Since I’m feeling in a ‘list’ kind of mood these days, I will include one about my new awesome site. Just for a little preface, I have been here a little more than a week. Things have been good so far, it’s beautiful here and I’m getting to know a lot about the community and have been meetings lots of people. My family is good and it’s still a little difficult getting used to having at least 6 kids in the house (but usually more), but I think we’re adjusting pretty well to each other. In about 3 weeks I will move into a place of my own, which I have still yet to find, but inshallah, it won’t be so hard…so anyway, enough chatter, here’s my list:
1. My site is between 4 and 7 km of the ocean (and I’m leading towards 7 but I’ll let y’all know as soon as I can make it out there)
2. We have a clinic, it’s open when it’s supposed to be and people come to it…yay!
3. There are a ton of little stores (called ‘Hanuts’) which sell a large variety of cookies, candy and yogurts…aka I’m set for life
4. My site is actually a sort of business center and there is a market (souq) every day of the week except Sunday. On Thursday, there is a souq for women only (I haven’t gone to that one yet, but maybe this week)
5. There are apparently both scorpions and all sizes and colors of snakes here (however, only the scorpions have been confirmed, though not by me personally…my sisters might have been embellishing on the snake thing to scare me…or so I hope)
6. I will eventually have internet at my site…there aren’t any internet cafes but it is possible to get mobile internet here
7. The weather reminds me a lot of Berkeley…hot during the day and cool at night…but there are a lot more donkeys and camels here than I ever saw during my college days
8. (this is about Morocco in general) fleecy animal prints, brightly colored crushed velvet and pajama sets are always in style, and yes this is for everyday wear….so if anyone has any extras lying around, I know a few ladies/my whole town who’d love to have them ;)
9. They are definitely still rolling with the old/new time division here…but what I know is that the schools and clinic are on new time and my family on old time…even though half the family has to go to places operating on new time…ok, done with talking about this silliness, but it’s just so absurd I had to mention it one last time
10. Justin Bieber is just as popular with middle school girls in Morocco as in the States…some girls came into the clinic for shots the other day and the first thing they asked me was if I had seen his movie…unfortunately I had to disappoint them
11. My site is awesome, you are all welcome to come visit any time!!
