It’s pretty funny to read my last post and realize how different work has diverted from my original ideas and outlooks.
The solid waste management project was pretty much shot. Not going into details. The option to teach about proper waste disposal is still definitely out there, but anything else I mentioned in terms of this line of work is not in any functioning state…not to say it never will be, but the outlook is bleak.
Anyways, other work has finally been picking up and going great. I started helping a teacher with literacy classes for a group of women which have led to health lessons with the grade school kids. I’ve also been working a lot with a health club and leadership club at a high school. The kids are really bright. It is honestly a breath of fresh air when I work with them because it helps remind me that there are better kids out there than the ones who throw mud and rocks at my house.
I’m also currently working on a large project with a principal/school director in my area regarding four different primary schools and two nurseries/ kindergartens. We went around to each location and performed a “needs assessment” using his information and the information of the local teachers. A lot of the schools and nurseries either need bathrooms or the already existing bathrooms need repair. Other projects involve anywhere from leveling and paving a ground for a play area, to installing new windows to building new walls, etc. Currently we’re in the process of configuring a timeline for all the work as well as a budget, and then (fingers crossed) I will magically have a beautiful grant written and approved! Tada!
In other news—MY FAMILY CAME TO VISIT ME!!! It was absolutely surreal. The funny part was that I was all choked up when they first arrived and they were rather distracted by the fact that none of them had received their luggage. So needless to say I was the awkward emotional one while they were just angry. Looking back I can’t help but laugh about it.
I hope that they all had as entertaining a time in Morocco with me as I did with them. It was a nice reminder to see them experience a lot of the funny and entertaining cultural exchanges that I had when I was first here. After being here for so long, in a way, you forget how weird some things used to be that now are normal. I was worried about how they would handle themselves with some things, but they were all troopers (especially you, Aunt Bernie!). I can’t get into the details of the entire trip, but it was a blast. I especially loved our camel trek into the Sahara over New Year’s Eve. And I’m glad my family got to experience the icebox that is my house. I think it made them more empathetic to my living situation. (By the way—I had to move a third time, back in October. Long story short, my landlord was renting me a house that was already being rented. So you can imagine the tornado of events that followed when the tenant living there before me shows up demanding to know what I’m doing in his house. Story for another day.)
I dragged them around Morocco for one week and then they treated me to a trip in Milan, Italy for another. Obviously, I did not want to return to Morocco and depart from the developed world afterwards, but here I am! And I am especially missing that central heating right now. My hands are completely frozen as I type this.
But you shouldn’t have much pity, for I will be traveling yet again come mid-March. One of the beautiful perks of serving in Morocco is that there are very cheap flights available to Europe. A few of my friends and I will be spending some time over St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, Ireland. What better way to celebrate the holiday and our one-year-anniversary in Morocco?
Not sure what else to update on, and my hands have just about had it with typing and need to retreat under a blanket, so this is where I’ll leave you all.
New Year’s Resolution #1: Update blog more frequently than 5 month intervals.
Take care everyone!
