted everyday, with only about an hour and a half off during the day (in which we usually were planning lessons over coffee), getting up at 7:30 am and working until 11:30 pm. I also learned... I don't really like working with kids or with youth programming... especially when tired.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwwfDgiIiTQSRe6wYs6748S1G8nFDaD6aymiSx_HEyAG8IhV-8fJlGgvEOcCuaEQSqzxcBMuijqRlGYQltgYQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2cn3m13z3GOSaagFMurJziFdqcuBWg9s9Mjeu0EKrKbB7KEd_elI4oBI6M16yuZwKmCwhiEtnWTDlolPEZND9E21DXTUIUyMF4G-FAdqM55iZiPHwwIGzX1t2rZDybGEpwnE_znYKA/s1600-h/beach.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2cn3m13z3GOSaagFMurJziFdqcuBWg9s9Mjeu0EKrKbB7KEd_elI4oBI6M16yuZwKmCwhiEtnWTDlolPEZND9E21DXTUIUyMF4G-FAdqM55iZiPHwwIGzX1t2rZDybGEpwnE_znYKA/s200/beach.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189459972528900994" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" ><br />However, one day, we took a field trip to Saidia, which is a beach town on the Mediterranean. It was gorgeous (although very windy and a little cold); it was so nice to see the sea! We could see Algeria from the beach!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCL1g4RCr6bgEbjtzksfQZIAbltcB2CST3Ewdn4h-llWHHK_g1jwnkkRKlHdzuSHm8GbqPGJqHxhK3zEddk5P9WdzmYo3-t62ZrXGY_wnyX6YWe6IY_ZYaJ0Zn8vyal0QfCuWH1fAJrw/s1600-h/P1030665.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCL1g4RCr6bgEbjtzksfQZIAbltcB2CST3Ewdn4h-llWHHK_g1jwnkkRKlHdzuSHm8GbqPGJqHxhK3zEddk5P9WdzmYo3-t62ZrXGY_wnyX6YWe6IY_ZYaJ0Zn8vyal0QfCuWH1fAJrw/s320/P1030665.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189463232409078754" border="0" /></a><br /></div> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Xvx6oOWg87skCFHFlmBZ__5sqdXOFl2hD60LBtObVFn5lM0KVNmUw8KoOtdM4js-j2S6DdOG078PEzKi4ilsh1DKhKpJ1dKUbdzJiOHjsY-OIuukKM81IdGpq1L4ESgyAnEvg8R6SA/s1600-h/P1030818.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Xvx6oOWg87skCFHFlmBZ__5sqdXOFl2hD60LBtObVFn5lM0KVNmUw8KoOtdM4js-j2S6DdOG078PEzKi4ilsh1DKhKpJ1dKUbdzJiOHjsY-OIuukKM81IdGpq1L4ESgyAnEvg8R6SA/s320/P1030818.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189466410684877954" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >On my way home from Spring Camp, I met up with some friends and we took a gorgeous 5 hour hike through some of the </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >lovliest land I've seen yet in Morocco!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgs5Jl87WEgpvsHIPbHLm98yS7P4vlEvmlHtKVFykvYofW-CHFwlMRxB-JtpVTKTGMl-6ikEAuNcI0R49sSoDtkZyy-jQnaU4ZsUGpYu-rDAlKDJgVKy0LC9WkErwnKb8STTXF150gug/s1600-h/P1030791.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgs5Jl87WEgpvsHIPbHLm98yS7P4vlEvmlHtKVFykvYofW-CHFwlMRxB-JtpVTKTGMl-6ikEAuNcI0R49sSoDtkZyy-jQnaU4ZsUGpYu-rDAlKDJgVKy0LC9WkErwnKb8STTXF150gug/s320/P1030791.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189463696265546738" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >And then, returning from 2 weeks away, I was greeted at the post office by two amazing boxes from my family! Everything from Easter Candy and Molasses to a fitted flannel sheet and new slippers! My family is SO AWESOME! I Love You!!! Thanks for being so supportive and loving. You're the best!</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br />This past weekend, I visited a friend for her birthday </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh147BvNBK9sIQgCzZsRm2dplqulGHVrij5NWY_E9P46tDRmTBqIFocYKNjr_tfRbPY1y8G6ODIhC_rVk-7rJy1EAkmU0WAD1m3RyP-ESLtrS0ujfAkvjnXMwlQ6xzArLEIBZ-VEV38SQ/s1600-h/P1030927.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh147BvNBK9sIQgCzZsRm2dplqulGHVrij5NWY_E9P46tDRmTBqIFocYKNjr_tfRbPY1y8G6ODIhC_rVk-7rJy1EAkmU0WAD1m3RyP-ESLtrS0ujfAkvjnXMwlQ6xzArLEIBZ-VEV38SQ/s320/P1030927.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189464344805608466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7U-0Ti8Ru87osK6QUHMcpVWPj2QmHKU5_EPamtQkhEuZGhzcoc3G7oiRGmCBlixZHTGc1Bpux5xI5hyphenhyphenmx6IeQnrbKvD4zHwNL05d8FPPAQuG6FhR9PdNwNJDSM_PNLIwb8ZOdmcIBpg/s1600-h/P1030904.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7U-0Ti8Ru87osK6QUHMcpVWPj2QmHKU5_EPamtQkhEuZGhzcoc3G7oiRGmCBlixZHTGc1Bpux5xI5hyphenhyphenmx6IeQnrbKvD4zHwNL05d8FPPAQuG6FhR9PdNwNJDSM_PNLIwb8ZOdmcIBpg/s200/P1030904.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189464636863384610" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >(about an hour and half hike from Azrou - lovely!) and did a little exploring around Azrou (which means "rock") - so climbed the Big Rock there and encountered a lion...</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBSM2FYvrG0-lqUqVmF1G1iPq3x6_AHjWJ_J4p59J3U_ER31FnFQTTRm-SEU_ygNHQCw-aMpAf0cFeZAm3C0Q-W4e0Q-4VPARXheJLjg1gGy6GT-qURAJRDxpyqTBoAVhX2RWMTOTxw/s1600-h/P1030932+2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBSM2FYvrG0-lqUqVmF1G1iPq3x6_AHjWJ_J4p59J3U_ER31FnFQTTRm-SEU_ygNHQCw-aMpAf0cFeZAm3C0Q-W4e0Q-4VPARXheJLjg1gGy6GT-qURAJRDxpyqTBoAVhX2RWMTOTxw/s320/P1030932+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189464009798159362" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />AND!!! picked up my new KITTEN! 2 months ago, the nicest cat in Morocco (owned by a rug shop owner in Azrou) had kittens. She had three and the 3rd one was for me... sadly, that kitten died the day after it was born. So, I thought I was on my own to find another, until </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovwKOQuR6J15_XdvRCLc_jHGE_AY7IOLhD6FjzXqutp5PFcwFVMRr3L75mD_sTGbRhXvDSe5ByUKmXVIXyNMwfrqNhWuFFbZUnhtPl6fIukt1C7WGWzRZvKqDje6AEpJ1FaECod6NdA/s1600-h/P1030942.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovwKOQuR6J15_XdvRCLc_jHGE_AY7IOLhD6FjzXqutp5PFcwFVMRr3L75mD_sTGbRhXvDSe5ByUKmXVIXyNMwfrqNhWuFFbZUnhtPl6fIukt1C7WGWzRZvKqDje6AEpJ1FaECod6NdA/s320/P1030942.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189465036295343154" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >(also unfortunately) one of the other "to-be owners" was a PCV who had to be medically separated and a kitten was again available for me! So, Sunday, Taniya (tan-ee-ya) returned home with me. *Name explanation: Taniya means "second" in dialect. She is "Laila Taniya" Laila, which is my Moroccan name, means "night." She is black, so you can see how this is fitting... She was also the second kitten born. I held her all night and morning... she is so tiny and frightened, but she seems to be adjusting now. Soon she'll be gnawing chicken heads and using the turkish toilet - like a well-adapted cat!</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br />And Finally - let me tell you about how exciting work is!! </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >First of all - we have 3 more exhibitions scheduled this month! One in Rabat, one in Konitra (city outside Rabat) and one in Meknes. Next month, possibilities include an exhibition in Ifrane, an agriculture workshop in Khenifra, and the beginning of the grant writing for the REALLY BIG PROJECT - "TDART." Tdart means "house" in Tamazight (the Berber dialect of this area). This is an amazing project that I can hardly believe is even possible, but it does seem to be materializing! Land has been contracted to the Association for this project in a small town 5 kilometers from my site (on the main road). The "Berber House" will include a showroom, areas for artisans to work (weavers, knitters, painters, potters..), an office, kitchen, lodging, showers, a garden with plants for natural dyes and medicinal herbs, animals for work and sales, AND this will be solar powered, water will be well drawn and recycled/filtered through the property. (That's scraping the surface of the project). The hope is that this is completed before my 2 years is up... So, by December 2009!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0rR8jxbJTGWTPJ1K6XlnKFH_IDFJ0O4mrryoygx-VQ7zU2R7SGWHnI8uLEIi7-Ab5fTM8ulL94RDSw8k22zWJ5r-mJ9NSoR7LED6Lp2SboAC4kcyNxT4jnDLkjEk4x_Wu372s7vxag/s1600-h/P1030815.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0rR8jxbJTGWTPJ1K6XlnKFH_IDFJ0O4mrryoygx-VQ7zU2R7SGWHnI8uLEIi7-Ab5fTM8ulL94RDSw8k22zWJ5r-mJ9NSoR7LED6Lp2SboAC4kcyNxT4jnDLkjEk4x_Wu372s7vxag/s320/P1030815.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189465427137367106" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:georgia;" >And to make happy happier ~ SPRING has SPRUNG! Wildflowers are spreading. Warmth is returning. Life is bright!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />More photos uploaded at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12973534@N04/<br /></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-31401242860324364782008-02-19T11:28:00.010+00:002008-02-21T11:08:28.747+00:00Finally - Dari Zweena!!! (My Beautiful House!)<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">So, I moved into my new house</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6Pl0I_C_pFv0yM_uKjVXWfcU_UdNgcvh7KLBlYuCMR5-isasc8RH8alslejT1l0f2wvLRt3DVhm-DU5O9AUuZDxBedUENT7W5UVoQuAtocXbOmTIQ3TaRjQsJdzFBOowF1q1DwN0dA/s1600-h/P1030241.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6Pl0I_C_pFv0yM_uKjVXWfcU_UdNgcvh7KLBlYuCMR5-isasc8RH8alslejT1l0f2wvLRt3DVhm-DU5O9AUuZDxBedUENT7W5UVoQuAtocXbOmTIQ3TaRjQsJdzFBOowF1q1DwN0dA/s320/P1030241.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168654377338056034" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"> Feb 4 and </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">have</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"> since</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"> then gotten most e</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">verything </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">i</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">n order :) It's a lot of fun decorating it and making use of things on a limited budget. I have priority mail boxes f</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">or a dresser, mosquito nets for curtains, my heater box for a bookcase and a apple crate for a nightstand</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">w</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">ell</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">. I love it. It's the one I had described before as being much bi</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">gger than I needed, but it fit </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">all my requests (</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">, actually, no the water in the tap didn't happen, but I'm </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vc-uzN147YFDBKBw09tXC3ZAJHz-b63ab4I-6iV8VVyShsgfgZZ9xZqPX8dm2e7MMSCbfh-CoAln1Hdu7eTdU5-s9w-zGLz728Oqvz-ANHncVlWAiRwfEPi4sB5BuBxZRPqn1AOYhA/s1600-h/P1030232.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vc-uzN147YFDBKBw09tXC3ZAJHz-b63ab4I-6iV8VVyShsgfgZZ9xZqPX8dm2e7MMSCbfh-CoAln1Hdu7eTdU5-s9w-zGLz728Oqvz-ANHncVlWAiRwfEPi4sB5BuBxZRPqn1AOYhA/s320/P1030232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168653754567798098" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">making due.) and it was und</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">er budg</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">et, so all is well and it's pretty fantastic! </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><br /><br /><br />I to</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">ok 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 u</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">p into my house too!)<br /><br /></span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8PjbF25Rh7qPzaa41CmEax1k-u3GugGHs01zfNDlWS-Ag68r75_wsf1MjybuKMuQp6RLhhyphenhyphenZTCCc75u8cbGV8E175uZAwVyO2-otW4QfuKY8V3NENel_AH___DYCCrLNTyHHqPOHWw/s1600-h/P1030240.JPG"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyF3p9OPGpxqVJstv0XlfOVUEpkObiPEbd3SNd-467RgQHnOnt4tphX61240iy8f1zIa2jfOxgVrrw3iLPgBA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></a><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Some other work activities (I have had a very busy month. *again* - not thinking that will change anytime soon)</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"> We had an organization come to town and do Aids testing for the women here. They tested them in this</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"> 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. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8PjbF25Rh7qPzaa41CmEax1k-u3GugGHs01zfNDlWS-Ag68r75_wsf1MjybuKMuQp6RLhhyphenhyphenZTCCc75u8cbGV8E175uZAwVyO2-otW4QfuKY8V3NENel_AH___DYCCrLNTyHHqPOHWw/s1600-h/P1030240.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8PjbF25Rh7qPzaa41CmEax1k-u3GugGHs01zfNDlWS-Ag68r75_wsf1MjybuKMuQp6RLhhyphenhyphenZTCCc75u8cbGV8E175uZAwVyO2-otW4QfuKY8V3NENel_AH___DYCCrLNTyHHqPOHWw/s400/P1030240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168654841194524018" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">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 goal</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdL8kR4A7LlEB17g4HKHZhmdsUyPNOG2_ImvA51ZkJYwHHiziIwa0gKf1PJXIgDYwFCnyOek-DU8B60AXgUAHCT-GFs17ZYkLlBUepC7NbLYxgudTgKlzAklL-_m7vopQ-fkXmMnr4jA/s1600-h/P1030246.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdL8kR4A7LlEB17g4HKHZhmdsUyPNOG2_ImvA51ZkJYwHHiziIwa0gKf1PJXIgDYwFCnyOek-DU8B60AXgUAHCT-GFs17ZYkLlBUepC7NbLYxgudTgKlzAklL-_m7vopQ-fkXmMnr4jA/s320/P1030246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168663220675718546" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">s and about roles of officers, etc. It seemed motivational for them and like they will benefit. It was the first time I felt really remo</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5neDE2CKkuYWchF7dokFNLxPH8MZPQvf6U4PZ2fAw-6Z84yGqiv0PmiZIkYLsUR2PKYRhlc6fFUx_eCofJTT38SQ8ugsJdZwRZtP9Gy6LPpD-m1nqK5Fh0pmpsi6I36iXoNWLBGG-uA/s1600-h/P1030248.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5neDE2CKkuYWchF7dokFNLxPH8MZPQvf6U4PZ2fAw-6Z84yGqiv0PmiZIkYLsUR2PKYRhlc6fFUx_eCofJTT38SQ8ugsJdZwRZtP9Gy6LPpD-m1nqK5Fh0pmpsi6I36iXoNWLBGG-uA/s320/P1030248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168661120436710786" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">ved 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.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeDjcGDHSSb3FpRGZlUqe5UbomIFWJQQLxsswAaCDanJdo5LmbL3bqFah7x642wfPIF16GSB_GN_CFfjIPJ013yB4r5fVSiMXEunsgl4VROwecZEjiJek5lpN2rMtPLoYQlxvBVAjCQ/s1600-h/P1030125.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeDjcGDHSSb3FpRGZlUqe5UbomIFWJQQLxsswAaCDanJdo5LmbL3bqFah7x642wfPIF16GSB_GN_CFfjIPJ013yB4r5fVSiMXEunsgl4VROwecZEjiJek5lpN2rMtPLoYQlxvBVAjCQ/s200/P1030125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168676174297083298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkLt1dY2onjvdEFMm6rXStzKtU097BI8nxfH6fztyATKRc1__MrhF1v1eAhxChoY3Hf4xqFrWF8Z21p_mYTqJvbTHiz2D3LAN-KFhKb9yrTVD6MrNp71txlI1jk3qJxk498XX3xJusg/s1600-h/P1030143.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkLt1dY2onjvdEFMm6rXStzKtU097BI8nxfH6fztyATKRc1__MrhF1v1eAhxChoY3Hf4xqFrWF8Z21p_mYTqJvbTHiz2D3LAN-KFhKb9yrTVD6MrNp71txlI1jk3qJxk498XX3xJusg/s200/P1030143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168676509304532402" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >This past weekend, we launched "Eco-Tourism"</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" > in town!</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >A group of 25</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" > came from the north to do a 50K </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >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 :)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uJlG9aL-X7o9wM0q9ZmvvF00PQG37UsP-F34ShLfXNeSPoj50ubEo88fct-LXmDyyHE_kBftt7JKp_t7Fe0HP919y3dVjusWqv66GTCA6Ole41K4b9RvO8nctvXYpg6b_YhIToal4Q/s1600-h/P1030182.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uJlG9aL-X7o9wM0q9ZmvvF00PQG37UsP-F34ShLfXNeSPoj50ubEo88fct-LXmDyyHE_kBftt7JKp_t7Fe0HP919y3dVjusWqv66GTCA6Ole41K4b9RvO8nctvXYpg6b_YhIToal4Q/s320/P1030182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168679459947064770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">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). </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">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! </span><br /><br /><br /></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-56571795264334797322008-01-23T11:17:00.001+00:002008-01-23T11:52:56.715+00:00Artisana Berber Exposition! RABAT<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >The exhibition was an excellent success! </span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsBwIZAfb4se1J1WJxftHPS31Hk7NgGJrEOIXQ47H-qW9ZCjcqP0Rz8EBLLgXSjI5zNqoRUd5gFNXF91QCdlAccXzhflpWgjWYM89f-tscdinGXzdw40BqxtVnAtWr8LGyu2UD8pCXA/s1600-h/DSC03424.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsBwIZAfb4se1J1WJxftHPS31Hk7NgGJrEOIXQ47H-qW9ZCjcqP0Rz8EBLLgXSjI5zNqoRUd5gFNXF91QCdlAccXzhflpWgjWYM89f-tscdinGXzdw40BqxtVnAtWr8LGyu2UD8pCXA/s400/DSC03424.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158629858477677602" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >It was a first for many of our Association, as well as the SIFE team's </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >first time organizing any such event, so putting those two things together with the outcome of our weekend, we should all be entirely and utterly impressed! Ok, I'll just speak for myself - I'm SO impressed! With the exception of a great lack of sleep, the event was fairly seamless and raised a lot of money to support the many women weavers, crocheters, and artist of the Association!<br /><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdinDJbTXYkJ4CKhoz0er7PYnHI3srAj-JuqdkOR3ttsuO_Hd7SLKidgo6tpistMqpkY81JKN8kv2WdQ4H07qKyU7gF2-WaaSl4utN3xDxLvHc1Fmons5m1E8bndfWku4cy5M24wiiQ/s1600-h/DSC03572.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdinDJbTXYkJ4CKhoz0er7PYnHI3srAj-JuqdkOR3ttsuO_Hd7SLKidgo6tpistMqpkY81JKN8kv2WdQ4H07qKyU7gF2-WaaSl4utN3xDxLvHc1Fmons5m1E8bndfWku4cy5M24wiiQ/s320/DSC03572.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158630146240486450" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />We had visitors from the American Embassy, Peace Corps </span><a style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yh69ffiqu8UPdsBAlvujuSBQbb3b6tY8DHxheLGEunXBx_vpOcaAEr3aIRfIiZDRBX23KlnQWrJ6ri0wzQN3ObxiIOc_vcvv3qJ0XWFDHfmLdJ5IddZstfd6EhxpcTiurbeQXplsOw/s1600-h/DSC03468.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yh69ffiqu8UPdsBAlvujuSBQbb3b6tY8DHxheLGEunXBx_vpOcaAEr3aIRfIiZDRBX23KlnQWrJ6ri0wzQN3ObxiIOc_vcvv3qJ0XWFDHfmLdJ5IddZstfd6EhxpcTiurbeQXplsOw/s200/DSC03468.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158630910744665170" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >(including the Country Director), The Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Studies, the Sports Club, and many others! We sold most of what we brought that was for sale, including carpets, woven pillow cases, woven shoes, crocheted hats, scarves, and tea cozy sets, traditional cous cous and art by the Association's local artist, Mohamed. Overall, the event took in almost $900! This is a fantastic outcome for these women! There was also a lot of opportunity for networking and for learning how to improve things for next time! Very exciting. I hope that this video will give you a sense of what the exhibition and products were like! Wish you could have been there! Everything here is from our Association except for the candles made from seashells (a Cooperative's project). The very first rugs that you see (and can see before the video starts) are made from entirely natural materials in the traditional process. The women shear the sheep, clean the wool, wind it, dye the wool with plants, and weave them! Beautiful.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyTgT4C-qAY5b_aP20PbTsxQgdSKGDn3hFG9_jMpHMm8Wn7Bxp0k7C80oTrVdL-kXOWynIbFyHk5PTGUG5qLg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt6GL9OG-jL7yUiunIihd5tcuTmIwcbAORwdlnZb9wGhNVbutEvvjwGhllmuZIYHa4JtQyya-EqMmDaCM8hw9sHaJitKh4oH72f6g_unRwn4m2vF-sc-wJdjk_z7CGNdWPXGmfSfP7A/s1600-h/DSC03602.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt6GL9OG-jL7yUiunIihd5tcuTmIwcbAORwdlnZb9wGhNVbutEvvjwGhllmuZIYHa4JtQyya-EqMmDaCM8hw9sHaJitKh4oH72f6g_unRwn4m2vF-sc-wJdjk_z7CGNdWPXGmfSfP7A/s200/DSC03602.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158630515607673922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Photos are: </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >The SIFE Group and Members of our Association<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Sohad, my "roommate" for the weekend (from SIFE) with some of the work of Mohamed the Artist... At the Association they just call him "Fnan" or "Artist"<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >A detail of one of the Beautiful Kilim Carpets of a women in the Association<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Me with Mohamed (Vice President) and Mohamed (aka Moumi, President)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-40275638185004116352008-01-16T18:30:00.000+00:002008-01-16T18:48:51.017+00:00Grandma, 1914-2008<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">She showed her love in another way</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Applesauce and Spaghettios</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Maybe she never said so</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic;">triple axle/double lux</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">She didn't talk a lot</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">But we knew she was thrilled to see us</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic;">coconut cakes and basement bikes</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Maybe she was used to being alone</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic;">aluminum cups and perfect rooms</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">But the cycle of life around her</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">an unmade gingerbread house</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Reminded her of her journey through</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Even after forgetting</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic;">photo albums and tvs gone</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Her love was there in a different way.</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQlUmNMxx2hyphenhyphen9dAM4L08sdRhuWmj9RN9UxPNaNFXPy0YumMCHiuxHPtgHKVXdY2xY-heKYhYPxYxcPlaR8XSbIF1nry-Yj7_w4OKcZnhSauqcAj07zRWVPYQZojdTRQ3gvRLtYH20Gg/s1600-h/0004.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQlUmNMxx2hyphenhyphen9dAM4L08sdRhuWmj9RN9UxPNaNFXPy0YumMCHiuxHPtgHKVXdY2xY-heKYhYPxYxcPlaR8XSbIF1nry-Yj7_w4OKcZnhSauqcAj07zRWVPYQZojdTRQ3gvRLtYH20Gg/s320/0004.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156145141530261346" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">"When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight." </span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">-Kahlil Gibran</span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-76498565200049779122008-01-14T09:55:00.000+00:002008-01-15T10:43:25.806+00:00All that work calls for relaxation...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSkwULcIp4Hs8n-YmMWdbHUJgSAJW_XgkwtptBSFrO75ivnngBAI7xzVykeqn-bDLm8liPEe41hCgWUntdM1cjO10WXcb2twaDgFcF7MqFyKdII6r9fmmMLTGHSIjUKWWJHefCSaUyA/s1600-h/P1020947.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSkwULcIp4Hs8n-YmMWdbHUJgSAJW_XgkwtptBSFrO75ivnngBAI7xzVykeqn-bDLm8liPEe41hCgWUntdM1cjO10WXcb2twaDgFcF7MqFyKdII6r9fmmMLTGHSIjUKWWJHefCSaUyA/s400/P1020947.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155269831490303778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFe8A-64RmL3ZPvL8r8D4w27YTU0EvHrsE8Wm9DIfDYLdNipcsdJwY4hwDCeEgj7BvOn0PPkbkeCI5bPYvU9mlmHPhZ1klOumFVfkyqopRzvUqjLrACWD2Cm13TFDAEXCIQ2LW6DiFg/s1600-h/P1020945.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFe8A-64RmL3ZPvL8r8D4w27YTU0EvHrsE8Wm9DIfDYLdNipcsdJwY4hwDCeEgj7BvOn0PPkbkeCI5bPYvU9mlmHPhZ1klOumFVfkyqopRzvUqjLrACWD2Cm13TFDAEXCIQ2LW6DiFg/s320/P1020945.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155272391290812242" border="0" /></a><br />Having eaten the traditional Muslim New Year cous cous on both the day before I left and again the day I returned, I feel no guilt or remorse for taking the holiday to relax and enjoy some good American fun and company! Unknowing what to expect (as is typical of any adventure), I set out to spend my long weekend a little higher in the mountains, where two other volunteers live. Well, what ensued was another fabulous weekend of hiking (but this time with lots of snow and mud!), snow sliding and jumping (new olympic sport)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjO3myX6ms_mm8B3WV5-AZw7UITCDFPNWJU7OAqxDYWYo8HG0NOoQFJcgtPsYf72E-RGlkgJYoQBPcf4vV9CV6nLhrMEva1XKYKlf9vXUz0ciPmSkkSXucyB5Ru8W9NoXkGh3s-RcPyw/s1600-h/P1020935+2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjO3myX6ms_mm8B3WV5-AZw7UITCDFPNWJU7OAqxDYWYo8HG0NOoQFJcgtPsYf72E-RGlkgJYoQBPcf4vV9CV6nLhrMEva1XKYKlf9vXUz0ciPmSkkSXucyB5Ru8W9NoXkGh3s-RcPyw/s320/P1020935+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155269410583508754" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeeby1qKwhyphenhyphenjvrp06CFVdYw9hSBIgz5ReA9kn_96vKdtRWQ1adjtZvA9IGyZhTxiYQljK5zMneF8hEe0l4TyQd0tZg50K8F8dGDTJJ0_pNwNzg4Ce5DNs_6VqS-AOSfeKz7cWPXqz4A/s1600-h/P1020939.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeeby1qKwhyphenhyphenjvrp06CFVdYw9hSBIgz5ReA9kn_96vKdtRWQ1adjtZvA9IGyZhTxiYQljK5zMneF8hEe0l4TyQd0tZg50K8F8dGDTJJ0_pNwNzg4Ce5DNs_6VqS-AOSfeKz7cWPXqz4A/s320/P1020939.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155272034808526658" border="0" /></a>and bum.bum.bum....The first Gingerbreadmen Community of Morocco!!! Oh yes, it was a struggle, but here they are (those whom survived the oven and didn't have their heads bitten off... )<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsYW0LWiHLdNboHpauyVVzaDK1l-mD0TvQpBYIzmYizwgEeDk66-_tEqMveB8BP0Sgp8y4-nREecROedw2MFt6F-SyWCC8jqZznXBS-EwiZPjpYP65ex0MprsWFMVeXIAuySaSlnIiw/s1600-h/P1020952.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsYW0LWiHLdNboHpauyVVzaDK1l-mD0TvQpBYIzmYizwgEeDk66-_tEqMveB8BP0Sgp8y4-nREecROedw2MFt6F-SyWCC8jqZznXBS-EwiZPjpYP65ex0MprsWFMVeXIAuySaSlnIiw/s320/P1020952.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155270269576967986" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-52755704153327310302008-01-05T15:15:00.000+00:002008-01-07T09:06:28.646+00:00SO MUCH NEWS!!!<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I've been wanting to update you all on what I've been doing with the association and the Holidays, and well, on everything, but because all of that has been going on, I have felt not only like I had no free time to do that, but no free time in general (this free time comes from being snowed in!! see later explanation). But, as I'm thinking about how to remedy that, great things have been happening...<br /><br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUE9oWQm34G4wZSxrD4wPiy7SefLCgkQqkMqLsP4AE-g2f9bZfXPeLGDGdG8vMdFo6IZ-kKiNu4h5L6YoRmzlHdyCcYmmSOXmS71m2rCR3h92NuSIr2zUmAD4nLBRDMik2Nfr6tV7EGQ/s1600-h/meeting.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUE9oWQm34G4wZSxrD4wPiy7SefLCgkQqkMqLsP4AE-g2f9bZfXPeLGDGdG8vMdFo6IZ-kKiNu4h5L6YoRmzlHdyCcYmmSOXmS71m2rCR3h92NuSIr2zUmAD4nLBRDMik2Nfr6tV7EGQ/s320/meeting.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152013636394579362" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">A group of from an Agricultural Institute in Rabat came to visit one Saturday (sort of unexpectedly). We had lunch with them after suq, followed by a 4.5 hour meeting and dinner until almost midnight. Not understanding most of what was said was exhausting (to say the least). But I later found out, they work with an organization (and apparently represent Morocco for a worldwide development org called SIFA) and they've chosen the association to be one of the few groups they will be able to develop projects with! So, we are going to work together on some things - probably marketing and exhibitions within Morocco, which after the meeting, they felt would be the best way for them to assist us. They spent the 4.5 hours finding out about everything I'm supposed to be learning in my first 6 months here, of course, it was a lot easier for them - speaking Arabic... But the great thing for me is they also speak ok English and they are going to translate the key points of the meeting for me into English! Whoa! 6 months of work practically done for me... Humdullah! Praise God!</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /><br />Of course, Moumi (counterpart), already knows what he needs and what he wants me to work on (the organization was also super impressed with his development ideas and understanding of what needs to be done!), so without understanding everything fully, I've already begun some pretty big projects. Here is a little announcement I developed to introduce the new teapot cozy set. They are made by girls out of high school that don't have the fortune of jobs, but are excited to work and make things. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikm_tA66F3qeYKxC7Akk-NGnHWt9dmL2jA8vohVP3FPqnnInKctSBrj6HV5W7hVUwGR86fEypOVlH6ow5tS7jeBSIhqnmbgpCMrCLrWWRGZvWOha7k59DjE7efrmxtYbmkjNjbKfVZA/s1600-h/clip_image002.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikm_tA66F3qeYKxC7Akk-NGnHWt9dmL2jA8vohVP3FPqnnInKctSBrj6HV5W7hVUwGR86fEypOVlH6ow5tS7jeBSIhqnmbgpCMrCLrWWRGZvWOha7k59DjE7efrmxtYbmkjNjbKfVZA/s320/clip_image002.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152016402353518082" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I will also be working with them on product development (and I've recently come across a few exporting opportunities that we might pursue). In the background is a beautiful carpet (actually hanging in my host family's salon) that one of the women in the association made... I think the French in this version is a little off and has since been updated...</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /><br />In addition we had a meeting on that Sunday night (only 1.5 hours this time) to change the officers in the Association and declare new objectives, so that now all of the officers are actively participating in the work of the Association and the work of the association can be productive on many levels. This was really important because now the officers are the most active people there and will be able to take on some responsibilities that Moumi has been having to do himself. Awesome :) This finally became official after a few trips to Judicial Offices in slightly far away towns!</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /><br />Prior to actually moving to town, I digitized and cleaned up logos for 4 nearby associations that had developed them as a result of a recent work</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvslo4e-EvVpQ0LOZ_9GN1SkYEam-tWQTGVjymFY8eLf4TuEErngJ0k0eNyy2l8kNYyyUPTml_73SehS6GIRsdVEDZrFPyWk9GfDSfuhYlHKZeFNtbFpP-roBgkuHauZHZeNAe4qU6w/s1600-h/clip_image006.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvslo4e-EvVpQ0LOZ_9GN1SkYEam-tWQTGVjymFY8eLf4TuEErngJ0k0eNyy2l8kNYyyUPTml_73SehS6GIRsdVEDZrFPyWk9GfDSfuhYlHKZeFNtbFpP-roBgkuHauZHZeNAe4qU6w/s200/clip_image006.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152017111023121954" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">shop for association building that my association put on last year.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyZm9aAAybeox1bj4R5vkR2gMc61i1zjmo-tRGnw95oUhEevCMPeAaC604fAdaLRrBJuPPT3SWYEdL7GykrkWz5nj9SwstEpNwOSD_KoHQfa__z1VW5NnbFH7bxMrIB2rW2C8ULXrNw/s1600-h/clip_image012.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyZm9aAAybeox1bj4R5vkR2gMc61i1zjmo-tRGnw95oUhEevCMPeAaC604fAdaLRrBJuPPT3SWYEdL7GykrkWz5nj9SwstEpNwOSD_KoHQfa__z1VW5NnbFH7bxMrIB2rW2C8ULXrNw/s200/clip_image012.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152017360131225170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrapbfVQ6TcmxTMUk0tJeYSxJYBJIxSd7-VQKJhzgUf0EEz85GTWgh3txLVVuTSQaWpwm1TzGkH4zR4-Xh8CwQlmpCDL2er3JzepZwSCUd5dt_aw47j9YjyvOYqu9S8YdcqLbdwgmjJA/s1600-h/clip_image010.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrapbfVQ6TcmxTMUk0tJeYSxJYBJIxSd7-VQKJhzgUf0EEz85GTWgh3txLVVuTSQaWpwm1TzGkH4zR4-Xh8CwQlmpCDL2er3JzepZwSCUd5dt_aw47j9YjyvOYqu9S8YdcqLbdwgmjJA/s200/clip_image010.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152017291411748418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog1JM9oT1OHTnzhV4H1QTH-cuLPtQmHtv7qSjSjnJmSFl4lni3SBDLZFEXWDAlQZtPiuoC3nLgCse3m26Bl0Lh-LAqUUAOUDGtXND70fkNTyUadNagYL2Z1cpZObdDbv0b57559lUzQ/s1600-h/clip_image008.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog1JM9oT1OHTnzhV4H1QTH-cuLPtQmHtv7qSjSjnJmSFl4lni3SBDLZFEXWDAlQZtPiuoC3nLgCse3m26Bl0Lh-LAqUUAOUDGtXND70fkNTyUadNagYL2Z1cpZObdDbv0b57559lUzQ/s200/clip_image008.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152017201217435186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I have begun meeting with all of the women weavers (members) in their homes and learning about their lives and their products, starting biographical and information sheets for each of them to assist in grant seeking. I have also had several conversations about development and various needs of the town and the people here. We have discussed environmental issues, exporting costs, pricing, marketing, sustainability, and reputability (to name a few). These conversations are usually hybrids of English, Drija, and French.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /><br />Inshallah, we will be having an exhibition in Rabat towards the end of January, so are now doing alot to prepare for that. We plan to take carpets, crocheted items (including hats, scarfs, tea cozy sets, handbags and more), and paintings by Mohamed (a painter at the Association). I will be assisting mostly with marketing materials, product development, and merchandising.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /><br />In addition to working with the association, I plan to work with my counterpart individually with his small business. We have began talking about his objectives and plans for the future. He currently makes and sells sandwiches out of a small metal shack on suq day. In the next year, he plans to open a hanut with proper equipment to make a small fast food restaurant, which he will operate on Fridays and Saturdays (He will be the only food vendor in town!). Currently, he hopes to open the hanut this summer.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /><br />Another side project (because I wasn't yet sure if I got a running start...) </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjOvRWVDmQ74ZJbqViqs6_HUhZx3vcxhGT0QsFsHp-2u09g3prdH-jAQzVwRZ10mOenrk8m1XgDr1uLXjmXXHW8qfH6u53WJ3spzjghwXgK90bJCztZs1pkU5gAJ6W28uTY7lcn1p0A/s1600-h/lauraandchris.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjOvRWVDmQ74ZJbqViqs6_HUhZx3vcxhGT0QsFsHp-2u09g3prdH-jAQzVwRZ10mOenrk8m1XgDr1uLXjmXXHW8qfH6u53WJ3spzjghwXgK90bJCztZs1pkU5gAJ6W28uTY7lcn1p0A/s320/lauraandchris.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152020937838982834" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">It seems one of the most visible needs in town is Environmental Education. There is a somewhat active Environment Association in town and my Association has recently adopted new objectives and has included environmental issues as part of it’s future work. I would like to work more extensively with an Environment volunteer nearby to develop a program for Environmental Education. I have spoken about the possibility with environment volunteers and by having trash pick up daily in town, the education factor seems like the next step towards solving the problem!</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Enough about work....<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Onto the Holidays!!!</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Eid K'Bir was an amazing cultural experience! </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">but, it's been exhausting... On the day of Eid, my host father slaughtered 3 sheep! One for our fam</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">ily, one for his brother (who had broken his arm), and one for a woman neighbor (whose husband isn't around - I believe that is her </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KkiNouLbfpwgNMAQLMov6Ltt5-G4uTPKpHIYc0guQaJqnH51r8TPKUR6pz4guQM1vYsh5aqeeH2VM_pVls-z4BhbkiKd9o3VB1GRyv8Lm0UilelZ4h5g0KdIBRIy9nUU3Xa0s82KxQ/s1600-h/Laura+Eid.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KkiNouLbfpwgNMAQLMov6Ltt5-G4uTPKpHIYc0guQaJqnH51r8TPKUR6pz4guQM1vYsh5aqeeH2VM_pVls-z4BhbkiKd9o3VB1GRyv8Lm0UilelZ4h5g0KdIBRIy9nUU3Xa0s82KxQ/s320/Laura+Eid.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152021285731333826" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">situation?) Anyway, having never seen anything die before, I was a little overwhelmed by the time I realized there was a third. You can get a little bit of the feelings from the video, but it's pretty hard to describe... I felt like I was in the midst of an entirely unreal experience. There was a sheep dying in front of me, raising it's head after it was almost not connected, making noises as it struggled for air, writhing on the ground in agony... The family was used to this, having done it each year, they didn't take notice of much (you can also observe this in the video). I think this is probably similar to how most of us feel during the holidays... we forget how special what is going on really is (I realized that this Christmas... I didn't miss the crowded malls and the obsession with buying lots of things, but I missed the feeling of Christmas. I missed the excitement of being together with nothing in particular to do, the sounds, and the love -- fortunately for me, I was blessed to find those things here too!) Back to the sheep... I told you my host dad is a butcher... so this whole process was surprisingly fast. I was surprised that there wasn't something more ritualistic when the sheep was first brought out (since this is a remembrance of the sacrifice that Abraham was asked to make)... Then he cut off the head and cut a hole in the skin, then proceeded to blow it up like a balloon! This aided in skinning the sheep. It was then hung and the skin removed, then the insides removed (all of them). I was amazed when he blew out the things that the sheep had not yet digested in order to have clean intestines for later eating (and check out how long they were!) The whole process was startling, but in fact, I think it actually brings one closer to understanding the idea of eating another living thing. I think if we are eating meat, we should be more in touch with all of this. Speaking of eating, that's what we did for the rest of the week (and then some). Some people eat all parts of the sheep, but I'm pretty sure my family removed some things from their menu. I didn't come across any eyeballs or testicles that I know of. Sheep is served twice a day for as long as it lasts, it seems. Dinner is usually sheep and prunes (surprisingly tasty here because there is lots of sugar cooked in). Sheep is a really fatty meat, I've found (but I wonder if they fatten it up on purpose, like people do to make meat more tender)... They BBQ liver wrapped in stomach lining (you'll see the skewers in the video). Today, we had cous cous with stomach and on the side a special delicacy (lungs wrapped in stomach and tied with intestines - they looked like meat sushi!) I wasn't around for the eating of the head, but I hear it is often served straight out and when you are done, there is a skull left. Oh yeah, I should mention, I don't eat any of this. My family is awesome. I told them in the beginning I'm not used to eating much other than meat, so they don't even ask anymore! They don't even mind that I remove the fat, but there are other volunteers that have eaten it all. *Note, it's 2 weeks after Eid now and we are still eating Eid sheep, but not every meal.*</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw2P1rHIJmfoGJBTgUotQr0652D32FLfkYwgiVe6JQOa6-YUiz9qky7O9oWQQ8xViDEh5ZA-IHadjoWqSb9yw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br />In events of Eid besides sheep, on the morning of Eid (before the sheep), we had a sugary breakfast with lots of cookies and then everyone gets dressed up and goes around town visiting each other. They all offer you to come in and have tea and cookies, but we only did this in a couple of our closest relatives houses. I think that dressing up for Eid used to be wearing traditional dresses and jellabas, but with western wear becoming prevalent, that has changed. I was surprised to see that the new clothes that people got for Eid were sometimes sweat suits or jeans or sweaters or even bath robes... and that is what they wore out. I wore the dress I made and felt rather overdressed. They later gave me a traditional dress to wear and I felt out </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">of place again because I was the only one wearing anything nearly so fancy! But, it was nice to see everyone out in the street, wishing each other a Good Eid (they actually say Congratulations! which seems odd - don't yet know why that is) and they give lots of kisses (this is everyday, but since we visited so many people, there was an exceptionally large amount of cheek kissing!)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6EQE4REAPDrLUbD62nBtXjgaqXVosii1K_hd5JsJye2ZlpgjBb7PypRdsKsLaZIy0VyDeQrI6awkJuAY719sLCZqovmwv6d_g7BmLkR6vGBEsJs5mT4XTGi_3mCe5f_ton0Nx9jqcw/s1600-h/rainbow.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6EQE4REAPDrLUbD62nBtXjgaqXVosii1K_hd5JsJye2ZlpgjBb7PypRdsKsLaZIy0VyDeQrI6awkJuAY719sLCZqovmwv6d_g7BmLkR6vGBEsJs5mT4XTGi_3mCe5f_ton0Nx9jqcw/s400/rainbow.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152019494729971346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Later in the day, it rained (it was my first rain in town!) and then a little later, the blessing of a gorgeous rainbow from the roof! - I could see the entire thing! I really did feel as if it was a blessing over the town, over me, and my start of so much here... </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5Tkm3XQdFiTi-q6zTWgNfW2VHigMbFkK7s8Hr0DJ6NwzYhij_rE2Zohu-J8z2BwcwXYYNl8615C999o5LYMoNfQdat6H8AD8whfavnayrj-NCiW4L8zRFn14M_USMNaXXHa0Nqx_pw/s1600-h/Laura+Henna.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5Tkm3XQdFiTi-q6zTWgNfW2VHigMbFkK7s8Hr0DJ6NwzYhij_rE2Zohu-J8z2BwcwXYYNl8615C999o5LYMoNfQdat6H8AD8whfavnayrj-NCiW4L8zRFn14M_USMNaXXHa0Nqx_pw/s320/Laura+Henna.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152015921317180898" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">The night before Eid, my host sister did henna on our hands. She was the only one in our family doing it, so she got pretty tired. Then, to make it last a long time, they told me to wear it over night before washing off the plant based dye that was still on the surface. That wasn't much fun, since it</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjDD_lmKyo8udO7usv2koAoTuYLO_qaeWk7ZfavlQLAAfNsjDrMWxyGCbneH3j-4ZnQsweKD9YJaFphlRLTCbOVfRKnv_8Rix-zNO9fX3cmYetspQBfvfynOF4o7VN9AUYP_81Mu8mw/s1600-h/henna.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjDD_lmKyo8udO7usv2koAoTuYLO_qaeWk7ZfavlQLAAfNsjDrMWxyGCbneH3j-4ZnQsweKD9YJaFphlRLTCbOVfRKnv_8Rix-zNO9fX3cmYetspQBfvfynOF4o7VN9AUYP_81Mu8mw/s320/henna.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152018305024030322" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> flakes off sort of like if you had lines of cake icing on your hands. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">A few nights prior, I helped my host sister make cookies (she made 4 kinds). </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">This was </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">important because cookies are served with tea</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs87Dzt-J-B86yGnLXPi-wmbiCLvqKG-Bg5LvAYDEKGWzapcO1GnByw2Z896we_GlrmLDJWbamgLvET7-d4nG9IW_cYC-P40Oxo4MKwqo1X8onqJ6AlZ0x4AN2ZBv_1Uxpigi5urZdsw/s1600-h/cookies.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs87Dzt-J-B86yGnLXPi-wmbiCLvqKG-Bg5LvAYDEKGWzapcO1GnByw2Z896we_GlrmLDJWbamgLvET7-d4nG9IW_cYC-P40Oxo4MKwqo1X8onqJ6AlZ0x4AN2ZBv_1Uxpigi5urZdsw/s320/cookies.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152015062323721666" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> throughout the day </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">during this time of year. And </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">after that day, p</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">ractically every dinner is eaten in a different house with tea and cookies first, then dinner later. Each family hosts a dinner (and we have a big family), so this has been going on for two weeks as well... So, yeah, it's all been pretty exhausting... but interesting.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHHjYcc4nHN_i_AP254ns-uhjR_kBX1i9K455DaEa4RLA26pMyVPf1lMDkC1W34dzOlQf8MaLUpxCbZrx4apeRSc-RtO9rp8m6b9CHFoof6r97LLARNQnQ-u4z8-fMfVvz72xTBHmqQ/s1600-h/davidontop.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHHjYcc4nHN_i_AP254ns-uhjR_kBX1i9K455DaEa4RLA26pMyVPf1lMDkC1W34dzOlQf8MaLUpxCbZrx4apeRSc-RtO9rp8m6b9CHFoof6r97LLARNQnQ-u4z8-fMfVvz72xTBHmqQ/s320/davidontop.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152018021556188770" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Christmas was fantastic! I climbed a mountain on Christmas day! (felt awesome to get some exercise and to be looking out from the top of the mountain is no small reward!) There was a small Christmas tree, presents, American food, Christmas cookies, real eggnog (without the rum), singing, and presents from home. I felt so blessed! For everything...<br /><br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONYtFkB54PWs0ZXfw3iH5PwHM3P3ncMI0CoW3PYepb-meo29f_qym-FjuNoc22XEXmnUi4BTjiw3VJHjdyzMYktcazHUpzY1SIxNQUKP0xSt899kuDHmAq-5s-iled7rLqzKhGgaT7w/s1600-h/beforestorm.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONYtFkB54PWs0ZXfw3iH5PwHM3P3ncMI0CoW3PYepb-meo29f_qym-FjuNoc22XEXmnUi4BTjiw3VJHjdyzMYktcazHUpzY1SIxNQUKP0xSt899kuDHmAq-5s-iled7rLqzKhGgaT7w/s400/beforestorm.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152020315068724898" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Santa Claus even showed up, but not for Christmas... For some reason, Moroccans tend to associate Santa Claus with New Years. I have heard this from every Moroccan that I talked to about it, then it was confirmed when there was a Happy New Year's sign in Marjan (large American-like Walmart-type store) with Santa and his reindeer. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMKq2a9HAbphaDwraE1essnBS3Lsb7QvjC-3xFsitSz9xlxVA-uA3AXZTlKAqwrbTNQmiSRbcgfqZupaKY1TBLbnLdmLiGGWMcwiHDQX_f5KBvGV5UDH3r2i8vIfzrtGZPAhzAgfwqA/s1600-h/bonneanni.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMKq2a9HAbphaDwraE1essnBS3Lsb7QvjC-3xFsitSz9xlxVA-uA3AXZTlKAqwrbTNQmiSRbcgfqZupaKY1TBLbnLdmLiGGWMcwiHDQX_f5KBvGV5UDH3r2i8vIfzrtGZPAhzAgfwqA/s200/bonneanni.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152016191900120562" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Here they call him Papa Noel and he came on New Year's Eve to the Association and gave all of the kids a gift. I was also designated </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5p9zZkNNwP4KRUXB8oRx5ZQKoPHPwak_z2YkHOIdzRUqUrcmLWas05F73IwqYECVn1-iM5PHOHGJsX1kWZDtlIqvjqIu7i26y3h-FAytKkFt2lXVAA2UqldpeYtkfZmKzSP-ggRXnA/s1600-h/P1020723.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5p9zZkNNwP4KRUXB8oRx5ZQKoPHPwak_z2YkHOIdzRUqUrcmLWas05F73IwqYECVn1-iM5PHOHGJsX1kWZDtlIqvjqIu7i26y3h-FAytKkFt2lXVAA2UqldpeYtkfZmKzSP-ggRXnA/s200/P1020723.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152657610906040034" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">photographer for this event and took a picture of each kid on Santa's lap. I have to admit, this is not something I would ever like to do again! I got kicked in the head at one point. Small children were crying. Some were pushing and many were yelling. But, Santa handled it all very well. I had dinner with another uncle's family and then the adults of the association went to Moumi's house for cookies (that I made! Chocolate Chip - not like home, but not bad either... they loved them) and a dance party! We danced until 1:30 a.m. and this included a countdown and speeches in 4 languages! Dancing was terrific (and Moumi is crazy!). We had so much fun and I was even declared Moroccan when trying to shake my hips like they do... </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Then, on New Year's day, my family had a small party</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPjPMxgIeK2tTWzLSXfuftLF1J8FhCiu-aci6gqoobvvcEJSdt0xK0WRPPOTpLjzJfQglXF_GOu-J70n-lyppPGd0FX6M3BDoT7fHQbMm76iR3j2FKohBUYHeTavFBSt_JpCCCWwWPw/s1600-h/P1020705.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPjPMxgIeK2tTWzLSXfuftLF1J8FhCiu-aci6gqoobvvcEJSdt0xK0WRPPOTpLjzJfQglXF_GOu-J70n-lyppPGd0FX6M3BDoT7fHQbMm76iR3j2FKohBUYHeTavFBSt_JpCCCWwWPw/s200/P1020705.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152657868604077810" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> for me (surprise!) and the people from the association came. We had special tasty "fat bread" (it </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt07lUmBNV-kP115VrfNpYTwJ-7m5Cao96guqLf9MSMhXkxXwWnEIVMmHlOd_mnEEr6gqEmOKFl76Cab0Uy35jffkt5v03H75JHVEGu1e5uqnMpIiyfVIHsmioVIA5Cezx7_gpquiLAw/s1600-h/clip_image004.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt07lUmBNV-kP115VrfNpYTwJ-7m5Cao96guqLf9MSMhXkxXwWnEIVMmHlOd_mnEEr6gqEmOKFl76Cab0Uy35jffkt5v03H75JHVEGu1e5uqnMpIiyfVIHsmioVIA5Cezx7_gpquiLAw/s320/clip_image004.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152016617101882898" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">really is made with fat) and the association gave me a scarf as a gift! It was really sweet and of course, we drank tea...</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">For New Year's, I also sent out this great picture via email to some of the friends of the association :) These are the children that are taught at the association and my host sister (teacher) saying "Happy New Year to Friends, AFC" in French.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Answering a question about my adjustment (socially and culturally): I’ve been really fortunate. My host sister works daily at the association teaching the children and my counterpart is also related to my host family. Between my host family, my counterpart and celebrating Eid, I feel like I’ve met half of the town. I’m able to do most things on my own at this point, but if I want help, there is always someone willing to come or help me. When I walk from town to my home, I always encounter at least one person who knows my name. As far as cultural adaptation goes, I feel like I am very adaptable and haven’t had any struggles that weren’t easily overcome by perspective. The hardest thing has been not being able to spend time by myself and be warm at the same time. There is always someone who wants to come and talk to me and watch what I’m doing. Hopefully, this will change as I'm able to have my own house.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Yes, my own house: I'm pretty sure about the house I will rent, but I have two more left to see... This house is pretty incredible, but it's certainly more than I need. On one side of the house (the side that I'm excited about), there is a bedroom, a sitting room (where the forno will go) another sitting area that is more of an open area in the middle and the kitchen. It's great that the most used rooms are separated because it will be easier to keep this side of the house warm(ish). The kitchen has a skylight and glass tiles on the floor that allow light to come in from above and below. And it also has the few things that I had hoped most for: running water (from time to time, about once a day), a private rooftop terrace (this is SO important for warmth. The sun is strong and during the day, it is often warm outside, but cold in the house), it's clean! (big bonus!), and I would have reasonable privacy (it's on the end corner two residential streets). There is also a separate water room from the bathroom (great for doing laundry and bathing without standing over the toilet). On the way to the roof, there is a place to store fire wood and there are also two other empty rooms on the other side of the house. I would have preferred something smaller, but, this is the only one that really met the requirements... I suppose I'll have plenty of space for company and to store my bike... (oh yeah, and it's under budget!)</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /><br />So, this weekend, I had a trip planned to go to Rabat for a friend's birthday, but the day I was going to leave, a blizzard hit! It snowed and snowed! I didn't realize the extent of this storm and I was trying desperately to leave. The taxis were telling me it wasn't possible, but then someone else would tell me it was, that buses were going north, if I go to the next town. It was hailing at this point and I was soaked. Moumi showed up and told me it wasn't possible. The road was blocked with snow. I finally resigned my attempt and began home (it was so windy, I literally would have fallen over, if Moumi hadn't caught me). But, then the Jendarmes (local officials) felt it was possible, so they tried calling the road authorities, but their cell service was out, so then they tried to find me a different ride (of someone going in that direction) - This man told me it was too dangerous for automobiles to drive and that made it final. I went home, removed my wet clothes and sat by the fire. Electricity went out and the rest of the night was spent quietly by candlelight (not bad, all things considered!) The next morning, I got word, the buses weren't going... Ok, I get it... it's snowing and I can't go. Maybe I'll make cookies again and write my blog! Well, at noon, I get word that the bus is going and my friend south of me is now on the bus to Rabat... Oh! Ok, should I get ready? How are the roads? I just heard less than a half hour north of me there is a foot of snow and it's still going strong (like it is here!)... What to do? An hour later, I get word again - the bus didn't go anywhere. It's not going to. It's over... finally. We aren't going. All the ups and downs nearly killed me AND to top it off, the whole time, my host family thinks I'm crazy. They knew from the beginning no one was going anywhere, but they get a big kick out of telling the story!</span> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcPlOwGeYWsPpJ4k_ARWIXqntd-1oBmQhaxKbZ5-v7vTn6loYTb_Tcb-WXo4Tp4p2j1Z2s2V7VMpO5knzsVgUEtRczVq1Hvsoe3ggxu_1yFBYAruUeX5sihSm2A0LJeEII0ZgT1_TRA/s1600-h/P1020849.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcPlOwGeYWsPpJ4k_ARWIXqntd-1oBmQhaxKbZ5-v7vTn6loYTb_Tcb-WXo4Tp4p2j1Z2s2V7VMpO5knzsVgUEtRczVq1Hvsoe3ggxu_1yFBYAruUeX5sihSm2A0LJeEII0ZgT1_TRA/s320/P1020849.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152658036107802370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br />Some info that I'm not sure I've told you about the town I live in (for a little perspective and background): The population is about 5,000; running water is available only once a day (for the most part), but is sometimes not everyday and is sometimes twice a day. There are definite sanitation issues; garbage is picked up daily, but it is still discarded on the side of the road and in the fields, etc. There is one hospital in town, with one doctor, and there is one dentist in town, but the doctor has very limited facilities and both practices are reported to not be able to do much. I was told not to use the dentist. Other services include cybers (places to use the internet), teleboutiques (to make phone calls from landlines), post office, photocoping, fax machines, hanuts (little shops where you can buy basic supplies), an electronics/appliances store, and two pharmacies. There are 4 hammams (bath houses) and many cafes (that serve coffee and the like, but no food). There are no restaurants or hotels. There is a large suq (outdoor market) every Saturday, where you can find most things needed for daily life. The school system includes 3 levels, but the middle level and the high school share the same building. Transportation is possible before 5, via taxi, to most places, although, sometimes a 'layover' is necessary. There is more transportation available on suq day and a bus picks up going north early every morning. My town seems to be very safe. My host family has asked me to not be out after dark because there are ‘bad people’ and dogs, but on the few occasions I have been out, I have observed no problems and the only dogs are the ones that are used to people. Still, when I will be arriving home after dark, I try to walk with someone else or someone from my host family will meet me. There doesn't seem to be any harassment problems either. The most serious danger is theft at suq, so I always make sure to be very aware of my cell phone and wallet, but still it's not like in larger cities.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /><br />AND To relieve a little anxiety that I've been hearing in emails: the forno at my host family's house has been wonderful. Between it's warmth and the abundance of blankets on my bed - I stay warm. I have also been able to go pretty regularly to the hammam (meaning about every 3 days), so I'm also feeling fine about getting clean :) </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I love hearing from you all in your comments and emails and real mail! Thanks for the Christmas cards!!! And I'm so happy that you are enjoying my sharing!! If you have any questions, please ask, it's often insightful for me to hear what I'm leaving out and perhaps not thinking about!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-o-tACLRYePhTyC7f76BtRUexusqs_unU-dSRthVPzw_1RUFrsNnQJbpfiyhkhHK4hRFKQiWvo97vGZAM5CaKA-DYpm8BytHn6y806S0ONV9TkU2WcLVJK4Ayj1P_wu_hlYmh9SNmkw/s1600-h/treebrown.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-o-tACLRYePhTyC7f76BtRUexusqs_unU-dSRthVPzw_1RUFrsNnQJbpfiyhkhHK4hRFKQiWvo97vGZAM5CaKA-DYpm8BytHn6y806S0ONV9TkU2WcLVJK4Ayj1P_wu_hlYmh9SNmkw/s400/treebrown.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152027693822539474" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I think this is my favorite photo since I arrived in Morocco! I can't take credit for it though... Thanks bzzzzaafff (alot, but the amount changes with how long you hold those middle letters!) to Barry of the Environment Crowd!<br /><br />Added additional photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12973534@N04/<br /></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-48070601009794930972007-12-05T09:29:00.000+00:002007-12-20T17:55:48.692+00:00A long and winding update...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbPiLt7Sj53_hADqsIrsLyPA5EhOlMdf_zXA_ktTQIgR7Uk3xrpgKXHMLM4Po9mN26Zm79W-M5ST5Ror9TJx5M3nW3zETMfRDGSlCMBMdD6XWbEIVDglVByeY7HUGLafJzX6nPnY7HQ/s1600-h/2093994548_eb2354fd02_b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbPiLt7Sj53_hADqsIrsLyPA5EhOlMdf_zXA_ktTQIgR7Uk3xrpgKXHMLM4Po9mN26Zm79W-M5ST5Ror9TJx5M3nW3zETMfRDGSlCMBMdD6XWbEIVDglVByeY7HUGLafJzX6nPnY7HQ/s320/2093994548_eb2354fd02_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143398165169990962" border="0" /></a>Yep, we are now official... Peace Corps Volunteers.<br /><br />The hardest thing here right now (surprisingly I'm not going to say the cold) is that I am never really alone and am always feeling exhausted from that. Here's a little insight into how it's been lately: I go to the association most mornings around 9. I get up around 7:30 and have breakfast with the others. My host sister teaches at the association, so I'm a little bit on her schedule. We come back for lunch at noon and go back again at 2. Some days, I need to do something else or my counterpart is doing something else, but that is pretty much the schedule M-F. Saturday is souq day, so when I'm in town, we all go. Souq is really big here. You can find everything (fresh meat and fruits and vegetables, household items, clothes and shoes (new and used), furniture, furnaces, live animals, hardware, seriously - I think you can find most anything you would need there. I bought some scotch tape.) It's like a weird mix of stores, food, those bulk bins that we have in some super markets, but here they aren't bins, their bags..., yard sales, flea markets, and tons of people.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlTyoREa9P1LOQxnLc41i1QroUG5SNtlE23aPc0Qz0qbuTTX2P5J86W2jaZKgkXJEOYiVeD7jhzwpr1pxqgFRIrX7NI715VpcqTld71e1Qaojgrljpx5rZHY2cJiJLqiXftxBg4MQUg/s1600-h/P1020299.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlTyoREa9P1LOQxnLc41i1QroUG5SNtlE23aPc0Qz0qbuTTX2P5J86W2jaZKgkXJEOYiVeD7jhzwpr1pxqgFRIrX7NI715VpcqTld71e1Qaojgrljpx5rZHY2cJiJLqiXftxBg4MQUg/s320/P1020299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143397632594046242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0cL0ao7VcaIYIRgt3EKbN3qIeQfiYm57_7S5hDKNehsrK1eupn0Uhcq1uKRmahjhW_yp7mVF9ZmPbyBWWJQEQV5STTjSYr9JOlV0ARbMz0jHR8ooLg9UCRdAGZhsORq5IxLknKIG1A/s1600-h/P1020301.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0cL0ao7VcaIYIRgt3EKbN3qIeQfiYm57_7S5hDKNehsrK1eupn0Uhcq1uKRmahjhW_yp7mVF9ZmPbyBWWJQEQV5STTjSYr9JOlV0ARbMz0jHR8ooLg9UCRdAGZhsORq5IxLknKIG1A/s320/P1020301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143396442888105234" border="0" /></a>My host dad is a butcher and works there and it's sort of a social event for everyone else and they stock up on all their vegetables and meat, etc for the week, plus I bought a sweater last time used for 8 dh ($1)! It seems strange to me that my little town has such a large souq, but then I found out that it is the oldest town in the area, so everything developed around it and it has maintained and expanded it's souq because of that. On Sunday, I thought for sure, I would have the day off, but no... I was taken along to the association for kids sing a long! It was really great, but I was so cold and exhausted that I really didn't want to be there, but for a while, I went up on the roof, where it was sunny, and I listened to them all singing and it was really pretty beautiful. Later, I found that we weren't going back there in the afternoon, so I was relieved to think that I at least could relax for the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM1gLscDnwI000RCPGxgA1GgP4WYmZlvrSkf4mUDAVgXDow2IQ8Ev93JBRztcTBKOryj4O0DuLdyPS8GtKruVzd7PjgWkA7SaKS3cp7iC56DXRbEmf2b40PUvxcoszKo-iM8w0I41FQ/s1600-h/P1020188.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM1gLscDnwI000RCPGxgA1GgP4WYmZlvrSkf4mUDAVgXDow2IQ8Ev93JBRztcTBKOryj4O0DuLdyPS8GtKruVzd7PjgWkA7SaKS3cp7iC56DXRbEmf2b40PUvxcoszKo-iM8w0I41FQ/s200/P1020188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142282235304003218" border="0" /></a>afternoon (and bathe!) but wrong again. It was expected that I come along for a hike along the river to collect decorative materials to make new years gifts from the association! Again, it was great, but you know... So, this was how last week was going... We eat dinner about every other night with my uncle's family downstairs and hang out there until it's time for bed. So... I took up knitting! They love that and it's fun for me to have something to do in those times. I learned from a book that Lauren left me (and my host sister and aunt are both quite good and helped me learn too). I also write in my journal when I'm not too tired. Most of the time, when I do get free time, I'm so exhausted, I just want to lay down, but I have to do this sort of casually with everyone else in the same room... I think the exhaustion is also from getting used to the altitude and the cold and then sitting for a long time in really warm rooms. (...although it has been beautiful here lately during the days, outside that is..., really sunny and warm, though it always seems to be uncomfortably cold inside without a furnace on). I did take time on Tuesday, finally to go to hammam, but that was REALLY draining and I got a little sick, so I went to bed early and was fine the next day. Then, on Thursday, my host mom was going to the hammam again and I told her I'd like to go too, just to shower quickly, not to scrub and sit for a long time, but since I had gone on Tuesday, that was a ridiculous request it seemed. I told her my hair was oily and she agreed that it would be ok to wash my hair in the sink... This ended up being a fantastic thing because my counterpart also couldn't meet on Thursday and I had the house to myself.. First I secretly bathed out of a bowl :), then I spent the morning listening to music on my computer and sewing and writing emails and reading a bit. It was so awesome to have some time alone. very peaceful. I think this was a major decompression for me! I am really looking forward to the time when I can have more time alone. I'm also seeing my tutor twice a week for 2.5 hours<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegDmlBgXII_8S5WOfjj6syUEcOpD99FPSIfHLv04GCiptXK3bM4pB3xftbh5GWERgVbG69jHKQjPzZTtsJk2FTT2t1jDl10DP2J4TtfTpu2-fh79VAXLh-vuVke-YWRkStAlkmSb98A/s1600-h/P1020317.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegDmlBgXII_8S5WOfjj6syUEcOpD99FPSIfHLv04GCiptXK3bM4pB3xftbh5GWERgVbG69jHKQjPzZTtsJk2FTT2t1jDl10DP2J4TtfTpu2-fh79VAXLh-vuVke-YWRkStAlkmSb98A/s200/P1020317.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143401747172715842" border="0" /></a> each day. The review with my tutor hasn't made me feel like I'm learning a lot (like it was when we were in training), but it is good because it is some concentrated time that I spend on reviewing the language. Maybe it is silly to pay her to force me to practice, but so far, it's been the only time I've really been able to focus on it, at least from the book. I think I'm going to ask for a half and hour of French each time too, that would be a nice enhancement I think, plus people talk to me in French all the time because most white foreigners in this country are French and everyone learns French in school, usually pretty well. I've had a little back and forth with the Jendarmes (the local authorities that are charged with keeping an eye on me and making sure I'm safe and happy. I'm applying to get my "carte de sejour" that will make me legal in country as a foreigner after my 3 months of regular passport allowance is over. Plus, I check in with them everytime I am leaving town for any reason to tell them where I'm going. I went to the nearest major city one day to get some things (like a hot water bottle that gets filled and put in bed with me every night!) and pick up my other bag from the bus station, where it was shipped (it's nice to finally have all my things in my site, even if they are still not quite in my own house). I have to go again to the city this week because the jerndarmes want me to meet again with the police (I think it's just so they know who I am and will recognize me - they are the closest police and are also sort of supposed to be responsible for me, it seems). In my *other time* I've also been trying to fit in skype sessions... I'm really hoping to get internet in my home, although, I think it will be expensive (not to mention a little outside of the Peace Corps experience, but nothing is what it seemed, and that's ok), it would make my communications easier and the timing of skype sessions more regular. It might be a hard thing to do, but again, we'll see.<br />As I mentioned before, (and I seem to return to the subject often) showering is a really big accomplishment for me (but, overall I'm really fortunate for the options that I have! - right now, it's mostly a challenge of how to relate my wanting to shower so often with my host family who thinks once a week is more than enough). I usually don't have a problem going to the Hammam once a week (because that is the standard), but now I think I can maybe get in twice (?) and a hair washing!(?) I might be pushing it though. Every time, it seems like a struggle to fit it in and to have my family agree it's ok to go. Today, I managed to get some hot water and bucket shower in our bathroom. Luckily, it wasn't really cold outside today, so I wasn't freezing, but in general, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to do that. If they are running the hot water heater in there (wood fired), it's a lot warmer and that might be ok too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMHPgripoD83TNhYtY-m6NlS4FjtYtmQoKnN8lhLHrTiRxWqtyhKbbYOL4iD7f2lDPuMYV43Iv89bFloriS8JUTfdLsS-pgLbVDwv_fZmfY6DWfxCM15Hid1O-Y-W9jDbJuJH61Z1Pw/s1600-h/P1020204.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMHPgripoD83TNhYtY-m6NlS4FjtYtmQoKnN8lhLHrTiRxWqtyhKbbYOL4iD7f2lDPuMYV43Iv89bFloriS8JUTfdLsS-pgLbVDwv_fZmfY6DWfxCM15Hid1O-Y-W9jDbJuJH61Z1Pw/s320/P1020204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142288119409198770" border="0" /></a><br />With the association, I feel like something new comes up everyday. I've been meeting the women weavers and taking pictures of them and what they are working on homes. This is ain their long process, about an hour for each woman and a whole lot of sweet tea. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP11yHA-yjIWfxx7w6mkz465oqINDR3HGLLtFeXPQTdYeuBZ1tEebbcOeY2TgA-aIv24iq7FRmvkw8ix48cYkrOeigAkaYQY_71sqrD8Hfbo_zp6hFaVECRFT2IYo3OOj4jeKQoMODQ/s1600-h/P1020199.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP11yHA-yjIWfxx7w6mkz465oqINDR3HGLLtFeXPQTdYeuBZ1tEebbcOeY2TgA-aIv24iq7FRmvkw8ix48cYkrOeigAkaYQY_71sqrD8Hfbo_zp6hFaVECRFT2IYo3OOj4jeKQoMODQ/s320/P1020199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142285606853330594" border="0" /></a> Moumi has told me of some of the projects he has in mind for us - a member roster with the pictures I'm taking, a book of the motifs found in carpets in the region (at least 1000 different ones), exhibitions in Morocco, product development (color adjustments) and market analysis, trainings for associations and development in a nearby city. Recently one of the nearby volunteers also contacted me for some help with a developing association with export questions that we will be working with. Moumi also has his own small business he has been developing and would like to soon push further. He is the only food vendor in town and he would like to open a little hanut front for souq, with a refrigerator, etc. Now, he just has a little metal shack that he made with a grill and he makes sausage and potato sandwiches for souq day. They are pretty tasty! I'm going to help him get to where he wants to be with that this summer, hopefully. He does so much to help everyone else, I think it will be fantastic to help him too!<br /><br />My host dad's brother, downstairs, broke his arm early during my stay in here (note him in the background of the picture of Radia below). This inspired a large portion of the extended family to visit day after day (as was referenced in the afore written blog). That has been pretty exhausting because they don't know me yet, so it's important for me to sit with them and talk about myself and get to know them all a little. There have been a lot of exhausting nights of this, but they were mostly concentrated in the day he broke his arm and the next two days. According to my host mom, though, I didn't nearly meet the whole family. At Eid K'Bir, in a couple of weeks, I think I will meet even more.<br /><br />Some other interesting information: people don't really seem to celebrate birthdays here. I asked my cousin how old she is and she told me 15, but I later found out she is actually around 14 and a half and she said 15 because she is closer to 15 than 14, but she didn't actually know when her birthday was. She told me she thought it was in February. I don't know if everyone thinks that way, but I've been asking the weavers how old they are and they really don't know. The pretty much guess. A couple of them knew, but I think they just know the year. Moumi, my counterpart is 35, but his mom never wrote down his birthday and no one knows, so he doesn't know his birthday either.<br /><br />I don't think I've talked much about my new host family, so I should tell you a little more... There are three children, 21 Radia, 17 Nora, and 14 Abdaltif. Nora is married and lives in the<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XOXg5K3YGmqK3fpy66DaRjbIOjN5brkvOWZS-4Ss09z1mtHIXaY5Xhw5A43NahTpIOLqnUIiAAt4lBWGIQelu0R5FuobzJfJnoBAIEgvDPwNIdjjCxoc6EkfYaA7uhA40hS3rCJ7ig/s1600-h/P1020284.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XOXg5K3YGmqK3fpy66DaRjbIOjN5brkvOWZS-4Ss09z1mtHIXaY5Xhw5A43NahTpIOLqnUIiAAt4lBWGIQelu0R5FuobzJfJnoBAIEgvDPwNIdjjCxoc6EkfYaA7uhA40hS3rCJ7ig/s200/P1020284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143403108677348690" border="0" /></a> next town. Radia is a really hard worker. She teaches the kids at the association 6 days a week for free. They are about in kindergarden. She also tutors neighborhood children for free at home and does most of the housework and cooking. She is a pretty amazing young woman! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSi5dXZvP0dhLjhNqR55inhNjx0Lt_aSIaP4d-6CNWGRpYC9W7snIvC3PpHSK8ZUTk33T0THs2U4BxxRhY7QHERk9bPcuCzaWmxjn6uXKM8wR4xocwDdMWwZgpGc0gOKQL7vNnOk02Q/s1600-h/P1020275.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSi5dXZvP0dhLjhNqR55inhNjx0Lt_aSIaP4d-6CNWGRpYC9W7snIvC3PpHSK8ZUTk33T0THs2U4BxxRhY7QHERk9bPcuCzaWmxjn6uXKM8wR4xocwDdMWwZgpGc0gOKQL7vNnOk02Q/s200/P1020275.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143404719290084706" border="0" /></a>Abdalitif also seems like a great young man. He studies a lot and seems to do really well in school, ahead of where he needs to be. The other day, he was singing from a book for about 15 minutes straight really loud and in a great Moroccan voice... they do a great thing with their vocal cords - you'd have to hear it... He was practicing for his singing class :) There is also another little one on <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMMZ5PB16OyrmwbmfSlK4ltCl88yEuTEmUB2mCWJdXTPOJdOo842lH69fRC9zC21b3DnXmo22pcXR9lryxirL3SKA3RMN3xHgRqBHR0kwxZv7_6ctBLhpy-foYluAM46U7ioDdNnAuQ/s1600-h/P1020270.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMMZ5PB16OyrmwbmfSlK4ltCl88yEuTEmUB2mCWJdXTPOJdOo842lH69fRC9zC21b3DnXmo22pcXR9lryxirL3SKA3RMN3xHgRqBHR0kwxZv7_6ctBLhpy-foYluAM46U7ioDdNnAuQ/s200/P1020270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143405196031454578" border="0" /></a>the way! There should be a new addition right around the time I get my own house! How fun it will be to visit with the new baby and I'll get to go to a baby naming ceremony! (pictures are of our living room, note the furnace!, Raida and her cousin Moona, and Abdaltif!<br /><br />I've started looking for my house lately. I've seen the one Lauren had and two others. I am supposed to see more this week. They are cheap enough, so I'm within budget there, but I haven't found one I really like yet. One of the jerndarmes showed me one the other day that was two stories with a roof. It is the best option so far, with running water inside (once a day like the rest of the town, but inside the house, unlike the other one's I've seen that have the water downstairs or outside), but it seems like an awful lot of space and I'm not sure how much sun it gets and if I'd be able to heat it very well... We'll see.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZt3ZfJN6BEl2vzX9m08M5hazVeoqCnC91V_hLDqZU-RgbxFG7RQm91ZCSIfQUZk1wWEkmLjwOe_e6OgkBGJKu-KniB3X2qU0TJ_MfvTZNyeJmStW3hi14xofqIDYdu7nosRN4Bn5Jg/s1600-h/P1020001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZt3ZfJN6BEl2vzX9m08M5hazVeoqCnC91V_hLDqZU-RgbxFG7RQm91ZCSIfQUZk1wWEkmLjwOe_e6OgkBGJKu-KniB3X2qU0TJ_MfvTZNyeJmStW3hi14xofqIDYdu7nosRN4Bn5Jg/s320/P1020001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142278520157292146" border="0" /></a>Thanksgiving in Fes was awesome, I was there with all the others for swearing in (all 67 of us! This is the first time, at least in the last 5 years - so that is 10 groups - that all of the trainees - we're also the biggest group in Morocco ever - made it all the way through swearing in!!! We're troopers). Everyone brought their best recipes from home and PC bought us the the ingredients from the American Commissary. We had a feast with every Thanksgiving dish ever expected! We had turkey (of course), mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes (no marshmallows - I hear that's a southern thing...), green beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce, fried apples, pumpkin pie, macaroons, apple cider, etc. It was soooo good! I don't know if it was just because I hadn't had American food in 2 months or if it was that fantastic, but I was pretty thrilled either way. I also spent the morning in Fes with Mahri exploring, and received mail on Thanksgiving :) plus, my parents called. It was a great day. The weekend after Christmas (we aren't allowed to travel the weekend before or during the week), I'm hoping that some of the other volunteers and I will get together somewhere to celebrate, but so far, we haven't made any concrete plans. New Year's either :( In town, however, I've got three different family's that want me to make cookies at their houses. Funny, but they are excited about American cookies! Most of the women I have met are really good at making cookies :) I hope the recipes I have will work! I'm hoping to get a local metal worker to make me a gingerbreadman cookie cutter! Big undertaking - that request! inshallah.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc07WMYf6c20iQ-0q7y1A8gi343TDcnUQiltQ9u1uaj0k_3wspXvpy6yHi0a7xGnRProGusM-Ivamc7mCpGMftz0fTAf9Da3jY-ao7VA_aDyaAzgpPEIVshIExjYRupi2iCM3NuCLWA/s1600-h/P1020310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc07WMYf6c20iQ-0q7y1A8gi343TDcnUQiltQ9u1uaj0k_3wspXvpy6yHi0a7xGnRProGusM-Ivamc7mCpGMftz0fTAf9Da3jY-ao7VA_aDyaAzgpPEIVshIExjYRupi2iCM3NuCLWA/s320/P1020310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143394140785634562" border="0" /></a>I had my first overnight out of site visit this past weekend! I visited a town very close to the mountains about an hour south of me. There is a married couple there that are environment volunteers and they invited people in the area to come and meet each other. It was pretty awesome. I met a few new people that were really nice and we hiked up one of the mountains that is really near by. We probably hiked for a couple of hours or so. It was exhausting, but grand! I haven't been excercising much and this was some much needed blood circulation. Loved it. On top of that, it was beautiful. We made it to snow (although there was also a small unmelted pile in their yard) and saw the sunset in and over the mountains. Lovely... It was great to retreat for a night with other like-minded Americans. It is funny, but the next morning, when we left their house, it felt like we stepped back into the world. Interesting feeling.<br /><br />I am, everyday, in awe. I stop when I see the mountains and inhale so my lungs fully expand with the fresh mountain air. I love that these enormous masses of land accompany me here. That they are unyielding and constant. That their snow is a constant flux of more and less, but never ceasing adornment. I think of the snow on the mountains a little bit like my emotions and my mentality in being here. I know that it can be full and lush and all I ever hoped for, but it won't always stay that way. I need to be prepared for all seasons, with their flux, but realize that the beauty of what I wish them to be is always within me and will return in time. I'm also in awe of the people. People here are amazing. SOO Friendly, so loving. Sometimes (and shamefully), it takes a lot for me to walk down the street, because I feel there is an expectation that I say hello to everyone, sometimes, I just want to walk with my head down, straight to where I'm going, but it is important that I am friendly - partially because it is part of their culture and partially because I am representing so much more than another person in their town. I represent Americans, foreigners, Peace Corps, women, my host family, the association I'm working with... It takes a large amount of responsibility to take that walk down the street. I wonder if that is something that other people think about... I don't feel like I necessarily had that responsibility (or certainly wasn't as aware of it) when I was in America. Cultural differences and the experience of living in another culture is totally fascinating to me. I am amazed at what I start to get used to - that it isn't shocking. Some things still hurt to see though. People aren't often as nice to animals here. I often see a donkey or a goat or sheep with it's hoof tied to something and it yanking at it, trying to get unstuck. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpLHcZiOoP7wUb7fT9drGWIboSoBNuXVMiB0N3kCcvT5RUCLtv87qUM4WQpPsNyZyz_esg08LCmgcNui1GzU7ctbJHEbu0swOioXrufzIbF9dqEZycy_KKlOggIcEQ24o_9uEb1jVvQ/s1600-h/P1020192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpLHcZiOoP7wUb7fT9drGWIboSoBNuXVMiB0N3kCcvT5RUCLtv87qUM4WQpPsNyZyz_esg08LCmgcNui1GzU7ctbJHEbu0swOioXrufzIbF9dqEZycy_KKlOggIcEQ24o_9uEb1jVvQ/s200/P1020192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142281045598062210" border="0" /></a>I see donkeys everywhere - they are the most unclean animal, aside from pigs, to them, I think. Every time I see a donkey, I think they look so sweet, with their white rings around their eyes. I want to pet them and tell them it's ok, but then the owner comes along and hits it with a stick to get it to go where he wants. Dogs and cats roam the fields and streets, looking for meat and scraps to eat. They are afraid of people and people seem to prefer it that way. They don't generally like them and they don't like them around. But... not washing my hands after we eat fatty meat with our hands, and it gets under my fingernails - that doesn't bother me as much. And going outside to get to the bathroom - it's not so unnormal. Not living by the standards that I was raised with is ok with me, in fact, I really think it expands my understanding of how to live and the possibilities therein. So, I'm happy with the mental progress I'm making. I think I'm learning to be more aware of what surrounds me and why and less focused on myself, my perceived needs and my less than accurate understanding of how to live...<br /><br />I've uploaded pictures again onto my flickr page:<br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/12973534@N04/ (Make sure to look for the Set titled "Once upon a time in Skoura" because the general pictures are out of order.)<br />Check it out. There you will find a lots more pictures, but also a story that I wrote for our Small Business Development Presentation in Fes. I read this story with the correlating pictures, a little dramatic intonation to describe our group's CBT experience. Everyone liked in a lot. We utilized all kinds of other creative presentation techniques (poem, song, Q&A, art on the spot, superlatives...) It was informative and entertaining. Bonus. Some key points that I mentioned involved our work with the Ministry of Tourism and Traditional Crafts. We are hoping to help them achieve their 2015 Goals, including creating 115,000 new jobs in the artisan sector (which by the way is the second largest job market in Morocco after agriculture!), increase exports 10 fold from 700 million MAD to 7 billion MAD, and increase industry production from 10 to 24 billion MAD. Our programming staff, Youth Development, and the other staff all complimented us on our good job and hopefully, we set a precedent for what to expect from our dedicated, hard-working group! We're going to do great things!<br /><br />One other interesting fact.... I ate an acorn on Saturday. Yep, didn't know people eat them, but lots of people seem to love them here. I guess it was roasted or something because it wasn't quite as hard as usual. You break away the shell and eat the inside. It was really bitter and I wouldn't prefer to eat another, but an interesting experience nonetheless.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-61380509219046841112007-11-29T10:18:00.000+00:002007-11-29T10:44:33.057+00:00Not Really Alone<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Nov 28<br /></span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Now I'm alone in a sense but never more accompanied in another.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Today I sat with at least 50 different members of the family in a warm room in the cold middle atlas mountains.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >No one here speaks English and many times I'm not spoken to, only about,<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >but still everyone is warm and they invite me to be part of the family.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >So, although I have left the comfort of those conversations and understanding,<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >those comforts are also here, waiting to be discovered.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I am never really alone.</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-30863234293147969092007-11-20T20:51:00.000+00:002007-11-20T22:07:38.600+00:00Language Profiency Interview & more :)I scored "Intermediate Low!" How exciting is that after just 10 weeks! That means I can make complete sentences and elaborate on them. I can ask questions and understand questions, etc. My interviewer was really impressed and happy with how I did. I am beyond where I need to be: "Novice High," so I felt like that was a nice confidence booster and I feel a little more prepared to go into my site.<br /><br />Oh, to clarify... I will be with my host family for 2 months before finding a place of my own (check the comments for a little elaboration on that).<br /><br />I said Goodbye to my host family at CBT (Skoura) and they were not super emotional (but maybe a little) and they really want me to come back and visit (hoping for next month, but I told them maybe next year!) I will send them a card for Eid Kbir and a letter in my broken drija script! fun. It will take me a couple of hours to write probably. I gave them a pretty ceramic vase that I found here and they gave me a nice ceramic mug and a little tagine (they make food in them, but this was just a little replica). cute.<br /><br />Newest news on my site.... it is rumored to be one of the coldest if not the coldest site! geez.... what were they thinking?Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708319522499169225.post-50625193142713146562007-11-12T20:44:00.000+00:002007-11-12T21:33:49.586+00:00A NEW HOME<div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGC1XJxy0BXQsUCeZbYa4PJQUY1GVbj3Ntg1dSQ05NHuK8RFkMPQb9yQH2FrxoMp7gTjB57FExUQwa3-msaDdGUdQZnBBxjazzWqom_QyzE57E4ONT9F0QzzEF0PazBsZEr9OlVhb17Q/s1600-h/P1010975.png"></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;">The middle atlas mountains.... these are fields and they will all be green in the spring... with wild flowers too**<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132058383127609714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EPWNGCZxE4ak52foVCfd9e4KjNLThZ8Tlfhr5Bw5SxBt3_WvUEZjFaUZy12QF9K0syly-t3MCKpB55ZUuzgphjeR1jXuuhKRZovmTjbM38I_ZzYGYiK51f9gP2sf9QNm7WwJ08-tnQ/s320/P1010930.png" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;">The High Atlas mountains... looking in the other direction...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132068686754153010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAbKLo0Z_7domDwVt4ZfwcZ7uHyx7GXcqMqncowHNQfs6gaHYGiEai5soaJgSSGiXujd7nj_9TmZCEEWdD80HWGMwNGzgXGJ5uM_mR-N7uNVjVhj5LWoxyxSs700Kctkh5JR3qkIEmg/s320/P1010975.png" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;">A street of <span style="color:#663300;">homes</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbaduvzj2-Ix12_7sYQveTfmHw4aOprHYiOq1DWfz2YGSSRndrXGkMzS5Z1q4LNNY7LiNSJoln6whON1RohUalJbucjvF0Dm80DTImwaoKZuZXUAdISUf0WGH-3sntg8Vm4c4Y6oAHA/s1600-h/P1010968.png"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132062776879153602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbaduvzj2-Ix12_7sYQveTfmHw4aOprHYiOq1DWfz2YGSSRndrXGkMzS5Z1q4LNNY7LiNSJoln6whON1RohUalJbucjvF0Dm80DTImwaoKZuZXUAdISUf0WGH-3sntg8Vm4c4Y6oAHA/s320/P1010968.png" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#663300;"> near the association</span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;"><span style="color:#663300;"><br /></span><br /></span><div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbaduvzj2-Ix12_7sYQveTfmHw4aOprHYiOq1DWfz2YGSSRndrXGkMzS5Z1q4LNNY7LiNSJoln6whON1RohUalJbucjvF0Dm80DTImwaoKZuZXUAdISUf0WGH-3sntg8Vm4c4Y6oAHA/s1600-h/P1010968.png"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;"></span></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;">I've been assigned my site and I've just returned from a week long visit! I will be in the "middle of Morocco" The site is a town in the Khenifera province in the middle atlas mountains (considered one of the most beautiful parts of morroco and green! The town is about 5,000 people and at an elevation of 5450 ft (a few hundred feet higher than Denver!) It is near some major cities and there are a lot of volunteers in the region. I don't have any other volunteers in my site, but the closest ones are about 45 minutes away. It is about 3 hours to Fes and a little less to Meknes (close by Peace Corps standards). Azrou is also close (about 1.5) and Rabat is about 5 (sometimes varying by how fast or slow your bus is or whether you have to wait for 6 people to want </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2MgCsbtlXYTm9cbRFCy2oVkauR2TuR32AIzfjIgs9E12qjWbvIXbGmpH-r5VgwEE9lryU2tFPHHcRAY_r1WnJj7-DS20e6b1_V5pk9MTkdQBZThmpGM5U1cQrhEr6ysqKX14gpGG3Q/s1600-h/P1010977.png"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132060169834004882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2MgCsbtlXYTm9cbRFCy2oVkauR2TuR32AIzfjIgs9E12qjWbvIXbGmpH-r5VgwEE9lryU2tFPHHcRAY_r1WnJj7-DS20e6b1_V5pk9MTkdQBZThmpGM5U1cQrhEr6ysqKX14gpGG3Q/s320/P1010977.png" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;">to go to the same place in a taxi). There is a weekly "suq" or open air market on Saturdays that has lots of produce and general needs items. There are little "hanuts" that sell daily items, a post office, internet cafes, regular cafes (no food though), and lots more to be discovered! If you want to pin point me on a map, send me an email and I'll send you the name of the town and exactly where it is.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMrr544lql1mnYXGCpa3-Fkye_-EoLnw-mDloOv-kfKIHfJw1RrSUEjR9Ij6BsLIDSKOF2tIu9rloHpiDVswA9IO-60aOBDSwcjX4rC2gPmxtXMvCm7b6lNm5PJtcm2UP7OywSe99bQ/s1600-h/P1010949.png"></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;">I spent a lot of time learning things from Lauren (the PCV that I'm replacing) about the site and what she did there. She was such a great resource!! She was the first volunteer in the site, so it's come a long way, but there is still plenty to do! She was working with the President of an Association in town. He is really motivated and excited. He has a lot of projects in mind and has been implementing a lot of new endevors and helpful changes. Lauren had also been teaching English as well as computer skills. I said that I would not start out teaching English, but would be happy to continue working with them on computer skills (mainly Microsoft Word and Excel). I will leave the English open as a possibility for later, but I hope to focus more energy on the artisans in the association and development. The Association has been taking on all kinds of different projects including training other associations to develop better practices and marketing, etc. They have worked with medical and eye doctors to do free clinics in town too. But mainly, they are a carpet weaver's association. They have a partnership with an association in France and sell most </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JAWpLSOBtF2Nqd5HFWSLS16OIOaRNi94vOjd8no2g_lqk6pFeueEofyvQjKsn7vyEDRJ0i4g-ri-tCvMwqh-EOrA3e1NjvMwBSHiBsn2OcbTf5uEB_Z8UxzynO7cWoCU692LgXKVIA/s1600-h/P1010970.png"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132063068936929746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JAWpLSOBtF2Nqd5HFWSLS16OIOaRNi94vOjd8no2g_lqk6pFeueEofyvQjKsn7vyEDRJ0i4g-ri-tCvMwqh-EOrA3e1NjvMwBSHiBsn2OcbTf5uEB_Z8UxzynO7cWoCU692LgXKVIA/s320/P1010970.png" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;">of their rugs that way, but the president wants to start doing more festivals and sales venues in Morocco. Should be good! He is also very personable and easy to talk to. He tries really hard to understand me and even speaks a little English! There are some other associations in town as well, one that serves as a sort of youth center, teaching English, among other things and an Environmental Association. I need to learn more about what they do and I think there are also others, but I'm excited about the possibility of also doing something with the Environmental Association.<br /><br />My host family is really cool. The sister is 21 and teaches french and arabic to little kids at the Association (oh yeah, that's another thing they do at the association I'll work with). I think she might also be taking some university classes. My little brother is 14 and is really fun. The other night we worked together on some pretty advanced mathamatics! I think he is taking Algebra (and he is taking it early, like I did!) My parents are really nice. The dad is a butcher. They tell me to eat all the time, definitely more than I want to, but that is one of the things that Moroccans do to be hospitable. I'm starting to understand and I think they are starting to understand that I don't eat that much too. The house that I'm living in is nice. It's sort of a large complex, with my dad's brother's family living on the first floor and we live upstairs. I have a room where I sleep with my 5 blankets and their is a wood burning furnace in the living room, where we all sit and hang out until bed. We also eat in there. Generally, it's colder inside the house than it is outside, during the day... that's challenging, but fortunately, they have a roof and that great furnace :) When I went to the association, I was a little disappointed about how cold it was there... I remember teaching in the mornings in the classroom in China and them bringing me green tea that I was so happy to hold. It's very much like that and it's just going to get colder from here. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWBI4I6FdowbRjYK30qTit-7Wbwo5gsl-hkGk-XhKBujOenhDF5uiz8yhNarRizeHK8N__0lt9d23TOHnKmHq4SZfhT3sC_wDIRxQUWCCmJLu3t9Vfxo4LoN1b-Zm8hfP1QSvq-vUbw/s1600-h/P1010949.png"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWBI4I6FdowbRjYK30qTit-7Wbwo5gsl-hkGk-XhKBujOenhDF5uiz8yhNarRizeHK8N__0lt9d23TOHnKmHq4SZfhT3sC_wDIRxQUWCCmJLu3t9Vfxo4LoN1b-Zm8hfP1QSvq-vUbw/s1600-h/P1010949.png"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWBI4I6FdowbRjYK30qTit-7Wbwo5gsl-hkGk-XhKBujOenhDF5uiz8yhNarRizeHK8N__0lt9d23TOHnKmHq4SZfhT3sC_wDIRxQUWCCmJLu3t9Vfxo4LoN1b-Zm8hfP1QSvq-vUbw/s1600-h/P1010949.png"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWBI4I6FdowbRjYK30qTit-7Wbwo5gsl-hkGk-XhKBujOenhDF5uiz8yhNarRizeHK8N__0lt9d23TOHnKmHq4SZfhT3sC_wDIRxQUWCCmJLu3t9Vfxo4LoN1b-Zm8hfP1QSvq-vUbw/s1600-h/P1010949.png"></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;">So, to solve my problem of being miserably cold...<br />Peace Corps gives us some money to settle in... usually this just covers the necessities (like buying a mattress, stove/oven, and maybe a small fridge) and it your site is particularly cold, they will give you a little money towards a heater (usually electric). So, a furnace costs more than a heater, but it is what everyone there uses </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0WP_ERulNs8bRmHZkaHbEbU-CAD6D28aF5IK6r3n75lAnRnTfvAj_d20hBwb7zY3I11FGye8tI-7iCpkoorOgHA57eo5HlsIdfDIelcaRdmghyuPer8kCWzQT0uxJTPkNZqrjUtEzw/s1600-h/P1010953.png"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132061256460730786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0WP_ERulNs8bRmHZkaHbEbU-CAD6D28aF5IK6r3n75lAnRnTfvAj_d20hBwb7zY3I11FGye8tI-7iCpkoorOgHA57eo5HlsIdfDIelcaRdmghyuPer8kCWzQT0uxJTPkNZqrjUtEzw/s200/P1010953.png" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;">and electric heaters aren't as effective, but I think they'll put some money towards it. On top of that, I was fortunate to buy what furniture Lauren did have! I bought her mattress, her Moroccan couches (ponjes), a wooden coffee table, her kitchen table - (given this is plastic), blankets, a floor mat, and she is giving me most of her kitchen items and a few clothes, etc. YAY! And she sold it all to me for less than half what she paid, only charging me for the big items! So, what this translates to for me: I will have enough move in money to afford the furnace and a refrigerator too! I liked her apartment, but I'm going to look around to see if it's the best one for me. She did really cute paintings all over the apartment, which is great, but there were also some water leak problems and the landlord hasn't been so proactive about fixing things (although a really great guy otherwise!) So, he is going to hold it for a month or so while I decide.<br /><br />I also found a tutor! She is one of the English teachers at the high school and she speaks English really well. Teachers here, once they finish their training, get placed somewhere to teach! So she and her two friends met with me and they all had this sense of being transplanted in a site that was chosen for them. It was an interesting bond that I didn't expect to find in a Moroccan! One of the women even has a husband working in another city, their hometown. Each year, they can apply to be transferred. She is on her second year in Itzer now. My tutor is young and seems fun. I think she will make a good friend too.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGyfLN7dKU0ZKaqHpQLEcgsM9GMRVr_vQ2oycEPMFHMLSXLI5-W_D5nji9nCgb8X_UqtRqvRAJW5SLv5dVz0E_Q9zWB8mZpUmsBeaVSLCf0IRiixoWDALFECy1OQrfNiRxT-_SCCFOQ/s1600-h/P1010974.png"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132064851348357634" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGyfLN7dKU0ZKaqHpQLEcgsM9GMRVr_vQ2oycEPMFHMLSXLI5-W_D5nji9nCgb8X_UqtRqvRAJW5SLv5dVz0E_Q9zWB8mZpUmsBeaVSLCf0IRiixoWDALFECy1OQrfNiRxT-_SCCFOQ/s320/P1010974.png" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;"><br />So, the other major obstacle that I am going to overcome is the lack of running water!!! Apparently, cold water is available from the tap once or twice a day in the winter for a couple of hours and it becomes even more limited in the summer. This means, that during that time when the water is on, everyone fills jugs and buckets for all the water they will need that day (and maybe it's good to keep a few spare). When you want hot water for anything, it has to be heated on the stove (or a nifty trick) you can leave a kettle on to</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIpzbJM2HUINficuNwuhfMlK0jINZGgElabuk4sbd-8AEb37R6hTdUk19f1ltH5lxa_htcy_I9kEvz4QqjATY9t1OVvan0bLv_Oy49igmMQMGSQqGuW-ZtUcgukyIEIjeheLeB-GuIg/s1600-h/P1010976.png"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132066277277499922" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIpzbJM2HUINficuNwuhfMlK0jINZGgElabuk4sbd-8AEb37R6hTdUk19f1ltH5lxa_htcy_I9kEvz4QqjATY9t1OVvan0bLv_Oy49igmMQMGSQqGuW-ZtUcgukyIEIjeheLeB-GuIg/s200/P1010976.png" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;">p of the furnace when it's on. So, as you can imagine, bathing is a whole other story... my host family has a big tank that is wood fire heated that I can fill my bath bucket with, but without that, I either have to become much more prudent with the amount of water I need for even a bucket bath or I have to get used to the idea of bathing at the public bath house. Hmm... not the challenge I was expecting when joining PC, but I did hear that joke about the glass half full... (An optimist sees the glass as half full. A pessimist sees the glass as half empty. A PCV sees the glass and says, hey, I can take a bath with that.)<br /><br />All in all, I'm excited about my site and I think that I will learn to live with my challenges and even learn from them! Here's to the next 2 years!!! First day at site: November 27. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuTV2yXTeY2P0AMNDnhUpXAyE5eD5awYfVbzKPphfDeSioNAJ8kjhX6PHV7-v9edteP3sqMvXxs8ziKEyH1PY5WCfPH4Gsml-TKEb2S07dJJvdz-GMnhnNGm_U1C0qpUSIaX18DBT5g/s1600-h/P1010949.png"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132067097616253474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuTV2yXTeY2P0AMNDnhUpXAyE5eD5awYfVbzKPphfDeSioNAJ8kjhX6PHV7-v9edteP3sqMvXxs8ziKEyH1PY5WCfPH4Gsml-TKEb2S07dJJvdz-GMnhnNGm_U1C0qpUSIaX18DBT5g/s200/P1010949.png" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#663300;"><br /><br />Oh!! And I have a new address! I can't post it, but please email me and I'll send it to you - love love love receiving mail! (Angela, PCVs think you are the best sister in the world!)<br />Love to you all!<br />~LAILA (new Moroccan name) </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13902175667648468463noreply@blogger.com4