Bright Red and Belting out the Moroccan National Anthem

In case you were wondering, the subtitle of Leanna's Service in Peace Corps Morocco is: "Two+ years of life-altering embarrassment. "

Between various stomach issues and continued correction of my active use of tunsi (Tunisian Arabic) or fusHa (Modern Standard Arabic) I have been doing a solid job of showing just how bright red a white person can get when they are embarrassed. Well, I thought I had. Then, came the group singing and games that I was always nervous about in any context. I could talk to 10,000 in any language I know enough without batting an eye, but ask me to sing to anyone but Hunter and I melt.

Needless to say I was chosen first for just such a game in a roomful of Moroccans. Roughly, you say something that translates to "It pleases me, it pleases me" and then sing a song you like - the game works because after just a sentence everyone else picks up and sings with you. I stood racking my brain, HOPING beyond hope that some moderately well known poppy song would crash into my mind. I ran through everything I listen to on my regular playlists (the 90s rock station + everything Paul Simon was ever a part of) quickly in my head and stood silent. Finally, I was red enough that one of the girls saved me by leaning forward and whispering 'Shakira' and I pulled a 'Waka waka hey hey, it's time for Africa.' Bullet dogged. 

We played a few more games which I understood but could not really sing along to, and I disappeared to check in on a friend who I was nervous needed help. I came back in and from the back of the crowd was targeted. The leader of the group said, "Sing something in Arabic.' OBVIOUSLY the only thing I could think of in the moment was the Moroccan National Anthem, so beat red, facing a crowd of let's say, thirty total, I sang the anthem which I had learned through a translation and presentation homework assignment.  THANKFULLY they stood up at his request and joined in. I managed to turn purple red at least 3 times tonight. 

Moral of the story... I have to apparently learn some English pop songs. Other point, I am so ready to break out some el General (the Tunsian Rapper I was obsessed with circa 2011) when they least expect it. Also, next time I get put on the spot I am going to belt out 'Allah Allah ya baba, Sidi Mansour ya baba.'

Otherwise though, today I felt useful. Finally, really useful. My training group sat in a room of Moroccans all in their low to mid-twenties, and set up a schedule to teach them English and them teach us some darija (the Moroccan Dialect of Arabic) in exchange. I took the lead in the conversation and learned that I HAVE to get over saying, "kima tahib" ('as you like' in tunsi) because no one here knows what the heck I am saying…and that I have to figure out how the hell to say 'you all want' correctly ('baGiitou' -for future reference) because I tried 10 times then said it in tunsi then just pulled a tureedoun in fusHa because that meant they would at least maybe understand me (they did, and all laughed/smirked accordingly…the 4th shade of red). 

SOOO We have plans, we start teaching English on Tuesday to a whole host of people who are damn excited about it. We are picking up their textbook from them tomorrow to make sure we help them learn what they actually want to learn!!

I'd call today very successful. 

Now for lots homework and a day off. My plan is to try to find an ill-described location of an illusive waterfall….inshaAllah I will take a picture tomorrow after all!

Shnu the heck am I doing in Morocco for two years?

Let's start with what I am doing here, since I didn't really explain it well to most, if any, of you.

I am volunteering for the next 27 (26 and a half but who's counting) months as a Youth Development Coordinator in Morocco. I have a training period during which time I am known as a PCT (Peace Corps Trainee) and have no idea where my final site will be. During that time, they observe me, and try to decide what location/type of location would be a nice fit for me. Accordingly, I am hoping for some body of water, be it the ocean, the med, or a pool, that women are allowed to swim in every day. I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE SWIM LESSONS! It'd be incredible to do the thing I am most passionate about just in a different language for a group of people who would otherwise not really have access to it (super generally speaking: boys don't teach girls and moms have more important things to do than teach their girl children to swim…that's where I want to come in). Unfortunately though, many people ask for the coast, so there is a good possibility I will not end up anywhere near it. 

Anyway back to what I am doing. I will be working at the dar ash-shabab in whichever place I end up or literally the youth center (but remember the title of youth here lasts until you are married so we get some people up until about their 40s). It will be my job to fill whatever void that center needs, like swimming lessons. Really, our general instruction is three-fold 1. Classes (English/Arabic etc) 2. Camps and 3. Clubs. We have a myriad of resources to go through to help us identify what is needed and make it happen. Some sites will have mostly 8yr olds and those sites will accordingly need activities about germs and pollution and games etc, where as some will have mostly 30 yr olds and those sites will need job placement and interview training. Hearing from past volunteers, the reason for the length of service is most likely because of how long it takes to get your bearings. One PCV explained that the first 6 months she worked to get tables, chairs, lightbulbs, and chalk boards for her dar because it was completely empty. Others, in major cities, have robust schedules and need us to act more as stop gaps on off-days or fill in positions that no one else has time for. I won't know what my situation will be like until I am in it. 

Peace Corps is all about the acronyms. Right now I am in CBT, or Community Based Training. CBT is a three month period where we figure out how to do the jobs we signed up for by living in a populated city with a LCF (Language and Culture Facilitator) or Moroccan who knows whats up. During this training we are to A. get a solid grip on the language B. live with a host family to help us get a solid grip on the culture and C. work at a dar ash-shabab. I am about a week and a half into CBT. 

I am excited and hopeful to enact some real change but this first week has been draining because I feel useless. I feel like I am not progressing as quickly as I hoped I was going to in the language (we have 6 hours a day but our class is the most advanced and the levels are varied enough that it's gotta be taxing on the teacher…he is letting me lead presentations to keep me engaged which I am very appreciative of). We also haven't really done anything with the 'youth' yet. We have watched a couple of their incredible performances (notably, they are awesome dancers) but we haven't really contributed yet. 

I will write more about this next time but probably the weirdest thing about this whole experience is how long it is but it just feels like CLS take 5. I am not really understanding yet the length of a two year commitment.   That being said, I guess deep down I know it is different because I haven't taken a single photo yet, except some weird Photo Booth ones when my little host sister was sitting on my lap. 

Who knows, more later! I miss you all immensely. 

I have safely arrived in Rabat.

Six vaccinations deep, with a new passport, a new phone, and a new debit card it is kind of starting to sink in that this isn't just another three month stint somewhere. I have met 100 or so new people between the Americans and Moroccans, and I have no idea how or when I will meet all the others. 

My most exciting news so far is that we get to sign up for a language tutor for all 27 months if we so choose…for those of you who know me well, you can imagine how giddy I was when I found that out. I fully intend to ask for a Darija or Amazeeg tutor for the duration (and hey French can sneak in too). 

In other news, my biggest discomfort has been assuaged - we are broken into groups by language ability, meaning I should be working with a group that will challenge me instead of relearning the basics. 

Also, the world is small, at least for Americans focusing in MENA. I have already run into two people I know, and...3 of the first 4 people I met are from PDX.

I'll be in Rabat for a week or so, and fully intend to explore this city since I didn't get a chance to last time I was here. I'll keep you updated accordingly. Also now that I am at least seeing internet on occasion, the posts will get better. 

It starts...

I leave for Morocco in five days. I will be there for a 27 month stint as a Youth Development Volunteer in the Peace Corps. I have been there before. I have friends there, former colleagues there, and even a couple bags of clothes and bathroom supplies there yet still, my nerves are a bit all over the place. 

Hunter (my perfect tuxedo cat who I am abandoning at my dad's for a couple of years) is trying to pack himself in any bag I leave open. Since I feel awful moving him for the 5th time tonight to continue packing, I figured it was time to start the blog.

This is the beginning of the beginning, as scary as any big life-changing leap should be. I'll try to talk about it here without being too ridiculous. Feel free to follow along accordingly. 

(Also, please do not judge my English...I guarantee it will only get worse as I switch over to using Arabic on a more regular basis).