Today I was both a host and a visitor. For four hours today I had to entertain some nurses from England who were doing some immunizations in the town of Imlil (home of Kasbah du Toubakal...pictures will follow on Facebook). Unfortunately that meant once again that the time was taken away from the girls for PR activities. We seem to be averaging about 2 groups a week here and I conduct the tours, make jokes (mainly British/English language jokes) and introduce the girls etc. Since we haven't had any French visitors, Latifa defers to me......One day last week we had a student group from England who did crafts with the girls for several hours which was great. Most of the people just walk through and have minimal interaction with them.
This afternoon, after deciding to accompany some of the older girls to the lycee for a special English class that they were having, I was invited into the school and into the classroom. The English teacher is Moroccan but studied for a year in the US. He asked me to speak to the class and I think that the girls were really pleased that the students seemed to be very interested in what I had to say...they just told everyone when we came back to the house. The students in the class asked great questions: one asked if I was Muslim because I was wearing a headscarf which I had just had one of the girls put on me that morning...I forgot I had it on; one asked me about US views of Muslims and another asked me if, since I had been to Morocco twice, I was going to move here permanently. And they wanted to know a lot about California...oh and they wanted to know my age. It was a wonderful hour and I hope that I am invited back.
The hour before dinner has now become singing time. We practice We are the World over and over again. I thought that it was a good song for them to learn, talked to them about the significance and some of the older girls translated the English to Arabic so that all the girls would understand what they are singing. I hope that we can perform the song at the big fund-raising event at the end of April. They are so enthusiastic that they practice it over and over again and during the day I will go up on the roof (the hangout) and hear groups of girls practicing without music. I even walked into town with some of the older girls yesterday and they spontaneously broke into song. I am going to try some other songs with them too...one of the girls suggested a Cat Stevens (he lived for a long time in Essouraia) and a Simon and Garfunkel. They love any Indian music so much but I don't think we will be singing anything from Slum Dog millionaire. Tomorrow we are going to do Makarena....then Electric Slide. Staying away from Bollywood dancing. I am just too old for that.
Tomorrow is another school visit, this one from the American School of Marrakesh (I'll check it out Beka), then back to the hammam for the afternoon. Saturday is souk in the morning and meeting a friend who is coming in from Marrakesh to get goat meat (apparently it is the best in the area...who knew?)and drive me back to Marrakesh for some major purchases. Basics like scotch tape and cheddar cheese for the American meal that I am going to have the girls make next week. Back to Asni crowded in the 6 person taxi and Sunday another visit from some donor and time with the couple of girls who will be returning early.
This afternoon, after deciding to accompany some of the older girls to the lycee for a special English class that they were having, I was invited into the school and into the classroom. The English teacher is Moroccan but studied for a year in the US. He asked me to speak to the class and I think that the girls were really pleased that the students seemed to be very interested in what I had to say...they just told everyone when we came back to the house. The students in the class asked great questions: one asked if I was Muslim because I was wearing a headscarf which I had just had one of the girls put on me that morning...I forgot I had it on; one asked me about US views of Muslims and another asked me if, since I had been to Morocco twice, I was going to move here permanently. And they wanted to know a lot about California...oh and they wanted to know my age. It was a wonderful hour and I hope that I am invited back.
The hour before dinner has now become singing time. We practice We are the World over and over again. I thought that it was a good song for them to learn, talked to them about the significance and some of the older girls translated the English to Arabic so that all the girls would understand what they are singing. I hope that we can perform the song at the big fund-raising event at the end of April. They are so enthusiastic that they practice it over and over again and during the day I will go up on the roof (the hangout) and hear groups of girls practicing without music. I even walked into town with some of the older girls yesterday and they spontaneously broke into song. I am going to try some other songs with them too...one of the girls suggested a Cat Stevens (he lived for a long time in Essouraia) and a Simon and Garfunkel. They love any Indian music so much but I don't think we will be singing anything from Slum Dog millionaire. Tomorrow we are going to do Makarena....then Electric Slide. Staying away from Bollywood dancing. I am just too old for that.
Tomorrow is another school visit, this one from the American School of Marrakesh (I'll check it out Beka), then back to the hammam for the afternoon. Saturday is souk in the morning and meeting a friend who is coming in from Marrakesh to get goat meat (apparently it is the best in the area...who knew?)and drive me back to Marrakesh for some major purchases. Basics like scotch tape and cheddar cheese for the American meal that I am going to have the girls make next week. Back to Asni crowded in the 6 person taxi and Sunday another visit from some donor and time with the couple of girls who will be returning early.
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