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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Things I have learned so far in Morocco (Part 1)


1) Just because there is an official government time change, it does not ensure that people will follow it (and in fact, you and your CBT mates may be the only people that choose to do so….don’t worry, it switches back to “old time” in July I hear…)

2)   If you sleep outside, you can see the stars really well but a windstorm may come up and just because you are close to the ground does not mean you will avoid having things land on you in the night

3)   You probably cannot convince your Moroccan family to eat raw tomatoes with the peel still on just by putting them in your awesome “American food” macaroni and cheese dish

4)   There are a wide variety of good Moroccan candy/chocolate desserts for a great price (note: just because there is a commercial for a cake with a really cuddly bear that hugs you when you eat sad cake, this will not happen in real life and that cake is actually really bad…hence them having to use the cuddly hug bear to convince you to buy it)

5)    Weddings last for days (literally)…but no one will be offended if you leave “early” one of the nights (aka at midnight) to go home and sleep.  Also, Moroccans have sweet dance moves.

6)   Discussing, interpreting and elaborating on the lives and goings-on of your host family may become your replacement for entertaining television in your CBT group

7)    Having a cold Coke after spending a long morning shopping at Souq (market) may just be the best part of your week (and is in fact comparable to enjoying another cold, carbonated beverage after a long day in the States…well, almost comparable…)

8)  1.5 liter water bottles make a great substitute for washing machines (no really! but you can only fit small items through the hole at the top)

9)   You may look forward to walking the 7km to souq every week because it’s the only exercise you’ve had since the last 7km walk to souq…

10) CBT mates, LCFs and Moroccan host families are some of the nicest, most supportive, best people you’ll ever encounter!

some random comments about the end of CBT


Alright everyone, headed into the final stretch of CBT here.  It’s been a crazy, sometimes wonderful, sometimes difficult journey.  Once I head back to CBT site on Thursday, I will have 7 days left with my host family.  It is a very bittersweet time. I swear in (aka become an official Peace Corps Volunteer) on May 25 (inshallah) and will head to my final site on May 26. I’m excited for these new things and to finally get to move to where I will live for the next two years, but of course, I will be very sad to leave this wonderful family that  have become rather attached to.  We have all gotten our routine down-I play cards with my brothers and sister every night, we all eat breakfast together in the morning and dinner together at night.  I help my sister in the kitchen either with cooking or cleaning up after the meals.  My brothers and I have secret handshakes and I’ve taught them lots of American games.  They put up with my rough language skills and are nothing but patient and caring.  And on top of that, I have learned to embrace the wonderful support of my fellow CBT mates and I know that I will miss them greatly when we all head our separate ways (and yes, I totally started singing the Journey song after I wrote that, thank you Cal Band).

I know that I have not been able to keep in touch with you all as much as I would like to.  Feel free to write me letters anytime (just email me and ask for the address!) and I will try to update this regularly when I’m in my final site.  However, if I fall behind or something of the sort and you want to catch up, please write an email (and yes, I think all of your lives and what you do everyday is interesting, even if you don’t)!  And, as always, let me know if you’re rollin’ through Morocco anytime in the future and you will have a couch or bed or floor/whatever I can offer at your beck and call!