Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Placement Days 2 and 3
Volunteer placement yesterday and today: It's so fun! We are trying to bring in crafts that the kids can do so we can decorate the room with their art work, and so we can keep them busy and occupied (their minds off their illness). Yesterday, they made paper chains that we hung around the room, and some made "gods eyes" (popsicle sticks with string wrapped around them). They still really love coloring. Someone told us that coloring is something "new" to many of the children. Today, we had an even better day! We made masks out of paper plates in the shapes of animals or super heroes, so the kids were running around with lion, bear, spiderman, or batman faces (zorro, tigers, et cetera). One thing we did today that was a huge hit was so simple, but it was a hit, not just with the kids, but also with the moms (and one dad). We drew the kids' names in bubble letters on pieces of paper that they colored and we then cut out and hung up. They loved it!
We aren't just helping the kids, of course (and their parents), but also learning about the culture. One very simple lesson is that kids are kids everywhere you go. This isn't necessarily something "new" that I'm learning, but it is something that is reinforced when I am interacting with the kids in the asthma ward. I love interacting with the parents, too, trying to understand what they are dealing with and learning ways to communicate in French and Arabic.
We had an Arabic lesson after placement and lunch today and learned (or re-learned) useful phrases, like "what is your name?" and "how are you?" and "let's go." There are sounds in Arabic that are very tricky or challenging for me because we don't really have equivalents in American English. In placement today, there was a dad who helped out a lot by helping us communicate more in French (his son was "Picasso," he said), and there is a mom whose son (5 years old) speaks French, Arabic, and English, and can read in each language; this mother is also very helpful because she knows a little bit of English.
So, to sum up: very rewarding experience so far.
We also had a birthday celebration today for one of our staff members, Khadija, after lunch. There is a patisserie in the market near here that makes the most delicious desserts--this cake was a chocolate mousse concoction covered in chocolate syrup and caramel. Yum!
Tomorrow after placement, we will be taking a cooking lesson and then an Arabic script lesson (so I will learn how to write my name). Then, on Friday, a lot of us are going on an excursion to ride camels in the desert.
We aren't just helping the kids, of course (and their parents), but also learning about the culture. One very simple lesson is that kids are kids everywhere you go. This isn't necessarily something "new" that I'm learning, but it is something that is reinforced when I am interacting with the kids in the asthma ward. I love interacting with the parents, too, trying to understand what they are dealing with and learning ways to communicate in French and Arabic.
We had an Arabic lesson after placement and lunch today and learned (or re-learned) useful phrases, like "what is your name?" and "how are you?" and "let's go." There are sounds in Arabic that are very tricky or challenging for me because we don't really have equivalents in American English. In placement today, there was a dad who helped out a lot by helping us communicate more in French (his son was "Picasso," he said), and there is a mom whose son (5 years old) speaks French, Arabic, and English, and can read in each language; this mother is also very helpful because she knows a little bit of English.
So, to sum up: very rewarding experience so far.
We also had a birthday celebration today for one of our staff members, Khadija, after lunch. There is a patisserie in the market near here that makes the most delicious desserts--this cake was a chocolate mousse concoction covered in chocolate syrup and caramel. Yum!
Tomorrow after placement, we will be taking a cooking lesson and then an Arabic script lesson (so I will learn how to write my name). Then, on Friday, a lot of us are going on an excursion to ride camels in the desert.
Monday, December 27, 2010
First day of placement, and tour of Rabat
Today was our first day of placement. Four of us went to the Children's hospital. Our guide, Khadija, took us on a tour first of the center which was created by a non-profit group within the hospital. It's basically a few rooms set up for the children to play in, including a library and music room with drums, keyboards, guitars, et cetera. The center is really, really nice.
I actually worked in the asthma ward, not the center. In the asthma ward, kids come into a large playroom in between treatments, and they just play. There is a large table set up for coloring, and there are lots of toys, like a slide, a see-saw, a house, and cars to ride on.
We were in the asthma ward for three hours, playing with the kids. Mostly, they colored because we didn't bring crafts for them to do since this was the first day. However, the kids love to color, and we also had a puzzle for them. The age ranged from toddler to 16. A lot of moms came in with the kids, and they tried to teach us both French and Arabic. I am very humbled by my lack of knowledge of the French language! With the kids, the language barrier didn't seem too big of a deal (though it did get a little frustrating when trying to talk to the parents!).
Anyway, it was a very good first day, and I know I am going to LOVE working with these kids!
After placement and lunch, we went on a tour of Rabat. The tour included: the medina, the Kasbah Des Oudaias, and Le Tour Hassan and Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
We went to the medina yesterday, but today we got to see even more of it, including the more touristy parts where people can buy souvenirs. I have included a picture below. Out of the medina, we walked to the Kasbah Des Oudaias, which is a walled inner city housing beautiful gardens and whitewashed houses. The houses actually looked like a Greek village to me (all white and blue). Both the medina and the Kasbah are ancient. The medina is actually the area that existed before the French came--and the French walled it up and built their buildings outside the medina. The Kasbah is where the original city was, built in the 12th century (I think). You walk up the steps out of the Kasbah to this large area overlooking the Atlantic ocean. So beautiful!
Finally, we went to the tower of Hassan, which is an unfinished mosque that was going to be the largest mosque in the world. There are many pillars sprinkling a large area, and a tall tower with ramps leading to the top for the person who does the call to prayers to ride his horse up. Beside the pillars and tower is the mausoleum, which is another beautiful building with mosaics and tiles and detailed carvings. This is where the king's father and grandfather are buried. I got a picture of me with the guard out front (with the horse) as well as at the entrance to the mausoleum. When I was standing next to the second guard, he said quietly "smile," and I said "say cheese," and I made him laugh! (He's kind of like the guards at Buckingham Palace, you know, all stoic, not supposed to smile.) It was funny.
Another volunteer and I went to the park for jogging after the tour. It was a long way away, down this street lined with fancy houses, each with guards out front. The park was nice and shady and well-populated, with about a 1.5 mile path for jogging. The volunteer with me actually got hit on by a creepy guy in a jogging suit.
Dinner, and then we walked to the Acimi, which is a little shopping mall where you can get groceries, coffee, or dessert. I bought this really delicious mousse-type-thing for dessert. Now I'm back in the CCS house, ready to go to bed pretty soon, because tomorrow is another fun, exciting day!
I actually worked in the asthma ward, not the center. In the asthma ward, kids come into a large playroom in between treatments, and they just play. There is a large table set up for coloring, and there are lots of toys, like a slide, a see-saw, a house, and cars to ride on.
We were in the asthma ward for three hours, playing with the kids. Mostly, they colored because we didn't bring crafts for them to do since this was the first day. However, the kids love to color, and we also had a puzzle for them. The age ranged from toddler to 16. A lot of moms came in with the kids, and they tried to teach us both French and Arabic. I am very humbled by my lack of knowledge of the French language! With the kids, the language barrier didn't seem too big of a deal (though it did get a little frustrating when trying to talk to the parents!).
Anyway, it was a very good first day, and I know I am going to LOVE working with these kids!
After placement and lunch, we went on a tour of Rabat. The tour included: the medina, the Kasbah Des Oudaias, and Le Tour Hassan and Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
We went to the medina yesterday, but today we got to see even more of it, including the more touristy parts where people can buy souvenirs. I have included a picture below. Out of the medina, we walked to the Kasbah Des Oudaias, which is a walled inner city housing beautiful gardens and whitewashed houses. The houses actually looked like a Greek village to me (all white and blue). Both the medina and the Kasbah are ancient. The medina is actually the area that existed before the French came--and the French walled it up and built their buildings outside the medina. The Kasbah is where the original city was, built in the 12th century (I think). You walk up the steps out of the Kasbah to this large area overlooking the Atlantic ocean. So beautiful!
Finally, we went to the tower of Hassan, which is an unfinished mosque that was going to be the largest mosque in the world. There are many pillars sprinkling a large area, and a tall tower with ramps leading to the top for the person who does the call to prayers to ride his horse up. Beside the pillars and tower is the mausoleum, which is another beautiful building with mosaics and tiles and detailed carvings. This is where the king's father and grandfather are buried. I got a picture of me with the guard out front (with the horse) as well as at the entrance to the mausoleum. When I was standing next to the second guard, he said quietly "smile," and I said "say cheese," and I made him laugh! (He's kind of like the guards at Buckingham Palace, you know, all stoic, not supposed to smile.) It was funny.
Another volunteer and I went to the park for jogging after the tour. It was a long way away, down this street lined with fancy houses, each with guards out front. The park was nice and shady and well-populated, with about a 1.5 mile path for jogging. The volunteer with me actually got hit on by a creepy guy in a jogging suit.
Dinner, and then we walked to the Acimi, which is a little shopping mall where you can get groceries, coffee, or dessert. I bought this really delicious mousse-type-thing for dessert. Now I'm back in the CCS house, ready to go to bed pretty soon, because tomorrow is another fun, exciting day!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Rabat!
This place is great.
When we got to the house last night, we found our assigned rooms, and I have about 7 roommates in this large, spacious room with bunk beds that opens out onto a balcony which will be perfect for yoga (three of us have our yoga mats with us!). The house is in an upper-class neighborhood where a bunch of diplomats live, and it is quite large with a beautiful garden out back. After exploring the house a bit, we had dinner--tangines for meat-eaters and lots of vegetables for veggies. The olives are amazing!!
Today has been very busy. After breakfast, we had an orientation, where we met all the staff, and where we learned about house rules and some stuff about going around in the city, which is pretty safe. We took a short walk to a shopping area (where I think we will go tonight for a glass of wine), and walking through the neighborhood, you can see beautiful houses (FB picture shows one) behind walls and gates, where the diplomats live. The walk was just to kind of orient ourselves to the neighborhood, and then we had lunch, and then we had orientation for our volunteer placements. I am going to be working at the children's hospital, and my duties will be: play. That's it. The kids just need someone to play with them. I will be good at that!!
Some of us went to the medina later, which is the old city surrounded by walls (and having no cars). It's all about shopping!! Rows and rows of shops and goods down these narrow brick lanes, and selling shoes, purses, clothes, teapots, pouffes (made out of camel leather!), spices, and et cetera. So many wonderful things! On our way out, we stopped at this table where a man was selling sweets, and I bought some chocolate-sticky-nutty concoction (5 durhams worth). Soooo good.
More tomorrow--volunteer placements start at 9am!
When we got to the house last night, we found our assigned rooms, and I have about 7 roommates in this large, spacious room with bunk beds that opens out onto a balcony which will be perfect for yoga (three of us have our yoga mats with us!). The house is in an upper-class neighborhood where a bunch of diplomats live, and it is quite large with a beautiful garden out back. After exploring the house a bit, we had dinner--tangines for meat-eaters and lots of vegetables for veggies. The olives are amazing!!
Today has been very busy. After breakfast, we had an orientation, where we met all the staff, and where we learned about house rules and some stuff about going around in the city, which is pretty safe. We took a short walk to a shopping area (where I think we will go tonight for a glass of wine), and walking through the neighborhood, you can see beautiful houses (FB picture shows one) behind walls and gates, where the diplomats live. The walk was just to kind of orient ourselves to the neighborhood, and then we had lunch, and then we had orientation for our volunteer placements. I am going to be working at the children's hospital, and my duties will be: play. That's it. The kids just need someone to play with them. I will be good at that!!
Some of us went to the medina later, which is the old city surrounded by walls (and having no cars). It's all about shopping!! Rows and rows of shops and goods down these narrow brick lanes, and selling shoes, purses, clothes, teapots, pouffes (made out of camel leather!), spices, and et cetera. So many wonderful things! On our way out, we stopped at this table where a man was selling sweets, and I bought some chocolate-sticky-nutty concoction (5 durhams worth). Soooo good.
More tomorrow--volunteer placements start at 9am!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Almost there...
It is around 1pm in Paris, where I am sitting in the airport waiting for a delayed flight to Rabat. So far, the trip has been great, despite a few delays, such as the one from Nashville to Atlanta which meant that I had to race through the Atlanta airport to catch the flight to Paris on time. That flight was scheduled to take off at 8:40, and I made it to the gate at 8:23. The whole area was completely empty, and the Delta people were calling my name over the intercom. However, I made it! And the flight was not full, so I got three seats all to myself and was able to sleep, which I don't think has ever happened before for me on an international flight.
Paris airport is so huge, and I had to go through security twice, so I was really nervous about missing my flight to Rabat; luckily, the plane was delayed in Casablanca.
15 minutes of free airport wi-fi is almost up. I'll post more when I get to Morocco.
Paris airport is so huge, and I had to go through security twice, so I was really nervous about missing my flight to Rabat; luckily, the plane was delayed in Casablanca.
15 minutes of free airport wi-fi is almost up. I'll post more when I get to Morocco.
Friday, December 24, 2010
MOROCCO!!
The next adventure begins today... I am heading to Morocco for two weeks of volunteer work with Cross Cultural Solutions, and I will be keeping everyone updated on this blog.
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