November 7, 2008--Friday In Marrakesh

On Wednesday, my Moroccan host came to pick me up at 4:15PM after his classes. He is a very nice man--soft spoken and wise in mannerisms. That evening we did not return to the house until 11PM because we went to meet Abdellatif's wife, Nadia where she works. Then we all went out to eat at TGI Friday's. I was a little disappointed that my first meal in Morocco was an American chain restaurant that I have never eaten at in the US. However, I was grateful because I think they are trying so hard to welcome me into their lives and home.

Thursday was a busy day. It is a national holiday in Morocco called "La marche verte" which means the Green March when King Hassan the 2nd went to get the Sahara lands. Anyhow, no one worked so we all went to Marrakesh which is about a 3 hour drive on the highway. They said that in olden times, without the highway, it was very difficult to drive there. We began at 6AM and got home around midnight. With the jetlag, I was quite exhausted but again, what great hospitality.

In Marrakesh, we went to the town's center called "Jamaa lefna" where there were performing monkeys and snakes. Pictures can be taken with them but then of course, due to the tourism there, they want you to pay. One of the most enjoyable experiences for me has been drinking fresh squeezed orange juice. There are stands and stands of them here. All of the food is organic and taste wonderful. You will see it in a picture.

We spent several hours shopping through the open market called "souk." All of the items are so beautiful but if you don't speak Moroccan Arabic, they will charge you three times the normal price. "Normal" is relative though as Abdellatif keeps telling me to bargain when I speak to the vendors. In the US, we are so accustomed to set prices, here he says, that it is cultural to ask for a lower price and not offensive. So I tried it--it worked! I was able to buy three beautiful scarves for 170 "dirhams" which is about 15 US dollars.

They treated me to a Moroccan tattoo called "Henna" which is on my left hand. The afternoon was spent in a beautiful traditional Moroccan restaurant. First they wash your hands, then serve drinks (no alcohol since my family is a practicing Muslim family and so never drink alcohol, lots of coke and orange juice). Then Moroccan bread "khobz dar" with all kinds of vegetables. This is what I ate as they had first chicken and then lamb. They said that it is customary to show their hospitality by cooking a lot of meat so they found it funny that I am vegetarian. Then platters of fresh fruit followed with dessert and also Morrocan mint tea which is delicious. The tea is called "Atay naa naa."

The running joke during meals is that we mix between Moroccan Arabic, Lebanese Arabic (which are not mutually comprehensible), French and English so that everyone can communicate. Nadia's boss is here from Lebanon for one week trying to locate a new store for his natural facial products which are a big hit in Morocco.

Also, lunch is the main meal of the day when everyone comes home from noon to three to eat together. Everything is closed then and dinner is just whatever. As I type this on Rihab's computer (their daughter who is preparing for her bac) I hear in the distance the "Athan" who is on the city's intercom calling everyone to pray. They pray five times a day--the first time at sunrise, the fourth time at sunset and the Ministry sets the other times though they vary during the day. When we went to the supermarket yesterday, there was a man who pulled out his carpet (as the floor must be clean) to pray.

All for today. Tomorrow will be my first day teaching with Abdellatif and I am looking forward to it. He does not teach on Fridays but does on Saturdays.