Friends, family and faithful readers, I have made it to Italy. After stamping the Big Book O’ Volunteers on Friday afternoon, I fought through post-explosion security in Casablanca and, along with three other recently-stamped volunteers, made my way to Bologna. … Continue reading →
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Most of the interesting things in my possession here were eliminated when I moved last October, from my old site to this new one. While perusing my books last week, however, the volunteers nearest to me – a married couple … Continue reading →
Friends, family and recently-neglected readers, the end is in sight. After a week of saying good-byes and hellos (while I’m in the midst of wrapping things up, a new batch of volunteers is in the province for their site visit), … Continue reading →
45 days. Forty-five. With the number of days left in this country dwindling, I’ve begun to reflect on my time here, and the legacy I’ll leave behind. What’s important to me is that I tried my hardest, and that I … Continue reading →
My younger brother’s currently teaching English in the Republic of Georgia, and Al Jazeera recently did a piece on his program there. A lot of the struggles that the article highlights happen within the Peace Corps, too. We’ve had some … Continue reading →
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: a new post! I’ve been gone for three weeks now, and haven’t been alone with my own thoughts since… well… since the beginning of February. I bounced from a regional meeting … Continue reading →
Contrary to popular belief, I am alive and well. It’s common knowledge that the last few months of one’s Peace Corps service are the busiest of all, and I’m walking, email-ignoring proof that that is true. For today, I’ll give … Continue reading →
I have a thing for voices. No, really, I do. My love of how we utilize our vocal apparatus to convey emotion has always been with me, but after having lived for so long in a place where words don’t … Continue reading →
I know what you’re thinking: it must be a slow news day if she’s writing another entry about a Moroccan kid. That reasoning is accurate, though I don’t mind the slow days so much anymore. At the beginning, slow days … Continue reading →
Throughout my life, how I look has been a main concern for those around me. What I wear, what I don’t wear, how I do my hair, whether I choose glasses or contacts… it’s all up for grabs, or so … Continue reading →
This afternoon saw me crammed into a taxi next to two grade school-aged boys and their mother. We were waiting on one more body to fill the sixth spot (grande taxis, the most popular mode of transportation in our province, … Continue reading →
Though my COS is still four months away, I’m already tying up loose ends in my service, and in my life. On this end, I’m resolving bank account issues (good news: I got paid!, bad news: no one knows why … Continue reading →
Fact of the Day, provided by a new friend at the U.S. Consulate in Casablanca: It is illegal to ship passports via surface mail. More on this, and other breaking news, shortly.
Okay, I’ll admit it: the title of this post is a bit dramatic. …but not as dramatic as you may think. We’re merely 3.5 days into the new year and I’m already dealing with a handful of absurdities*. Newly-resurrected passport … Continue reading →
Duality has recently become a recurring theme in my life. There seem to always be two ways of looking at things; two distinct views that I take on things; two lives that I lead. I’ve even started serving two entrees … Continue reading →
While I lost a lot of very important data in the Great Burglary of 2010, the only piece of identification that was stolen was my personal passport. As government employees (wait, does that mean that I’m employed?), Peace Corps volunteers … Continue reading →
It took twenty-nine consecutive days of entertaining guests, one three-day holiday spent entirely in bed, and a two-week vacation. My friends, I’m back. I returned home from the aforementioned vacation nearly a week ago, and I’m still reeling from the … Continue reading →
Chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. Eid al Adha – celebrated yesterday, today or in Morocco, tomorrow – marks the end of the Hajj and commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. You can read all … Continue reading →
I haven’t admitted it to many, but I’m really struggling to pick up my service, brush the dirt off and continue onward. I discovered this story tucked away in my Google Reader feed tonight, and I found myself hoping that it … Continue reading →
I woke up this morning, put on a tea kettle and jumped back into bed with the computer that’s graciously on loan from these fine people. I checked my email, and then bopped over to my Google Reader feed… and … Continue reading →
Texting, and its older brother Instant Messaging, are two of my long-standing technological vices. I’m blessed to have some very witty friends in my life, and in the past few days I’ve received a handful of texts that have made … Continue reading →
After two days and lots of yet-to-be-unpacked boxes*, I’m securely moved into my new place, in the heart of my souqtown. The keys to the old house have been given back, and that part of the story is finished. Now … Continue reading →
The fight to move into my souqtown is over, and I’m pleased (ha! that’s putting it mildly) to report that I am moving sometime within the week. Now comes the dreadful task of prepping the house in Souqtown, packing everything up … Continue reading →
Because my counterpart’s children are both very intelligent and very young, I’ve taken to declaring household laws to enforce certain behaviors. Some household laws include: Two sandals must be worn in the bathroom at all times, one on each foot. … Continue reading →
“Please excuse this question, Nicole. I know that you are normal, very normal. You have parents that can help you, and I’m sure that they have already offered to do so. But you are an American, Nicole. You have many … Continue reading →
A burglary is bad. Having to fight for your right to move to a safer site is worse. The gloves and hijab are off; game on, my friends.
While many families have offered to take me in now that I’m between houses, I’ve ended up spending the majority of my nights this past week with Host Family 2.0. This has made them all very happy, but their four-year-old … Continue reading →
Groups of men and women hush their voices as I walk by as a sign of solidarity. I’m currently on the hunt for a new house, and it’s an arduous process. I almost agreed to a house today, and then … Continue reading →
I’m fine, alhamdulillah, but I’m now faced with moving, and learning how to use a cybercafe again. Details coming soon.
Discussions like this one make me want to fall down prostrate, in thanks that I was born in America.
Blogging to: All Songs Considered’s broadcast of a 2008 Black Keys concert at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. – Because the day of Eid Saghir (also known as Eid al-Fitr for the traditionalists, or those who don’t speak Arabic) … Continue reading →
Happy Eid, friends! As they don’t seem to say in Morocco (not in my neck of the woods, at least), kol 3am wa antom bikher. May your celebrations be joyous! I’ll recount my celebrations here, which involve costume changes and … Continue reading →
The deeper I get into Vincent van Gogh’s letters, the more inspiring his admiration of the ordinary becomes. As his body of work demonstrates, he has an uncanny ability to find beauty and depth in the banalities that most only … Continue reading →
Now Playing: Santana, Live at the Fillmore 1968 — I must confess that this Ramadan has been supremely challenging for me, both physically and mentally. With temperatures frequently exceeding 120°F, my motivation levels and higher brain activity have been at … Continue reading →
Got a culturally sticky situation on your hands? Just ban the women.
Because sometimes only soft-serve will do, I had to go undercover for an ice cream cone last week. (Photo Credit: R. Roberts)
Dear Pastor Jones, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for all of the time and energy you’ve put into promoting International Burn a Qur’an Day in your community as well as on the world wide web. I … Continue reading →
Weezer, “Slob” Black Keys, “Your Touch” Hot Hot Heat, “Talk to Me, Dance With Me” La Mojarra Eléctrica, “El hueco” Michael Franti & Spearhead, “Soundsystem” Cake, “Conroy” Phish, “The Landlady” Manu Chao, “Je Ne T’aime Plus” Dave Brubeck Quartet, “Take … Continue reading →
While looking up the governing rule on freelancing again this afternoon (sadly, the answer still reads no), I stumbled upon a copy of Peace Corps’ mission statement and its three goals. Peace Corps’ Mission To promote world peace and friendship. … Continue reading →
Current listening: Dawes, live at the 2010 Newport Folk Festival via NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast. I highly, highly recommend this podcast. — It was brought to my attention a while back that I haven’t yet clarified precisely what a … Continue reading →
All deals are off if you don’t love this song.
Fasting, when done properly (or poorly), affects the whole of a person. There are documented internal and external changes that occur during periods of abstention from food, drink and general negativity, and the one that’s caught my eye this year … Continue reading →
I had just given up on sleep when I received this text message from my nearest volunteers, a first-year married couple that lives an hour and change away from me. Did Ramadan start today? Heard a strange call from the … Continue reading →
I rarely cook when it’s too hot to eat. Fruit and raw vegetables dominate my diet in the summer months, and let me tell you: there is nothing like an ice-cold summer tomato (or three) when temperatures are soaring. I … Continue reading →
Current listening: Cake, “Prolonging the Magic” and a thunderstorm. — I’m not sure how this happened, but Ramadan - the ninth month of the hijri calendar – snuck up on me this year. Last year there was ample talk of … Continue reading →
For your listening pleasure: The Black Keys, “Magic Potion” — I was recently criticized by my mother for wearing a hat with a headscarf in a picture that I sent home (I live in Africa and I make no apologies, mom), and then I got to thinking about how many hats I wear here. I [...]
I was Skyping with a friend earlier this afternoon when I heard a quiet knocking at my door. When I ignored it, the knocking turned into a light tapping. The tapping then morphed into the sound of someone rubbing my door. (If we’ve ever Skyped before, you know how common this occurrence is.) I hung [...]
Current listening: Manu Chao, “Baionarena” — I know that I haven’t told many stories of my time in America, as the request to, “tell me everything about America!” does not produce anything but mumbles and assurances that, “uh, it was fun.” Shopping, however, was one of the things I found to be an epic stressor. [...]
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