Gouda's Cheesewheel

Morocco April 28

Sorry it's been so long since I wrote a substantial group email. With any hope the events of my last few weeks here will be the strongest in my memory when I get back home, so people can just ask me about them if I forgot to write something here. First order of business, since everyone is asking when I get home, the answer is May 23rd, insha'allah (God willing). This follows a short stay in Paris after I leave Morocco officially. Next order or business, the news. I last wrote a group email from Essouira. On Saturday I left by bus to Kinetra, which turned out to be another unpleasant ordeal, as expected; I should have followed my plan and gotten off in Casablanca to take a train, but instead the bus people convinced me to pay an extra 20 dirhams and ride all the way to Rabat, where I would take another bus to Kinetra. By the time we reached Rabat I was to tired of buses that I cut my losses and just took the stinking train, which incidentally stank a lot less (in the literal and figurative sense) than the bus. When I reached Kinetra I was infinitely pleased to find my friend Himi waiting for me; I'd had enough of fending for myself with a large piece of luggage (I can carry the luggage as long as someone else handles communication). That night, to my surprise, Himi had arranged for me to attend his friend's wedding, which I couldn't have been more enthusiastic about (given the circumstances of the day, anyway). It wasn't a real wedding by Moroccan standards--just family (extended) and friends, since the bride was not Moroccan. This is a situation I imagine must happen more and more these days, as people use marriage as a means to leave the country (not that I question the groom's motives, of course; I hardly know the couple). Took thorough notes afterwards for my research. Since then I've stayed with Himi's family, talking awkwardly here and there to people about their weddings, until today, when I resolved to escape the stifling isolation (being told not to leave the house alone because the streets are dangerous) and return to Rabat. Don't get me wrong--they are wonderful, hospitable, fun people to live with, but I wasn't getting much work done. The Center is much more useful, for now, so I'll use it to the fullest until Saturday (when I have an appointment to talk to some students). So there you have my week. Fighting stress and frustration, so don't expect to hear from me too much in the next week unless I have a glorious breakthrough or I feel like shirking my schoolwork for a while. Love you all, miss you all, afraid to leave this country, enjoying it immensely while also hating everything about it. Funny how that works. Take care of yourselves

Much love,
Greta

posted by Greta @ 3:33 PM