To Friends and Family,
We've moved in and have settled into a routine with our Moroccan families. Ramadan has been an interesting and eye-opening experience for all. As we end the month of fasting, our families are buying new clothes, new couches, and preparing for the Holy Day. The young girls are running through the streets with hennaed hands and feet, and the young boys are wearing their finest tuxes and jelabas topped with a Fez.
Several of us are still adjusting to Morocco, and by the time we're fully acclimated, we'll probably be heading to Egypt.
Last week, our group of 15 took a trip to Meknes and Volubilus, the
furthest Roman outpost during the Roman Empire. A tour under the hot sun
gave us the experience of Roman life without air conditioning.
Later this week, we're expecting to visit a local home for children whose parents cannot support their children. With money designated to being given to causes on our trip, donated by previous TIMErs, we are happy to say that we've decided to give some of our money to the home, so they can afford a serving of meat, once a week, for an entire year. We will also be paying for supplies for the school.
With all this fun stuff we've been doing, we've had class as well. We've
been taking Arabic from two separate teachers in the mornings, and in the afternoon, sociology from Dr. Fatima Amrani, a very Fassi woman.
Living in the labyrinth of the Medina has been a wonderful experience, and each of us successfully finds an exit every day, only to return to it's depths every evening. Our host families vary from 6 children and two parents, to one mother and her full grown son. The experiences and stories each of us brings to class everyday bring laughs and looks of shock to everyone.
We're enjoying the Moroccan weather of 80* almost everyday, while we hear stories of snowing at home already. While everyone prepares for the
ensuing holiday's, we're going to find ourselves traveling through the
Moroccan countryside, starting on Oct 23. With only a week and a half left with our families, we're mixed with feelings of sadness, and excitement. We'll miss the home cooked meal, and every-man-for-himself style of eating, but the over energized children won't be missed as much.
Sincerely,
Your favorite TIMEr.
We've moved in and have settled into a routine with our Moroccan families. Ramadan has been an interesting and eye-opening experience for all. As we end the month of fasting, our families are buying new clothes, new couches, and preparing for the Holy Day. The young girls are running through the streets with hennaed hands and feet, and the young boys are wearing their finest tuxes and jelabas topped with a Fez.
Several of us are still adjusting to Morocco, and by the time we're fully acclimated, we'll probably be heading to Egypt.
Last week, our group of 15 took a trip to Meknes and Volubilus, the
furthest Roman outpost during the Roman Empire. A tour under the hot sun
gave us the experience of Roman life without air conditioning.
Later this week, we're expecting to visit a local home for children whose parents cannot support their children. With money designated to being given to causes on our trip, donated by previous TIMErs, we are happy to say that we've decided to give some of our money to the home, so they can afford a serving of meat, once a week, for an entire year. We will also be paying for supplies for the school.
With all this fun stuff we've been doing, we've had class as well. We've
been taking Arabic from two separate teachers in the mornings, and in the afternoon, sociology from Dr. Fatima Amrani, a very Fassi woman.
Living in the labyrinth of the Medina has been a wonderful experience, and each of us successfully finds an exit every day, only to return to it's depths every evening. Our host families vary from 6 children and two parents, to one mother and her full grown son. The experiences and stories each of us brings to class everyday bring laughs and looks of shock to everyone.
We're enjoying the Moroccan weather of 80* almost everyday, while we hear stories of snowing at home already. While everyone prepares for the
ensuing holiday's, we're going to find ourselves traveling through the
Moroccan countryside, starting on Oct 23. With only a week and a half left with our families, we're mixed with feelings of sadness, and excitement. We'll miss the home cooked meal, and every-man-for-himself style of eating, but the over energized children won't be missed as much.
Sincerely,
Your favorite TIMEr.