The first week
Of course it’s hard to realize that I’ve only been in Morocco for one week. One can defenitely see it in my Darija, but other than that, things feel quite normal here. This, in my opinion, is because of the amazingly warm and open culture. Case in point: because of the ‘world events’, you have to be careful when you’re walking around the streets; it is not a good idea to bring more attention to yourself than already possible. Two days ago, I was walking with three other PCT’s (Peace Corps Trainees) through the medina (city in Darija, but more like the market). We passed by a door that was only half-way open and one of the PCT’s stuck his head in and said in Darija that the woodwork he saw was beautiful. The tradtional greeting ritual was preformed, and then the shop owner said, ‘Americans welcomed here’. This one statement was very powerful, because although the shop owner couldn’t definetely know that we were US-Americans, he was willing to welcome us, or any US-Americanm into his shop and his country, for that matter.
Yesterday I went to the Kasbah (fortress) area of Rabat. Talk about beautiful! I wish I could figure out how to complete the process of camera - computer - internet cafe - internet so you could all see what I see. The Kasbah was built in the 11th and 12th centuries as a prison. Now it’s an artisinal community with cafes that overlook the cliffs and the ocean. I also had lunch yesterday at a fantastic house in the suburban area of Rabat. From what I understand, if most houses are like this, I might just have to move here.
I’ll be here in Rabat until next Saturday when I travel to Fez and Meknes to do my community-based training until the day after Thanksgiving. I’m very excited.