A year has passed since I returned to the US. This time has been very challenging. Adjusting after living in a completely different culture has been very difficult. I came to the realization that I would never be able to completely readjust to former life in America. I’ve realized that the past is just that, [...]

As many of the 107 campers as would heed my instructions to Zidu! Zidu! ~ crowd in. I like the kid on the left, in the red shirt, doing the Moroccan symbol for “crazy. “ Told you it’d take me time to rest up enough to tackle a proper account of English Camp Taroudant 2010. But [...]

As my second summer in Magrib continues the festivities of the season begin. This year I was comforted by the presence of my family that came all the way from Vermont to visit me. It started in Rabat after my entire stage met up for our yearly medical check up. It was good to see [...]

I desperately need to review the past few weeks in order to gain insight into my experience. This past week I looked at my calendar on my kitchen door and blinked repeatedly. My ever expressive eyebrows crinkled together when I came to the realization that it was not only May, but that more than half [...]

I desperately need to review the past few weeks in order to gain insight into my experience. This past week I looked at my calendar on my kitchen door and blinked repeatedly. My ever expressive eyebrows crinkled together when I came to the realization that it was not only May, but that more than half [...]

Just as my village is turning into the lush green season known as spring, I too have been developing and blossoming as I reach middle of my service. As the barley inches higher and higher toward the sky I feel more and more adjusted I my village. Spring is a time of growth and not [...]

  Happy New Year to everyone. With the beginning of a new year I began to feel a rejuvenated and renewed commitment. Its like having a new energy or a pep in my step. I celebrated three different new years. The first was the beginning of the Islamic Calender or Moharam. The second was the beginning [...]

  As December looms ahead it was important to take some time to reflect on my Peace Corps experience in Morocco thus far. Reflection is very important and there have been many ups and downs since I boarded a plane an ocean away with 58 other future PCV’s. I can say that being here has already [...]

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, I have had the pleasure of integrating for the last 8 months. As with any integration certain questions are necessary, yet mostly I encounter many opinions. After introducing myself as a US Peace Corps Volunteer and exchanging a local greeting, placing the hand over the heart, my host [...]

The past month was a busy one. After the Holy Month of Ramadan everything picked up. School went at its regular pace. La3id, the holiday after Ramadan was a three day celebration. All people dressed in their best clothes. Women had a hawaj-a circle of singing and dancing which started early and lasted until dusk. [...]

Ramada is a holy month throughout the Muslim world. Most people take part in the fast. I did as well. As apart of the month people give to the poor and visit cemetery. The King of Morocco was very generous and donated goods to the needy. During Ramadan people get up at 4 to eat [...]

I moved into my new house this month and many have asked for a new version on Cribs so I dusted off the old camera and put it to work. I apologize if I appear nerves it is because the batteries in the camera were running low and I wanted to provide as much footage as [...]

Basically this is what the month panned out like. Most offices are closed this month as it is a popular vacation month in Morocco. I moved into my house in the first week while simultaneously attending weddings. This month is when many people marry. The wedding are elaborate as many family’s save their entire life [...]

On the way back from a trip to the PC office in Rabat I took the train to Marrakesh. If there ever was a place like Las Vegas outside of Las Vegas it would be Marrakesh. This was my first thought. It was so different from the culture in southern Maghreb. I had to write about it. [...]

I wrote this a few weeks after it happened. It turned out to be a turning point in my integration. Its raw right now and not doctored to the best of my writing abilities but it makes me smile when I read it. Enjoy!                    When the lights go out I hear silence.  I jump as [...]

I promise a post very soon….These videos are in oder from arrival to site…bottom up. A introduction interview I taped but there is an ERROR! Fusah is understood in Morocco. Its classical arabic. What I meant to say is that Moroccans have a special version of arabic, Darija. They can understand most other versions of arabic. Fusah [...]

Look here for infortmation on the Beber languages including Tashelheet the language spoken in my region.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berber_languages  This is it. This is it. I’m a Peace Corps Volunteer offically. This is what I kept saying to myself because its hard to believe. Everyone who knows me know that I wanted to be apart of Peace Corps for [...]