An Amazing Trip

This week is our school's Spring Break - and it included an amazing road trip with four other great friends. Brief word list summary: five days, laughing, stalling (stick shift newbies with a bad clutch), movie sets, quading, tajine, tajine, tajine, camels, sand dunes, desert, ninja, snow-capped mountains, cedar forest with apes, lasagna, meeting new people, and getting to know others better.

Ok... here's the more detailed description with some pictures. :)

We left town on Saturday morning and headed south towards our first destination: a desert town that is basically like the local Hollywood. Films like Gladiator, Ben Hur (the new one), the Nativity, the Kingdom of Heaven, among others were all filmed there. When we first arrived most of the sets were closed for the day, so we wondered around the town and headed to bed after the long drive. The next morning three of us headed out for a 4x4 (or quading) adventure. After dealing with a little car mishap, we jumped on quads venturing out to the set of Gladiator, a Kasbah (a former fortress with cool architecture - now a village), Mecca, Mecca and Jerusalem, both sets from the Kingdom of Heaven. All these sets are just placed pretty much in the middle of no where - it's like we just stumbled across them in our quads. After that amazing experience the five of us all regrouped and explored some more movie sets and took some fun pictures.









The girls in the backseat.









The set for Gladiator.









Yup, that's us on the quads!









The guys in front of the Kasbah.









Mecca Movie Set










Next we headed out to our next destination - some gorgeous gorges (har har har). It was dark when we arrived so we enjoyed dinner and a game of Settlers and the next morning explored the gorges. They were beautiful - and a great place for climbers. Maybe some day I'll become a good climber and come back. ;)









Our group on a "gorges" rock.








Climbing around in the Gorges.








After leaving the Gorges we headed to the desert! Upon arriving in the little desert town we met our guide, unloaded all what we wanted for the night, wrapped up our heads in turbans, and plopped ourselves onto five lucky camels. After a little more than an hour on the camels we stopped at our camp. We explored the sand dunes, took pictures, and then ate dinner. After dinner we played in the sand dunes a little more - it's incredible because you can practically swim down the dunes. In the morning we woke up in just enough time to see the sun rising over the dunes. An incredible sight!







Self pic on the camel!
















Riding camels!



















Our camp at the bottom of a dune.













Sunrise over the dunes.












Taking in the beauty.









Breakfast in our tent before getting back on the camels.











Group picture on the camels.



After arriving back from the dunes we packed up again, did a little souvenir shopping, and chatted a bit with the manager of the camel trek business. He was an interesting man to talk to - with CUTE daughters. He shared about his experience working with troubled youth in the city and his desire to make a difference. We were able to find a commonality in the belief that we must share what we have and give to others - when we leave this world we will not take away money or power, so it's important we do what can to leave this world in a better place. He expressed his desire to have doctors and other people from the US, Canada, Europe, etc. come to help many of the local people. He said many of them even need simple things like such as eye medication. Another need was help with digging wells, as water shortage is a problem as well. He gave me his contact information so that if I had any contacts or knew of people that could come help I could connect them with him. Anyone have any ideas or want to help?? Send me an e-mail or let me know...

We had two more days and one night left on our trip. We headed up north towards a smaller mountain town where one of our friends grew up. The drive from the desert to the town was INCREDIBLE. After leaving sand dunes, we soon come across land formations similar to those in the Southwest USA - it kind of reminded me of the grand canyon area. Within an hour or so we were driving through rolling hills with snow capped mountains in the background. Arriving into her town we found ourselves driving the forest and hills. Such diverse landscape over such a small distance! Our first destination in the town was the Hamam - which is basically a public bathing area. I LOVE IT - which may be surprising for those of you that know me well... haha! You feel so clean and this was necessary after being covered in sand. Feeling refreshed we headed to our next in-town destination. We ate and spent the night at a friend's place of one of my friends with us. She was so hospitable and made an amazing chicken tajine for us. Finished off with couscous with powdered sugar and mint tea, of course. She had just completed her marriage papers that day and we also had the privilege of meeting her husband. They will have the wedding ceremony this summer, and she seemed quite excited. It is not an arranged marriage, but still different then marriage back home. Her husband moved into town near the beginning of the year, noticed her, asked about her, and came by the house to ask for her hand in marriage. She had learned about him, and was pleased with him, and so told her father that yes, she would like to marry him. Although I couldn't communicate much because of the language barrier (she spoke some English, but mostly the local Arabic dialect) it was still fun to meet her and see her excited about the up coming wedding.... there's a good chance I'll be at the wedding this summer!









Snowy mountain about three hours out of the desert.




The next morning we went for a walk up into the hills and woods. Arriving at the top we found ourselves smiling at the small apes in the trees. Apes in the wild! In cedar trees?? Who would have thought?? After making our way back to our car we packed up and headed out. On the way home we stopped in the capital city and enjoyed LASAGNA and McDonald's ice cream - so cultural, I know. ;) We arrived home just as it was getting dark. It was so hard to believe the trip was done. (Unfortunately my camera had some sand stuck in the lens area after the desert and I was not able to get it working until we got home - so I couldn't take many more pictures after the desert... so I guess you'll just have to imagine... SORRY!)

This trip was amazing for so many reasons. First, it was just so neat to see so much diversity in landscape. We have such an amazing Creator, and so neat that He would bless us by giving us such a beautiful and diverse world to live in!! Also, it was just more time of learning and experiencing more of the country that I have been brought to. The past month has been a trying time here leading to frustration. It was great to get away from it all for a little bit, and interact with some of the people of the country and with new friends here. It blows my mind that I can be here with all these incredible experiences and meeting incredible people.

Two and half months later...

Hello long lost blog friends! It certainly has been a while since I have posted here – and much has happened in that time.
November started off to somewhat of a slow start as I had no school for a week! One student in my class had a confirmed case of the swine flu, so the Ministry of Health declared my class to be closed of a week. This was much of a welcomed break as I had been feeling pretty lousy myself (maybe I, too, had the virus?). However by the end of the week I was feeling better and a fellow teacher and friend (who was also quarantined for the week) took a quick road trip to a mountain town built by the French – which is definitely evident in the chalet-style architecture. A highlight here was experiencing cooler fall weather with changing leaves.
A house in Ifrane

That same weekend I also had the privilege of being a small group leader at a retreat for youth living in various parts of the country. I was encouraged through getting to know my group of awesome senior girls, and hearing some of their stories. ☺
My group of senior girls.

Thanksgiving (American Thanksgiving, that is ;)) and Aid el Kebir break started off with one great big party. Our school had just been awarded with accreditation for ten years – no stipulations, so we celebrated! Afternoon classes were canceled, and for lunch staff and school families feasted in our traditional outfits in the transformed multi-use room. What a neat time it was to celebrate all the had happened at the school since its opening.
A table of friends at the accreditation lunch

Thanksgiving was next. My friend Kate was get a hold of a turkey, and so together with a mix of language tutors, their families, and our friends we dined on Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie (I made some more!), and apple pie.
Friends at Thanksgiving.


Some of my students working on their Thanksgiving turkeys.



After thanksgiving came the Muslim holiday Aid el Kebir. This is the major holiday here, and definitely a new cultural experience for me. It is celebrated to remember both Ibrahim’s obedience to God in his willingness to sacrifice his own son, and God’s provision of a ram so that he would not have to sacrifice his son. To celebrate every family sacrifices at least one sheep and feasting on it for several days – eyeballs and brains are the delicacy. Days leading up to this sheep were sold everywhere and taken home in trucks, car-trunks, and even mopeds. On the day I was staying a friend’s place in the city, and I was looked out onto a neighboring balcony I figured the sheep had just been slaughtered. The blood-covered patio, with a skinned sheep hanging over its head led me to this conclusion. About an hour later I looked out on the front street to see men and boys carrying the sheep heads to be grilled on the communal, make-shift bbq’s. Remember brains are the specialty. ;) Although I definitely found this holiday to be quite grotesque, I appreciated the watching community through obersving neighbors, families, and friends coming together to roast and/or eat the sheep. I was also very touched by the hospitality as I was invited to woman’s house (even though she didn’t know me at all) for the meal. Fortunately the meal was a simple tajine with “regular” sheep meat – no brains or eyeballs! ;)
The group of us enjoying our dinner of sheep and prune tajine.


The last two weeks of school in December flew by the students knew a two-week break was soon upon them. I found it interesting to learn that many of my students do celebrate Christmas in some form. I think it mostly meant that they got a Christmas tree and received gifts from their parents. I was so excited, though somewhat surprised, to see that we, too, could buy Christmas trees (fake ones, of course) here as well as a few decorations.
Lindsay by our Christmas tree.

A few days after school got out, I excitedly boarded a plane bound for PARIS! I was thrilled with the idea of experiencing a Parisian Christmas with all its lights, Christmas markets, patisseries, decorations, etc. And, I was even more thrilled that I would be spending that time with Mom, Dad, and David. We spent about a week there, and what a blessing it was to be together for Christmas.
Starbucks was a MUST while in Paris. Oh how I had missed it. ;)











What's that behind me??














So excited to eat a Bûche de Noël - right from the patisserie. :)










And if a week together in Paris wasn’t enough, how about some time back in my new homeland? For nearly a week we toured around here. Of course we went to the medina and practiced some barterning, toured the grade mosque, went grocery shopping, and Dad was brave enough to develop his driving skills throughout the interweaving, occasional donkey, sheep, or cow crossing, and car honking traffic. He did very well. We also took a trip to a nearby city, about a three hour drive. It’s a beautiful and interesting city, situated right by the mountains.
Square in Marrakesh at night





Mom (without much of a choice...) got a henna tatoo. :)













Snake charmers at the square. This was the best picture we got (Thanks, David!) without being hassled into paying for it.


It was tough to say goodbye (tougher than I expected!) to say goodbye on New Year’s Eve. What a blessing it was to have them here. I can’t express how incredibly thankful I am to have you Mom, Dad, and David. I love you guys so much.
Right before saying goodbye.

That left me with a few days to prepare to get back into school. It was great to see everyone back, to get back into routine, and to see my students again. Though management was a bit of a challenge as the kids were not used to routine and work, it was great to be working with them again.

And there you have it… a two and a half month update. Sorry for the delay. I plan to update more regularly that I did for the past few months as I really value keeping in touch with all of you.

Happy New Year! Bonne Année!
(Aam Saiid) سعيد عام

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

Well this is a few days late, but I had to make sure I posted a Thanksgiving Day post. Canadian Thanksgiving, that is! ;)

On Monday evening several of us Canadians got together for a great feast! The evening before Michelle and I had gotten together to make pumpkin pie. Now this means we made everything! There's no canned pumpkin here, and definitely no pre-made pie crusts (They don't even have pie pans here! I guess pie is just not a typical food...) But we had a great time making it together and debating whether our pumpkin soup would actually turn into to pumpkin pie. And yes, indeed it did. :)

Monday evening was a great time of getting to know others better and enjoying food that had been save especially for the day. One of the couples had somehow acquired one MASSIVE turkey. They had also remembered to bring cranberry sauce from the states, which was a real treat. Michelle also made sweet potatoes with brown sugar and pecans, two other ingredients that are hard to come by here. The thanksgiving meal was definitely a blessing, and I am so thankful for the time with friends and fellow Canadians around a delicious meal.

And I love the way that Thanksgiving provides an opportunity for to stop and reflect upon the things (both big and small!) for which I am truly thankful. I am thankful for:
1) Each student in my third-grade "family." True, they each have their little quirks, but I can't get through a day without smiling or laughing at some of the antics and comments. How neat it is to care for and challenge them, chat with them about how they are doing, and really see them change and grow.
2) Internet, facebook, blogs, e-mail, skype - Man, it has been such a blessing to be in touch with family and friends back home. I've just been blown away with e-mails and words of encouragement from so many people from different stages of my life. Thanks so much.
3) Running. And the fact I can run at night - yay for the school track and living on campus.
4) I get to see my family for Christmas! In Paris! And then they come here! I am really going to cherish this time with Mom, Dad, and David. I love the three of you very much and I am so blessed to have you as my family!
5) The reminder of who equips and enables me to live out life. Whether in work, building friendships, caring for others, it is he whose resources I rely upon. So many times I try to do a great job on my own, but how much better it is when I allow His love, power, and grace to work through me. And wow, I'm so thankful that he wants to work in me!

This list could go on forever... but I thought I'd choose just five - and maybe save the others for American Thanksgiving. ;)

I hope all you Canadians were about to enjoy a day of rest, family, eating, and giving thanks. And, I hope all you Americans are eagerly awaiting your Turkey day (it's coming soon!) ;)


Kayla and Bruce about to carve the turkey! (Sorry for the blur.)
















Jan and Michelle loading their plates with the Thanksgiving goodness.









Jan, me, and Michelle enjoying our pumpkin pie!

Life Lists

Tonight as I sit down to write this I feel like being quick and efficient, so here are a few fun lists to give you glimpses of my recent thoughts and activities. Enjoy. :)

Today I:
1. Enjoyed a breakfast of scrambled eggs and breakfast with Surita.
2. Wrote a parent letter for Curriculum Night on Wednesday and did some marking
3. Bought minutes for my cell phone... FINALLY got off campus... it had been a week!
4. Tried a GREAT Italian restaurant with Jill, Robin, and Lindsay.
5. Navigated around the city without getting lost!! This city is NOT a grid by any means.

Highlights of the past week:
1. Trying the French Church
2. Finding out about an extension on our midterm progress reports. I think ALL teachers were happy about this.
3. Seeing two of my New-to-English kids (ALL my kids are ELL, but one...) raise their hands and begin to voluntarily participate in class.
4. Eating dinner with the family who lives below us. Great meal of Sffa and GREAT company. They are a fun family.
5. Getting a post card from Sarah!

Things I miss:
1. Starbucks (or Wendels! or Wired Monk) drinks and chats
2. Having a car and the convenience and independence that come with it
3. Friends and family - yes, definitely you guys!
4. Milk, chocolate chips, and brown sugar. Oh, and Mexican food. AND Sushi everywhere.
5. Running along the road. Sixteen laps around the track just doesn't compare to running along River Road, the Fort-to-Fort Trail, or Campbell Valley Park.


Things I am thankful for (this will be hard to fit into just 5!):
1. Internet: Facebook, e-mail, Skype, blog!
2. Encouragement from friends and family back home. Your e-mails, comments, messages, and prayers have been so wonderful!
3. Provision in this job, friends, roommates, and co-workers.
4. The retreat two weekends ago.
5. That I CAN run here... I wasn't sure if I'd be able to. I AM thankful for the track.


Things I'd miss:
1. The mustard - I think it's a mix of American style mustard and Dijon mustard. It's got a kick to it, and just makes any sandwich great!
2. The markets (and all the fun things they sell) and bargaining.
3. Speaking French and learning Arabic (my classes start this week!)
4. The community here, and my students.
5. Great sunsets over the Atlantic.

I am learning (DEFINITELY more than 5, but here we go):
1. How to get around this city and where good restaurants and shops and friends are.
2. How to be a good teacher.
3. The importance of daily finding my identity in Him - especially in a time of transition. This has been big, and I think I may do a blog post on this.
4. Arabic words.
5. Walking into a Cafe is an awkward experience. Those are really men only (except for an occasional woman). There's nothing like 20+ men staring at you, and you know you are not in your place.

Pictures Taken Since my last post:
1. The 1 KG Bar of Chocolate that Susan bought. No, I didn't eat it... we're chopping it into chocolate chips. :)

2. My first time trying Oysters.

3. Seen on the walls around the city and other towns. I understand it's used for voting.

4. Inside the Grande Mosque

5. Things in out kitchen, including mustard, "milk," Peanut Butter (that always tastes stale, and Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Spread.



1. Good Bye
2. Au Revior
3. B'slama
4. Love you guys
5. Have a wonderful and full blast day!

Just a few Pictures. :)

Hello friends!
I just thought I'd post a few pictures I've (or friends have) taken the past few weeks. Enjoy. :)


Eating a McArabia at McDonald's.

















A Red Taxi. City Transportation.





My Classroom.




Care for some meat?




Or maybe you'd prefer fruit.





Jill and I baked friendship cookies for our third graders! I must confess, it's a bit weird to see a picture of myself in a tank top (although perfectly fine in my apartment). I guess I am becoming more accustomed to the dress here.




It was International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so we celebrated!














My third graders showing their true personalities as they're all dressed up in their traditional clothes.








Fun items to buy at the market.


















This last weekend was a long weekend - the end of Ramadan! and a group of us went for a retreat neat the mountains. It was a great weekend, and I came back feeling refreshed. :)


Kate and I wearing toques... We slept outside under the stars. It was great!



A group of us enjoying dinner together at the retreat.






We took a walk through a little village.




















Us with our guide. We had to barter at the end to settle on a price.










Lindsay saw a sign for home. It was exciting! ;)







The Corniche. One of the nicer places in town as they are really trying to make an effort to fix it up. It's so nice to be able to walk along the beach.







The Kangoo all loaded up with groceries!



Horse Crossing!




We were sitting in traffic and I turn my head only to find myself face to face with a horse. A photo was necessary. :)




In other news, I met a fellow Canadian today as we were grocery shopping! I overheard her speaking English with her husband, and so I couldn't help but say something. She just recently moved here with her husband (who's from here), and is also adjusting to being here. We exchanged phone numbers and it will be fun to meet with her soon!



I hope you are doing well! Thanks again so much for your comments and e-mails as I've loved hearing about what is happening in your lives as well.

Have a great day.