There is Water Everywhere

I spend a lot of time alone and consequently a lot of time thinking and writing. I hope to share of my thoughts and insights in this forum. I may only take extracts of what I've written as some of my entries are quite long.
I went to the orphanage Tuesday to meet the girls and Wednesday to start working with them. My initial visit is something that I shall remember forever. As I walked through the doors separating the girl's from the boy's areas, I saw a chaotic scene of girls filling buckets with water and releasing their contents on the closest suspecting person. Upon seeing me they stopped what they were doing, though their smiles did not fade, and waited excitedly as I crossed the courtyard. I was greeted by a flurry of hugs and kisses and was then led by the hand to change so that I could partake in their game.
Never in my life have I felt so instantly welcomed or accepted. This feeling, so simple and so sincere, will stay with me no matter where I go after this.
We are now in a state of uncertainty as we try to figure out how share with one another despite that we don't really speak that same language. They are attempting to teach me arabic while I work with them on their french. It will be difficult but everyone seems open and excited and ready to work to find a way to communicate.
Already there are things that I find extremely difficult to understand or make sense of. The orphanage, while beautifully constructed and landscaped, is very simple and a testament to the poverty that is the reality for these girls and so many others. When I washed my hands before eating I was surprised to discover that while the water flows there are no pipes to catch it and it therefore runs all over the floor. They shared their lunch with me, a very modest potato and olive dish, which I ate with my hands (my right hand once being corrected, as the left hand is for the bathroom). And the bathroom is one toilet with no seat, no flushing mechanism, and no toilet paper. One begins quickly to use one's hands as one should as there is little alternative.
From my very first contact with these girls it was clear that though they did not have much they would gladly and without malace give all that they could; what they do not have in material possessions they abundantly make up for with things that can not be bought in any store: laughter, joy, openness, tenderness, patience, and happiness.
The water is everywhere. It flows between us and reunites us. We are all permeated with what we can not see but only feel and it is all around us and it is something that we all share.

Les Fourmis et La Poussière

Maintenant je suis bien installée dans un apartement modeste et comportable sur la rue Yougoslavie. Selon la carte et ce que déjà j'ai trouvé, je suis bien située dans la nouvelle ville près de tous les endroits qu'il faut. En plus, je ne suis pas loin d'une boulangerie et une librarie, des lieus assez rares à Marrakech.
A l'intérieur de l'apartement on trouve une equilibre bizarre entre trop et pas assez. Ce deuxième catégorie est evident surtout parce que le domicile appartient à quelqu'un qui n'est presque jamais là. En conséquence il existe un manque de 'matériel', disons le objets quotidiennes dont on a besion pour vivre. Au lieu, par example, de la liquide de vaiselle, j'ai découvert un packet de produit que normalement on mit dans la machine. Ses subsitutions sont charmants mais pas très pratique.
L'eccès se voit notamment par terre, en forme de la poussière et dans le placards, en forme des fourmis. J'imagine que la poussière est simplement la produit de l'environnement du desert. Elle est partout et veut dire qu'il faut absolument que je garde mes chaussures tout le temps.
Les fourmis sont en traine d'envahir l'apartement, j'en suis sur, et selon leur stratagem vont commencer dans la cuisine en la rendant presque inutilisible. Ce n'est pas si pire que ça mais on put rien laisser hors du frigo et plus généralement c'est dégutant. Hier soir c'était un combat sans frontières en ouvrant un packet de biscuits que j'ai acheté plus tot pendant la journée. Les fourmis ont gagné. J'ai fortait les biscuits, en eyant laissée avec les sentiment de mille petits pieds marchant sur mon corps. Une sensation, je vous jure, qui est extrêmement déasgreable.
Il est ce desequilibre qu'on trouve partout et qui se manifeste surtout dans les extrêmes. Par fois je ne sais pas comment je resens en face de ce phénomène. Malgré cet incertitude, je sens ce manque d'equilibre sur ma peau et en dessous de mes peids si tangible et intagible que la poussière et les fourmis.

L'Orphilinat

Comme promis je vais écrire également en français. Je n'ai pas amener mon dictionnaire et donc je vous demande d'être patient avec les fautes d'orthographe, le confusion entre masculin et feminin, et mon style un peu mal à droit. Vous pouvez me corriger dans l'espace commentaires si vous voulez.

J'ai rendu visite à l'orphilinat hier en rencontrant le directeur, Abdelhaq, et plusieurs enfants. L'orphilinat a été créé en 1924 par les français et est situé sur plus que 3 hectaires. Les enfants dorment, mangent, et étudient là bas mais vont ailleurs pour l'école. Ils sont entre l'age de 6 et 19. L'espace est remplie des immeubles de logement, un petit mosqué, les salles à manger, et surtout les jardins incroyables. La ville de Marrakech est plein de fleurs, palmiers, et pelouses que je n'ai jamais trouvé ailleurs. Je suis sans doute en paradis.

Je vais commencer aujourd'hui avec les enfants, je pense uniquement les filles, en les aident à preparer leurs examens. Abdelhaq m'a expliqué que les élèves ont du mal en particulier avec le français et les maths. En conséquence je vais enseigner ses sujets et aussi l'anglais. Je vais vois les programmes des élèves aujourd'hui et comme ça j'espère avoir une idée plus concrête de ce qu'ils font actuellement.

Jusqu'à present toutes les personnes que j'ai rencontré seraient très sympa, aimable, et ouvert. J'ai entendu au moins 3 fois, "fait comme tu es chez toi". Je sais que si jamais j'avais besoin de quoi que ça soit quelqu'un serait là pour m'aider. On est tout là pour aider.

A Heat to Sufficate a Small Animal

So I have safely arrived in Marrakech. I am staying in my friend's uncle's apartment which is modest but comfortable. I'm in the heart of the 'nouvelle ville' within walking distance of cafés, supermarkets, restaurants, and any thing else one could need. It has probably pretty clearly been a big adjustment, the heat being the most overwhelming factor. The first night that I was here it was still 35 degrees at 7 o'clock in the evening. I drink as much water as I can and stay out of the sun during the hottest times of the day but find myself still getting light-headed and in a general sense of not-really-sure-what's-going-on-ness. The most comfortable hours of the day are when the sun goes down and so I have been staying up until about one in the morning; the sun however is hot enough to be uncomfortable at 7 am and I consequently have been getting little sleep. It means that I do quite a lot during the day, spending a lot of time reading, writing, and thinking. I hope to share some of my insights with you as and when the occassion arises. This is a fascinating city and time in Moroccan history, I have no doubt. Apart from not really sleeping, a condition I am fairly used to, I also find that the dry desert climate lends itself to nose bleeds - pretty, but true. Luckily it will only get hotter.

Getting Ready to Go

The most boring-est title ever which has been preceded by an incredibly hecitic pre-leaving chaos. Between the contstant phone calls to Morocco, trips to pharmacies, internet cafes, and the like I will be looking forward to a little bit of tranquility in the 16 hours or so leading up to my flight.
I have finally worked out the details, as much as they can be worked out, and will be working in an orphanage in Marrakech for the first month of my visit. After that things may get a little bit dicy and I will have to rely on my skills of adaptation and of course the generosity of others to figure out what to do next. I already have a few possibilities which will probably mean re-locating. The more I can see the better.
I will look forward to up-dating what I've been up to and hope that there will be an occassional message here and there from interested readers. I have no idea what to expect or, as usual, what I'm getting myself into. I've tried as best as I can to get what I need in advance and the rest will, I'm sure, work itself out. It usual does.

Bon Voyage! Oh, no, that's what you say to me.