When I first told friends and family that I chose a study abroad program in a Muslim nation, in North Africa I got the characteristic ‘oh, that’s interesting’ reaction, though I knew that really they were experiencing one of two responses. The first being that they understood I was interested in more than the typical program, but still wondered why I didn’t choose a more ‘normal’ option; or they understood my reasoning and were supportive, but never would do it themselves.
Many didn’t even know where Morocco was- they only knew it was a Muslim nation and that meant certain things. I’d have to wear a hijab or other type of veil. I wouldn’t be able to interact with males, even on a peer level. I would be ostracized for my Christian beliefs. But the greatest concern I came across was for my safety- against Arab extremists, an idea that has recently occupied the American media and mindset. Truth be told, I wasn’t even sure what to expect. I had absorbed all of these perceptions simply by being around them. But what made me different was my awareness that these were stereotypes, and the only way I could combat them was to come and find out the truth on my own.
My studies at my home university deal a lot with stereotypes and discrimination and I hope to work with immigrants after graduation, so I chose a program that would give me a better understanding and hopefully break apart some stereotypes. So perhaps when I meet those from a culture other than my own my mind would not immediately go to the most accessible stereotype.
My studies and experiences in Meknés have given me this opportunity and more. I was able to encounter students from across the world who strive for an understanding similar to my own. I met head on my own stereotypes and encountered stereotypes against me.
Our group was invited to participate in a cultural night arranged by the Moroccan students. This night intended to exhibit the different cultures represented at our university, African and American alike. During the performances a few fundamentalist students attempted to break apart the program because their beliefs did not agree with what we were doing. Another time, towards the end of the semester, posters appeared that depicted offensive material to both the American students and the Jewish students on campus. Although both these events alarmed and distressed us we understood that these voiced positions were the opinions of few, and were precisely what needed to be addressed and changed for true cultural interaction.
The response of the Moroccan students offset the anxiety caused by the extreme actions of others. While things were being settled by the faculty the Moroccan students surrounding us repeatedly assured us how upset they were by these actions and how this wasn’t the view of typical Muslims and Moroccans. They wanted to make sure that we knew that we were welcome and that they valued the opportunity to share their culture with us, and for us to do the same.
These attitudes were further explored in a forum between the American and Moroccan students on the subject of stereotypes. The forum provided a safe and controlled space in which both sides could discuss existing stereotypes and what to do with them. It also allowed for keener insight into each culture, although on the course there were times when it was hard to let go of the rationales of one culture to see the side of the other. At one point a Moroccan student spoke about how one culture cannot heap judgments on another without first looking at itself with the same scrutiny. I was greatly encouraged by this, by the whole response of the Moroccans, and renewed my faith in cross cultural interaction.
Through this experience I was able to see just how important it was to develop a cultural competency. With a greater understanding and tolerance of different cultures, customs, and religions we can fight against the ignorance – both at home and abroad- that cripple relations. This is not something that can be learned from books or lectures, but something that needs to be experienced and action that needs to be taken. Now, I’m not saying that everyone needs to hop on the next plane to somewhere obscure and get knee-deep in peacemaking efforts, but do try and experience something new. Whether it is volunteering with immigrants, working in a soup kitchen, service projects, or even discussions with those from different political or religious affiliations, all I suggest is something to begin a process of understanding. Such efforts prove to be fatal to what stands between ignorance and cultural sensitivity.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
back home!
Hey all-
After a long and very exhausting travel experience I am home and glad of it. My traveling went smoothly for the most part, I caught a 2am train out of Meknes on Saturday morning and was able to get a few hours of sleep on the 5 hour trip up to Tangiers. From there I caught the 9a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain and got there at one in the afternoon with the 2 hour time difference. There I took a bus to Al-Gheciras and my travel buddy- a roommate from the ISA group- went our seperate ways. I took the bus to Malaga which took about 2.5 hours and got to the airport at about 5. My flight was not until 11a the following day but I was too cheap to pay for a room for the night so I stayed in the airport. For 18 hours! It was alright- the time went quickly- but when I tried fall asleep I began to regret my decision. I just couldn't get comfortable, but I made it through.
9a Sunday morning I went through security to catch my 11a flight to London, from there to Chicago, and then finally to Minneapolis. I got in around 11:30 at night - a full 52 hours, with time changes, after I set out from Meknes. I had a surprise waiting for me at the airport- 7 of my close friends and roommates came to welcome me, and I had one more waiting for me at home! It was so good to see so many people excited to have me back!
Well this will be my final post now that I'm back. Although the semester has had its down moments I am glad I had the experience. I don't know that I'd do it again, but I did learn alot while I was there. I learned alot about myself and became more sure of the person that I am. I'm glad that I chose a program that was a risk, not going somewhere "safe" and normal like England or Australia. Programs like that, excepting a few cases, seem too similar to home- like its a vacation rather than a learning expereince.
A community, to me, makes or breaks an experience, and I was spoiled by my roommates and environment at Bethel. My experience was less than it could have been because of the other students, excepting a few. I did become close with one of my roommates, and I'm glad that she was there to keep me sane!
I did enjoy most of my experience though. The last few weeks I met some Moroccan students that were really cool, and I wish that I had met them earlier in the semester! My professors made the experience memorable, if somewhat frusterating at times. I will miss many things about Morocco and its culture; I keep catching myself about to utter "Insha'llah" everytime someone talks about the future, ( Insha'llah is the Moroccan custom of saying "If God wills", and sometimes a handy exit strategy!) or the Arabic for thankyou, good morning or hello. It will take a bit to get readjusted to my life here, but I'm so glad to be home!
I'm working on getting pictures organized. Hopefully I will have some available when I run into you- at family gatherings or other visits. I want to thank you for your continued prayers this semester, and your following along through my blog and updates. Hopefully I will see you soon!
Im also putting in the next thread my paper that I wrote for one of my courses, as a reflection on a certain aspect of my experience.
After a long and very exhausting travel experience I am home and glad of it. My traveling went smoothly for the most part, I caught a 2am train out of Meknes on Saturday morning and was able to get a few hours of sleep on the 5 hour trip up to Tangiers. From there I caught the 9a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain and got there at one in the afternoon with the 2 hour time difference. There I took a bus to Al-Gheciras and my travel buddy- a roommate from the ISA group- went our seperate ways. I took the bus to Malaga which took about 2.5 hours and got to the airport at about 5. My flight was not until 11a the following day but I was too cheap to pay for a room for the night so I stayed in the airport. For 18 hours! It was alright- the time went quickly- but when I tried fall asleep I began to regret my decision. I just couldn't get comfortable, but I made it through.
9a Sunday morning I went through security to catch my 11a flight to London, from there to Chicago, and then finally to Minneapolis. I got in around 11:30 at night - a full 52 hours, with time changes, after I set out from Meknes. I had a surprise waiting for me at the airport- 7 of my close friends and roommates came to welcome me, and I had one more waiting for me at home! It was so good to see so many people excited to have me back!
Well this will be my final post now that I'm back. Although the semester has had its down moments I am glad I had the experience. I don't know that I'd do it again, but I did learn alot while I was there. I learned alot about myself and became more sure of the person that I am. I'm glad that I chose a program that was a risk, not going somewhere "safe" and normal like England or Australia. Programs like that, excepting a few cases, seem too similar to home- like its a vacation rather than a learning expereince.
A community, to me, makes or breaks an experience, and I was spoiled by my roommates and environment at Bethel. My experience was less than it could have been because of the other students, excepting a few. I did become close with one of my roommates, and I'm glad that she was there to keep me sane!
I did enjoy most of my experience though. The last few weeks I met some Moroccan students that were really cool, and I wish that I had met them earlier in the semester! My professors made the experience memorable, if somewhat frusterating at times. I will miss many things about Morocco and its culture; I keep catching myself about to utter "Insha'llah" everytime someone talks about the future, ( Insha'llah is the Moroccan custom of saying "If God wills", and sometimes a handy exit strategy!) or the Arabic for thankyou, good morning or hello. It will take a bit to get readjusted to my life here, but I'm so glad to be home!
I'm working on getting pictures organized. Hopefully I will have some available when I run into you- at family gatherings or other visits. I want to thank you for your continued prayers this semester, and your following along through my blog and updates. Hopefully I will see you soon!
Im also putting in the next thread my paper that I wrote for one of my courses, as a reflection on a certain aspect of my experience.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
end of the semester
Hey everyone. Sorry for taking such a long time. The connection has not been too great and there has just not been that much to write about, until this past week.
We'll this will be my last post from Morocco. I leave on Saturday on an epic train and ferry ride to catch my flight out of Spain Sunday morning. I'm not a fan of long train and ferry rides, but as this is the last I will be taking in what I can only imagine will be a very very long time, I think I can muster through.
This next week is full of exams and final meetings, very busy. I have got my two part Arabic exam on Monday and Tuesday so please keep me in your prayers as I attempt to remember all that I have (briefly) covered in my classes. The other exams for my Gender Studies and Art courses will just be short answer reactions, which I can handle.
Well the events of the past week have been pretty intense. On Wednesday we arrived on campus and there was a large banner, perhaps 4x5 ft, professionally done and hung on a wall. It had some images that depicted America in a pretty harsh way, the Statue with skull face, soldiers, and a footprint stamped on the globe. In red, gory font was "America: terrorism throughout the world" written in both English and Arabic. Those of us who saw this were shaken up, but remembering the sorts of people that we have interacted with throughout our stay on campus and in Morocco at large we understood that this mindset was the extremist one, and that it was not the view of most. One of our students, who is involved in the military back home, lost his self-control and got really angered by this picture, and went around campus ranting in a way that I'm sure whoever put the poster up wanted. We had to get him back to our classroom so he could regain his temper and his control. It was a very emotionally and mentally exhausting few days that the poster remained up. But we did get many students coming up and apologizing to us, and I have to say that I am proud of the way that most of us handled this.
While this was up there were posters in other places against the Jewish population in Morocco, which is significant and many Jewish students also attend the university. Based on the event at the cultural fair - my march 20th post- we knew that there were a few fundamentalist students on campus who believe in the separation of the Islamic community, they do not like the interaction with other cultures that Moulay Ismail University encourages. But because of these events I was encouraged that what path I am pursuing, in my studies and in my faith, is the right one. Without interaction and communication there is no way to break down the stereotypes and barriers that create such beliefs as the fundamentalists and that seperate our cultures.
Before this event happened we were planning a forum between Moroccan and American students, and had already decided on a topic of Stereotypes. But I was extremely encouraged by this forum, which happened just this Friday in the wake of these protests. Though there were some students- on both sides- who did not want to let go of there stereotypes, and who saw the forum as a place to make their opinion known, the majority of the discussion dealt with how we need to confront these stereotypes and break them down to move past and to really understand another. It was just a comfort to me, that even though the semester was not what I expected or what I hoped there was a reason I came, if only to renew my conviction and my purpose.
I will admit that this semester has been a tough one. I had been looking forward to my semester abroad for so long and I experienced so much trouble getting here that I thought my trip must have God's hand on it, but it was hard. I constantly felt off, and I wondered why it couldn't have just been amazing through and through. I missed home and my friends constantly, and my experience here perhaps has not been one of the best times. But I do feel now at the end I have taken something, even if it is just a renewed purpose and a new appreciation for what I do have at home. I can't wait to get back and see everyone again!
* also for my gender Studies class I have to write a paper and I am writing it about cultural competency in light of the past events. when that is done I will post it for you!
We'll this will be my last post from Morocco. I leave on Saturday on an epic train and ferry ride to catch my flight out of Spain Sunday morning. I'm not a fan of long train and ferry rides, but as this is the last I will be taking in what I can only imagine will be a very very long time, I think I can muster through.
This next week is full of exams and final meetings, very busy. I have got my two part Arabic exam on Monday and Tuesday so please keep me in your prayers as I attempt to remember all that I have (briefly) covered in my classes. The other exams for my Gender Studies and Art courses will just be short answer reactions, which I can handle.
Well the events of the past week have been pretty intense. On Wednesday we arrived on campus and there was a large banner, perhaps 4x5 ft, professionally done and hung on a wall. It had some images that depicted America in a pretty harsh way, the Statue with skull face, soldiers, and a footprint stamped on the globe. In red, gory font was "America: terrorism throughout the world" written in both English and Arabic. Those of us who saw this were shaken up, but remembering the sorts of people that we have interacted with throughout our stay on campus and in Morocco at large we understood that this mindset was the extremist one, and that it was not the view of most. One of our students, who is involved in the military back home, lost his self-control and got really angered by this picture, and went around campus ranting in a way that I'm sure whoever put the poster up wanted. We had to get him back to our classroom so he could regain his temper and his control. It was a very emotionally and mentally exhausting few days that the poster remained up. But we did get many students coming up and apologizing to us, and I have to say that I am proud of the way that most of us handled this.
While this was up there were posters in other places against the Jewish population in Morocco, which is significant and many Jewish students also attend the university. Based on the event at the cultural fair - my march 20th post- we knew that there were a few fundamentalist students on campus who believe in the separation of the Islamic community, they do not like the interaction with other cultures that Moulay Ismail University encourages. But because of these events I was encouraged that what path I am pursuing, in my studies and in my faith, is the right one. Without interaction and communication there is no way to break down the stereotypes and barriers that create such beliefs as the fundamentalists and that seperate our cultures.
Before this event happened we were planning a forum between Moroccan and American students, and had already decided on a topic of Stereotypes. But I was extremely encouraged by this forum, which happened just this Friday in the wake of these protests. Though there were some students- on both sides- who did not want to let go of there stereotypes, and who saw the forum as a place to make their opinion known, the majority of the discussion dealt with how we need to confront these stereotypes and break them down to move past and to really understand another. It was just a comfort to me, that even though the semester was not what I expected or what I hoped there was a reason I came, if only to renew my conviction and my purpose.
I will admit that this semester has been a tough one. I had been looking forward to my semester abroad for so long and I experienced so much trouble getting here that I thought my trip must have God's hand on it, but it was hard. I constantly felt off, and I wondered why it couldn't have just been amazing through and through. I missed home and my friends constantly, and my experience here perhaps has not been one of the best times. But I do feel now at the end I have taken something, even if it is just a renewed purpose and a new appreciation for what I do have at home. I can't wait to get back and see everyone again!
* also for my gender Studies class I have to write a paper and I am writing it about cultural competency in light of the past events. when that is done I will post it for you!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
back in Meknes...
Hi everyone. so i'm back in Meknes after a wonderful and much needed relaxing spring break. I spent a week in Taghazout, a small fishing and surf village on the Atlantic coast in the south of Morocco. Because it is a surf spot they were pretty used to foreigners and so it was nice to get a break from being the center of attention- the only white people in a 5 mile vicinity! We - 8 of us- stayed in a beautiful apartment rented out by a surf camp run by a bunch of Brits. Imagine that- just taking 6 or so months out of the year to live on the Atlantic and give surf lessons. If I could surf well I might be tempted- so I guess you all can count it in your blessings that I can't, otherwide I might not've come back! The weather was beautiful and the Atlantic was gorgeous. I didn't get that much swimming in because the water was still a little too cold for my taste. But it wasn't terrible just lounging about in the sun all day! I did, on one of the first days, get out and try to surf but apparently it isn't my thing. I didn't get up to my feet at all, the waves were too frequent and kept beating us around. I enjoyed it and can now cross surfing off my list but I didn't enjoy it enough to try again! Oh well, as beautiful as the Atlantic is I much more enjoy my lakes, the ocean is too salty for me! All in all it wasn't a terribly exciting vacation but just what I needed.
On last Saturday our spring break ended and we got on a bus for a very long ride into the desert to meet our group for an excursion. Our Meknes group, as well as 4 or so Spain groups visiting Morocco all spent 3 days camping in the desert. I mean full on golden dunes Sahara desert. It was beautiful, the nights so clear! It was a small patch of desert outside Merzouga in the Atlas mountains. Before bed I would just wander out a ways into the desert and just remind myself how lucky and amazing it is that I am sitting in the Sahara in Africa. Sometimes I just forget that I am really here. We rode camels on the second day, which was really fun. None spit on or near me but the one my roomate and I were on had some serious saliva issues- constantly foaming and drooling. Pretty gross.
Well I think I am 5 weeks today from the end of the program, which has caused me to do a little bit of reflecting and what not. Im not gonna say that this trip has been ideal. Most of the time it has been a really eye-opening and valuable experience, but sometimes it has been outright lonely and difficult for me. I've still got a bit of the homesickness and wondering why I am here but I have been reading my Bonhoeffer "Discipleship" that I brought along as a study. This last week I came across something that really helped me out. It was talking about how Christ's followers are called to break ties with everything of the world; friends, family, jobs, home in order to reforge these relationships through Christ.
On last Saturday our spring break ended and we got on a bus for a very long ride into the desert to meet our group for an excursion. Our Meknes group, as well as 4 or so Spain groups visiting Morocco all spent 3 days camping in the desert. I mean full on golden dunes Sahara desert. It was beautiful, the nights so clear! It was a small patch of desert outside Merzouga in the Atlas mountains. Before bed I would just wander out a ways into the desert and just remind myself how lucky and amazing it is that I am sitting in the Sahara in Africa. Sometimes I just forget that I am really here. We rode camels on the second day, which was really fun. None spit on or near me but the one my roomate and I were on had some serious saliva issues- constantly foaming and drooling. Pretty gross.
Well I think I am 5 weeks today from the end of the program, which has caused me to do a little bit of reflecting and what not. Im not gonna say that this trip has been ideal. Most of the time it has been a really eye-opening and valuable experience, but sometimes it has been outright lonely and difficult for me. I've still got a bit of the homesickness and wondering why I am here but I have been reading my Bonhoeffer "Discipleship" that I brought along as a study. This last week I came across something that really helped me out. It was talking about how Christ's followers are called to break ties with everything of the world; friends, family, jobs, home in order to reforge these relationships through Christ.
"Christ intends to make the human being lonely. As individuals they should see nothing except Him who called them."
"Christ has untied the persons immediate connections with the world and bound the person immediately to Himself. No one can follow Christ without recognizing and affirming the break is already complete"
Bonhoeffer also talks about how Abraham is commanded to sacrifice his son...
"Abraham had left everything and had followed Christ, and while he was following Christ, he was permitted to go back and live in the same world he had lived in before"
" Everyone is called into discipleship alone, but no one remains in discipleship alone"
I know I can't apply everything the way I want it to but it made me feel better, made me feel that this semester is that time for me. I am away from everything familiar and comfortable, amongst people that are not of the same lifestyle as me and that I have to use this time to work on my relationship with God. I dunno. It was just really nice to read this as I was down the another rut.
Now I'm back at classes and missing my relaxing naps on the beach. Ah well, what can you do..
Anyway, that's what is going on now. Send me emails if you'd like - finmeg@bethel.edu. love to everyone!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Mid term update
Hey-
I'm finally able to write again, the internet has not been reliable enough to write these past few weeks.
Since I last wrote I have finished the first half of my semester here, although it doesn't feel that I have been here that long. Just last Friday and Monday I took the midterms for my Arabic beginning I course and I am surprised at how much I have learned in such a small amount of time. Granted it was only the alphabet and a few dialogues but with these I can begin to understand what Arabic I hear and read. My exams went well and I scored highly on both the written and oral parts. Now the difficult part comes; conjugating verbs and forming sentences. But I'll get through.
Since I wrote last our group got to take a few more excursions. On the weekend of the 28th we drove out to Fes to tour the city. Fes is alot like Meknes in its setup, but much larger and older. While there we had the opportunity to tour a ceramics studio where we saw pots being thrown as well as mosiacs being made, as well as a tannery. The medina was very large and very hectic, I always had to keep eye out to avoid being clipped- or run over- by a passing mule. As interesting as Fes was I am much more appreciative of small and uncomplicated Meknes.
Last weekend we bussed out to the mountain cities of Azrou and Ifrane. We began by a homemade meal at our tour guides home and stuffed ourselves to the brim and so were glad to get a chance to work it all off on a hike up the mountains in the High Atlas range. It was a beautiful day, sunny and in the 70s. It was a hard hike but we took a break when we came across patches of snow of all things. Of course, being deprived of all that lovely snow back home, we broke out in a massive snowball fight; made even more enjoyable because we were not all bundled up but enjoying the summer-like weather. The rest of our hike was broken up by a few more of these impromptu wars.
About halfway through we came to a rest stop between the mountains and there were a family of monkeys just wandering around. We began to peel an orange for one that was perched above us in a tree. These monkeys must have been acclimated to the curious tourists that wander through and know just how to work them, because when we offered this guy a peel he just smacked it away and waiting somewhat impatiently for the good stuff. We all got a chance to feed this monkey a slice, teasing it further and further down the tree until it was just a foot away, meanwhile all his monkey buddies got wind of what was going on and came around to see what they could get. I got close enough to pet one as he was drinking from the water bottle I gave him. It was great fun to play with these monkeys but I imagine they take on the role that squirrels do back home; I would not want to try and have a picknick while they are around. I'll work on getting picture organized so I can get them up- others have pictures of me on their cameras- but look up macaques or barbary apes to see what we did.
After our 2 hour hike we drove to the cities of Azrou and Ifrane to have lunch and wander around. These cities did not look like they belonged in Africa but rather Switzerland, being built with the same architectural style; the pointed roofs and tall buildings. Everything was so quiet and pictuesque compared to the small town busyness of Meknes, it was very interesting to get that other perspective.
On the busride our program directors and guides broke out into full-on Moroccan/ Berber music and dancing, which kept us all laughing and clapping; preparing us for one of the cultural activities that our host university put on for us. Yesterday there was a sort of cultural show put on by the students and professers of Moulay Ismail, consisting of a compilation of music and dance and theatre giving us glimpses of all different cultures which make up Morocco; Berber, Andalusian, Sub-saharan, with a few American additions. Unfortunately though, there was a group of Islamists- extremeists- who disapproved of the music, the boys and girls sitting together, among other things. Things got pretty intense when they got upset over this show and wanted it to stop. There was no immediate danger to any of us, although the Islamists were forced to leave. Many of the Moroccan students afterwards came up to us apologizing and reassuring us that we were welcome and that this behavior was extreme and not tolerated. I felt very safe and reassured because I know many of the students and I know that they do not hold these views and would support our American group over these Islamists. I know that every religion and culture has some extreme element and that is not going to stop me from my interactions with these cultures; and that the only effective way to combat these elements is to peacefully and respectively form relationships. Yesterday I felt why there is a need for my area of studies (Third World and Reconciliation Studies) and the potential results when gone about correctly.
I have one week until I leave for my spring break on the Atlantic coast; in a town called Tagazout, near Agadir, where I plan on lots of sand, surf and sun. I will get pictures and a note up when I get back so those of you in freezing cold Minnesota may live vicariously through me- relazing on a beautiful beach in 80 degree weather! Enjoy the snow!
I'm finally able to write again, the internet has not been reliable enough to write these past few weeks.
Since I last wrote I have finished the first half of my semester here, although it doesn't feel that I have been here that long. Just last Friday and Monday I took the midterms for my Arabic beginning I course and I am surprised at how much I have learned in such a small amount of time. Granted it was only the alphabet and a few dialogues but with these I can begin to understand what Arabic I hear and read. My exams went well and I scored highly on both the written and oral parts. Now the difficult part comes; conjugating verbs and forming sentences. But I'll get through.
Since I wrote last our group got to take a few more excursions. On the weekend of the 28th we drove out to Fes to tour the city. Fes is alot like Meknes in its setup, but much larger and older. While there we had the opportunity to tour a ceramics studio where we saw pots being thrown as well as mosiacs being made, as well as a tannery. The medina was very large and very hectic, I always had to keep eye out to avoid being clipped- or run over- by a passing mule. As interesting as Fes was I am much more appreciative of small and uncomplicated Meknes.
Last weekend we bussed out to the mountain cities of Azrou and Ifrane. We began by a homemade meal at our tour guides home and stuffed ourselves to the brim and so were glad to get a chance to work it all off on a hike up the mountains in the High Atlas range. It was a beautiful day, sunny and in the 70s. It was a hard hike but we took a break when we came across patches of snow of all things. Of course, being deprived of all that lovely snow back home, we broke out in a massive snowball fight; made even more enjoyable because we were not all bundled up but enjoying the summer-like weather. The rest of our hike was broken up by a few more of these impromptu wars.
About halfway through we came to a rest stop between the mountains and there were a family of monkeys just wandering around. We began to peel an orange for one that was perched above us in a tree. These monkeys must have been acclimated to the curious tourists that wander through and know just how to work them, because when we offered this guy a peel he just smacked it away and waiting somewhat impatiently for the good stuff. We all got a chance to feed this monkey a slice, teasing it further and further down the tree until it was just a foot away, meanwhile all his monkey buddies got wind of what was going on and came around to see what they could get. I got close enough to pet one as he was drinking from the water bottle I gave him. It was great fun to play with these monkeys but I imagine they take on the role that squirrels do back home; I would not want to try and have a picknick while they are around. I'll work on getting picture organized so I can get them up- others have pictures of me on their cameras- but look up macaques or barbary apes to see what we did.
After our 2 hour hike we drove to the cities of Azrou and Ifrane to have lunch and wander around. These cities did not look like they belonged in Africa but rather Switzerland, being built with the same architectural style; the pointed roofs and tall buildings. Everything was so quiet and pictuesque compared to the small town busyness of Meknes, it was very interesting to get that other perspective.
On the busride our program directors and guides broke out into full-on Moroccan/ Berber music and dancing, which kept us all laughing and clapping; preparing us for one of the cultural activities that our host university put on for us. Yesterday there was a sort of cultural show put on by the students and professers of Moulay Ismail, consisting of a compilation of music and dance and theatre giving us glimpses of all different cultures which make up Morocco; Berber, Andalusian, Sub-saharan, with a few American additions. Unfortunately though, there was a group of Islamists- extremeists- who disapproved of the music, the boys and girls sitting together, among other things. Things got pretty intense when they got upset over this show and wanted it to stop. There was no immediate danger to any of us, although the Islamists were forced to leave. Many of the Moroccan students afterwards came up to us apologizing and reassuring us that we were welcome and that this behavior was extreme and not tolerated. I felt very safe and reassured because I know many of the students and I know that they do not hold these views and would support our American group over these Islamists. I know that every religion and culture has some extreme element and that is not going to stop me from my interactions with these cultures; and that the only effective way to combat these elements is to peacefully and respectively form relationships. Yesterday I felt why there is a need for my area of studies (Third World and Reconciliation Studies) and the potential results when gone about correctly.
I have one week until I leave for my spring break on the Atlantic coast; in a town called Tagazout, near Agadir, where I plan on lots of sand, surf and sun. I will get pictures and a note up when I get back so those of you in freezing cold Minnesota may live vicariously through me- relazing on a beautiful beach in 80 degree weather! Enjoy the snow!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
life here in Meknes
Alot has happened since I last wrote, both good and bad. On the 15th I got some news of a health scare with one of my roommates back at Bethel, and so much of that day was spent worrying and stressing out. I have been able to get some information and things are well in hand, but I would appreciate prayers for my roommate, her doctors and myself. It was really hard being so far away from everything but have come to terms with the fact that all that I can do is pray and trust in the Lord.
Aside from that there has been some fun activities going on around here. We had a henna party last weekend, a friend of ours brought her neighbor over to do all of our hands- 18 hands in total, front and back! We made mint tea and finger foods and made a party of it. The henna is supposed to last about three weeks, and mine set in alot deeper than the other girls' so I think it will be awhile before it goes away. She painted a green paste on with a tube in a floral pattern from my fingers down to below my wrist. The paste had to set for about 45 minutes and then I scrubbed it off and revealed a deep orange stain. The whole party was alot of fun, its not often we get all 11 girls together for an activity. I think we are going to buy the ingredients and try it oursleves next time!
On Thursday my room had a chance to go to the hamaam, the public bath house, in the Zitoun- the aea near our school. We got our supplies and put on our bathing suits and headed down. The hamaam consisted of three rooms; two steam rooms with fauctes lining the walls and one for scrubbing. We filled our buckets with hot water and were given a black soap mixed with a henna powder to use. It smelled like yeast and mixed together to creat a puce-colored slime. Pretty fun. We ended up looking like the monster from the black lagoon. This soap was an exfoliant that soaked in and made scrubbing easier. Next we had to scrub down with a rough mitt, scraping all the dead skin off, which they called spaghetti. Gross enough for you? All in all the experience was pretty cool, and relaxing even. I came out a few skins lighter and very, very clean!
Not too many other big things have happened, just the everyday adventures. Since you are not all here with me I've decided to give you a little taste of Morocco at home. Most days I wake up for an 8am course, but today I didn't have class until 3, so I spent the morning catching up on reading and homework. We have lunch made by a woman named Saida and her niece Fatima, and if it weren't for them we would be eating bread and fruit for every meal. Instead we get homemade Moroccan dishes which are deliecious. I swear I will go through withdrawal at home. After lunch at 1:30 we have a little before we leave to catch a taxi to class. The taxis that we use are old Mercedes with 6 passangers stuffed inside, and cost about 25c for a ride. Our campus is a few stucco buildings connected by covered walkways, but with many grassy sitting areas. There has been some misunderstanding between the students and the faculty going on since before the end of the fall semester and so their spring semester has not begun yet, but they come to the school every day in case the classes begin again. So every day there has been groups of students hanging around the campus with nothing to do. Consequently we have met quite a few students and see them often. After classes we head to the Zitoun- the area near the university to grab a pastry and to catch a taxi back home. We get back around 6:45 and since it is dark at that point there is not much else to do besides hang out in the apartment and homework for the next day.
On the weekends we usually visit nearby cafes as well as the medina (old city and marketplace). The medina is a very interesting place; there are many different shops as well as street vendors and it is fun to people watch. This past weekend we began our souvernior shopping by bargaining with a few old ladies selling their embroidered tableclothes and tea sets. They were very insistant and it is hard to withstand but I think we were able to get them down to a reasonable amount.
Well I hope my rambling has given you some sense of daily life here in Meknes. I am working on getting pictures and uploading them, but I hate being 'that' tourist with the camera glued in fron of her face. I suppose I shall have to buck up and get an album put together for you though, so that is my goal this upcoming week. I am sorry for the delay!
Aside from that there has been some fun activities going on around here. We had a henna party last weekend, a friend of ours brought her neighbor over to do all of our hands- 18 hands in total, front and back! We made mint tea and finger foods and made a party of it. The henna is supposed to last about three weeks, and mine set in alot deeper than the other girls' so I think it will be awhile before it goes away. She painted a green paste on with a tube in a floral pattern from my fingers down to below my wrist. The paste had to set for about 45 minutes and then I scrubbed it off and revealed a deep orange stain. The whole party was alot of fun, its not often we get all 11 girls together for an activity. I think we are going to buy the ingredients and try it oursleves next time!
On Thursday my room had a chance to go to the hamaam, the public bath house, in the Zitoun- the aea near our school. We got our supplies and put on our bathing suits and headed down. The hamaam consisted of three rooms; two steam rooms with fauctes lining the walls and one for scrubbing. We filled our buckets with hot water and were given a black soap mixed with a henna powder to use. It smelled like yeast and mixed together to creat a puce-colored slime. Pretty fun. We ended up looking like the monster from the black lagoon. This soap was an exfoliant that soaked in and made scrubbing easier. Next we had to scrub down with a rough mitt, scraping all the dead skin off, which they called spaghetti. Gross enough for you? All in all the experience was pretty cool, and relaxing even. I came out a few skins lighter and very, very clean!
Not too many other big things have happened, just the everyday adventures. Since you are not all here with me I've decided to give you a little taste of Morocco at home. Most days I wake up for an 8am course, but today I didn't have class until 3, so I spent the morning catching up on reading and homework. We have lunch made by a woman named Saida and her niece Fatima, and if it weren't for them we would be eating bread and fruit for every meal. Instead we get homemade Moroccan dishes which are deliecious. I swear I will go through withdrawal at home. After lunch at 1:30 we have a little before we leave to catch a taxi to class. The taxis that we use are old Mercedes with 6 passangers stuffed inside, and cost about 25c for a ride. Our campus is a few stucco buildings connected by covered walkways, but with many grassy sitting areas. There has been some misunderstanding between the students and the faculty going on since before the end of the fall semester and so their spring semester has not begun yet, but they come to the school every day in case the classes begin again. So every day there has been groups of students hanging around the campus with nothing to do. Consequently we have met quite a few students and see them often. After classes we head to the Zitoun- the area near the university to grab a pastry and to catch a taxi back home. We get back around 6:45 and since it is dark at that point there is not much else to do besides hang out in the apartment and homework for the next day.
On the weekends we usually visit nearby cafes as well as the medina (old city and marketplace). The medina is a very interesting place; there are many different shops as well as street vendors and it is fun to people watch. This past weekend we began our souvernior shopping by bargaining with a few old ladies selling their embroidered tableclothes and tea sets. They were very insistant and it is hard to withstand but I think we were able to get them down to a reasonable amount.
Well I hope my rambling has given you some sense of daily life here in Meknes. I am working on getting pictures and uploading them, but I hate being 'that' tourist with the camera glued in fron of her face. I suppose I shall have to buck up and get an album put together for you though, so that is my goal this upcoming week. I am sorry for the delay!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
greetings!
Happy Valentines everyone! I have been here in Morocco for about a week and a half, and yesterday I finished my first week of classes. It's a pretty weird schedule, different than what I am used to. I have four classes right now; but only two a day, sometimes one. I have my Arabic course four days a week and my other courses one a day for three days a week. The classes, though, are 2.5- 3 hours long so I am pretty beat once they end. Arabic has been a challenge, but once I begin to recognize the alphabet it is pretty easy to piece together words, as they are put together with sounds rather than individual letters. Basically if you can pronounce a word you can read and write it.
My other classes have been switched around a bit as I tried to find ones better fitted to my studies. Tuesday I have Gender Studies and Artistic Expression in the Arab World and on Thursday I have Religion, Society and Politics as well as Arabic. Artistic Expression I feel will be a really interesting course, we are learning how culture is expressed through means of art when other means may not be accessible, especially to the uneducated in Morocco. We'll study things like weaving, folklore, clothing, as well as modern vessels such as cinema.
Today we went on our first excursion that the program has set up for us, a site called Volubilis. This ancient town was settled in the 3rd C. BC. by Romans, making it one of the most important Roman establishments in the North of Africa. The area is very fertile and much agriculture was imported back to Rome, as well as the more wild animals used in Colosseum games.
It was a beautiful day for a tour, but most of the days have been beautiful this past week. The first few days after we got here were rainy and cold, which is really uncommon in this time of the year, but it seems that the weather has settled back into the normality and the past week we've had sunshine and 50-60 degree weather every day!
Since it has been so nice we've been able to get out and explore the city a bit more! We generally take a taxi to the university and to the medina- the old city- but we walk to anywhere else we want to go in the city. The medina has a large souk- or market- in an area called Place el-Hedime- or Place of destruction. Aside from the food market where we are barraged by sights and smells both pleasant- fresh baked bread (hobs) and spices, and unpleasant- sheep and camel heads as well as other raw meats, the souk has many interesting shops. The most common are clothes: jeans, boots, shoes and crafts: rugs, ironwork, and jellabas. A jellaba is the traditional Moroccan clothing, and is still many times worn over more modern clothing. It is basically a hooded robe but can be embroidered or made with fine material so the range of style is quite broad. I hope to get one of my own soon, so I am eyeing the ones I pass to get an idea of what to look for!
We have also been able to participate in activities that the students and younger Moroccans do; cafes and leisurely walks around the Ville Nouelle. There are cafes and patisseries in abundance here so we have no trouble finding one we like. A few Moroccan students who knew the last group well took some of us to a juice cafe last night. There were more combinations of fruits that I thought possible and I had a hard time choosing. The juices here are made with milk and resemble somewhat a smoothie, without ice. I got pretty adventurous and tried an avacado and mango drink, although the pistachio and avacado caught my eye as well!
We also have met a few students at the university who show us around and introduce us more to the culture; a friend Jihane is coming over tomorrow to my apartment to do henna tattoos for some of us girls. I have begun to find my place with the other students on this trip and although it will not be the easiest at times I have found peace in knowing that I am where I am for a reason and I can't wait for that reason to become evident!
Please send your prayers as I begin my second week of school and things inevitably begin to take their toll! Love to all!
My other classes have been switched around a bit as I tried to find ones better fitted to my studies. Tuesday I have Gender Studies and Artistic Expression in the Arab World and on Thursday I have Religion, Society and Politics as well as Arabic. Artistic Expression I feel will be a really interesting course, we are learning how culture is expressed through means of art when other means may not be accessible, especially to the uneducated in Morocco. We'll study things like weaving, folklore, clothing, as well as modern vessels such as cinema.
Today we went on our first excursion that the program has set up for us, a site called Volubilis. This ancient town was settled in the 3rd C. BC. by Romans, making it one of the most important Roman establishments in the North of Africa. The area is very fertile and much agriculture was imported back to Rome, as well as the more wild animals used in Colosseum games.
It was a beautiful day for a tour, but most of the days have been beautiful this past week. The first few days after we got here were rainy and cold, which is really uncommon in this time of the year, but it seems that the weather has settled back into the normality and the past week we've had sunshine and 50-60 degree weather every day!
Since it has been so nice we've been able to get out and explore the city a bit more! We generally take a taxi to the university and to the medina- the old city- but we walk to anywhere else we want to go in the city. The medina has a large souk- or market- in an area called Place el-Hedime- or Place of destruction. Aside from the food market where we are barraged by sights and smells both pleasant- fresh baked bread (hobs) and spices, and unpleasant- sheep and camel heads as well as other raw meats, the souk has many interesting shops. The most common are clothes: jeans, boots, shoes and crafts: rugs, ironwork, and jellabas. A jellaba is the traditional Moroccan clothing, and is still many times worn over more modern clothing. It is basically a hooded robe but can be embroidered or made with fine material so the range of style is quite broad. I hope to get one of my own soon, so I am eyeing the ones I pass to get an idea of what to look for!
We have also been able to participate in activities that the students and younger Moroccans do; cafes and leisurely walks around the Ville Nouelle. There are cafes and patisseries in abundance here so we have no trouble finding one we like. A few Moroccan students who knew the last group well took some of us to a juice cafe last night. There were more combinations of fruits that I thought possible and I had a hard time choosing. The juices here are made with milk and resemble somewhat a smoothie, without ice. I got pretty adventurous and tried an avacado and mango drink, although the pistachio and avacado caught my eye as well!
We also have met a few students at the university who show us around and introduce us more to the culture; a friend Jihane is coming over tomorrow to my apartment to do henna tattoos for some of us girls. I have begun to find my place with the other students on this trip and although it will not be the easiest at times I have found peace in knowing that I am where I am for a reason and I can't wait for that reason to become evident!
Please send your prayers as I begin my second week of school and things inevitably begin to take their toll! Love to all!
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