Eid Holiday, 20. December 2007

The main holiday of Islam began on 20. December and lasted four days. This is known as the "Great Feast" and is derived from the feast of the atonement (Abraham's substitute sacrifice) for the remission of sins. Every family who has the means, kills a sheep. (see newsletter for more explainations of this event) Mohcine (age 23) and his mother invited me to tea of the third day of the feast. Mohcine presented me with an Arabic version of the Koran. His mother speaks no English, but somehow we communicate and she is a very dear person!

Mohcine killed and skinned six sheep, but last year killed 23...... This is the sheep for his family. He works as a security guard at AUI and enjoys trying to speak English with me.

Wafa's family --who are Berbers--- invited me to eat with them. Here Wafa goofs around after learning the English word "ax." The sheep is hung inside of the house and over the entrance to a cave.

This wood stove really keeps the place warm. All of the floors in the rest of the house are stone.

Here are some of the women eating sheep, bread and pastries. The meat was cooked over a small fire upstairs.

Azrou Cliffs Hike 10. November 2007

Ape habitat.

Sisters Fatimasara and Rachida took the Reimer family and me on a hike to the top of the cliffs above the city of Azrou. We then were invited to their home for dinner.

I don't exactly have my bearings, but I believe that the road behind me goes to the desert.

The town of Ifrane is on the horizon at 11.00. Again, note the ape habitat.

I just needed to show you the rocks that we walked over all day long! Also, met shepherds along the way.

The mom makes couscous. Yum.

Someone asked if folks here have satellite dishes. Here I am on the roof of our host's flat.

On the roof top, skins dry from the previous Islamic holiday tradition of slaughtering a sheep.

Looking a different direction from the roof top. The brick construction is typical.

Looking up at the cliffs above Azrou. It was a wonderful day!

Concerts

On 22. November I played the piano for AUI Voices United at the Soiree D'opera event held at Al Akhawayn University. Great group people! Had lots of fun!

Matt and Travis (AUI students from USA) help hang the wreath for the Lessons and Carols concert held on 9. December at Al Akhawayn University. This was a 3 1/2 hour concert that involved the Christian community (orthodox, Protestant, Catholic...) from all over Morocco. I played the piano for the event. It was quite different from anything I have experienced!

Some of our choir members before the concert....

Friends that I met in Tangier from the French Protestant Church perform African Christian music.

On 13. December, students from ASI performed at the university. I wrote, designed and played for the production titled "Discovery." They did well!

Friends

14. December 2007 Duncan, Greg, Monica, me, Sandra and David celebrating the end (or almost the end) of the term. David and Sandra are from Tasmania so there were a lot of "mates" in the conversation!

30. November 2007 Celebrating the end of November with dinner at my flat with Duncan, Katherine, Monica (from Vancouver BC), Julia and Connell (from Nova Scotia). We spent the evening reading through drama skits and had a great time. (I can't stop working, can I?!)

Hike Near Ifrane, November 2007

Spent a lovely day hiking along the river in Ifrane with my professor friend, Julia. The following two photos do not represent the hiking, I realize! We did get on some horses, and we met a 16-year-old boy who showed us his farmhouse. His dad is the "forest chief." His mother gave us a mug of yogurt--which I'm holding. I'm conversing with him because he could speak a little English!

November in Tanger

Greetings from the Bourne Supremacy set! I had the great fortune to be able to tag along with the Smith family on a pastoral trip to Tanger in early November. Tanger is a five hour drive from Ifrane. View from my hotel window....

Here is Pastor Karen, Professor Kevin and Claire on my balcony! Claire seems to always want to "play" with me by singing songs and making me watch Harry Potter movies with her...... I love to travel with Karen and Kevin since they both speak Arabic and French fluently.

Karen and I worked with some college age choir members at the French Protestant Church on Saturday afternoon--and then did the service on Sunday. These people treated me like a relative!

The next seven photos were taken at the Musee de la Kasbah. A "kasbah" seems to be a combination of a fortress, castle and palace. Karen and I took off by ourselves and it was quite a hike UP to get to this place.

Pomegranates are in season and are delicious!!

After going through the museum we walked back down through the medina. Medina means "city" in Arabic. When folks speak of a medina, they mean the OLD Arabic city--which consists of a series of interconnecting pathways with shops on the ground floor.

This photo shows where the carts come down the steps.

People call the round things "puffs." They are made of leather and you stuff them with whatever and sit on them! Also liked the lizard. Bought Veny a very interesting outfit on the black market here.....

More views from my hotel room. This was THE LIFE. Great friends, great food, great views, with the sound of the ocean waves lulling you to sleep......

I confess that Tanger was windy---but so are many other coastal towns!

Looking out of my room the other direction.

This boat is leaving for Spain--which you can't see in this photo but I could see with my eyes. Again, I am looking outside from lying on my bed. Nice, huh?