Tuesday, Sarah and I went to the first of four classes on Islam held at our pastor's house. The classes are to help us get a better understanding of the culture we are now living in. It was interesting and very informational. I'm excited to see what the next few weeks hold!
Our trip there was a great reminder of the wonderful people who live in this country. Our first taxi driver spoke a little English and was very nice. He asked a woman who was riding with us to help us get our next taxi! People here really are nice...there are wierdos but we have them in the states too :)
The best part of the evening was meeting five other young women. I have really missed having good Christian girlfriends to talk with. One of the girls invited us over to their apartment after church on Sunday for a "Bring and Share". I am hopeful that these could be some really good (non-school) friends!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Rabat
This weekend Sarah and I embarked on our first solo adventure! We got up early on Friday morning and packed our backpacks so we could leave right from school. It took us a while to find a taxi that would bring us to the train station but we finally made it, got our tickets, and ran to catch the train. Since we were some of the last to board we got to stand for the entire ride! We began in the back (Sarah got stuck in the doorway of the bathroom!). Later we moved to the hallway...which had a better view.
Our plan was to stay in a small family run motel in the medina. However, we found out that our dinner destination was not open yet and right next to it was a big, nice hotel called Hotel Balima. We decided, for convenience and because it was getting dark, to stay there instead. We settled in, ate dinner, and called it a night.
Saturday began with breakfast at the hotel; putting on our backpacks, chacos, and sunglasses; and heading out with cameras to be tourists! Walking down Ave. Mohammad V, we had to laugh when a man came skipping by us shouting and giggling, "I love U.S.A." What a way to start the day :) First stop...the medina. Now medinas are where most tourists get lost. I wouldn't say we were completely lost, but we weren't exactly sure where we were either :) But, we made it out alright and with a few purchases as well!
Next stop...the kasbah. This is the oldest part of Rabat (the original "ribat"). Much like the medina, the kasbah had the narrow winding alleys. The difference though was the peaceful nature. So different from the hussle and bussle of the medina, I felt like I was in a new world. We made our way through the winding streets to the Andalusian Gardens. It was so nice to be surrounded by so many green things! In my lovely, dirty home of Casablanca (with white contrete buildings...casa - house, blanca - white), I miss the trees and grass and flowers.
On to Le Tour Hassan and Mausoleum of Mohammed V... Le Tour Hassan would have been the second largest mosque of its time (if it had been completed). Unfortunately the sultan died before it was complete and later an earthquake hit, leaving only the unfinished minaret and a forest of pillars. The Mausoleum is where the coffin of Mohammed V is kept. This building was amazing on the inside...intricate tile work, carvings, gold everywhere...it was incredible!
We ended our day with the Mega Mall :) Although it was not so "mega", it was nice to go to a mall. We walked around, got some ice cream, and called it a day. We were tired, but we had fun!!!
*** I put pictures from this weekend on my Picasa album...just so you know :)
Our plan was to stay in a small family run motel in the medina. However, we found out that our dinner destination was not open yet and right next to it was a big, nice hotel called Hotel Balima. We decided, for convenience and because it was getting dark, to stay there instead. We settled in, ate dinner, and called it a night.
Saturday began with breakfast at the hotel; putting on our backpacks, chacos, and sunglasses; and heading out with cameras to be tourists! Walking down Ave. Mohammad V, we had to laugh when a man came skipping by us shouting and giggling, "I love U.S.A." What a way to start the day :) First stop...the medina. Now medinas are where most tourists get lost. I wouldn't say we were completely lost, but we weren't exactly sure where we were either :) But, we made it out alright and with a few purchases as well!
Next stop...the kasbah. This is the oldest part of Rabat (the original "ribat"). Much like the medina, the kasbah had the narrow winding alleys. The difference though was the peaceful nature. So different from the hussle and bussle of the medina, I felt like I was in a new world. We made our way through the winding streets to the Andalusian Gardens. It was so nice to be surrounded by so many green things! In my lovely, dirty home of Casablanca (with white contrete buildings...casa - house, blanca - white), I miss the trees and grass and flowers.
On to Le Tour Hassan and Mausoleum of Mohammed V... Le Tour Hassan would have been the second largest mosque of its time (if it had been completed). Unfortunately the sultan died before it was complete and later an earthquake hit, leaving only the unfinished minaret and a forest of pillars. The Mausoleum is where the coffin of Mohammed V is kept. This building was amazing on the inside...intricate tile work, carvings, gold everywhere...it was incredible!
We ended our day with the Mega Mall :) Although it was not so "mega", it was nice to go to a mall. We walked around, got some ice cream, and called it a day. We were tired, but we had fun!!!
*** I put pictures from this weekend on my Picasa album...just so you know :)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Building Relationships
Last weekend I had two opportunities to make new friends! First, I went out for lunch with a young family. We had a great time learning more about each other and God's calling on our lives. They were such a neat couple and their kids were adorable! It was so nice to be with a family (even though it wasn't my own). I loved it!
Later that afternoon, Sarah and I went to the church soccer game...kind of like church softball except these guys are professionals :) If I'm honest, I hardly watched the game. The pastor and his wife were there as well as another couple from the church. It was really nice to talk in a relaxed setting (without responsibilities, or other people) As we began talking, it came out that one of the women went to CALVIN!!! We were the bigger people and continued talking :) Also at the game was a local Moroccan woman. She was so friendly and offered to help Sarah and I with our Arabic!
I am so lucky to have so many people who care about me! I miss everyone from home, but I have also been blessed to find a number of friends here. "Starting over" is not easy, and sometimes I wish I could just go out for coffee with my best friends. Yet what a cool thing that I get to build friendships with so many different types of people.
Later that afternoon, Sarah and I went to the church soccer game...kind of like church softball except these guys are professionals :) If I'm honest, I hardly watched the game. The pastor and his wife were there as well as another couple from the church. It was really nice to talk in a relaxed setting (without responsibilities, or other people) As we began talking, it came out that one of the women went to CALVIN!!! We were the bigger people and continued talking :) Also at the game was a local Moroccan woman. She was so friendly and offered to help Sarah and I with our Arabic!
I am so lucky to have so many people who care about me! I miss everyone from home, but I have also been blessed to find a number of friends here. "Starting over" is not easy, and sometimes I wish I could just go out for coffee with my best friends. Yet what a cool thing that I get to build friendships with so many different types of people.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
My new home
It's hard for me to believe that I've been living here for 6 weeks now! Morocco is really beginning to feel like home to me. The dirt and the noise, markets, crazy taxi drivers...I love this place :)
Nothing too exciting has happened...go to school, come home, eat, grade, plan, sleep and do it all over again. I started tutoring an 8th grade boy this week. He is the son of one of my co-workers and lives in our building...pretty nice set-up. Weekends are slightly more eventful. Friday nights Sarah and I crash after a long week and have been in bed almost every week by 8!!! Wow, are we old or what :) Saturdays are for errands, work, going out with friends...we have a good time.
Last weekend the owner of the school took Sarah, myself and another teacher out for dinner and to a jazz club. The evening was quite entertaining...I wish I could have video-taped it! To start off, he was and hour late for picking us up (welcome to Moroccan culture!). Standing next to our building, dressed up and with a male co-worker waiting for our ride, we can only imagine what it looked like! At the restaurant he asked us about 20 times whether we liked this place or not :) He also called his daughter in Boston and put Sarah on the phone with her (because she is a Sarah too). Then at the end of our meal another teacher from the school came over to join us because his friends had left. From there we went to a jazz club, Amstrong. Picture this...Sarah and I at a night club, standing awkwardly next to three 40-year-old men! The band was very good and played quite a few song we knew. It really was a nice evening...just an interesting one :)
Nothing too exciting has happened...go to school, come home, eat, grade, plan, sleep and do it all over again. I started tutoring an 8th grade boy this week. He is the son of one of my co-workers and lives in our building...pretty nice set-up. Weekends are slightly more eventful. Friday nights Sarah and I crash after a long week and have been in bed almost every week by 8!!! Wow, are we old or what :) Saturdays are for errands, work, going out with friends...we have a good time.
Last weekend the owner of the school took Sarah, myself and another teacher out for dinner and to a jazz club. The evening was quite entertaining...I wish I could have video-taped it! To start off, he was and hour late for picking us up (welcome to Moroccan culture!). Standing next to our building, dressed up and with a male co-worker waiting for our ride, we can only imagine what it looked like! At the restaurant he asked us about 20 times whether we liked this place or not :) He also called his daughter in Boston and put Sarah on the phone with her (because she is a Sarah too). Then at the end of our meal another teacher from the school came over to join us because his friends had left. From there we went to a jazz club, Amstrong. Picture this...Sarah and I at a night club, standing awkwardly next to three 40-year-old men! The band was very good and played quite a few song we knew. It really was a nice evening...just an interesting one :)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Pictures
I sent this to many of you but just in case...here is the link to my Morocco photo album!
http://picasaweb.google.com/laura.smallegan/Morocco
http://picasaweb.google.com/laura.smallegan/Morocco
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
