Ahlan! Shianne speaking. My second week in Morocco was enlightening. I discovered a lot of things for the first time. Riane and I found our way to the beach and spent the afternoon there. I like the way the sand feels, it's a lot different than the Gulf of Mexico beaches or coastal Georgia beaches that I'm used to. We had the opportunity to visit a center for children in difficult situations, which was very rewarding. Singing songs, dancing, and playing games with them made their day. It feels nice taking your own time to spend time with kids who could use some laughter. I wish I would have been feeling better during our weekend trip to Meknes and Fes, so that I could experience more. I enjoyed the Souq in Fes because it was so much larger than the one in Rabat. There was so much to see, and a lot of things happening all at once. I could have gone my entire life without seeing a decapitated camel, however. Until next time, Ma'Salamu!
This past week here has been yet another one I will never forget. I started the week off with some great food, as always, at the Qalam center. Later that day we went to the river for a fun little kayaking trip. We just went out into the middle of the river and swam around for a while and raced and such. After that we had some great food at an Italian place right by it. On Tuesday we had the pleasure of going to the school for the kids who were in bad situations. We played with them for a while and had a great time there. Wednesday was a day to catch up on sleep with a long nap and some studying before going to bed for the night. Thursday was another pretty easy day for us but we also had the cooking class. We were taught how to properly cut and prepare all the ingredients for a chicken tajine and how to cook it. This was very fun but sadly I didn't get to try the food we made. On Friday we decided to go grab some sushi and met a really cool guy who owns a chain of Japanese restaurants. He practiced his English with us and we practiced our Arabic with him and he also gave us some free coffee and a free sushi roll. After that we went to Mawazine to see Pitbull. This was my first concert and it was a really good time. Saturday morning we hopped on the bus for a long weekend in Walili, Meknes, and Fes. We got to tour the ruins of Walili and the cities of Fes and Meknes. We, as always, spent a lot of time in the shops looking at how they make pottery and leather and got to shop around until we made the trip back here.
This week we had our midterms. I think I did alright at it. The way some of it was done was confusing. For the vowel part my class had different words than the rest of the groups so we were so lost when the words they were saying didn’t match the words on our tests. At first I didn’t realize that the matching the picture with the words continued on the next page. The first picture was a car but I wasn’t seeing the word for it. The writing at the end was by far the hardest part. I couldn’t remember some of the words and pretty sure I made one up. I have a hard time with spelling even in English so remembering how to spell words in Arabic was a little difficult. For the weekend excursion we went to Fez and Meknes. In Meknes we stopped at the Roman Ruins of Walili (Volubilis). I really enjoyed seeing the ruins and learning the history of it. They are still doing excavations there and I’m going to see if I can get a job excavating. From Walili you can see the city of Moulay Idiss. Idiss , a descendant from the profit, founded the city and is also lain to rest here. Fez was a really big city crammed close together. We walked down some really narrow streets when getting to the souk. The river that divided the two cities of Fez now runs under the city and is really polluted. People just throw their trash in it and walk on. We saw people cleaning the scum off the side of the street and when they were done they threw that bag down into the river. After lunch we saw a weaving shop where they make fabric for different clothes. Then we went to a tannery where they soak the leather and make it different colors. The tannery was under reconstruction so we didn’t actually see them doing it. They said the mix bird poop in with it and that it smells really bad so we lucked out on not having to smell it.
Okay, so I know y'all obviously want to know what I've been up to for the past week, so heres the break down. Week two has been just as wonderful as week one was. Each day has been an adventure. Me and Shianne took a taxi all by ourselves for the first time to the beach and had fun just relaxing in the sun. On Tuesday we were able to go and visit some children in unfortunate situations and dance and play with them. It was a lot of fun to see them so happy and smiling even with the language barrier. Seeing the ruins and walking around them was fantastic. I love history and architecture so seeing the 7 huge bronze doors in Fes was just stunning to me. Fes was the best and I'm pretty sure I'm in love with that city. I could actually spend days just walking around the medina getting lost in the tiny streets. Shopping in the markets is the best because you get to bargain for what you want. I'll really miss that when I go back to the states, but at least I have some awesome stuff to bring back. Can't wait for the blue city!
Hey it is Savannah here again. Well the second week went okay. It was a little more difficult for me then last week, but it was still a good week. We took our midterms this past week, which weren’t to bad of exams. I learned a good amount of information, and it is getting easier to speak and understand Arabic which is always a good thing (that is what we are here for, right?). I have met a lot of locals this week also which is useful, because they have helped me try to understand the language and also helped me understand the culture and the way they do things. It has also given me a different perspective on how not everyone views things the same way as you do, which I find awesome. We also went to an orphanage this week, which I also really enjoyed. It helped me appreciate the things that I usually take for granted. It also made me happy to see how happy the children got to have us there and do simple things with them like dancing and listening to music. We also watched their dance routines that they had put together which was fun and entertaining. I think that was my favorite part of this week, being able to do something so small for someone and it mean so much to them. It was very fulfilling. I hope to go there again and visit them before I leave from Morocco. Inshallah. We went to Fez and Marakesh this weekend for our excursion. It was nice to see the ruins from where the Romans use to live and the floor plans of the place and different houses since the walls weren’t really standing anymore. It was interesting to hear about how some of the buildings were made for different gods, like Zeus and Poseidon.
Week two was just as great as week one was, and I honestly can't believe that we are halfway finished with this program! Monday, I was very tired from our Sahara trip, so I slept a lot and tried to relax for most of the day. Tuesday was a different story, though. We went to a school for children who are experiencing rough times and sang and danced with them. It was very fun, and it brought me out of my comfort zone, which I enjoyed. Thursday we had a cooking workshop, and I found that pretty entertaining. I enjoy cooking and I love food, so finding out how to make Tagine was very fun for me. I also found it funny to watch other students struggle to peel and cut vegetables. You could really tell who never cooks! Friday we had our midterm exams. I think I did okay on mine. The hardest part for me was writing about my daily routine; I'm not the best speller, so I struggled a little bit. I enjoyed our weekend trip! We visited Volubilis, Meknes, and Fes. I liked the Roman ruins, and I took some pretty cool pictures of Megan there. Fes was a beautiful city, and our hotel was very nice! Exploring the biggest and oldest medina in Morocco was definitely fun, and my favorite part of the trip was the shopping we got to do. Now that it's the beginning of week three, I am trying to make sure that I experience as many things as I can with the time I have left here.
Week two was definitely interesting. We had midterms and for me it was much easier than last year as I had some idea of what to expect. Also our teacher is really good and she prepared us very well. We haven't gotten our grades back yet but in all honestly anything will be better than last year's grades. This weekend we went to Volubilis, Meknes and Fes. It was a different experience than last year but in my opinion it was much better overall, once again. I actually got to see Volubilis this time because last year I was sick during that portion of the excursion. Volubilis was a beautiful ruin and it was amazing how close we actually got to be inside the ancient city. Meknes and Fes were pretty much the same experience but better in that the weather was absolutely perfect and the shopping was fantastic! I got most of the souvenirs on my list and I'm on the hunt for some Nougat candy next! Looking forward to the Chefchaouen trip this weekend, as that is my favorite city!
week two: midterm week. Most of my week was filled with studying, it seemed like I couldn't fit everything I wanted to do into my schedule. Monday I rested and tuesday we went to a school for struggling kids. The kids really seemed to want us to be there hanging out with them, it was a great experience talking in Arabic too, I have come to realize that a 8 year old can speak better Arabic than I can. Most of the week I stayed inside and studied, but friday we went to a pitbull concert at Mawazine, it was my first concert and amazing. Moroccans definitely know how to party. After our midterm, and the concert Friday we went to Volubilis and the history was amazing, I had honestly never seen anything like it. the next day we got to visit fes and spend all our money in a leather shop, which was awesome, but still have alot of other stuff to buy! This second week was a lot more calm than the first, I know this week will have a lot more going on sarah
Week 2 has been yet another great week that I would never forget. Just like last week,I had great food and learned a lot in class. I would say week 2 wasnt as exciting as the first but I still had a great time. I focused more of my free time staying in the resistance and going over class material. Although I manage to go to the Mawazine to see shaggy and pitbull.Both pitbull and shaggy did a great job they were great performers, I really enjoyed them both. Thursday was another pretty easy day for us but we also had the cooking class.The service learning was awesome it was a real experience working with children who were less fortunate and a real eye opener. Week 2 was a great like I said before I'm hoping week 3 will also be the same.
My second week in Morocco, just like my first week, was full of fun and exciting adventures. Except for Monday. Monday was full of naps. We spent all day Sunday traveling back from the desert so I was tired that day. On Tuesday all of us took a trip to a school for children. The children are all kind of in bad situations and the school keeps them off the streets. We sat down in a room to get to know them and to let them get to know us. I tried to talk to the boy sitting next to me, but all I managed to to say in Arabic was that my name is Mandi. So that conversation was incredibly short. We danced and sang with the kids and their teachers, which was definitely uncomfortable for me. It was still fun though. Wednesday a few of us went to this place called Dessange to get manicures. They served coffee after. It was pretty swanky. Thursday we learned how to make Tagine! I'm glad we learned how to make it because it's amazing and I love it. I can't wait to make it with my family when I get home. Friday we took our midterms saw Pit Bull at Mawazine. The festival didn't cost us anything at all which was pretty amazing. Over the weekend we went to Volubilis, Meknes, and Fes. Volubilis is so beautiful and the weather was perfect. The ruins were probably my favorite. Meknes and Fes were so much fun. We got to see so much and it was all so great. Except for the detached camel head in the Medina in Fes. That was gross, but I still sort of thought it was cool. Overall I had a great week and I'm excited for the coming days.
Tuesday we went to and NGO that serves as a school/boys and girls club for children with single or no parents. At this NGO the purpose was to educate the children in Arabic, French and Math mainly. Wednesday we stayed in and studied, did homework and then went to Sushi house with a few of the girls. Before dinner a few of the ladies went to Dessage, a French spa/salon. I got my haircut and the others got their nails done. Thursday we had a cooking workshop and then we went shopping and out to dinner at Goeth. We then came back and studied for our exam. Friday after our exam we took a tram to the Medinet and had coffee on the roof of a hotel, then we walked to the water. We took a row boat over to a cute restaurant with good drinks and coffee. Once we got back we all got ready for Mawazeen. I had high expectations for an International music festival. Not that fun. It was smelly and hot and people kept touching me and my hair. Pitbull also barely even sung. But it was very good company so I had a lot of fun. The next morning we woke up and drove to Walili. It was so cool! Very beautiful site and I can’t believe they are still working on digging up areas. There is probably so much more beauty just waiting to be dug up. After that we had a short tour in Meknes where we learned about the palaces, the history, the landmarks, the black slaves and black armies, and the oldest school in the world. It was a very relaxing day. We arrived in Fes later that night and had good pizza and Youssef tricked us all into eating FAT FREE ice cream. When we woke up Sunday morning we took a really awesome tour of Fes all day. Our tour guide was very lovely and very informational. We got to see a lot of what Fes had to offer. We started out the day with a tour of the kingdom doors and then moving to the pottery place. This workshop really amazed me. Not only do I have an appreciation for art because I have done it and it’s hard, but these men go above and beyond to create beautiful pieces. I spent too much money there. After we walked around and ended up in a Tannery and it was really awesome. I of course, found the most expensive bag in the store and the man wanted 3,500 DH for it, so I said no. I ended up paying 800 DH for it. Overall, it was a very productive and great weekend.
Hello again, this is Faatimah! This second week has gone by so quickly, I can’t believe we are almost half way through this month. Our midterms for the week I felt pretty good about. My teacher, Miryum prepared us very well for the midterm and every part of what she taught was on the exam so I felt confident going into it. Earlier in the week, our group participated in a service activity in which we went to an orphanage and spent time with the children there. We participated in interactive songs and gamers, we laughed and danced and got to know one another. The two kids that I got to know a little bit seemed to be more enthralled with my phone than with me but I didn’t mind, I liked being able to teach them how to play certain games on there. Shianne and I tried our hardest to teach one little girl, Sarah, the word “pink” which was the color of her dress. I was quite surprised with the clapping and drum banging when I introduced myself, I supposed they liked the fact that I had an Arabic name. This wasn’t the last time my name would be some sort of a saving grace for me, because later on in Fez when we all visited the tannery, I was able to purchase a bag I really wanted with the help of Sid Muhammad and my name being Faatimah. I got it for really cheap and now I am the proud owner of a REAL leather bag. But back to the service activity, I really enjoyed putting a smile on the faces of the few kids that took interest in me, I was happy to have made their day and I hope we get to go back. The fortress where we visited a king’s grave site where he and his two wives were buried. I enjoyed seeing where the public baths once were and how large they were. Also, the cooking class we had was fun, I am sad we weren’t able to have any of the chicken tanjine but it was nice to see it all come together and it didn’t look that hard to do, I might make some myself one day when I buy a larger tajine pot. Our trip to Fez and visiting Meknes and Walili was quite beautiful, the landscapes were vast and the ruins of different houses at Walili was exciting to see. I liked seeing a sundial up close for the first time and Fez was beautiful. Even though they told us it was a more conservative place, I didn’t really consider it to be entirely conservative, and it was more lively than I imaged, with the streets of the souks being more narrow and busier than the ones I experienced in Rabat. I loved visiting the mosque/university that was made by a woman, Faatimah, it made me proud to possess such a name. I was disappointed to leave the beautiful city of Fez but I don’t think this will be my last time visiting.
Week two has flown by so quickly! We stayed so busy this week between touring Challah, studying for midterms, visiting the wonderful school for children in need, getting pampered at a french salon, learning how to cook chicken tagine, seeing Pit Bull at Mawazine, and then another exciting weekend away. It's amazing that we can pack each day with so many memorable moments. I honestly can't even say what the highlight of my week has been, there were so many experiences that I just absolutely loved, although, getting to spend some time with the children was definitely a highpoint. Even though the language barrier made communicating with them not really an option, they were so loving and welcoming to us. I also really enjoyed all the history we were able to explore this week, the Challah and Volubilis sites were amazing and the guides at both were great. Meknes was a beautiful city, but for me it doesn't top the shopping in Fes. The tannery was fantastic. I would've bought half the store if we had spent anymore time in there. I'm so excited about my bags and my floor cushion. I can't wait to put them all to use. It would've been interesting to see the tannery in action, but it's wonderful that UNESCO is helping to restore such a key part of artisanal culture for the area. It was a great week and I can't wait to see what adventures next week has in store for us.
The second week in Morrocco built on all the positives of the first and I'm constantly fascinated by this country. Classes continue to be somewhat challenging but rewarding. I have amazing classmates that help me through it.This past week we visited an orphanage in an impoverished neighborhood and it was a great experience because to be honest I do not like children very much. That being said I had a great time and there are very embarrassing videos of me dancing and I would prefer not be released to public. The trip to Meknes and Fes was very fun, but the highlight for me was definitely Volubilis because I have a vested interest in Roman history. I am so excited for the trip to Chefchaouen and Tangiers.
Week two is over and time is passing by too quickly. On Tuesday, we all went to Chellah, which was a glimpse into the rich history of Morocco and the Roman Mauretania Tingitana, which I learned more about during our excursion to Meknes and Fes on the weekend. But Chellah was an amazing experience, I'm getting a look into History. It's like a completely different world inside these ruins and I can only imagine how magnificent places like Chellah and Walili looked when they were being built.
After Chellah, we returned to the school to have lunch and then we left to go to a school for children in tough situations. I wasn't too excited to go but I ended up having such an amazing time. The kids were all so kind and patient with me when I didn't understand what they were saying, and even helped me pronounce things that I stumbled over. We danced and, even though I'm not a great dancer at all, it was good fun. I loved it so much that I was asking to go back before we even left. Being there honestly gave me a better appreciation for what I have and also made me want to volunteer more with kids.
This week seemed to be not as busy as last, but thinking about it I realize that I have actually done a lot this week. On Wednesday, I had my first experience at Sushi House, and it was good even though it wasn't Moroccan food ;). Afterwards, we walked back and mawazine had just let out so I was a little nervous because I heard stories about what happens at night during mawazine. (Obviously nothing too scary, but I'm too attached to my phone to risk anything.) Thursday was a little dull only because most of us were all studying for our midterm that was on Friday (which I think I did well on). A few of us went to get pizza early and I was going to go see Shaggy with other people but ended up not going (Sorry Hakim <3)
My favourite part to talk about: this weekend! Friday was our midterm and afterwards, Youssef took a couple of us down to the marina and we took a boat across to Sale and had an early dinner at this amazing restaurant (I'm definitely going back, and not just for the cute waiter like Sarah and Isabel). When we returned to the school, everyone (minus one) went to see Pitbull at mawazine. I don't even listen to Pitbull but it was SUCH A GREAT TIME. The dancing and singing and spending time with my friends was just so exciting and I'm happy to have had that opportunity.
I seriously never want to leave Morocco. I want to stay here forever. After mawazine on Friday, we left for Meknes on Saturday morning, and thankfully Sarah didn't forget her passport this time. We visited Walili, and I was amazed the entire time. The way I felt standing there was just unexplainable. I could feel the people around me that used to live there, that visited there, that built the walls and laid each stone. Time existed all at once while I was there. The people who built those buildings never thought about people visiting the ruins in thousands of years. And I know that's obvious, but it gives me a better appreciation of the past and the future. Also, #walilisquad2016. We arrived in Fes on Saturday night.
Another night in a Moroccan hotel, and I survived the Djinn (knock on wood). Sunday morning, after breakfast, we got a tour of the medina and once again, I was amazed at everything I saw. The oldest university in the world is in Fes, and I've been looking forward to seeing that for awhile. That, and the Chouara Tannery. Unfortunately, the tannery was closed for restoration. I wouldn't have minded the smell, but it was still cool being able to see it from the roof. I did, however, get to meet a really interesting person at a pottery place. I ended up purchasing something for my dad, and falling in love with the place. I'll go back and do my five years training so I can make something next time he wants a souvenir.
Overall, it was a great week and an even more amazing weekend. I love all the friends I'm making here and I love all the people I'm meeting. Morocco truly is an amazing country, and everyone who is thinking about visiting needs to call me so I can tell them the infinite number of reasons to come. I don't want to leave, and I hope time slows down so I can feel like my stay is longer than it is. Study abroad was the best decision I've made. I'm very excited to discuss my midterm tomorrow and I'm looking forward to the coming weeks.
Ahlan! Shianne speaking.
ReplyDeleteMy second week in Morocco was enlightening. I discovered a lot of things for the first time. Riane and I found our way to the beach and spent the afternoon there. I like the way the sand feels, it's a lot different than the Gulf of Mexico beaches or coastal Georgia beaches that I'm used to. We had the opportunity to visit a center for children in difficult situations, which was very rewarding. Singing songs, dancing, and playing games with them made their day. It feels nice taking your own time to spend time with kids who could use some laughter. I wish I would have been feeling better during our weekend trip to Meknes and Fes, so that I could experience more. I enjoyed the Souq in Fes because it was so much larger than the one in Rabat. There was so much to see, and a lot of things happening all at once. I could have gone my entire life without seeing a decapitated camel, however. Until next time, Ma'Salamu!
This past week here has been yet another one I will never forget. I started the week off with some great food, as always, at the Qalam center. Later that day we went to the river for a fun little kayaking trip. We just went out into the middle of the river and swam around for a while and raced and such. After that we had some great food at an Italian place right by it. On Tuesday we had the pleasure of going to the school for the kids who were in bad situations. We played with them for a while and had a great time there. Wednesday was a day to catch up on sleep with a long nap and some studying before going to bed for the night. Thursday was another pretty easy day for us but we also had the cooking class. We were taught how to properly cut and prepare all the ingredients for a chicken tajine and how to cook it. This was very fun but sadly I didn't get to try the food we made. On Friday we decided to go grab some sushi and met a really cool guy who owns a chain of Japanese restaurants. He practiced his English with us and we practiced our Arabic with him and he also gave us some free coffee and a free sushi roll. After that we went to Mawazine to see Pitbull. This was my first concert and it was a really good time. Saturday morning we hopped on the bus for a long weekend in Walili, Meknes, and Fes. We got to tour the ruins of Walili and the cities of Fes and Meknes. We, as always, spent a lot of time in the shops looking at how they make pottery and leather and got to shop around until we made the trip back here.
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ReplyDeleteThis week we had our midterms. I think I did alright at it. The way some of it was done was confusing. For the vowel part my class had different words than the rest of the groups so we were so lost when the words they were saying didn’t match the words on our tests. At first I didn’t realize that the matching the picture with the words continued on the next page. The first picture was a car but I wasn’t seeing the word for it. The writing at the end was by far the hardest part. I couldn’t remember some of the words and pretty sure I made one up. I have a hard time with spelling even in English so remembering how to spell words in Arabic was a little difficult.
For the weekend excursion we went to Fez and Meknes. In Meknes we stopped at the Roman Ruins of Walili (Volubilis). I really enjoyed seeing the ruins and learning the history of it. They are still doing excavations there and I’m going to see if I can get a job excavating. From Walili you can see the city of Moulay Idiss. Idiss , a descendant from the profit, founded the city and is also lain to rest here.
Fez was a really big city crammed close together. We walked down some really narrow streets when getting to the souk. The river that divided the two cities of Fez now runs under the city and is really polluted. People just throw their trash in it and walk on. We saw people cleaning the scum off the side of the street and when they were done they threw that bag down into the river. After lunch we saw a weaving shop where they make fabric for different clothes. Then we went to a tannery where they soak the leather and make it different colors. The tannery was under reconstruction so we didn’t actually see them doing it. They said the mix bird poop in with it and that it smells really bad so we lucked out on not having to smell it.
Okay, so I know y'all obviously want to know what I've been up to for the past week, so heres the break down. Week two has been just as wonderful as week one was. Each day has been an adventure. Me and Shianne took a taxi all by ourselves for the first time to the beach and had fun just relaxing in the sun. On Tuesday we were able to go and visit some children in unfortunate situations and dance and play with them. It was a lot of fun to see them so happy and smiling even with the language barrier.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the ruins and walking around them was fantastic. I love history and architecture so seeing the 7 huge bronze doors in Fes was just stunning to me. Fes was the best and I'm pretty sure I'm in love with that city. I could actually spend days just walking around the medina getting lost in the tiny streets. Shopping in the markets is the best because you get to bargain for what you want. I'll really miss that when I go back to the states, but at least I have some awesome stuff to bring back. Can't wait for the blue city!
Hey it is Savannah here again. Well the second week went okay. It was a little more difficult for me then last week, but it was still a good week. We took our midterms this past week, which weren’t to bad of exams. I learned a good amount of information, and it is getting easier to speak and understand Arabic which is always a good thing (that is what we are here for, right?). I have met a lot of locals this week also which is useful, because they have helped me try to understand the language and also helped me understand the culture and the way they do things. It has also given me a different perspective on how not everyone views things the same way as you do, which I find awesome.
ReplyDeleteWe also went to an orphanage this week, which I also really enjoyed. It helped me appreciate the things that I usually take for granted. It also made me happy to see how happy the children got to have us there and do simple things with them like dancing and listening to music. We also watched their dance routines that they had put together which was fun and entertaining. I think that was my favorite part of this week, being able to do something so small for someone and it mean so much to them. It was very fulfilling. I hope to go there again and visit them before I leave from Morocco. Inshallah.
We went to Fez and Marakesh this weekend for our excursion. It was nice to see the ruins from where the Romans use to live and the floor plans of the place and different houses since the walls weren’t really standing anymore. It was interesting to hear about how some of the buildings were made for different gods, like Zeus and Poseidon.
Week two was just as great as week one was, and I honestly can't believe that we are halfway finished with this program! Monday, I was very tired from our Sahara trip, so I slept a lot and tried to relax for most of the day. Tuesday was a different story, though. We went to a school for children who are experiencing rough times and sang and danced with them. It was very fun, and it brought me out of my comfort zone, which I enjoyed. Thursday we had a cooking workshop, and I found that pretty entertaining. I enjoy cooking and I love food, so finding out how to make Tagine was very fun for me. I also found it funny to watch other students struggle to peel and cut vegetables. You could really tell who never cooks! Friday we had our midterm exams. I think I did okay on mine. The hardest part for me was writing about my daily routine; I'm not the best speller, so I struggled a little bit.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed our weekend trip! We visited Volubilis, Meknes, and Fes. I liked the Roman ruins, and I took some pretty cool pictures of Megan there. Fes was a beautiful city, and our hotel was very nice! Exploring the biggest and oldest medina in Morocco was definitely fun, and my favorite part of the trip was the shopping we got to do. Now that it's the beginning of week three, I am trying to make sure that I experience as many things as I can with the time I have left here.
Week two was definitely interesting. We had midterms and for me it was much easier than last year as I had some idea of what to expect. Also our teacher is really good and she prepared us very well. We haven't gotten our grades back yet but in all honestly anything will be better than last year's grades. This weekend we went to Volubilis, Meknes and Fes. It was a different experience than last year but in my opinion it was much better overall, once again. I actually got to see Volubilis this time because last year I was sick during that portion of the excursion. Volubilis was a beautiful ruin and it was amazing how close we actually got to be inside the ancient city. Meknes and Fes were pretty much the same experience but better in that the weather was absolutely perfect and the shopping was fantastic! I got most of the souvenirs on my list and I'm on the hunt for some Nougat candy next! Looking forward to the Chefchaouen trip this weekend, as that is my favorite city!
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week two:
ReplyDeletemidterm week. Most of my week was filled with studying, it seemed like I couldn't fit everything I wanted to do into my schedule. Monday I rested and tuesday we went to a school for struggling kids. The kids really seemed to want us to be there hanging out with them, it was a great experience talking in Arabic too, I have come to realize that a 8 year old can speak better Arabic than I can. Most of the week I stayed inside and studied, but friday we went to a pitbull concert at Mawazine, it was my first concert and amazing. Moroccans definitely know how to party. After our midterm, and the concert Friday we went to Volubilis and the history was amazing, I had honestly never seen anything like it. the next day we got to visit fes and spend all our money in a leather shop, which was awesome, but still have alot of other stuff to buy! This second week was a lot more calm than the first, I know this week will have a lot more going on
sarah
Week 2 has been yet another great week that I would never forget. Just like last week,I had great food and learned a lot in class. I would say week 2 wasnt as exciting as the first but I still had a great time. I focused more of my free time staying in the resistance and going over class material. Although I manage to go to the Mawazine to see shaggy and pitbull.Both pitbull and shaggy did a great job they were great performers, I really enjoyed them both. Thursday was another pretty easy day for us but we also had the cooking class.The service learning was awesome it was a real experience working with children who were less fortunate and a real eye opener.
ReplyDeleteWeek 2 was a great like I said before I'm hoping week 3 will also be the same.
My second week in Morocco, just like my first week, was full of fun and exciting adventures. Except for Monday. Monday was full of naps. We spent all day Sunday traveling back from the desert so I was tired that day. On Tuesday all of us took a trip to a school for children. The children are all kind of in bad situations and the school keeps them off the streets. We sat down in a room to get to know them and to let them get to know us. I tried to talk to the boy sitting next to me, but all I managed to to say in Arabic was that my name is Mandi. So that conversation was incredibly short. We danced and sang with the kids and their teachers, which was definitely uncomfortable for me. It was still fun though. Wednesday a few of us went to this place called Dessange to get manicures. They served coffee after. It was pretty swanky. Thursday we learned how to make Tagine! I'm glad we learned how to make it because it's amazing and I love it. I can't wait to make it with my family when I get home. Friday we took our midterms saw Pit Bull at Mawazine. The festival didn't cost us anything at all which was pretty amazing. Over the weekend we went to Volubilis, Meknes, and Fes. Volubilis is so beautiful and the weather was perfect. The ruins were probably my favorite. Meknes and Fes were so much fun. We got to see so much and it was all so great. Except for the detached camel head in the Medina in Fes. That was gross, but I still sort of thought it was cool. Overall I had a great week and I'm excited for the coming days.
ReplyDeleteMy second week in Morocco was… Informational.
ReplyDeleteTuesday we went to and NGO that serves as a school/boys and girls club for children with single or no parents. At this NGO the purpose was to educate the children in Arabic, French and Math mainly. Wednesday we stayed in and studied, did homework and then went to Sushi house with a few of the girls. Before dinner a few of the ladies went to Dessage, a French spa/salon. I got my haircut and the others got their nails done. Thursday we had a cooking workshop and then we went shopping and out to dinner at Goeth. We then came back and studied for our exam.
Friday after our exam we took a tram to the Medinet and had coffee on the roof of a hotel, then we walked to the water. We took a row boat over to a cute restaurant with good drinks and coffee. Once we got back we all got ready for Mawazeen. I had high expectations for an International music festival. Not that fun. It was smelly and hot and people kept touching me and my hair. Pitbull also barely even sung. But it was very good company so I had a lot of fun.
The next morning we woke up and drove to Walili. It was so cool! Very beautiful site and I can’t believe they are still working on digging up areas. There is probably so much more beauty just waiting to be dug up. After that we had a short tour in Meknes where we learned about the palaces, the history, the landmarks, the black slaves and black armies, and the oldest school in the world. It was a very relaxing day. We arrived in Fes later that night and had good pizza and Youssef tricked us all into eating FAT FREE ice cream.
When we woke up Sunday morning we took a really awesome tour of Fes all day. Our tour guide was very lovely and very informational. We got to see a lot of what Fes had to offer. We started out the day with a tour of the kingdom doors and then moving to the pottery place. This workshop really amazed me. Not only do I have an appreciation for art because I have done it and it’s hard, but these men go above and beyond to create beautiful pieces. I spent too much money there. After we walked around and ended up in a Tannery and it was really awesome. I of course, found the most expensive bag in the store and the man wanted 3,500 DH for it, so I said no. I ended up paying 800 DH for it. Overall, it was a very productive and great weekend.
Hello again, this is Faatimah! This second week has gone by so quickly, I can’t believe we are almost half way through this month. Our midterms for the week I felt pretty good about. My teacher, Miryum prepared us very well for the midterm and every part of what she taught was on the exam so I felt confident going into it. Earlier in the week, our group participated in a service activity in which we went to an orphanage and spent time with the children there. We participated in interactive songs and gamers, we laughed and danced and got to know one another. The two kids that I got to know a little bit seemed to be more enthralled with my phone than with me but I didn’t mind, I liked being able to teach them how to play certain games on there. Shianne and I tried our hardest to teach one little girl, Sarah, the word “pink” which was the color of her dress. I was quite surprised with the clapping and drum banging when I introduced myself, I supposed they liked the fact that I had an Arabic name. This wasn’t the last time my name would be some sort of a saving grace for me, because later on in Fez when we all visited the tannery, I was able to purchase a bag I really wanted with the help of Sid Muhammad and my name being Faatimah. I got it for really cheap and now I am the proud owner of a REAL leather bag. But back to the service activity, I really enjoyed putting a smile on the faces of the few kids that took interest in me, I was happy to have made their day and I hope we get to go back.
ReplyDeleteThe fortress where we visited a king’s grave site where he and his two wives were buried. I enjoyed seeing where the public baths once were and how large they were. Also, the cooking class we had was fun, I am sad we weren’t able to have any of the chicken tanjine but it was nice to see it all come together and it didn’t look that hard to do, I might make some myself one day when I buy a larger tajine pot. Our trip to Fez and visiting Meknes and Walili was quite beautiful, the landscapes were vast and the ruins of different houses at Walili was exciting to see. I liked seeing a sundial up close for the first time and Fez was beautiful. Even though they told us it was a more conservative place, I didn’t really consider it to be entirely conservative, and it was more lively than I imaged, with the streets of the souks being more narrow and busier than the ones I experienced in Rabat. I loved visiting the mosque/university that was made by a woman, Faatimah, it made me proud to possess such a name. I was disappointed to leave the beautiful city of Fez but I don’t think this will be my last time visiting.
Week two has flown by so quickly! We stayed so busy this week between touring Challah, studying for midterms, visiting the wonderful school for children in need, getting pampered at a french salon, learning how to cook chicken tagine, seeing Pit Bull at Mawazine, and then another exciting weekend away. It's amazing that we can pack each day with so many memorable moments. I honestly can't even say what the highlight of my week has been, there were so many experiences that I just absolutely loved, although, getting to spend some time with the children was definitely a highpoint. Even though the language barrier made communicating with them not really an option, they were so loving and welcoming to us. I also really enjoyed all the history we were able to explore this week, the Challah and Volubilis sites were amazing and the guides at both were great. Meknes was a beautiful city, but for me it doesn't top the shopping in Fes. The tannery was fantastic. I would've bought half the store if we had spent anymore time in there. I'm so excited about my bags and my floor cushion. I can't wait to put them all to use. It would've been interesting to see the tannery in action, but it's wonderful that UNESCO is helping to restore such a key part of artisanal culture for the area. It was a great week and I can't wait to see what adventures next week has in store for us.
ReplyDeleteMarhaban,
ReplyDeleteThe second week in Morrocco built on all the positives of the first and I'm constantly fascinated by this country. Classes continue to be somewhat challenging but rewarding. I have amazing classmates that help me through it.This past week we visited an orphanage in an impoverished neighborhood and it was a great experience because to be honest I do not like children very much. That being said I had a great time and there are very embarrassing videos of me dancing and I would prefer not be released to public. The trip to Meknes and Fes was very fun, but the highlight for me was definitely Volubilis because I have a vested interest in Roman history. I am so excited for the trip to Chefchaouen and Tangiers.
Angel Perry
ReplyDeletePART ONE
Week two is over and time is passing by too quickly. On Tuesday, we all went to Chellah, which was a glimpse into the rich history of Morocco and the Roman Mauretania Tingitana, which I learned more about during our excursion to Meknes and Fes on the weekend. But Chellah was an amazing experience, I'm getting a look into History. It's like a completely different world inside these ruins and I can only imagine how magnificent places like Chellah and Walili looked when they were being built.
After Chellah, we returned to the school to have lunch and then we left to go to a school for children in tough situations. I wasn't too excited to go but I ended up having such an amazing time. The kids were all so kind and patient with me when I didn't understand what they were saying, and even helped me pronounce things that I stumbled over. We danced and, even though I'm not a great dancer at all, it was good fun. I loved it so much that I was asking to go back before we even left. Being there honestly gave me a better appreciation for what I have and also made me want to volunteer more with kids.
This week seemed to be not as busy as last, but thinking about it I realize that I have actually done a lot this week. On Wednesday, I had my first experience at Sushi House, and it was good even though it wasn't Moroccan food ;). Afterwards, we walked back and mawazine had just let out so I was a little nervous because I heard stories about what happens at night during mawazine. (Obviously nothing too scary, but I'm too attached to my phone to risk anything.)
Thursday was a little dull only because most of us were all studying for our midterm that was on Friday (which I think I did well on). A few of us went to get pizza early and I was going to go see Shaggy with other people but ended up not going (Sorry Hakim <3)
Angel Perry
ReplyDeletePART TWO
My favourite part to talk about: this weekend! Friday was our midterm and afterwards, Youssef took a couple of us down to the marina and we took a boat across to Sale and had an early dinner at this amazing restaurant (I'm definitely going back, and not just for the cute waiter like Sarah and Isabel). When we returned to the school, everyone (minus one) went to see Pitbull at mawazine. I don't even listen to Pitbull but it was SUCH A GREAT TIME. The dancing and singing and spending time with my friends was just so exciting and I'm happy to have had that opportunity.
I seriously never want to leave Morocco. I want to stay here forever. After mawazine on Friday, we left for Meknes on Saturday morning, and thankfully Sarah didn't forget her passport this time. We visited Walili, and I was amazed the entire time. The way I felt standing there was just unexplainable. I could feel the people around me that used to live there, that visited there, that built the walls and laid each stone. Time existed all at once while I was there. The people who built those buildings never thought about people visiting the ruins in thousands of years. And I know that's obvious, but it gives me a better appreciation of the past and the future. Also, #walilisquad2016. We arrived in Fes on Saturday night.
Another night in a Moroccan hotel, and I survived the Djinn (knock on wood). Sunday morning, after breakfast, we got a tour of the medina and once again, I was amazed at everything I saw. The oldest university in the world is in Fes, and I've been looking forward to seeing that for awhile. That, and the Chouara Tannery. Unfortunately, the tannery was closed for restoration. I wouldn't have minded the smell, but it was still cool being able to see it from the roof. I did, however, get to meet a really interesting person at a pottery place. I ended up purchasing something for my dad, and falling in love with the place. I'll go back and do my five years training so I can make something next time he wants a souvenir.
Overall, it was a great week and an even more amazing weekend. I love all the friends I'm making here and I love all the people I'm meeting. Morocco truly is an amazing country, and everyone who is thinking about visiting needs to call me so I can tell them the infinite number of reasons to come. I don't want to leave, and I hope time slows down so I can feel like my stay is longer than it is. Study abroad was the best decision I've made. I'm very excited to discuss my midterm tomorrow and I'm looking forward to the coming weeks.