Every Day Surprises Me

The night before, I think about what I’m going to do the next day. I don’t know why I keep doing this, because every day turns out to be different.

For example, today I planned on visiting Said’s family because I told him I would last week (but then went to Casablanca and Khenifra instead…more on that later). A member of the wood-working association, he has been so helpful with my wllft-ing (adjusting to life/work at site). I also found a great article with colored photographs of Moroccan woodwork that I wanted to give to him.

Walking to his house, I bumped into a woman in my aerobics class. I didn’t recognize her at first because she was wearing a jellaba and not workout attire. She invited me to her house…

Since it was a rainy, thundery Saturday, I assumed work at the artisanat center would be sluggish. Instead, party planning was in action. Rooms that are usually vacant and dirty were filled with rugs, couches, chairs, and new lightbulbs. Apparently, there was going to be a party at 2pm to celebrate Women’s Day; one weaver from the carpet association would be recognized for her accomplishments. The president invited, actually ordered, me to lunch with his “family.”

His family turned out to be members from the Moussem Association (they plan an annual Horse and Gun Show in town) and a girl from the countryside who was going to ride a horse today, despite the thunder. I was pretty confused with this “party” was going to be like. We feasted on a huge meat platter, powdered sugar couscous plate, and fruit bowl.

Then it was time to pick up the horse. The stable owner asked if I was Mustapha’s daughter.... Kawto, the girl, mounted the horse in her purple velvet jelleba and fine gold jewelry. The horse walked-not trotted/galloped-and we followed via car, attracting a large following of kids through town.



We approached women and kids carrying bamboo poles of scarves and fake flowers. Kawto’s horse put on a dance and energetic clapping ensued. Alhumdullah, I got to watch this event in a car and avoided the rain. The procession paraded around town and ended up at the artisanat center.

I’ve never seen the center so crowded. Bumped into lots of familiar faces and met new ones, like members of a music association—old men reviving the traditional music scene. They played instruments, we clapped, people fought over my attention, and I yelled at sketchy boys. Overall, it was fun (especially in the company of my former neighbors and English-loving lycee girls) and well worth it (since one of the screen-printer’s was there and we made a date to “talk business” tomorrow).

The screen-printer and her siblings walked me to my friend’s house. We meandered through the narrow medina maze avoiding a crazy man. Had delicious sugary tea at my friend Salwa’s house. She added green leaves that neither of us knew the name for in English/French/Darija. Helped her open her hanut, then I visited her sister Turia’s house. Apparently, out-of-town doctors were in town this weekend to help with eye surgeries, and Turia was asked to cater dinner.

I saw the largest cooking pot (it could have fit three of me inside) in my life there at her house. Cookies, couscous, and chicken were being cooked and plated. I asked to help out, but I was told to eat cookies and pastries instead. Okay, no problem!




Turia’s son is no longer afraid of me, which means he loves climbing, hugging, and playing with me. I guess I was there to keep him occupied while everyone else worked. Turia stuffed my bag with so much fruit and cookies to take home…yay for skimming off of the top.

Didn’t go to aerobics today, but I happened to walk by the “gym” just as all the women were leaving. Warm greetings in the rain at night made me feel oh-so-local. We munched on the roasted sunflower seeds my bread vendor gave me for free a few minutes before. After that, I owed my mom a blog entry, and here it is.

I also planned this morning to share a Tahir Shah book I just finished reading (yay bus rides to/from Khenifra). He lives with his family in Casablanca, where I spent the Prophet’s Birthday holiday (aka Feast of Tea and Cookies) last weekend. Stories interest him, and I highly recommend googling/reading him.

So long story short, I still have to visit Said’s house, but I did give him the article and did my Shah shoutout. I’ve been here for almost six months already and something tells me the next twenty are going to fly by.