It’s raining….mud?

I arrived back into country and within the first hour had received 3 marriage proposals (not uncommon), and went to the coast because by all accounts my site was 120 degrees farenheite, it was the weekend and I needed to ease myself in. I was in Essouaira, which is a windy, artsy beach town and was just beautiful. I was there for about a day and a half to deliver a few things from America and to check out the Marche Maroc craft festival that the SBD volunteers here in Morocco were putting on. It was a great event where I did purchase a shirt and a personalized hand of Fatima charm with “Rachida” written on it in Arabic. I headed back to site, first stopping in Marrakech because my site is about 11 hours from Essouaira and can’t be done in one day. I arrived in Kech and walked into the beautiful air conditioned KFC, intent on some sort of chickeny goodness, when I ran into my friends Sam and Stacey. Happy coincidence!

(Some of the American food I brought back. It was so worth lugging this stuff halfway across the world!)

 

I went with them and stayed a a beautiful Riad, with all the amenities a girl could ask for. Then headed 8 hours down to site the next morning. Along the way we made a few stops, at one of them I managed to snag a few rocks from the nearby Atlas mountains for only a few dirhams. I found out during my trip to America that my family loves rocks as souveniers! Who knew??! I’ll keep my eyes open for some beautiful ones, guys! (Also, beach glass.. always..)

(next to the rock guy was the butcher and consequently these horns. I didn’t pick any up on this trip, but the important this is we know they are available. LoL)

I also found my way into a hookah bar while looking for a bathroom and met a hoarde of beautiful kittens. I think the universe might be telling me to get a kitten. I’ll wait for a stronger sign.

I got back to my apartment and let me tell you it is HOT. Words cannot do it justice. When I arrived in my apartment I immediately plugged in my fridge and turned on my fans, but the fridge isn’t nearly cold enough, nothing is freezing and the fans just blow hot air! AHHH! Cold showers do help, but sleeping was really tough. I figure eventually exhaustion will set in and I’ll pass out in a few days.

Even with wetting down my sheets, I still woke up about 5 times last night to perfectly dry sheets I had to re-wet. I also have encountered a few, larger than life cockaroaches which were very hard to do away with. So far the score is Rachida 3, Cockaroaches 0.

 

When I got to site I went to my favorite hanut to buy water and other staples, and my hanut friend Hasan asked ..

 

Hassan: Why have you returned to The Christmas Village?

Rachida: I was in America for three weeks, but I live in The Christmas Village for two years.

Hassan: Yes, but there is no work in The Christmas Village in the summer.

Rachida: Inshallah, children will come to Dar Chebab at night when there is no sun.

Hassan: No they won’t.

Rachida: I must try. But my friends in Zagora do not have children at their Dar Chebab now.

Hassan: Yes, The Christmas Village is the same as Zagora.

 

I knew all of this to be true. People have been telling us since day one that in the summer this country shuts down. My friend Sam had a brilliant idea for increased efficiency in country…. Air Conditioning!!!! Inshallah.

Coming back down and enduring this heat when there is likely very little work is unsettling. But we do have some great events coming up. There is summer camp on the coast which I will be coordinating. There is also opportunities to work at some orphanages throughout the country. After those events there will be some great opportunities to further my integration in my community because it will be Ramadan. Basically it is a religious month long holiday where all Muslims do not eat while the sun is up during August. Apparently this year the first day of Ramadan the sun will be up for the longest it has been in 26 years.

I also saw my host family. Many members are away for the summer already! Naima and Rehab are in Casablanca, and Aziza, Fatima and Asharoff are in Rabat. But I handed out all the gifts anyway and I think the clothes and the photos I brought were the biggest hits. The perfume was good too, but two of the ladies getting the perfume were out of town. Anyway, my sisters LOVED the barbies and looks super cute in their new clothes! I’ll try to get photos of everyone soon.

(This is Aya, wearing one of the new items of clothing I brought

Even if I wind up with a lot of free time, sweating it out, I can always plan for cooler weather. Doing great things at a volunteer is completely on the agenda! It makes leaving all my family and friends somewhat more worth it.

So far today, its about 1pm, I have drank almost 3 liters of water and have not yet had to use the restroom. It’s like literally all the liquid in your body is just sweating out of you. Awesome right? I thought so too!

I went to Zagora and I am now a proud owner of a new USB modem! I’ll be able to update more frequently and skype! As long as it’s good weather the connection seems to be great. We’ve actually gotten a little rain, and sandstorms lately which when combined, it appears to be raining mud.

Thanks for always reading guys.. I miss you all!