Everywhere I go people want to put clothes or things on me.

Our group says that maybe I have a look about me, but the people here seemed to enjoy dressing me in traditional Moroccan attire, hats, or draping snakes on me. I actually thought it was fun and made me feel welcomed...except for the snakes, that is.

Monday 3/18 back to school

Comparing Moroccan and American core values. We had a very good conversation and exchange of cultures and lifestyles. We realized that we are really not that different.

Some Sunday fun on the beach in El Jadida

Very warm North African Atlantic Ocean and the ride of a lifetime -

3/17/13 – We finally had a “free” day, so we slept in and then went just across the street to the beach.  I enjoyed walking on the soft Atlantic sand and into the warm water.  We found a man offering camel rides for 50 Dirham ($4)!  So why not enjoy a 15 minute camel ride on the beach in Morocco.  How cool!  I was thrilled and this was a great experience and a wonderful day with Kristen and Libby before returning to school the next day.

Saturday excursion to Marrakech with Mifdal and his wife, Khadija. Wemet up with Hamdi there and made it a fun, full day.

3/16/13

Impressions of the journey to Marrakesh: Leaving El Jadida we took a 2-lane, very rustic road through the countryside through villages and small towns.  It was clear that once you leave a city in Morocco you immediately meet a time warp sending you back about 100 years.  Not only are the areas between cities very rural or desolate, but they seemed very “3^rd world” to me.  Up until now my Moroccan adventure had been in cities, so this was extremely different and interesting.  For instance, I saw farm after farm with workers using donkeys, carts, other animals and hand tools.  I did not see any John Deere or Caterpillar equipment.  Also many children were working the fields as well.  In talking with Mifdal I learned that there are few places outside cities with electricity and running water.  Villages have a central well or common water source.  He also told me that because so many children work on family farms, they do not attend or ever finish school, which accounts for the high 40% illiteracy rate in Morocco.

As we approached Marrakesh life became more and more dense.  Also traffic became horrific and the air was brown from pollution.  It was also about 90 degrees.  After a lot of horn honking and incredible driving skills we parked to embark on the UNESCO one of a kind city of Marrakesh.  We saw the sights, did a lot of shopping and had a very long, but enjoyable day.  The best part was that I really had an opportunity to get to know Mifdal and Khadija and to learn a great deal more about Morocco.

Snakes, carpets, spices, bartering galore and aggressive vendors. I found incredible deals and left with most of my shopping list completed.

More student interactions and fun exchanges

The boys help a disabled girl to class, we shared pictures and have great conversations with the students.

 

Overall we participated in 5 EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classes over the week.  We had some really interesting and deep conversations about customs and culture between or two countries such as marriage, the role of women, women in the work place, equal rights, and unemployment. 

I discovered that starting in 2003 a cultural change is occurring regarding women.  The King and Parliament passed a new law reforming women’s rights and empowering women.  For a Muslim country this is very progressive and forward thinking.  I was very impressed.  For instance, women can’t get married until they are 18.  This does away with girls being married off at a very young age.  Also new was that men can only take a 2^nd wife with the permission of the 1^st wife.  We had a very open discussion about the improvements towards women’s rights, but also about the challenges that still exist.  There is still too much violence towards women that is tolerated; however, there are more and more women’s avocation groups that have started up.  Women are less and less marginalized, which is awesome; however, the largest problem for women is poverty, illiteracy and unemployment.  Unemployment is a huge universal problem in Morocco overall. 

Another major issue for women is being a single mother or being divorced women with children.  They are still considered 2^nd class citizens, although over time the students felt this would change of the better.  Mifdal guided the students to discuss solutions to these issues.  The students’ list included helping women find jobs, helping women stay in school or get higher education, using the court system, and using the media to help change opinion and perceptions.

From an educational point of view, I was so impressed with how Mifdal used real life lessons to get the students to use critical think and higher level skills in English.  Furthermore how he brings global education into his classroom every day.

A GREAT EXAMPLE OF MOROCCAN ACCEPTANCE AND GRACIOUSNESS.

Classroom Interactions, Teaching, Sharing and most of all Learning

Kristin, Libby and I add our perspective to the Global Citizen lesson.

 

 

 

 

Our first classroom interactions, teaching and sharing.

Friday in Morocco means two things: it’s Couscous Friday and most people dress in cultural garb and go to the mosque.  For me this Friday was very special because the students were dressed in colorful traditional clothing.  After school we were treated to my most favorite meal of my trip: delicious homemade couscous made by Khadija.  Also this meal at Mifdal’s house was made even extra special and memorable because I was given a Jalapa, a traditional Moroccan robe (with the pointed hood).

Our welcome and first day in Mifdal's high school and English students

3/15/13

What a great welcome for the first day at IBN Khaldoon High School in El Jadida.  We were met at the entrance by the principal, his assistant principal and some staff members.  After a photo op and some introductions, we went to Mifdal’s classroom.  Because of our visit, we actually used the computer lab as our classroom all week so we could share presentations and technology. 

When the students arrived, they immediately greeted us warmly in the Moroccan way.  Moroccans express their warm, genuine hospitality by shaking hands, looking into your eyes and greeting you in Arabic or French.   The best part, the Moroccan part, is after the handshake, one puts his/her hand over their heart as a sincere gesture.  The students prepared a special welcome including the traditional dates and milk.  The room was prepared with lots of student work for us to see (in English).  Also one beautifully student sang the Adele song Skyfall for us.

Highlights from the first day with students included learning and teaching about holidays and traditions.  The students explained about their traditions, culture and holidays and we taught them about our, such as Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc.  In another class students explained what it means to be a global citizen.  This was the culmination of what was obviously a great unit taught by Mifdal.  Students prepared presentations and discussed such issues as poverty, war, tolerance and women’s rights.  I was so impressed with the students and Mifdal.

3/14/13: Meeting our host teacher, Mifdal, and touring El Jadida (just happens to be Tacoma's Sister City) and a wonderful lunch at his beautiful home. Mifdal had many things planned for us upon our arrival. I didn’t mind the busy schedule. This was a once in a life experience and I wanted to live it to the fullest. Mifdal and I seemed to bond at once (it’s already September and we remain in contact and have an e-mail or Skype exchange every week or so). As you can see from the photos, we went to his gorgeous home in El Jadida, in a new part of the city. Their house far exceeded my expectations as far as type, cost, furnishings and the fact that they had a cook, and a nanny/housekeeper. We met Mifdal’s family: wife Khadija and daughters Selma, Sara and Malak (a cute baby). Then we were treated to a colorful and tasty 5 course lunch, beginning with the famous Moroccan Tea. What an unexpected, wonderful and gracious welcome. After lunch we drove around and toured the city. EL Jadida is a beautiful seaside resort-like town on the Atlantic Ocean. We toured the old Portuguese fortress, the market (medina), the port, the fishing boats, the Roman Cistern and a very nice beach. El Jadida has a very interesting and rich history. After driving to the country several km outside of the city to visit Mifdal’s farm property and the vacation home he is building there, we returned to his house for a delicious fresh fish dinner (the fishing industry is a huge part of the local economy). Then I settled into the IBIS Hotel (a very nice place by the way for $48 a night right on the beach) my new home for the week. This was a very full, but awesome day.