Year In Brief.

Peace Corps year in brief (most of the highlights):

Language and Culture

• When speaking Arabic, the average English speaker uses their mouth and throat in ways they never dreamt possible.
• Currently in Morocco, social tensions are fleshing themselves out as the Amazigh majority is working towards equality within a country of a ruling Arab minority. One of the huge points of contention is the struggle for the Amazigh's right to legitimize their language.
• You will never go hungry in Morocco.
• Things move at a much slower pace here---this can be both awesome and dreadful.

Food

• Saffron is my new spice of choice.
• I love wine and cheese! (absolutely nothing to do with Morocco---the love rediscovered in France)
• The burnt pieces of fat on the bottom on the tajine are my favorite.
• L'bin, an odd mix between buttermilk, yogurt and sour cream, is a new found treat to put on my cous cous.

Work

• Still focused on promoting health---mentally/ spiritually, physically and socially.
• I love teaching---although not necessarily English;).
• Everyday is work.

Life Lessons

• Authentically opening oneself to cultural practices that appear vastly different than one's own is a test of patience, flexibility and strength. Thus my venture into a serious yoga practice:)
• It is important to distinguish religion from the people who practice a religion and to steer clear of the fallacy of equating the two.
• We all want the same thing but go about it in different ways.
• The media's job of maintaining objectivity in it's reporting is a near impossible task. There are countless times where media institutions horrendously fail the public. It is unfortunate the power it has over so many individuals in any given society.
• Turkish toilets rock. I am thinking of installing one in my home. I will make sure it can accommodate everyone:)
• Make fun of yourself...it's funny.

Moving Forward

It's the start of my second and final year. Often times over seas volunteers become disenchanted after delving into the world of "development work." After the novelty of the host country fades away, one must reconcile with what they set out to accomplish, what has actually been accomplished and what is doable within the remaining time. I am satisfied with where I have come, where I am and where I am going. Lots to be done but all doable within the upcoming year.

Now, onward toward starting this year off right. I am going to see one of my counterparts, Lhoussaine Rahhou, to help write a grant to fund a school bus which aims to prevent school drop out in one of the rural regions here in Morocco. Lhoussaine is a local English teacher that has been super supportive and communicative with regard to ideas and what he perceives as community needs. It helps that he is a superb English speaker.

HUGE KUDOS to Lhou!!!

(With the new year comes new commitments---like blogging:)