So life has been rather busy lately...I have made it to site, been to Marrakesh and back. I have attempted to update my blog but my internet time always seems to run short. I arrived in sight safe and sound and I am so happy to be here. I left within the first week to travel to Marrakesh for a craft fair being held by the Small Business Development volunteers and their artisans. Unfortunately my association was not there but that is part of my project...educating them on how to sell products and training them to be able to attend craft fairs and other such events on their own. That is just a jist of it but to give you an idea of what I am working with. My association is a group of approximately 30 women who weave as well as make rose water. As I think I have stated before...I live in what is known as the "Rose Valley" and we will be very busy come spring when they valley begins to bloom! In May there is a Rose Festival every year and we are one of the main suppliers. I hear it is basically a huge souk with a lot of rose products. Life is great! Now that I am back in site each day consist of pure integration. Meeting people within my community, becoming known in my community, and working on my language. I am in town today, (out of site, where there is internet), because I met with my tutor. Thank goodness. My language is being understood, however I do not understand them because their dialect is way different than what I learned. Mashi Mushkil (no worries). Suprisingly, I am very shy because I am afraid to look silly if I respond incorrectly. Plus as I tell them I know Tashleheit they excited and start talking, very quickly, then I prove that I don't know it because I can not understand them. But meeting with my tutor cleared up a lot of confusions already so it should only get better from here. Just to give you an idea of how I am living I will give a few small experiences that remind me of how different my life is here. At the craft fair I had a sweet lady tell me to mix lemon, tomato and milk and wash my face with it to get rid of my freckles. It was great because she thought she was helping me. I told her they were angel kisses and she loved it. But her stance is only knowing that skin should not have any "imperfections" and be clear. People do have freckles here but they are undesired. Another was the night before I was going to Marrakesh I said to my neighbor I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow for my trip, because it had rained all day, and she pointed to the sky and said "it won't, there are stars in the sky", yes she was right. Or the morning I woke up to go to Kesh it was very early (but it didn't matter because I found out I could not get a taxi out of the mountain until the sun came up anyways) and my mom told me she made me tea instead of coffee because the cow had not been milked yet. Have I mentioned how much I love it here! These are just a few stories of a world that is so different than we are used to, but I am really enjoying it, sometimes even more than the world I am accustomed to. I also experienced men coming to the house to marry my host sister. She is 19 so it is about that time for her. It is so different even among villages...alot of times the girls meet the man and are married within a week. Yes, I even got offered but I told them one day, there is still time, that is the most polite way to say no!! In these small villages there is no such thing as dating! Again, time is running short and I have to get to the taxi stand before dark to get up into my site about 20K into the mountains!! Here are some pics of my trip to Marrakesh...
In the bus on the way to Marrakesh...those are the High Atlas mountains that I live in...I am in the southern part of them...my mountains are still a strong red clay color the higher you go the lighter they seem to be, in terms of color.
So the ride through the "Tshka" (The High Atlas Mountains) from Ouarzazate to Marrakesh is amazing. In this pic you can see we are driving through clouds, literally.
Just another view...there are alot of small Berber villages tucked into these mountains but alot of times you cant see them because their homes are made of mud which is the same color as the mountain. Note...mud homes are much better for temperature control in the bitter cold and blistering heat that Morocco provides.
Another view coming out of the mountains on the north almost to Marrakesh...If you look closely you may see some villages...remember these pics are through a bus window.
Ok ya this is for you mom! I was really excited when I saw Elvis on the wall at an Irish restaraunt in Marrakesh...we were looking deep into eachothers eyes! For those who don't know, Elvis was my mother's long lost love!
So these are the women of Ait Hamza, the village that I lived in for training. They were at the craft fair and they have high quality rugs and can basically weave any design from a picture...they are topnotch!
Just some more rugs...to give you an idea of who we are working with as Small Business volunteers. We also work with metal/woodworkers, date harvesters, cheese producers, cous cous producers, etc.
This is the sweet lady that told me how to get rid of my freckles. That is my dear friend Anne Marie and her counterpart Rabha. They are up in the COLD middle atlas mountains...boy they have snow now and it is cold. They produce rugs from all natural wool and dyes.
So this is the square of Marrakesh...boy it is entertaining. One of my favorites are the snake charmers!
That is the large mosque in Marrakesh. No other building in Marrakesh is allowed to be higher.
Another shot...these are at sunset.
Oh yea and I saw Keanu Reeves live because we were in Marrakesh during the film festival. Pretty cool! My pics with him in it didn't turn out good...blurry...sorry ladies!
One of the vendors in the square for dinner. I told him I was American and he called Barack Obama using a pepper. Boy, he did a good skit off the top of his head it was funny! In Marrakesh it is mainly tourist so all of the locals speak many languages and are pure entertainers!
In the bus on the way to Marrakesh...those are the High Atlas mountains that I live in...I am in the southern part of them...my mountains are still a strong red clay color the higher you go the lighter they seem to be, in terms of color.
So the ride through the "Tshka" (The High Atlas Mountains) from Ouarzazate to Marrakesh is amazing. In this pic you can see we are driving through clouds, literally.
Just another view...there are alot of small Berber villages tucked into these mountains but alot of times you cant see them because their homes are made of mud which is the same color as the mountain. Note...mud homes are much better for temperature control in the bitter cold and blistering heat that Morocco provides.
Another view coming out of the mountains on the north almost to Marrakesh...If you look closely you may see some villages...remember these pics are through a bus window.
Ok ya this is for you mom! I was really excited when I saw Elvis on the wall at an Irish restaraunt in Marrakesh...we were looking deep into eachothers eyes! For those who don't know, Elvis was my mother's long lost love!
So these are the women of Ait Hamza, the village that I lived in for training. They were at the craft fair and they have high quality rugs and can basically weave any design from a picture...they are topnotch!
Just some more rugs...to give you an idea of who we are working with as Small Business volunteers. We also work with metal/woodworkers, date harvesters, cheese producers, cous cous producers, etc.
This is the sweet lady that told me how to get rid of my freckles. That is my dear friend Anne Marie and her counterpart Rabha. They are up in the COLD middle atlas mountains...boy they have snow now and it is cold. They produce rugs from all natural wool and dyes.
So this is the square of Marrakesh...boy it is entertaining. One of my favorites are the snake charmers!
That is the large mosque in Marrakesh. No other building in Marrakesh is allowed to be higher.
Another shot...these are at sunset.
Oh yea and I saw Keanu Reeves live because we were in Marrakesh during the film festival. Pretty cool! My pics with him in it didn't turn out good...blurry...sorry ladies!
One of the vendors in the square for dinner. I told him I was American and he called Barack Obama using a pepper. Boy, he did a good skit off the top of his head it was funny! In Marrakesh it is mainly tourist so all of the locals speak many languages and are pure entertainers!
Im glad to hear your loven it over there...... You shy???? I know you get the language down very soon! Hmmm I wonder if that really works on freckles I might have to try. Meg told me about this and she told not to even think about it just to leave them alone ;O The sunset is sooo peaceful! Love the Elvis picture too!! Whats the temp like there?? We have soooo much snow right down its very cold way toooo early Pretty soon we will see you in a dress getting married : )
ReplyDeleteSo glad you made it safe. The pictures are wonderful and amazing. Love Elvis and the mountains. You seem to be adjusting well.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't imagine you shy tho. Atleast not after out trip to Louisville. Remember the midget. Lol. Miss you girl. Your ray of sunshine every morning. Can't wait for you to be back in states and home.
Have a wonderful hoilday.