Heather in Morocco: June 2009

I completed the week of training in Brattleboro Vermont.
We received a greatly detailed itinerary that describes every day of the trip and really looks great. Tomorrow we leave for the airport, meet the students, and by 2:30on Tuesday, will be in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, hitting the ground running.

The first week is packed with workshops on Moroccan culture, hands-on activities like traditional cooking and crafts, and lessons in Darija, the Moroccan dialect of Arabic. I am really interested in learning some Arabic, and also having another opportunity to strengthen my French. After that we begin travel, which will take us all over the country.

It will be hot. And men will be agressive. And I won't have internet at my fingertips 24-7. But this is okay. I think the trip will be amazing. Now that I know more details, it is easier to be more excited and less anxious. I've had a year to digest Mali, and think by now I might have enough space in my head and heart to explore a new country. I am also really looking forward to getting to know the 11 teenage girls (young women?) that comprise our group, and working with them to build a strong group dynamic that will make for a fullfilling and fun experience for all.

I'll be working with a male co-leader from the States, as well as a male coordinator from Morocco and male and female staff from the Moroccan Center for Cross Cultural Learning. We are really well supported and I think this is going to be a packed, but fantastic four weeks.

Wish me a safe trip, and no lost baggage, passports, or students :)

Love,
Heather

Hello!
This past month has been something of a whirlwind.
Just over a month ago I graduated college and went home to sleep, watch tv, and madly search for a job. 2 weeks later I moved to Brooklyn. 1 week after arriving, I had a job and a sublet and was starting to plan out my fantastic summer in NYC, when I got a call to work for World Learning/the Experiment in International Living (EIL), leading their high school trip to Morocco for the month of July. I spent my second week in NYC prepping for this trip, and came home again on Monday eve.

So here I am.

Driving to Vermont tomorrow for training, and flying out on Monday the 29th. About three days after I return, I'll start working full time for Citizen Schools in Brooklyn. I guess I am a busy person. I thought it would end after high school, but it didnt. I thought it would end after college, but apparently not. That's okay though because everything that makes me busy is stuff I want to be doing. I feel very fortunate.

So this is just the intro blog. I am sure it will be more interesting once I am in Morocco. For now, I'll tell you a little about what that might be like.

This is Morocco. It is in North Africa and has an eclectic mix of African, European, and Middle Eastern influences. The program will travel around the country, staying in a number of cities and villages, and focusing largly on the arts.

Here's a summary of the intinerary:

ORIENTATION – RABAT
Begin Arabic language lessons, explore neighborhoods, visit markets, learn the art of traditional Louh tablet writing, cook couscous, and hear from local experts about religion, gender roles in Moroccan society, and health and safety.

TRAVEL – FES and THE DESERT
Activities may include a guided tour of Meknes, a picnic and visit to Volubilis, a meeting with artists in the Fes Medina, and continued language training and orientation. Travel to Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara for a day on the sand dunes. Explore the desert by Landrover and camel. Transfer to Hassi Labiad and N’Kob to meet with a women’s artists collective and share lunch with a local family. Transfer to Marrakech to explore the city, visit local gardens, and
spend time with storytellers, snake-charmers, and acrobats in the Jama Lfna.

HOMESTAY, ARTS, and SERVICE – BOUJAAD
Transfer to your homestay in Boujaad. Spend two weeks with a host family in this
small Moroccan village. During your homestay you will get together with your group
to work with local weavers, learn to cook traditional Moroccan meals, engage in multiple community service projects, learn traditional music and dance, and enjoy excursions outside of the village to a regional Souk and pottery collective.

TRAVEL – MARRAKECH and ESSAOUIRA
Transfer back to Marrakech for another day of activities and exploration. Travel to Essaouira for a few days of rest and relaxation in this ancient port city. Enjoy area beaches, meals at street-side cafes, and shopping in local markets.

DEPARTURE – RABAT
Arrive in JFK airport the evening of July 30.

Here is an address to send me mail:
Please send mail care of the local representative:
Farah Cherif D'Ouezzan, Center for Cross Cultural Learning and Thaqafat Association
Av. Laalou, Derb Jirari, Zkt Hassanit #11, Rabat Medina, MOROCCO

Emails would also be fun to get. Or blog comments. Or facebook.

If you want to know more about Morocco, here are some videos:

The Grande Mosquée Hassan The Second
(if you click to watch on Youtube, there are many other Morocco videos by this org)