Gouda's Cheesewheel

Morocco Feb 13

Hullo

This was going to be short because I had to pee and I though there was no bathroom here. As it turns out, there is a bathroom and I used it, so now the letter can be leisurely. It was even western with toilet paper, but there was no hand soap, only powdered laundrey detergent (it was sufficient). I just realized I talk about bathrooms in every email, but it's truly an experience when they're totally different everywhere you go, and none of them are like I'm used to...the things you take for granted.

First order of business, I have a Moroccan cell phone now . Unfortunately I'm dumb and I didn't bring it to the cyber with me so I don't know the number. I'll send it to some people in the next email, so if you want it you should tell me so. Keep in mind that it is long distance to call it from the States (International Long Distance), so it might not be very useful. The main point is that my other cell phone number will be deactivated temporarily, so don't use it until I get home.

Second order of business, if you're jealous of my travels (I've gotten a couple of emails expressing this)be reminded that there are disadvantages as well. Apart from diarrea and nausea, which wasn't that bad, it's quite taxing psychologically; I had to cry today because I was so tired of not being able to talk to anyone...I feel really isolated in my house sometimes...I'm glad some of the family speak French but it's very troubling for me not to be completely understood, and that's exactly what happens all the time. There are things I wish I could say to people and I don't know how to say them in French or Arabic and they're too complicated to say in signs or pictures. For example, we (my brother, cousins and I) were watching American music videos and one of them was Eminem. One of the cousins asked why Eminem was always conflicting with black people and I tried to explain in French that black people are traditionally at a social disadvantage in America and that some of them feel that rap music is their accomplishment and white people shouldn't steal it (I don't want to sound racist; this was the simplest thing I could say with my limited French). I'm not sure if he understood me or not; he said he did but since I didn't understand all he said afterwards it was frustrating; it would have made quite an interesting conversation if only we spoke more of the same language; complex sociology doesn't translate well through someone with only a few years of French. In any case, the inability to be understood and all the differences in lifestyle and on top of it a headache was just too much for me today. We went to the Hammam this morning, which is essentially a sauna for bathing, and the heat gave me a headache. When I got home I wanted to take a nap so I watched a movie with my brother and then went my room to sleep. My mom came in after about 15 minutes and was really worried about me and I started crying because I didn't have the energy to explain to her that I felt sick and didn't want to eat and that it was cold and I just wanted to be left alone. It's rude to refuse food here, but I really just didn't feel like eating anything. Anyway, crying made her more worried about me and then I had to explain why I was crying and for some reason it didn't make sense to her. Finally, she made me eat something and the man who is building our roof translated what I was saying from English to Arabic, which was very helpful, but I still just wanted to get away for a while. Therefore, I am here at the cyber, which is my readiest link to everything I left behind.

But enough of this; I'm sure I'll feel better tomorrow when I can talk to other students and give them my new phone number so I'm not stuck in my house all the time.

In happier news, I went to the beach today with my brother. It's absolutely gorgeous. I have pictures which I will show to everyone when I can. We collected pretty rocks and shells. I told him we would go out again tonight. When I went to take a nap and my mom came in, he also came in and said "I thought we were going out?" and I had to explain that I had a headache. Then I felt bad for breaking our plans, even though I really didn't feel like going anywhere at that moment, which is the other reason I cried. He left at some point after I was crying, so I didn't get a chance to apologize. In any case my vicious cycle of crying will end now that I've related it to people who can understand exactly what I'm saying. Again I say, tomorrow will be better.

Anyone with a taste for cheesy movies should search out "Disco Dancer." Not only was it made in the 70's with bad special effects, but it's from India so it's really silly.

Happy Valentines Day to everyone (it's tomorrow, but I probably won't talk to you before then).

Sylvia and Tabitha, I sent you birthday cards a while ago but they'll almost certainly arrive late.

I'm going to go home and maybe Tarik will be there so I can apologize for the misunderstanding. I'll be doing a lot of that for the next few months.

Much love,
Greta

posted by Greta @ 2:42 PM