Winter Ends, Life is Good

The last month has been great. Although Spring has yet to make her official appearance, the weather recently has been fairly mild and dry. Mohamed and I have been taking advantage of this by going on a few day trips out of the city. As Sunday is our only non-working day togther we like to alternate between cleaning/relaxing days and days being out and about.

A few weeks ago we made a four hour trek to visit some of my PC friends now working at a university in Ifrane. I was hoping to see some snow, but the gorgeious day we spent walking around the university campus and exploring a natural, water filled park wasn't so bad. Despite now living in Morocco for 6 months together, this was my first time seeing Brian and Sara and it was great to catch up, compare teaching notes and see how different our lives are. Ifrane is calm, clean and noise free. Compared to the hustle and bustle of where I live, it felt a little bit like paradise. There complaints of course are centered around having very little to do. The grass is always greener...

Me and Mohamed touring the campus

The beautiful "Source" water-filled wonderland

Brian and Sara

Aside from our weekend trips, I've also gotten well-adjusted to my work schedule and hit a pretty nice stride with my classes. This week is the last one of the trimester, so my routine will soon be interrupted once again. A new trimester and set of classes can be a bit unnerving as I'm afraid my chances of having classes as wonderful as my current ones are slim.

This month has also brought some exciting news for me on the summer job front. I've accepted an ESL teacher position at a summer camp in Switzerland! I'll be spending eight weeks in Lugano teaching and assisting with activities during the week, then chaperoning excursions throughout Switzerland and Northern Italy on the weekends. Not a bad deal! The time away is not exactly ideal, but there are few ways to earn decent money here in the summer and I couldn't pass up the salary along with an escape from the Moroccan heat.

Following the camp, I'll spend 4 days back in Morocco before coming back the U.S for a visit! Very excited to spend three weeks hanging out in Michigan, Wisconsin and Texas with friends and family. These means another Christmas away from home, but I figure a trip in the summer will be loads more fun.

The purchase of an oven has also drastically changed the state of affairs chez moi this month. The first day we brought it home I made a cake and our lives haven't been the same since! While I hope the baking bug makes an exit soon (my repertoire so far: yellow cake, marble cake, choc pudding cake, cupcakes with choc frosting, lemon cookies), the increase in dinner options has been fabulous. We've made baked fish, pizza, roasted chicken and can refresh old bread!

Finally, with the last month brought my 28th birthday. 27 still sounded young, but 28 is surely a whole new ballgame. The slippery slope to 30 has certainly started and has lit a bit of a fire you know where. The time for playing around is quickly coming to an end.

Heading back to my old PC site for my "spring break." Should be loads of fun. Posts to come!

Have I only been here four months?

Because it feels like four years! I am absolutely shocked at how quickly you adapt to a new place and time starts to warp as you forget what you were doing only a few months before. Or maybe that's just me? I've also done a really crappy job of keeping this blog updated. Also a big shocker.

I'm pretty sure I've turned into a Moroccan in these 4 short months...

From this moment on I pledge to post at least once per month, but to start off on the right foot, how about a high speed wrap up of the last three months? Ready.....Set.......Go!

November-

My second month of teaching and I was really in the swing of things. My prep time was cut drastically and I started to really enjoy the whole process. My roommate and I continued to furnish the apartment and things were good on the home front. Weather started getting COLD and I almost bought a heater.

Yes, November brought the cold, but also visitors! Started with a visit from Cara and Michael who spent a few days in Rabat as Cara completed some grad school research. We even managed a short visit to the Peace Corps office, but unfortunately the place was very similar to a ghost town. After Cara and Michael headed inland, Rebecca and Ahmed came for a weekend during their first visit back since getting married in the states. The visit was too short and sweet, but we did venture out to some cool gardens north of Rabat.

Cara and I perfect the jumping shot at the PC office

Rebecca and Ahmed as we explored the Exotic Gardens

Eid lkbir (the big feast) brought 4 days off in the middle of the month. Being the biggest Islamic holiday, Mohamed made the trek to spend the holiday with his family. My roommate traveled as well, so I was all by my lonesome for 4 full days, two of which I did not leave the apartment. And joy of joys I got a horrible coughing, sniffling, sneezing illness so while the rest was good, I did not get to enjoy my time off. I also did not witness the slaughter of any sheep, although I did see a head roasting on an open fire from my balcony.

sheep head roasting over an open fire

December-

Did not start out well. No need for detail, but at the beginning of this month we learned that my roommate's boyfriend is a sexist, abusive, horrible guy. We kicked him out and went about our business. Mid month, right before classes ended for vacation, my roommate and I hosted a fabulous holiday party at our apartment. Everyone had a great time, but the evening was tainted when the next morning we realized one of our guests stole my roommate's ipod. Ba humbug!

As soon as classes let out, I made a trip to Fes to visit my first host family. It was FREEZING, but it was great to see them as well as the tiny town where I learned to be a Youth Development volunteer. Another highlight was the amazing food made by my host mom. She really knows how to keep a guess from being hungry.

Me and former host family members in front of my first Youth Center

After returning from Fes, Mohamed, roommate and I had a very nice Christmas despite being far from home. Santa stopped by and made some good boys and girls very happy. Soon after Christmas brought my very good friend Kasey Marie for a visit! We celebrated New Year's Eve Moroccan club style before setting off on an epic tour of the country. Kasey and I visited five cities in 9 days. It was a whirlwind and the poor girl did not escape some tummy unhappiness, but we checked off her to do list and had a wonderful time.

Christmas dinner

Picture with monkey- CHECK!

January-

Despite the happiness of Kasey's visit and the fun of our travels, January also started out a bit roughly as my roommate decided to take back the horrible boyfriend. This was my cue to get out of there and within 7 days I had started my second semester of classes, found a new apartment and moved out of the place that I shared for three months.

All's well that ends well though, because life is glorious in the new apartment. Thinking back I realize how foolish and unnecessary it was to have a roommate to begin with. I didn't really want one, I was just so anxious for a place that I dove headfirst into to a situation that was not ideal. I'm 27 years old and feel the days of roommates are officially over. My new place has one bedroom, 1.5 baths and two balconies. It's also closer to Mohamed's store and right across the street from a big supermarket. It feels more like my own and I couldn't be happier.

Classes are also really great this semester. I'm teaching 26 hours per week and have to prep for 6 different courses, but I'm not even phased any more. The whole thing just feels natural and I genuinely like many of my students. Even my 8:15 am class is a joy!

Two of my students in their bug masks!

I also got the tortoise that I'd been wanting since arriving in Morocco. Teddy was purchased after the move and is slowly adapting to his new home. I'm still learning how to be a good tortoise owner as well- did you know that they hibernate?! I thought he was dying.....turns out he was just trying to hibernate for the winter.

Teddy trying to escape from his bed. It's cold at night, so this is where he sleeps, then goes out for the day.

February-

So far so good. Mohamed and I already took one day trip and are hoping to take more in the next few weeks. I've also started to think more about plans for the next 1-2 years and am very excited about the possibilities.

Day trip to the beach town of Bouznika, only 20 mins from Rabat by train

More to come!

Thanks for the reality check, M!

In no way did my time between July 23rd and Sept 25 feel like reality. I was truly living it up. Drinking, eating, sleeping in, living in Egypt without an ounce of stress. It was as though I was floating through some perfect universe where my only reminder of reality was the fact that my intestines did not love Egyptian food.

Then I arrived in M and BAM! Like a smack on the rear, life begins once again. After a delightful 6 hour flight, I arrived in Casablanca around 11 pm with my 60 kilos of luggage (I know it was 60 kilos because the lovely EgyptAir man made me put all of my checked and carryon baggage onto the scale at one time- thanks to him for letting me keep it all despite being way over the luggage allowance!). Mohamed was waiting for me at the airport (Yay!) and we were able to take the last train into Casa and hop in a taxi to stay with a friend for the night.

I was exhausted and landed to receive the great news of- I have no apartment and no place to go on Sunday. Super! Sunday we took the train up to the capital and sensing my irritation with the situation, Mohamed scrambled to find accommodations. For four days I stayed in a studio apartment where I killed at least three cockroaches on a daily basis. Now, I wouldn't call myself a girlie girl, but I do not do cockroaches and I could not wait to get out of there.

Back in Agdal

On a walk into the city

First time back in the Medina

I spent the four days searching for an apartment, meeting bosses and fellow teachers from school and trying to prepare for my first real teaching job while living out of a suitcase. Many of you know how well I do when not completely unpacked and living in a fully decorated place- it is not pretty! Needless to say I was feeling the stress and when my now roommate Michaela found a beautiful two bedroom, two bathroom place a minute's walk from work. We jumped all over it and moved in three days before the start of classes.

Shots of the new apartment- sparsely furnished

The day before I started teaching I met with my director and got my class schedule. We are guaranteed a minimum of 21 hours per week in our contract. When I was hired, I was told 22-23 hours was pretty typical. Apparently people are super excited about learning english this semester because I have a whopping 25 hours of teaching time. Now, those of you full timers are probably thinking that sounds pretty cushy and believe me, at first I thought the same thing. However, as a new teacher, I don't know what the heck I'm doing and I therefore have to spend loads of time preparing. For example, I spent 7 hours this past Monday (one of my days off) preparing for my 6 hours of classes on Tuesday. Ugh.

The good news is we're now into week two and it's already feeling easier. As with most things, I think the learning curve is just quite steep and you just have to work your rear end off to keep yourself from drowning the first week. And thankfully, I like it! I have a fairly varied class/age load which is nice.

I teach university students in Sale business English on Tuesday afternoons, then head back to AMIDEAST to teach adult beginners and then a TOEFL test preparation course. On Wednesdays I have two (two hour) sessions of 7-10 year olds and I get to do lots of games and coloring with them. Thursdays bring my beginner adults and TOEFL class again, then I have Friday off. Saturday is another long day with with another 2 classes of 7-10 year olds followed by a 3 hour TOEFL test prep session. Sundays are a bit like PC in that I teach teenagers on scholarship who couldn't normally afford classes. While this is a population I prefer to be with, having them for 4 hours is a bit much. Mondays are off.

So for right now, my life generally involves hanging out in my minimally furnished apartment (usually in bed) then heading off to work for preparation or classes. I haven't had much time for anything else and it's been raining cats and dogs for the last 4 days. On days off, I usually go spend some time with Mohamed in his store; otherwise, I don't see him until he closes up and we make a late dinner. For now, there's no other big news there. Just spending time and taking it easy.

Mohamed with his niece Oumayma on a visit to his sister's house in Sale.

Life here has certainly begun.