The past few days have been so incredible and busy and exhausting. On Thursday afternoon I met my host family, and upon arrival to our new home we were amazed. While most of the other students on our trip live in apartment buildings a few blocks from AMIDEAST (our school,) our family is about a 10 minute drive to the suburbs -- and our house is practically a palace. High ceilings with light flowing in the windows each morning to wake you up, three ornately decorated living rooms with couches along the perimeter of the room that could seat at least 20 people each, a marble staircase, and beautifully designed rugs. It is incredible, the immense difference between the apartment we expected and...this.
Moroccan families are known for hospitality, and ours is no different. An enormous amount of food is offered to us every couple of hours, and the biggest meal of the day is lunch. Moroccans welcome their guests by feeding them and feeding them until they practically reach a food coma, and when the guest declines another serving... Well, they are given another serving anyway. There is lots of bread (khobs) and food is supposed to be eaten with our hands, or using the bread as a utensil, but our host family gave us forks (they only own about 4) because Americans are not accustom to this eating style, and they have hosted Americans before. I actually really enjoy eating this way, but bread being served with every single dish is a little much.. Carbo-loading to the extreme. The food we are served is so delicious though. For breakfast (iftar) we are generally given a flat pan fried bread with jam, cheese, butter, or pretty much anything else you could put on it. Lunch is a type of tajine, but on the weekdays we will be eating lunch at cafes neat AMIDEAST each day until Ramadan begins. I haven't yet decided if I will be fasting. When we get home around 5 or 6 each day, there is tea time. Mint tea is the national drink of Morocco, and it is usually served with some kind of pastry. Moroccans don't eat dinner until MUCH later than we do at home, so dinner for us is served around 10:00 PM, but the family doesn't usually eat until around midnight..I'm pretty sure that Moroccans just don't sleep as much as Americans. My family consists of a host mom, dad, adult son, sister-in-law, and a few other siblings who do not live there but visit quite often. Two adorable grandchildren are also running around, and always speak to me in French expecting me to understand.. But I don't. My family is so kind to me, but there is one issue.
The language barrier is unbelievably frustrating. At times it can be hilarious if you kind of but don't really understand the gist of what they are saying, and do something completely wrong, but its simultaneously a nightmare. I am so used to speaking to my family at home, effortlessly and without charades. Here, even the simplest task of putting my water bottle in the fridge involves pointing and hoping it makes sense.. I start official Arabic classes on Monday (though I have already had some survival Arabic, so there is one phrase I have used constantly - "Ana shbaet. I am full." I have an extremely limited vocabulary thus far, but my host mom keeps teaching me little words and I have already picked up on a few things simply by listening. When they are speaking to each other and I hear even one word I recognize, I get really excited. Sure, I am completely unaware of the context.. but hey, I recognize the word!! It's a good feeling. I can't wait until I am actually able to converse with people though, at least to some extent.
The past few days have included a tour of Rabat - the Royal Palace, The Medina, the beach..just to name a few. I am so enamored by the Medina. It is the old walled city, and is a giant market where you bargain with vendors to buy any and everything. Another fabulous and useful phrase I learned - "Can I take a picture?" So, I guess survival Arabic has come in pretty handy. We met with Moroccan high school students who will be a wonderful resource for us as well - they are all alumni of the YES abroad program or will be coming to the US in August. The architecture here is incredible, and I have a slight obsession with doors (baab) that are in the Medina. Such an array it is inexplicable.. I will have to just post pictures. Seriously though, I could live in the blue and white neighborhood of the Medina, learn Arabic, and watch the ocean from my house and be content.. It is such a wonderful place. Miss-communications and all.
On an ending note, today was wrapped up with a "barbecue" at the American School to celebrate Independence Day a little early. It was lovely to get into the pool after such a hot, long, day.
Monday marks the beginning of official Arabic Classes (three hours of MSA, one hour of Darija each day.) Insh'Allah I will be able to fend for myself in the city soon.
Love from Morocco, Marg
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