Hello again!

 

I'm going to tell you now, I'm going to start updating a lot less starting very, very soon. In a few days, we're going on "field trip" which is a period of time when we get to spend a few days with a current health volunteer to get a sort of feel for what life is going to be like as a volunteer.

 

The last few days have been incredible. I suppose I'm still honeymooning with this experience, so to speak, but honestly, several times a day it hits me that this is really what I am doing with my life and it almost moves me to tears. I feel so honored to be able to have this experience and keep looking at myself wondering what I've done to deserve such an opportunity. Maybe in a few months my outlook will be different, but I'm relishing it while I have it.

 

Sunday was a SDL or self-directed learning day with no classes. It was a lot of fun and I felt productive. I got a cell phone for 400D, we learned from one of our LCFs how to wash clothes by hand on the roof, and we had an informal "tea talk" on dress, hijabs (head scarves), and the hammam. For breakfast, a group of us ladies walked to a local cafe and in halting Arabic quickly replaced with French, we got cappuccinos and bread with laughing cow cheese. It was fun, and a little boy, probably barely a year old, ran around and interacted with us. Thank GOD for kids. I know that whenever language barrier is a problem, I'll always be able to smile and laugh with kids.

 

Later that day, I was going with another friend to get money from the ATM, and the woman from the cafe, the child's mother, came up and shook my hand and tried to talk to me. It was so friendly, and I felt real warmth. A bunch of girls came and surrounded me and I was able to tell them I was an American, my name, ask their name, and that was about it, but it was fun. We all giggled a lot. Laughter: another important barrier-breaker. The woman ran back to the cafe and gave me a tube of chapstick that one of the other trainees left and welcomed me back anytime.

 

Even when buying a phone, everyone has been friendly and helpful. Again, I did this mainly in French, which has been a blessing and a curse, but honestly, the patience and understanding and willingness to try to work things out that many people here seem to have has really floored me.

 

Our training is also more comprehensive than I could dream of. I've been stuck 5 or 6 times with vaccinations (today: 2nd of 3 rabies shots), and we've learned a lot about many different areas of knowledge that will be useful. Our job description, so to speak, made me feel ready and empowered because it all sounded like things that I can do, regardless of my limited  health knowledgem and things that are realistic and will make a difference in the community. We'll be working hand-in-hand with the Moroccan Ministry of Health as well, which really makes me feel like this will help with sustainability. Talking to current volunteers has been inspiring, but I feel like even though my learning curve might be steep and things will go slowly, I can do something that will be helpful and useful to my community, wherever that will be.

 

I'm still in awe of our training staff. One person has a MPH from UNC... what a small world! I'm interested in that program, and have a good friend in that program right now and my sister is there for undergraduate studies right now.  In any case, and I'm being honest here, the people who train us are really top-notch... and we have a lot of fun! It's going to get busy soon, but really, hopefully it won't be too overwhelming. Enshallah. I'm eating healthily, walking around, and getting a good night's sleep, so that has been helpful.

 

Arabic script is coming along. I randomly sort of tried to read a sign last night and I figured it out: it was the name of the town we're in right now. Town or city, I can't really tell which, but the script is easier than I had anticipated and the LCFs are more helpful than you could know.

 

I really want a djelleba. I may go shopping for fabric after class today with one of our LCFs.

 

For those of you who are curious, we do have hot showers right now, but there are about 4 for maybe 45 people. I haven't had to wait, but I've only showered twice since I've been here. Doing laundry is fun though hard work, but I've at least done some, though I think one of my shirts flew off the roof! I learned the hard way: just one clothespin won't do it!

 

As far as Islam here, the call to prayer is still really moving for me, and honestly, when I hear it, I'll say a little prayer to myself. I've never seen anyone praying the way I had imagined, but when I asked an LCF about it, they said most people do but they do it in private. Even in our homestays, we might not see it even though the whole family might do it. Interesting. As someone who's fairly private about my own faith, I can understand that. Obviously there is more I could say on Islam and living here, but really the most important thing is that I feel really comfortable even as an outsider.

 

For those who wonder if I cover my head, the answer is not yet. Most women here do, but not all. I could go my entire 27 months without doing it, some volunteers don't, and even our language teachers who are all Moroccans do not all wear them. I still am thinking about whether or not it'd make sense, but if it helps integrate, I'll do it.

 

Another sort of surprise: the Hammam (Turkish baths). I haven't been yet, but apparently it's normal to bathe in these communal rooms in underwear only. Given the emphasis on modest dress, it made me realize a little more about modesty: it's really male/female based. Even though I'd have no problems wearing a shorter skirt, or short sleeves, I am a bit nervous to bathe so publicly with other women, even though it's fairly normal here. This is sort of a generalization, but it made me realize some of the intricacies of some cultural ideas: what seemed at first like a paradox (they cover their heads but will bathe in a public bath house only in underwear?) really makes sense the more you think about it. I have moments like these constantly and it's good to learn and really start to try to delve into things deeper.

 

Don't be surprised if you don't hear from me for a week or two. I don't know when I'll get back to a cyber, and I know I won't during field trip. Until then, thanks for your interest in the blog, and keep in touch! I want to know what's going on back home!

 

Baraka lla hu fik.