After nearly three long months, we’re finally through the training process. We’re official Peace Corps volunteers! The swearing in ceremony was lovely. It’s hard to believe I won’t be around these lovely folks again for some time.
I have a force that drives me to see the extent of things, to examine them completely. Being in Morocco, part of this means I want to see every part of her, every nook and cranny, to understand what makes her tick. To that end, upon leaving Figuig, I ventured due north to the city…
The other day, we went for a lovely drive into the foothills of the lesser Atlas Mountains with our friend Khadija and her brother Said to acquire special water from a spring near a wonderful little village called Taghouchte (tah-ghroosht) that is nestled into an even lovelier oasis next to the mountains. I suppose there…
That old adage about pictures being worth words? In that spirit I will keep written words brief and share pictures of what I’ve done since my last post: I am back in town after a very fruitful week of In-Service Training (IST) with other Peace Corps Volunteers in Rabat. Lots and lots of good information…
Tomorrow Thomas and I travel to Rabat for 10 days to attend the Peace Corps In-Service Training (IST). The venue we are staying at is right next to the beach, and I am greatly looking forward to being near the ocean. I can’t begin to explain how eager I am to dip my feet in…
It is day four of Ramadan, so Ramadan Mubarek to you all! Thus far the experience of participating is rather different than I had expected, in large part because my energy level is at times way lower than I anticipated it would be. The process of fasting from 3:30 AM until 7:30 PM means my sleeping…
Today is my 41st birthday—how the heck did that happen?! I could have sworn I was still in my 30s! Last year I was in Seattle to mark my 40th birthday, and greatly enjoyed an amazing home-cooked meal with some of my favorite people in the world: Thomas, Mom, Norman (my birthday twin!), and Andi.…
Oh, what a wonderful day! This morning at 11:00am, Thomas and I, along with all the other trainees, recited the United States Oath of Allegiance and become real live Peace Corps volunteers! The US Ambassador to Morocco, Ambassador Dwight L. Bush, and the Secretary of Morocco’s Department of Youth and Sport, both attended the service. It was…
Thomas and I arrived in Rabat on Saturday, after a slightly tearful goodbye with Lala Fatima and Zakia. After a much needed long, hot shower, I went to see the newly opened Mohammed 6 Museum of Modern Art with my friends Esther, Noa and Alice. While I enjoyed the current exhibit, Medieval Maroc, I favored the…
It’s the last day of 2014, and I am in a reflective mood as we prepare to leave for Morocco in exactly two weeks. My brain space around our upcoming departure vacillates from excitement to fear every six-to-eight minutes. At this moment I am excited, but by the time I am finished writing this post I may…
