Ahhh... nothing like left-over turkey!!!
Friday, November 26, 2004
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Thanksgiving Update...
Dear Family & Friends,
I just wanted to let you all know 2 small things...
The 1st, is that I passed my language exam that's needed to graduate from the Peace Corps Training Program. I'm by far, not the best, but I think I'm doing well personally. I'm truly surprised how much I already know, but equally humbled by how much I don't. In addition to that, the language spoken within the classroom is 100mphs slower than that spoken outside of the classroom. I've been courageous enough to start building friendships with local Moroccans, and I think that's what's paid off. Allowing myself to fail has helped me succeed.
Over the coming months, I will be searching for an Arabic tutor in Marrakesh to teach me both Darisa (common dialect of Arabic spoken here in Morocco) and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). MSA is the formal Arabic that is written and spoken throughout the contemporary Arab world. Also known as Fus'ha, it is used in various forms by approximately 208 million Christian and Muslim Arabs. In the Arab world, MSA is the language of the news media, intellectual life, and literature from the Qur'an to the historian Ibn Khaldun and to the Nobel Prize winning author Nagib Mahfuz. MSA is the form of Arabic universally taught in schools of the Arab world. In addition, Modern Standard Arabic is the lingua franca used and respected by educated Muslims throughout the entire world.
If all goes as planned, I will be studying these two forms of Arabic for the next 370 days or so, which will give me full-access into a world that sometimes mis-understood by many Americans. Come next December, I will start learning French, which is also a language widely-spoken here in Morocco. Until then, it's heads down on this Arabic stuff.
The 2nd, is that I'll be updating my website bi-weekly, due now to the fact that I'll be moving out of my semi-large training site and into my little village in early December.
I've been pretty busy the last few weeks, so I haven't had a ton of time to post stuff to my website. However, because of this high-activity, I've experienced some really cool things that I'll soon share with each of you (as well as a ton of new pictures). I should have a bunch of time over the next week, so I'll use that time to get that all posted for you. Along with these past few weeks, I'll also be posting some of the backdated stories and pictures from September on. So you might want to revisit all the months and see if there's anything that you haven't yet read.
Miss you all and wish I could be spending Thanksgiving with you. Be at ease that everything is going smoothly, thus far. This goes without saying, but thanks for all your love and support.
I just wanted to let you all know 2 small things...
The 1st, is that I passed my language exam that's needed to graduate from the Peace Corps Training Program. I'm by far, not the best, but I think I'm doing well personally. I'm truly surprised how much I already know, but equally humbled by how much I don't. In addition to that, the language spoken within the classroom is 100mphs slower than that spoken outside of the classroom. I've been courageous enough to start building friendships with local Moroccans, and I think that's what's paid off. Allowing myself to fail has helped me succeed.
Over the coming months, I will be searching for an Arabic tutor in Marrakesh to teach me both Darisa (common dialect of Arabic spoken here in Morocco) and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). MSA is the formal Arabic that is written and spoken throughout the contemporary Arab world. Also known as Fus'ha, it is used in various forms by approximately 208 million Christian and Muslim Arabs. In the Arab world, MSA is the language of the news media, intellectual life, and literature from the Qur'an to the historian Ibn Khaldun and to the Nobel Prize winning author Nagib Mahfuz. MSA is the form of Arabic universally taught in schools of the Arab world. In addition, Modern Standard Arabic is the lingua franca used and respected by educated Muslims throughout the entire world.
If all goes as planned, I will be studying these two forms of Arabic for the next 370 days or so, which will give me full-access into a world that sometimes mis-understood by many Americans. Come next December, I will start learning French, which is also a language widely-spoken here in Morocco. Until then, it's heads down on this Arabic stuff.
The 2nd, is that I'll be updating my website bi-weekly, due now to the fact that I'll be moving out of my semi-large training site and into my little village in early December.
I've been pretty busy the last few weeks, so I haven't had a ton of time to post stuff to my website. However, because of this high-activity, I've experienced some really cool things that I'll soon share with each of you (as well as a ton of new pictures). I should have a bunch of time over the next week, so I'll use that time to get that all posted for you. Along with these past few weeks, I'll also be posting some of the backdated stories and pictures from September on. So you might want to revisit all the months and see if there's anything that you haven't yet read.
Miss you all and wish I could be spending Thanksgiving with you. Be at ease that everything is going smoothly, thus far. This goes without saying, but thanks for all your love and support.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
MISS NOVEMBER: Melissa M. (1980-2004)
On this very sad day, the entire Peace Corps family here in Morocco, prayed for Melissa's friends and family, as we mourned the death of our fellow SBD Peace Corps volunteer, Melissa. On the afternoon of November 6th, Melissa suffered a fatal car accident just 10K outside of Ouarzazate. Although I personally only knew her for a short period of time, we grew very close. She will be missed dearly by not only me, but the entire SBD class of 2004. It has been mentioned that the government of Ouarzazate will pay tribute to her and honor her memory by dedicating a local learning center in her name. Shower us with your blessing Melissa, thank you.
For the official statement by Peace Corps HQ, click here... (http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=992)
As an added note, I wanted to state that students traveling abroad face many dangerous on the roads of many of these 3rd World Countries. A family that experienced the same tradegy as Melissa's family decided to devlop a portable seat-belt that students could carry with them on these dangerous roadways. The story and video can be viewed by clicking here.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
FINAL SITE: Amizmiz (aka Amezmiz)
Map of my Moroccan Region:
(Amizmiz, Morocco = Stockton, California)
Monday, November 01, 2004
About Amezmiz (aka Amizmiz)...
At the end of the High Atlas Mountains, just southwest from Marrakech, is the simple town of Amizmiz (pop. 16,000) which has been famed as the home town for their pottery and in ancient times for their acrobats since medieval times (That fact has yet to be validated). But, like many rural settlements, it has a saintly founder, one Sidi Ahmed. As far as sights go, there is a semi-ruined kasbah and an important Tuesday morning souk. Otherwise, it’s a stopping place on the round-the-mountains route to Ouirgane – or a starting point for some short walks into the Atlas. The post office, bank and cybercafé are handily located in a new district on the main road as you arrive from Marrakech.
About my (new) Host Family...
I live (fortunately) with my Moroccan counterpart, Mohamed Boumlik. He himself is an artist and is the President of my town's artist association. He has (just one) wife named Klaulija, 3 beautiful girls ranging from 22-28, and two boys 19 and 27. I've yet to meet the older boy Adelrahim (27) due to the fact that he is (from what my limited language can obtain) a parachutist in the Moroccan Armed Forces. The youngest boy of Hamid (19) is a simple minded kid, that works as an apprectice for his father. The three girls; Hasna (22), Nezha (26), and Leila (28) all live in Marrekesh and work there also. Mostly, they all work in some sort of adminstrative role. The youngest girl, Hasna, will move back home just around the time that I arrive on site. We've already discussed that she will be my Arabic tutor to begin with. She's very patient and so I believe this will work out just nicely. I just have to teach her how to teach me, which might be a hurdle. (But then again, what hasn't been a hurdle thus far).
In and around Amizmiz...
Due North about 40 minutes is Marrakesh (pop. 980,000, which I'm sure you can find information on over the web). Other than that, there is the resort town of Oukaimeden, which is about an hour away from my site at the most. Oukaimeden is North Africa's largest ski resort and has the continent's highest lift at alittle over 10,000ft. It is a relatively short and easy drive from Marrakech, where you can stay in relative luxury. Oukaimeden was initially developed by the French and when conditions are good there are up to 20 km (13 miles) of runs, the longest one 3 km (nearly 2 miles) in length. You can take a donkey ride up to access terrain not served by lifts, opening up some impressive steeps and chutes. So all in all as a summary of my site, and when conditions are good, you may choose to mix your sking with a game of golf at one of their three courses; The Royal Golf Club, Golf Palmeraie, or Club Amelkis which range in price from $43-71 US. In addition to that you might also do some mountain biking, camel riding, rock climbing or check out the first rate surfing on the coast (which is only about 3 hours away) there in Agadir. And last, but certainly not least, I can take a 3-4 hour rapid train ride into the famed city of Casablanca.
My assignment...
My particular site assignment has yet to be fully realized and/or determined, but for now I believe I will be helping out with the new Co-Operative building that the Government of Marrekesh is donating to the town of Amizmiz. Another possible side project might be working with an American Christian organization and helping to map out the locate villages throughout my area. Another side project might be to design a Regional Brochure (The ones you usually find at hotels) and provide that to the Governor of Ouarzazate. I've already created a smaller one already, and he was impressed with it. As far as mediums for my particular site, so far I've seen pottery, retail clothing for women, and some carpentry. Stay tuned on these topics.
At the end of the High Atlas Mountains, just southwest from Marrakech, is the simple town of Amizmiz (pop. 16,000) which has been famed as the home town for their pottery and in ancient times for their acrobats since medieval times (That fact has yet to be validated). But, like many rural settlements, it has a saintly founder, one Sidi Ahmed. As far as sights go, there is a semi-ruined kasbah and an important Tuesday morning souk. Otherwise, it’s a stopping place on the round-the-mountains route to Ouirgane – or a starting point for some short walks into the Atlas. The post office, bank and cybercafé are handily located in a new district on the main road as you arrive from Marrakech.
About my (new) Host Family...
I live (fortunately) with my Moroccan counterpart, Mohamed Boumlik. He himself is an artist and is the President of my town's artist association. He has (just one) wife named Klaulija, 3 beautiful girls ranging from 22-28, and two boys 19 and 27. I've yet to meet the older boy Adelrahim (27) due to the fact that he is (from what my limited language can obtain) a parachutist in the Moroccan Armed Forces. The youngest boy of Hamid (19) is a simple minded kid, that works as an apprectice for his father. The three girls; Hasna (22), Nezha (26), and Leila (28) all live in Marrekesh and work there also. Mostly, they all work in some sort of adminstrative role. The youngest girl, Hasna, will move back home just around the time that I arrive on site. We've already discussed that she will be my Arabic tutor to begin with. She's very patient and so I believe this will work out just nicely. I just have to teach her how to teach me, which might be a hurdle. (But then again, what hasn't been a hurdle thus far).
In and around Amizmiz...
Due North about 40 minutes is Marrakesh (pop. 980,000, which I'm sure you can find information on over the web). Other than that, there is the resort town of Oukaimeden, which is about an hour away from my site at the most. Oukaimeden is North Africa's largest ski resort and has the continent's highest lift at alittle over 10,000ft. It is a relatively short and easy drive from Marrakech, where you can stay in relative luxury. Oukaimeden was initially developed by the French and when conditions are good there are up to 20 km (13 miles) of runs, the longest one 3 km (nearly 2 miles) in length. You can take a donkey ride up to access terrain not served by lifts, opening up some impressive steeps and chutes. So all in all as a summary of my site, and when conditions are good, you may choose to mix your sking with a game of golf at one of their three courses; The Royal Golf Club, Golf Palmeraie, or Club Amelkis which range in price from $43-71 US. In addition to that you might also do some mountain biking, camel riding, rock climbing or check out the first rate surfing on the coast (which is only about 3 hours away) there in Agadir. And last, but certainly not least, I can take a 3-4 hour rapid train ride into the famed city of Casablanca.
My assignment...
My particular site assignment has yet to be fully realized and/or determined, but for now I believe I will be helping out with the new Co-Operative building that the Government of Marrekesh is donating to the town of Amizmiz. Another possible side project might be working with an American Christian organization and helping to map out the locate villages throughout my area. Another side project might be to design a Regional Brochure (The ones you usually find at hotels) and provide that to the Governor of Ouarzazate. I've already created a smaller one already, and he was impressed with it. As far as mediums for my particular site, so far I've seen pottery, retail clothing for women, and some carpentry. Stay tuned on these topics.
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