Life In Taroudannt

Saalam alaykoum,

Prepare yourselves for some shocking typing errors; this email is not for the avid readers of "Panda Eats Shoots and Leaves." The following is my first blog entry for Africa Trust.

How can I describe such an experience? Photographs help enormously to convey the surroundings but sadly they cannot communicate the warm (ho hum) atmosphere! Never before have i appreciated just how flexible the hour can be. If you wish to meet at a particular time, or even within 20 minutes, it is necessary to specify "European time."

Rather than attempting to describe every action of the last ten days I'd like to give you some idea; f you don't already have one; of my experience of the friendly Roudanise attitude. I never expected to feel so at home, or at least so relaxed; so quickly. When I boarded the airplane 10 days ago Morocco was a void and two months a seemingly infinite amount of time. Now though,I have already become quite attached to Taroudannt and when I think back to my nerves on departure I can safely render them quite unjustified. However it would be wrong to give the impression that i have become used to all the goings on! Each day brings with it a multitude of surprises, and I'm quite sure they could continue in the same manner for some months!

The program seems to change hourly and occasionally...more often than not....the explanation doesn't quite breach the language gap. Worry not thought I never feel in the slightest bit neglected! I think the house key is possibly my most proud possession, it's the key to my Moroccan family and home! (Not that I'm not missing you both Mummy and Daddy!!!)

An introductory blog would be incomplete without reference to mint tea and the ceremony that surrounds it! The water goes into the silver tea pot then the tea then the desired amount of tea leaves and finally enough sugar to make a small sponge cake. The pot is left, peered into, left again, poured out; tipped back in, peered into, poured out again into little glasses from such a substantial height that if the wind were to gust then i feel sure the tea would become a new pattern on the table: Finally it is drunk. As for the taste it improves with experience! The first day it tasted a lot like heated up mouthwash....now it resembles mint flavoured glucose..

I fear another meeting with the silver teapot awaits at Abdulla's house and so I must be gone. I would like to devote more time to my description of the orphanage and the work of gmh and a few reflections, but all that shall have to wait.

I hope you've found this interesting

Christina 2007 xxxxx

I've only been in Taroudannt for 10 days, but already it feels like home. I'm living at Karima's right by the school which is very convenient, though I'm always late!! I don't think I could have asked for a better host family because they helped me with all the little, but important things you need to do like get a Moroccan sim card and a telephone card to ring home! They also taught me a lot about Morocco and its tradition, about life in Taroudaant, the food (Lubna has kindly offered to teach me to cook) and most importantly, the shopping!

We've done a lot already and our two introductory weeks are nearly over. I've found the Dialect Arabic lessons the most interesting though I have no idea how I'm ever going to pronounce the sounds properly!!! I can't even pronounce my own name correctly! Christina and I have been practising though we sound like chickens when we do!

Before I finish, I'll tell you about our trip to Taraghzout which is a little village near Agadir. It was very pretty and calm near the sea. But my favourtie has to be the transport we used. There seemed to be no way of knowing when or where the taxis could come. So, we decided to get a bus. Chris had warned us beforehand about what it would be like but it was the most fun journey I think Ill ever go on. The bus appeared and there was a mad rush to get onto it - one guy even got in through the bus window!! The atmospehre was great with the traditional singing and music. I cant wait to go on one again!

Basslama!

Shafiqa xxxxxxxxxx

The latest team of volunteers has arrived in Taroudannt, accompanied by the usual fanfare that greets guests in Morocco. As they get used to the heat, and plan their work timetable for the next two months, I've had the grandee's tour of what's been happening since the departure of the last team. The volunteer donations at the Ecole Wifaq have allowed the creation of two pre-school classes, which are led by volunteers from GMH. GMH has gradually taken on a very substantial role in the provision of education in the Taroudannt area, and has been allocated funding by the Ministry of Education to employ extra teachers.

Similarly, volunteer donations have been enormously useful at the Lalla Amina orphanage, which continues to do very important work. Some of the children will be able to go away to the colonies de vacances during the summer - an exellent break from Taroudannt!