Morocco! (and a little something else)

So I’ve arrived safely in Rabat. My host family is friendly, the city is beautiful, and the food is excellent. But first…

Bet you didn’t see that coming. I visited  Frankfurt! I had some time between flights, so I took a subway and explored the city. It was my first time in Germany, and it didn’t disappoint. The contrast between the modern global city and the quaint German town intrigued me the second I hopped off the subway. I walked around most of the city and was treated to picturesque views of domes, alleyways, and bridges.The first thing that struck me was how the city looked so quintessentially metropolitan at eye level. The storefronts of Frankfurt blend together in a cosmopolitan swath similar to other major cities. Tilt your head back, however, and Frankfurt’s true colors show. Every building, save for a couple malls and skyscrapers, looks like it’s from two centuries ago. I enjoyed the plazas and stopped in two cathedrals, one from the 14th century!

I discovered a Chinese restaurant in downtown Frankfurt. I ordered beef and broccoli and was surprised at how good the meal was. I happily spoke Chinese with the staff and some Chinese tourists. The chance to use my Mandarin was definitely very welcome. 

Fast forward to Morocco. I arrived at my host family’s house late at night and chatted with my host brother until 4:30 am. His name is Saad, and his English is excellent. They are very kind.

I slept through the afternoon. After chatting with Saad and my host parents, I got dressed and hailed a taxi to American Ambassador’s residence near the U.S. Embassy in Rabat for the Rosh Hashanah dinner. Ambassador Sam Kaplan and his wife, Sylvia, are so kind and hospitable. They warmly welcomed me to Morocco and I was honored to be seated next to Mrs. Kaplan. It was actually my first meal in Morocco! A sweet, savory, and all-around perfect chicken-based “tazhin” (the zh is pronounced like “s” in pleasure) was served. As I sunk my teeth into the uniquely Moroccan dish and enjoyed the wonderful company, something clicked. I instinctively knew that Morocco was the right choice. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to this adventure! It was indeed a memorable evening.

My host brother and I went out for a walk around the beach the next day. It was the last day of Ramadan – the Night of Power, or the night Mohammed ascended to heaven. I even donned a white linen tunic, customary attire for Muslim men on the last day the end of Ramadan. The view was quite a treat. The moon formed a perfect scimitar-like crescent in the sky, and it was reflected in a pristine pool just above the waves. I’d describe it some more, but I could just show you:

My first week was fascinating. To celebrate Rosh Hashanah and then the end of Ramadan within the first twenty four hours of arriving in Morocco was quite the treat.  I also explored Rabat thoroughly and discovered lots of nifty nooks and crannies. I was pleased to discover that I feel really comfortable navigating even the labyrinthine sprawl of the old walled city, or Medina. More on that later.

I started my volunteer work last Monday. I expected it to be pretty swell, and it was even better. I'm teaching English to high school students around my age. They're willing to learn and very fun to teach! They're already helping me practice my Arabic, too.

I had my first Arabic lesson last Wednesday. It's a thrill to be delving into an entirely new language again. I'm really liking Arabic so far. The throaty sounds of the language are so different from anything I've ever heard before, and the flowing writing system is delightfully fresh. 

Oh, and, hearing babies speak Arabic is adorable. Just saying.

In short: Morocco's awesome. : D

- Gavin