Here are a couple of fun video's from the wedding
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
wedding weekend
By far the best part of the summer was the wedding we went to. We had been to a Moroccan wedding before, but it was completely different this time. Our friends really went out of their way to make us feel like we were an important part of the whole weekend, and I really did feel like I was a part of the family. Nezha, the grooms sister took me dress shopping the week before and helped me pick out a beautiful dress. I wanted to fit in with the rest of the woman so I picked out a Morocco an style kaftan (a lacy robe was included but Nezha said it looked better without it, and I agreed) During the week Matthew helped me pick a pair of shoes out from the souk(they were pointed toes and two inch heels) the were only $2.
The following Sunday there was a henna party. It's similar to a rehearsal dinner the day before the wedding. But the whole extended family (+friends in this case) were there, and it lasted from 3pm-1am. When we arrived Alicia the bride was getting henna designs on her hands and feet. The sisters were dancing and sweating up a storm to some Moroccan music. It was 95 degrees inside and miserably humid. Zetta quickly got stimulation overload and Matthew took her back to the hotel for a quick afternoon nap. Tea and coffee and cookies abounded even though it was way too hot to have anything sweet or hot. We didn't have dinner until midnight, and there was a lack of space so the family invited us downstairs to have our food with them in their living room. We quickly left because it was way past Zetta's bedtime- surprisingly she wasn't exhausted.
Monday morning Zetta and I had breakfast at the hotel while Matthew went on an adventure in the Medina. The waiter and chef had fun playing with Zetta and taking their pictures with her while I ate. After breakfast Zetta and I went over to the El Yacoubi's to see what they were up to. They were all singing in the living room while making orange juice and peach juice for the wedding. We both decided to take a nap when we got back to the hotel. Matthew returned around 2 and we ventured out for lunch. Matthew became Mr. Taxi driver for all the family around 5, so I got dolled up in the hotel while Zetta took another nap. I don't think I've worn that much makeup and used that much hairspray since prom. I knew all the Moroccans would be all plastered up and I didn't want to look like a plain Jane.
We arrived at the reception and the party was already in full swing. I joined in the dancing while Matthew found us seats. The reception was a blast, it was great to see the family having so much fun. We didn't realize that dinner wasn't going to be served, so we ended up just eating cookies and other sweat treats all night. I think we must have gone into a temporary diabetic coma because when we got back around 12:30 our heads hit the pillow right away.
The following Sunday there was a henna party. It's similar to a rehearsal dinner the day before the wedding. But the whole extended family (+friends in this case) were there, and it lasted from 3pm-1am. When we arrived Alicia the bride was getting henna designs on her hands and feet. The sisters were dancing and sweating up a storm to some Moroccan music. It was 95 degrees inside and miserably humid. Zetta quickly got stimulation overload and Matthew took her back to the hotel for a quick afternoon nap. Tea and coffee and cookies abounded even though it was way too hot to have anything sweet or hot. We didn't have dinner until midnight, and there was a lack of space so the family invited us downstairs to have our food with them in their living room. We quickly left because it was way past Zetta's bedtime- surprisingly she wasn't exhausted.
Monday morning Zetta and I had breakfast at the hotel while Matthew went on an adventure in the Medina. The waiter and chef had fun playing with Zetta and taking their pictures with her while I ate. After breakfast Zetta and I went over to the El Yacoubi's to see what they were up to. They were all singing in the living room while making orange juice and peach juice for the wedding. We both decided to take a nap when we got back to the hotel. Matthew returned around 2 and we ventured out for lunch. Matthew became Mr. Taxi driver for all the family around 5, so I got dolled up in the hotel while Zetta took another nap. I don't think I've worn that much makeup and used that much hairspray since prom. I knew all the Moroccans would be all plastered up and I didn't want to look like a plain Jane.
We arrived at the reception and the party was already in full swing. I joined in the dancing while Matthew found us seats. The reception was a blast, it was great to see the family having so much fun. We didn't realize that dinner wasn't going to be served, so we ended up just eating cookies and other sweat treats all night. I think we must have gone into a temporary diabetic coma because when we got back around 12:30 our heads hit the pillow right away.
It was nice to spend a couple of days away from Ifrane, it starts to crash in on you living in such a small village. It was good to catch up on time we've missed with them.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Human Machine
I've recently been separated from an important machine, one that I rely on weekly to do a highly important job...the one that does the laundry for me. The university is closed for the rest of the summer, which means the washing machine is locked away.
Regina Spektor's new album has been on repeat all summer and this song, Machine, is fitting:
So I have been the human washing machine for the past month and will continue to be for the month of August. I learned from a neighbor that the easiest way to do it is by standing in the tub and stomping and swishing the clothes with your feet. So that's been my method. I usually imagine myself as Lucy. She did an episode in Italy and learned how to crush grapes with her feet. It usually makes the experience enjoyable when I imagine myself this way.
Regina Spektor's new album has been on repeat all summer and this song, Machine, is fitting:
So I have been the human washing machine for the past month and will continue to be for the month of August. I learned from a neighbor that the easiest way to do it is by standing in the tub and stomping and swishing the clothes with your feet. So that's been my method. I usually imagine myself as Lucy. She did an episode in Italy and learned how to crush grapes with her feet. It usually makes the experience enjoyable when I imagine myself this way.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Bird of prey..flying high
Matthew and I had a unexpected guest join us today. We didn't realize he was here until late afternoon, and by then he had been waiting for quite some time. I have to admit I was a bit surprised and frightened because he came in unannounced. Meet Mr. Barbary Falcon:
He came down the chimney sometime today and we were both terrified that it was a bat. Matthew insisted I get help, so I got the watchman to come over and take a look. He very casually put on our oven mitt and scooped the poor little guy out of the fire place. I'm sure he was relieved to make it back outside alive. We think it might have been a baby that fell out of his nest on top of the roof, although he did fly away pretty fast.
Another interesting day in Morocco. On a side note, I suggest this recipe Moroccan Chicken and Lentils (change the amount of servings unless you want 12!). It's not a Moroccan recipe in the least, but it was really good none the less.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Getting away
I've been meaning to write about our trip up north all week, but surprisingly I've been relatively busy and haven't had the chance.
In short, it was a much needed getaway. Ifrane is a wonderful city to live in, but it can start to cave in on you after a while.
Seeing the Rif mountains for the first time was amazing. They are quite a dramatic sight for someone who's lived in NW Ohio most of her life. Our hotel in Tetuan had a breathtaking view of the mountains. Both nights we stayed there Matthew and I sat out on our 5th floor balcony after Zetta went to sleep and just stared at them and the life going on down bellow.
Getting to see Mike was really great, definitely the highlight of the whole trip. Of course the time flew by way too fast and he was gone before we knew it, but nonetheless it was so nice to be with family. It's what we miss most here and it's what keeps us from really truly feeling at home. He made us feel loved and missed, and we're both really grateful that he made the trip (we know it wasn't all for us but it really meant a lot)
We made a short stop at the beach on our way back home and Zetta got to "swim" for the first time in the hotel's pool in her baby float. She also took a quick little dip in the ocean with me that she seemed to enjoy. The place we stayed, La Felouque, is amazing because it's right on the beach in a fairly secluded area, and the rooms have patios that open up right to the ocean. In the morning you wake up to the sound of the ocean waves and the sun streams through the yellow curtains sooo beautifully---and then to top it off they include breakfast in their open air restaurant that faces the ocean. It's Heavenly. I really couldn't think of anything better. Not to mention it's costs less than $50 a night for all this dreaminess.
Well it's back to Ifrane for now. Today we're going to have couscous at one of my students' house for lunch, it should be interesting.
In short, it was a much needed getaway. Ifrane is a wonderful city to live in, but it can start to cave in on you after a while.
Seeing the Rif mountains for the first time was amazing. They are quite a dramatic sight for someone who's lived in NW Ohio most of her life. Our hotel in Tetuan had a breathtaking view of the mountains. Both nights we stayed there Matthew and I sat out on our 5th floor balcony after Zetta went to sleep and just stared at them and the life going on down bellow.
Getting to see Mike was really great, definitely the highlight of the whole trip. Of course the time flew by way too fast and he was gone before we knew it, but nonetheless it was so nice to be with family. It's what we miss most here and it's what keeps us from really truly feeling at home. He made us feel loved and missed, and we're both really grateful that he made the trip (we know it wasn't all for us but it really meant a lot)
We made a short stop at the beach on our way back home and Zetta got to "swim" for the first time in the hotel's pool in her baby float. She also took a quick little dip in the ocean with me that she seemed to enjoy. The place we stayed, La Felouque, is amazing because it's right on the beach in a fairly secluded area, and the rooms have patios that open up right to the ocean. In the morning you wake up to the sound of the ocean waves and the sun streams through the yellow curtains sooo beautifully---and then to top it off they include breakfast in their open air restaurant that faces the ocean. It's Heavenly. I really couldn't think of anything better. Not to mention it's costs less than $50 a night for all this dreaminess.
Well it's back to Ifrane for now. Today we're going to have couscous at one of my students' house for lunch, it should be interesting.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
ABC is not as simple as DO RE MI
I've started teaching English at the women's center in Ifrane and it's really a dream come true for me. I've been needing purpose and relationships, but I just hadn't found that until now. I teach twice a week for an hour at a time. The women's center is a place where women can learn how to use the computer, how to sew, how to bake, how to make/paint ceramics, and how to read/write/speak French, Arabic, and now English.
The girls that I teach range from 10 years old to their mid-twenties and they all come from a small small village 10 minutes outside of Ifrane called Tarmilat. They are from some of the poorest families in this region of Morocco. All of these girls had to stop going to school so they could work in and around their homes. Most of them have only have up to a 1st grade level of education. They are hardly able to read or write in their own language of Arabic, so this makes teaching them another language really challenging. But now that we've had three classes I'm starting to figure out how they learn best and I think we're making pretty good progress. We've gone through basic greetings, the alphabet, numbers, and pronouns so far.
Teaching this class has really meant so much to me already. I'm so so surprised at how my outlook on life can change with just a little bit of purpose outside of the house. I'm looking forward to getting to know each of the girls better and building a trust and friendship with them through time. I'm also hoping I'll have the chance to improve my Arabic in the process.
The girls that I teach range from 10 years old to their mid-twenties and they all come from a small small village 10 minutes outside of Ifrane called Tarmilat. They are from some of the poorest families in this region of Morocco. All of these girls had to stop going to school so they could work in and around their homes. Most of them have only have up to a 1st grade level of education. They are hardly able to read or write in their own language of Arabic, so this makes teaching them another language really challenging. But now that we've had three classes I'm starting to figure out how they learn best and I think we're making pretty good progress. We've gone through basic greetings, the alphabet, numbers, and pronouns so far.
Teaching this class has really meant so much to me already. I'm so so surprised at how my outlook on life can change with just a little bit of purpose outside of the house. I'm looking forward to getting to know each of the girls better and building a trust and friendship with them through time. I'm also hoping I'll have the chance to improve my Arabic in the process.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
A Bug and Bugs, Part 2
Today has been a total blur for me. I've pretty much either been in bed or in the bathroom. I caught something last night (probably food poisoning) and it haunted me all night and all day. Soooo miserable. Matthew was a saint and took care of Zetta and me all day, I would have been lost without him. He went on a special run for chocolate pudding- it was the only thing that sounded good. And he even read a couple chapters of his new book to me while I rested.
The other bugs that have been a major nuisance to me are the creepy crawly kind. The ants have stopped invading our kitchen. I made sure the sugar and honey are tucked away beyond sight. But the spiders, earwigs, and mosquito's are in full swing. I like to have the windows open during the day when the sun is out, and I think the bugs are taking advantage of it.
A few days ago a yellow/orange spider followed me on my towel to the shower. It crawled off and scurried into hiding while I screamed bloody murder. Matthew came to find it and kill it, but he gave up after a few minutes. I whined for a while about having to get it myself, but I found it hiding behind a shampoo bottle after I got in. I'm glad I was able to just spray it down the drain, I really hate having to smash spiders, the crunch is what gets me.
Now I'm off to get the blood thirsty suckers. It's a never ending hunt, we're both convinced they are super mosquito's- faster, stronger, and bigger.
The other bugs that have been a major nuisance to me are the creepy crawly kind. The ants have stopped invading our kitchen. I made sure the sugar and honey are tucked away beyond sight. But the spiders, earwigs, and mosquito's are in full swing. I like to have the windows open during the day when the sun is out, and I think the bugs are taking advantage of it.
A few days ago a yellow/orange spider followed me on my towel to the shower. It crawled off and scurried into hiding while I screamed bloody murder. Matthew came to find it and kill it, but he gave up after a few minutes. I whined for a while about having to get it myself, but I found it hiding behind a shampoo bottle after I got in. I'm glad I was able to just spray it down the drain, I really hate having to smash spiders, the crunch is what gets me.
Now I'm off to get the blood thirsty suckers. It's a never ending hunt, we're both convinced they are super mosquito's- faster, stronger, and bigger.
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