Long time no see! Sorry I neglected to post last week. I normally take my Sundays to make these posts but we left around 9am and did not return until late Sunday night so alas, I did not write a post.
At the end of the last post I was asked if I would go back to the Hammam and if Moroccans usually eat late. To the first question, I will go back but not in the summer. It's too damn hot to go back in the summer as going from 105 degree into a sauna and strenuously scrubbing yourself is a helluva time and it makes me feel clean but it's a bit too hot. I've heard its great to go in the fall when its cooler and the sauna and scrubbing warms you up and feels refreshing but at the same time it gets more crowded and the one thing I hate more than crowds is being sweaty and wet...and in a crowd...of equally sweaty and wet men. But nonetheless everyone goes so it can't be that bad.
On the topic of dinner, yes most Moroccans tend to eat pretty late but after awhile you kind of get used to it. The only downside is I usually wake up in the early morning hours having to pee. Then again this happens fairly often even in the US, as those who know me will tell you, because I have a tiny bladder and drink a lot (usually water and coke and juice here because there's not much in the way of beer, especially with the Host fam, very haram).
This week, I have a debate to moderate for my formal Arabic class and next week as well as final presentations and interviews for Moroccan and Egyptian Arabic classes in the next two weeks. Only two more weeks of class before final exams and then summer break!
All for now,
Johnny M.
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Week 4: All the dialects and all the homework
Hello everyone! I just capped off my first month back in Morocco with a trip to the hammam. For those who don't know, a hammam is basically a spa, but unlike in the US, both men and women frequent hammams and they are gender specific. The layouts of hammams vary somewhat but in general they are like big shower rooms with a single sauna room. You usually start by spreading a special olive or argan oil infused soap over your entire body. You can do this yourself or pay someone to do it for you. After sitting in the sauna for a few minutes you use a rough wash cloth called a "kish" to scrub all off the dead skin off your body. After that you finish with a shampoo and body wash of your choice. You can either bring shampoo and body wash with you or buy some there but not all hammams sell shampoo and body wash. It's about 20 or 30 MAD (2-3 USD) to go and 40 to 50 MAD (4-5 USD) if you want someone to do the scrubbing.
This past week was our first week of Formal, Egyptian, and Moroccan Arabic all together. Every day we have 4 hours of class for a total of 20 hours a week. We have 2 hours per day of Formal Arabic and 2 hours of a dialect. On Mondays and Wednesdays, we have Moroccan Arabic and Formal Arabic. Tuesdays and Thursdays we get Egyptian Arabic and Formal Arabic. Fridays we get all three; 2 hours of Formal and 1 hour for each dialect.
A received a request from last week's blog for more info on my daily routine. It's not all that much different from routine in the US. Classes start every day at 10am at the Center and I live about a 25 minute walk from it so I get up every morning around 8:45am to get dressed and eat breakfast around 9 or 9:10 after which I brush my teeth get my things together and am out the door between 9:25 and 9:35 each morning. Normally, I get a break for lunch between 12pm and 1pm and there are two places I frequent. A sandwich place and a lentils place, the former of which is my favorite. The sandwich place makes sandwiches with an egg, cheese and your choice of fried meat (Sausage, turkey, Kefta, liver, or intestines). No, I have not tried the intestines (but I might). The lentils place sells...lentils, among other things. But they also give you bread and a big jug of homemade pulpy juice (I had carrot and orange, which was delicious) to go along with your meal. The mother of the two owners makes everything in the morning and they carry it to their shop for lunch everyday. You can get a complete and filling lunch at both places for less than 20 MAD (about 2 USD). Classes usually end between 2 and 4pm depending on which day. I then work on homework for 2 to 3 hours. Additionally I have to meet with my language partner 4 hours each week, which I prefer to spread out across 4-1 hour sessions. After I finish with school work, I will sometimes go running in a park across the street from my homestay before eating dinner between 8 and 9. I'm usually in bed and asleep between 11:30 and 12am after reading for a bit.
Keep the questions and comments coming!
Best,
Johnny M.
This past week was our first week of Formal, Egyptian, and Moroccan Arabic all together. Every day we have 4 hours of class for a total of 20 hours a week. We have 2 hours per day of Formal Arabic and 2 hours of a dialect. On Mondays and Wednesdays, we have Moroccan Arabic and Formal Arabic. Tuesdays and Thursdays we get Egyptian Arabic and Formal Arabic. Fridays we get all three; 2 hours of Formal and 1 hour for each dialect.
A received a request from last week's blog for more info on my daily routine. It's not all that much different from routine in the US. Classes start every day at 10am at the Center and I live about a 25 minute walk from it so I get up every morning around 8:45am to get dressed and eat breakfast around 9 or 9:10 after which I brush my teeth get my things together and am out the door between 9:25 and 9:35 each morning. Normally, I get a break for lunch between 12pm and 1pm and there are two places I frequent. A sandwich place and a lentils place, the former of which is my favorite. The sandwich place makes sandwiches with an egg, cheese and your choice of fried meat (Sausage, turkey, Kefta, liver, or intestines). No, I have not tried the intestines (but I might). The lentils place sells...lentils, among other things. But they also give you bread and a big jug of homemade pulpy juice (I had carrot and orange, which was delicious) to go along with your meal. The mother of the two owners makes everything in the morning and they carry it to their shop for lunch everyday. You can get a complete and filling lunch at both places for less than 20 MAD (about 2 USD). Classes usually end between 2 and 4pm depending on which day. I then work on homework for 2 to 3 hours. Additionally I have to meet with my language partner 4 hours each week, which I prefer to spread out across 4-1 hour sessions. After I finish with school work, I will sometimes go running in a park across the street from my homestay before eating dinner between 8 and 9. I'm usually in bed and asleep between 11:30 and 12am after reading for a bit.
Keep the questions and comments coming!
Best,
Johnny M.
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Week 3: Day trip to Rabat
Hello again. We have just completed our last full week of only Moroccan Arabic and will be moving into Egyptian and Formal Arabic next week, which marks our first full month in Morocco and what a month its been. I have finally found a great place to go for daily runs and it happens to be located across the street from my home-stay!
This week we started and finished a unit focusing on health and family not only in terms of vocabulary, expressions, and grammar used to talk about those topics, but also the topics themselves. We had a great discussion on alternative forms of medicine both in the US and in Morocco, particularly the use of Medical Marijuana, a topic I have seldom touched upon even in the US.
I capped off the week with a day trip to Rabat, the Moroccan capital, which round trip only cost about 14 USD (its about a 2 hr train ride from Meknes). We journeyed all over the city from the site of some old roman ruins to the Mausoleum housing the tomb of a previous king (Hassan II) and of course, to the beach.
I'm going to try something new. Some people dive really deep into different topics and are extremely detailed and thorough in their posts. I can do that but normally choose not to as I find it difficult to decide on what to write about at length in my posts. If a particular questions poses itself to you I invite you to post it in the comments and I will cover it in my next blog post.
Until next time,
Johnny M.
This week we started and finished a unit focusing on health and family not only in terms of vocabulary, expressions, and grammar used to talk about those topics, but also the topics themselves. We had a great discussion on alternative forms of medicine both in the US and in Morocco, particularly the use of Medical Marijuana, a topic I have seldom touched upon even in the US.
I capped off the week with a day trip to Rabat, the Moroccan capital, which round trip only cost about 14 USD (its about a 2 hr train ride from Meknes). We journeyed all over the city from the site of some old roman ruins to the Mausoleum housing the tomb of a previous king (Hassan II) and of course, to the beach.
I'm going to try something new. Some people dive really deep into different topics and are extremely detailed and thorough in their posts. I can do that but normally choose not to as I find it difficult to decide on what to write about at length in my posts. If a particular questions poses itself to you I invite you to post it in the comments and I will cover it in my next blog post.
Until next time,
Johnny M.
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Week 2: Back to the North
After Eid al-Fitr and celebrating the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, we set out on a little vacation to Northern Morocco. Specifically, we visited Asilah, Tetouan, Tangier, and we stayed in an Iqaam in the beach town of Martil, right on the Mediterranean. The drive by bus was about 5 to 6 hours both ways so there was plenty of time to nap, snack, and take lots of pictures of the passing scenery whether it be farms, towns, villages, or cows. Some of our language partners and teachers accompanied us which was great for keeping up with our language as well as having people help us navigate new places. Although, since I have already been to Tangier and Asilah, I didn't need too much help.
The beaches were relaxing and clean (الحمد لله) and I have plenty of pictures this time! You can find them on Facebook with my announcement of this blog post. So those of you who get tired of listening to me ramble can rejoice! At the beginning of each city we visited, each student from the three classes gave a 1-2 minute presentation in Arabic about an aspect of the town we were visiting (Culture, History, Demography, Geography, Famous figures, etc). Even though each town lied in about a 3 hour radius it was amazing how different each city's history was. Tangier has always been famous for designation as an international zone in the late 20th century that attracted beatnik writers and international spies alike. Tetouan and Asilah are both heavily influenced by Spanish culture and you will frequently read and hear Spanish spoken throughout the city centers.
This week we resume our classes and push through our last full week of only Moroccan Darija. Next week will introduce Formal and Egyptian Arabic in addition to Moroccan. Stay tuned for updates and pictures from our Fourth of July celebration. Questions and requests are always welcome.
All for now,
Johnny M.
The beaches were relaxing and clean (الحمد لله) and I have plenty of pictures this time! You can find them on Facebook with my announcement of this blog post. So those of you who get tired of listening to me ramble can rejoice! At the beginning of each city we visited, each student from the three classes gave a 1-2 minute presentation in Arabic about an aspect of the town we were visiting (Culture, History, Demography, Geography, Famous figures, etc). Even though each town lied in about a 3 hour radius it was amazing how different each city's history was. Tangier has always been famous for designation as an international zone in the late 20th century that attracted beatnik writers and international spies alike. Tetouan and Asilah are both heavily influenced by Spanish culture and you will frequently read and hear Spanish spoken throughout the city centers.
This week we resume our classes and push through our last full week of only Moroccan Darija. Next week will introduce Formal and Egyptian Arabic in addition to Moroccan. Stay tuned for updates and pictures from our Fourth of July celebration. Questions and requests are always welcome.
All for now,
Johnny M.
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