Eid Al Adha ~ Morocco Dec. 2008

Eid Al Adha is a holiday where each Muslim family slaughters a sheep as they remember God's mercy in providing a ram for sacrifice to Abraham--in place of his son. Three days before the holiday, I was travelling to the city of Fes and took this photo. (Most people were walking along with their sheep.)

The morning of the Eid, I was invited to Salaheddine's home. I arrived late in the morning in order to avoid seeing the above process, but this photo just proves that it IS a long process.

These children are some of my wonderful students at ASI.

Another Moroccan dad and his children stopped by and the child pointed to the sheep and said "chicken." The Dad looked at me and said, "So you have been teaching the children English, HUH?" (He was just joking.)

After delivering cakes that I made to several Muslim families, I went up to the ski area. Except for this moment, it was heavily raining, but it was fun!

"Wild donkeys" along side the road.

This photo was taken right outside of Ifrane, on the way back to my place.

The rain only lasted part of a day before another storm blew through. This is the "Residences" where I live and work. This area is surrounded by grasslands.

Took a walk to the marche. Petite taxis in Ifrane are green. Doesn't seem like Africa, does it? The Eid celebrations will continue through the week. For now.....

Winter Greetings from Morocco!!

Fall Events and Snow in Africa, December 2008

Julia Sawicki came up from Lisbon for a few days and we went out hiking. (Above photos.) Note my right hand is wrapped from hurting my thumb.

Yes, the children DO celebrate Halloween. Here is a student that I tutor on the keyboard in my classroom.

I went to school as a "runner"--something I am not. The BACK of my t-shirt has the announcement about the recent Casablanca Marathon that I attended.

More dear students in my classroom.

For the second year in a row, I missed Thanksgiving!! This year it was because I was sick. However, note the PIE in the photo. The can of pumpkin was a gift from Margaret Dennis. I brought pumpkin pie spice, my maid made the crust and a friend made the pie and cream. So... I DID get to eat pumpkin pie---and it was a TREAT!! Thanks also to Kay Pon-Brown who provided Thanksgiving plates and napkins. (not pictured)

My car. It seemed very happy just staying there....

View from my livingroom window. Straight ahead over the small butte, the Moroccans built a wall this past summer. Not a fence, but a concrete wall. They walled off the King's airport.

View from my window.

School from outside of my classroom.

Kids! And yes, I'm the only teacher who will play snowball fight with them!

On 4. December, the elementary school put on a show called Animals and More--that I put together. There were lots of artistic displays. This one was mine: Saint Saens- Carnival of the Animals.

Explaining something during the show.....

Just cute kids. We used children from age 3 to grade 5 and I did 16 pieces.

Downtown in Ifrane is a lake.

Looking at the three buttes right by my flat from the Fes road.

Looking at the three buttes and my flat (residences) from the other direction where I often hike.

When you go off sledding, there is not much competition for space! Spent a lovely afternoon with the Reimer family.

About to eat lunch on a traditional Moroccan mat.

Happy Advent from Africa!

Margaret and Irene, November 2008

In November, Margaret (from CA and Scotland) and Irene (from England), who are friends of Alice Reader, came to stay for a few days. It is always wonderful having guests because I then "go around" and see things! They are standing in front of the Ifrane lion--a sculpture made years ago by a soldier in prison.

We are back at Tarmelat where I picked up another wall hanging. If you can enlarge this photo, look for a small dog that is to the left of the woman. You can see why they call this country Mor-ROCK-o.

Irene is looking at couscous that is being dried. We visited a centre for women that just opened four months ago. Young women learn to cook, weave and learn computer skills.

Here, a woman is making couscous. What was so unusual, is that she added spices to the couscous. I bought a bag for 10dh and it is the best couscous I have ever had!

This woman separates the couscous into large or small pieces.

I interacted with this woman who was making pasties---or dough filled with a meat mixture.

Here she is cooking it (on right) with some flat bread. Yum.

Margaret and Irene went to the marche to pick out meat and produce in order to make a tagine. Note the TAIL in the middle of the photo.

We went to Wafa's home --about 20 minutes from Ifrane. This is the entrance to her kitchen. Because Margaret and Irene are professional French chefs and cooking instructors, I thought they would enjoy cooking at this home.

Four women in the kitchen! Most of the time we had to use candles because water was leaking through the concrete roof.

Wafa begins to make bread. All Moroccans have a plate like this one, where the women make their food. (They don't roll out bread on a counter top like I do!)

Putting the bread in the oven.

If you enlarge this photo, you will easily see the drops of water coming in from the roof.

Just a little monkey to end this segment! Can't wait until someone else comes to visit!

A Day in Fes, Nov. 2008

Here I pose with Duncan Rinehart, a professor at AUI. After enduring DAYS and DAYS of rain, wind and snow, it was delightful to get out of the mountains and down into some warmth! The incredible cluster of buildings behind me is the Fes medina--the largest in the world, I am told.

This photo is from a riad and the fort on the hill is where we are sitting in the previous photo.

I took lots of photos of water fountains that are in the medina....

These are lychees but not the kind I am used to.

Workers in the medina.

Nabil (center) acted as a guide. I enjoyed having tea with his mother and sister.

Olives.