Hey everyone! Yes, I know it's been a month since I've updated. Hashuma aliya! (shame on me!) But now it's time to give you the low down on what's been happening!
First of all, I went away from T-town up north to a nice place in the middle of nowhere to participate in Spring camp! A rich and old tradition for all Youth Development PCVs. I had a brilliant time, only teaching English in the mornings and then doing activities in the evenings with the kids. We even had a talent show where my friend and fellow PCV Phil and I decided to sing our hearts out to Moulin Rouge's "Elephant Love Song melody." I'm pretty sure the kids had no idea what hit them. There was also some amazing dancing that the kids demonstrated and even one student who performed stand up comedy. Awesome. I was really sad to leave them and there was definitely a lot of crying at the end of all the festivities.
So there was a whirlwind of traveling after my Spring camp. I decided to visit my friend and PCV in Errachidia, then the next day went down into Zagora province, only to make friends with a Columbian girl on the bus who didn't have a place to stay for the night. Unfortunately the place I was staying didn't have an extra bed, but happily we found a really sweet place for her to stay with a beautiful garden. We even ate with her the next day and it turns out she also does volunteer work in Columbia. What a happy coincidence.
Last Saturday, I headed out to buy a guitar from my friends who are leaving the country. I realized that I was close to another PCV of mine. As it turns out, it's a nice 4.5 mile hike out to her douar (village) (that is to say, 4.5 miles in and out to a place where she can get to the nearest city to buy anything). On the other hand, now I can't put the guitar down and I carry it with me everywhere. I've been singing old Beatles tunes ever since spring camp and having a guitar to accompany myself just seems so right. I think the students really appreciate it too because they don't get music or much in the way of creativity in their schools.
Eventually I came home and got myself back in the flow of things which has included going to the ministry to get them to open my Dar Chebab. Hamdullilah now it's open! YES! I even have a very nicely painted purple classroom. I'm just happy to be back in a space that the youth and I know is ours to be loud and proud in.
Easter was also rather pleasant here, I'm happy to say. I went and hung out with a bunch of friends in the city and we all made a bunch of delicious food and had ourselves an all around good time. Sunday morning I went to a Christian gathering and we had ourselves a really fantastic service. Singing hymns made me very nostalgic but I'm glad I went and enjoyed some community time with other ex patriots in the city.
So! At spring camp there were no bathing facilities, so my friend Liz (another PCV) and I jumped into the sinks in the courtyard and washed our hair and our feet.
My students have been taking me out into the fields to get a better feel of the town and the surrounding agriculture. Part of me feels like a hick and the other part of me is inexplicably happy.
This sign said Welcom Tamazirt (Tamazirt= Berber culture) when I first saw it. The English teacher in me made me and my students go add an 'E' at the end.
