Blizzards, Tajines and Making Friends

I HAVE POSTED PHOTOS: I didnt get all of them up and they are semi-organized. Just click this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34951439@N04/?donelayout=1 or My Photos on Flickr under my Morocco Links section on the right of the page.


I can't believe I have been here one month! Now that I am finally settled into classes and a routine, the time between weekends is speeding by. This past weekend and week, I was able to volunteer at and attend a conference on campus on science, technology, water, and women's empowerment hosted by AUI's UNESCO chair, Dr. Asma El Kasmi. Besides the fact that this subject matter is almost exactly my major, I was able to meet women from all over North-Western Africa and Morocco who are working to improve the health and development of rural populations via potable water and women's empowerment. Although the conference was in French, I was able to understand about 2/3 of the material and learned a great deal. Hopefully, I will be able to sustain some of these contacts for my independent study project through Pitzer on water and development in Morocco.

This weekend, I stayed on campus hoping to go on the visit to a local village where Dr. El Kasmi has been focusing her work, but the three days of glorious sunshine we had during the week was replaced by another blizzard, even worse than the last one, and the trip was cancelled. It has been snowing since Friday night and the wind can blow so hard sometimes that its impossible to walk! When I signed up to spend my semester in Morocco, the thought never ever ever entered my mind that I would be living in I spent the weekend sleeping, swimming in AUI's incredible Olympic sized pool, and doing homework. Even though I'm desparate for an off-campus adventure, it was good to rest up and relax.

Also, because we stayed on campus, Alex and I were taken to the best place for tajine in Ifrane on Friday night by a couple Moroccan/French boys. We had a fun night learning the ins and outs of AUI and Ifrane, and since Alex is fluent in French, I had a fun night scraping to understand conversations and struggling to join in. Speaking French is sooo much more difficult than reading or writing. I am really grateful for Alex though because whenever we are together and with Moroccans, the conversations are in French, and I am forced into practicing. Unfortunately, all of my classes (except for French) are in English so it is hard to fully immerse myself. After school is done, I plan on travelling and spending about a month in France (depending on my and the world's financial situation) in hopes of really increasing my competency.

Now, getting back to the food... I really cant eat enough tajine. Not only is it inexpensive and the hottest dish you can order in Morocco, but it is always different and filled with an infinite amount of flavor. In general, meat (chicken, beef, ground beef, lamb, etc...), vegetables, onions, saffron, cumin, cilantro, a bit of water, sometimes olives or prunes, and Im almost sure some form of addictive drug (ie crack) are slowly cooked in a clay bowl with a conic lid on the stove for about an hour or so depending on the portion. It is served while the juices are still bubbling... meaning that this is definitely a dish I would not want to spill on my lap (shout out to those at Pitzer who helped me out that night- I miss you all terribly). To eat tajine, you simply rip off some bread (khobz) and scoop up/ scrape out the bowl.

Traditional Tajine

Other foods thats I am really, really loving are the satsumas/oranges, olives and mint tea. I thought California had good oranges. The citrus here is so sweet and juicy and inexpensive. I buy my produce from the market in Ifrane (about a 20 minute walk) in 2 kilo quantities, never spending more than $3. In regards to the mint tea, it is the perfect hand warming, slightly caffienated, sugary beverage. Going a day without it is slightly painful and always results in a binge that gives you a slight stomach ache and sugar rush. There is always a range of mintiness, sweetness and bitterness depending on the place but these factors hardly ever stop me from going back for seconds. Also, when tea is poured into its small glass, the pourer is responsible for making a frothy top by bringing the tea pot as high above the glass as possible without spilling or spashing everywhere. Im pretty sure that everyone reading this can imagine me trying to successfully accomplish this task. Even with the pouring lessons in kindergarten and of countless cups of coffee and water at Luna Park, I was not prepared for serving Moroccan tea. I'll just need more practice.


I have joined the campus choir, which meets once a week to sing songs from Morocco, the US, and other parts of the world. It is very relaxed and a large group but a great way to meet people and just sing. Also, I am taking Arabesque dance classes twice a week at the gym. This might be the hardest form of movement I have ever tried to get my body to do but it is good exercise and the music is great. My classes are all very interesting and my roommate and I get along great. This coming weekend, I am hopefully going to Casablanca (Rick's here I come!) or Chefchouan. I would love to hear from all of you and miss you bzzef!