Our fourth week in Midelt…

As we brought in our fourth week in Midelt I have found that it has been a week of realized understandings, continued language developing, opportunities growing, and values confirming…

Because we have the luxury of being American with money we have taken advantage of all that may offer and this past weekend traveled to Meknes for some site-seeing as well as good shopping and McFlurry eating… Take a look at here for some pictures of our visit there...

As most weeks go I have spent many hours in Hyatt’s shop (yes, I talk a lot about Hyatt. Yes, Jake calls her my Moroccan girlfriend) talking Arabic (sometimes), teaching English (not really), laughing (always), and continuing to enjoy simply being with others… Highlight stories of the week: My understanding is this… Hyatt’s Aunt’s friend’s son (yeah) was up in the mountains and decided that to quench his thirst he would drink some mountain water… unfortunately big bugs live in that water and when to took a drink an one inch bug crawled down his throat. S his throat began to itch his mother began to understand what was going on and decided that the only way to get the big bug out was to chase it out of the kids throat by dunking the child’s head in a bucket of water, only to watch moments later the big bug jump out of the child’s throat and into the bucket of water…

Hyatt also has a gift of giving… Many times men and women alike will come and ask her for money or food and every time, Hyatt gives graciously… This week one of my favorite women came by to receive a bag of apples… After tea, talking, and laughing she began to leave and Hyatt asked, "Aren’t you going to thank me for giving you a bag of apples?" The lady laughed, "No I’m not, because I’m going to come back and you’re going to give me more apples. Then, I will thank you."

This week was also a week of both national and non-national visitors which of coarse means good cheese, bread, fire on the roof, and lots of laughter… By complete circumstance I had decided one day to make my first tajine the day a national friend came to visit... he commented that my tajine was good, but too spicy… another bomb… but I have to say, this week I made some stinkin’ good homemade applesauce!

In addition, this week Jake began teaching an advanced-English language class daily. He’s such a good teacher and daily talks of current events and cultural beliefs with his students. I, on the other hand, spent an evening in the home of a woman who is trying to get money out of me (more later); visited for the first time the local medical association; and today am going to visit a woman’s center where they teach english and trade craft skills…

Each day we continue to learn and today are going to head off to Essaouira… I long to be near water once again…

P.S. This week I also had my first rock thrown at me by a slew of "cute" kids… it was due time... in response they received the look of death searing from my eyes and were all stopped in their tracks… Being a woman is good.