Sad News from Morocco

During my time in PC, I became very close with a number of families in the small town where I served. I consider them all to be my Moroccan families and am always welcomed back with open arms on visits.

One of my favorites is the Bouhou's. A family of four, Habiba is one of the most loving moms I know. She is her kids biggest fan and she is practically oozing with love and happiness anytime I see her. She taught me how to make many delicious Moroccan dishes and I secretly told her she is the best cook in town. Her husband Brahim is one of my favorites of the "husbands." He is kind, well-loved by his kids and wife and always makes an effort to chat with me whenever I visit. He treats me like a second daughter and I always feel so relaxed around him.

A few days ago I received a text message from Morocco telling me that Brahim passed away. I was in the middle of class here in Switzerland and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I couldn't believe it- I'd just seen him in March and didn't know anything was wrong. I struggled to get through class without tears.

Having a husband die young (Brahim was in his upper 40's, I think) is a tragedy for anyone, anywhere in the world. In Morocco, however, it can be especially crippling. Habiba hasn't been educated past the elementary level and has spent the last 20 years taking care of her family. She currently has one daughter in university and a son who is 16. They live in a house paid for by her husband's job and just recently bought another one (using credit) for her daughter to live in while going to school.

Brahim was the sole provider for this family and now that he's gone, I'm so afraid for the family he's left behind. Will they be kicked out of their house? Will their daughter be forced to leave university and get married to support herself? How will they earn money to live? The type of security many people in the United States have in this type of situation just doesn't exist in the same way in Morocco.

Me and Habiba during my last visit

My heart aches for Habiba and her family. If it's the kind of thing you do, please keep them in your prayers.

Happy Anywhere?

For my weekend off this past week, I jumped on the school bus to Zurich. Zurich is Switzerland's business and banking capital and that's about all I knew of the city. In fact, the reason I hopped on the bus at all was because the weather forecast in Lugano was promising rain and cold.

Zurich turned out to be a really great city. Right up my alley if I must say. It's incredibly clean and filled with adorable boutiques, trendy restaurants and outdoor cafes. The streets downtown are cobblestone and narrowly fit through the historic buildings. I toured the city, saw an antiques market and walked through the Kunsthaus art museum.

The whole time I was thinking "I could live here." And I think I could, what wasn't to like? Then I started to think about all of the other cities in the world where I've visited and thought the same thing. In fact, I can hardly think of a city that I wouldn't want to live in. Is this because most cities have good qualities or because I'm really just not that picky when it comes to my location? Hopefully it's a combination of both although I think there's a bit of a "grass is always greener" mentality in there too. Maybe I think I'd be happy anywhere that I'm not currently. Who knows.

Summer in Switzerland and other life updates

March to August- that must be some kind of new record of blog laziness. Perhaps I should just give in to the fact that I'm not cut out to be a blogger. Or perhaps I just try, try again.

This may come as a shock to some of you, but I'm not currently in Morocco! That's right, my search for summer employment brought me to the disgustingly picturesque city of Lugano, Switzerland. Actually, the school where I'm teaching ESL in a summer program is not even in the city of Lugano, but the tiny village of Montagnola about 15 minutes up the mountain. It is truly breathtaking up here and I'm not entirely sure how I secured work in such a fantastic place.

The church I pass everyday on my way to school

Don't be fooled though, Switzerland, the land of cheese, chocolate, army knives and clocks, is not without pitfalls. The first of which is how insanely expensive everything is. Lugano is by far the most expensive place I've ever been and the fact that I'm becoming numb to the cost is quite concerning. I think you need an example. Let's start with McDonald's. In the states (and in Morocco) you can get a Big Mac value meal for around $5. Maybe that doesn't include a supersizing, but whatever. The same meal here in Switzerland goes for about $12. Twelve dollars for a McDonald's value meal!? Ok, it may be grass fed beef and not full of chemicals, but still. I can't even buy my own grandma a cheesy Switzerland magnet for less than $8. I don't even want to get in to the price I paid for a 90 minute massage. Let's just say I could probably eat for 6 months on it in Morocco.

A few of the buildings on campus

The second pitfall is rather Teresa specific. Being chuck full of quaint mountain villages makes for an alarming amount of car sickness while traveling. Ugh. My lovely Saturday and Sunday excursions are tainted with headaches and nausea unless I drug myself up. And drugged up is not the best way to enjoy the scenery which includes countless waterfalls cascading over the Alps. Has anyone had any luck with those weird bracelet things?

But enough about the negatives, Switzerland is quite possibly the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I cannot take enough photographs of the view of Lake Lugano from Montagnola. I photograph it in sunny weather, hazy weather, cloudy weather, day time, night time, etc. I often feel it looks like a photoshopped in backdrop and not like a real thing that I'm seeing with my own eyes.

The much photographed view

The job is also really wonderful. My teaching schedule is more than manageable with only 4, 45 minute periods per day. I'd like to thank AMIDEAST for acclimating me to three straight hours with teenagers at a time. Compared to that, this is a cake walk. Classes end at 2:30 and then two days per week I have to supervise an afternoon sports activity. Arts and Crafts and Swimming- life is tough! Evenings are free unless I want to attend an event or if I'm on dorm duty. Dorm duty is by far the lamest part of the job, but you put up with it for the wonderful weekend excursions! Every Saturday and Sunday I venture into Switzerland or northern Italy to see some new, beautiful place. So far I've been to Milan for sites and shopping, Ascona for beach time, whitewater rafting through the Alps, a beautiful Villa on Lake Como and Sirmione on Lake Garda. This weekend, to fair Verona!

Did I mention the Friday evening staff wine and cheese parties? It really is a dream way to spend a summer and earn good money. Unfortunately, Mohamed and I got engaged just before I left and I spend a good deal of time missing him and our life together in Morocco. On the upside, I think spending this time missing each other is in the end good for our relationship and will hopefully make us appreciate each other more when we're reunited. Only three weeks to go!

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy everything that Switzerland has to offer and take some incredible memories back to Morocco with me. Cheers to that!

Since it's been so long since I've posted, here's a recap of the last 5ish months:

March- I spent my spring break visiting friends and my second family in the south of Morocco where I was a volunteer. It had been two year since my last visit and it was long overdue. They've renovated the town, but most other things have remained the same. Still an incredible place where I feel welcomed and at home.

Me and host sister Senna

Me and good friend Habiba

April- Mohamed and I took a day trip to explore Casablanca and I ran an 8k with a lot of ladies! The run was spur of the moment and I ran with a fellow teacher. I did it in just under 60 minutes and won third place in the foreigner category. For not being in running shape, I was pretty pleased.

At the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca

On the podium, collecting my prize!

May/June- We were lucky enough to have two sets of visitors in Rabat. Beth (PCV and former Epic co-worker) came up from the south on her way to the states and RPCV friends Brian and Sara stopped by during their spring break. Loved hosting and hope to have more visitors very soon!

Beth enjoying the sites

Mohamed and I also got involved in the expat softball league and Mohamed found he has a real knack for softball. I don't particularly like playing, but I was happy to step in to fill the female quota when needed. We didn't win the championship, but all in all great way to spend Sunday afternoons.

AMIDEAST Akbars at the championship tournament

And last but not least, the big engagement! Mohamed proposed in our favorite medina restaurant named for the town where we met. Awwww. It was very sweet and we can't wait to make it happen! Lots of planning to do and nothing set yet, but all in good time.

Celebratory dinner

Ciao for now!

For more pictures of my European adventure, check out these links:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100227212361522.2600786.12102478&l=98b9249bbf&type=1

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100288769485552.2604282.12102478&l=028cef87c7&type=1

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100297394910132.2608049.12102478&l=e53c80c98e&type=1