Meet you at the Kasbah

We were up and dressed and ready to face our first day at placement. Harold and Alana left for the East West Foundation at 8:30. Since the Foundation is closed on Monday, they met with about eight students at a café and spoke English with them over coffee. The rest of us left at 9:00, dropping off four at the Children’s Hospital, two at IBNY and J and I were last. The Feminin Pluriel is preparing for a large conference Wednesday – Friday so things were in somewhat disarray. But J met with her five beginning students and I met with my four more advanced students who spoke much better than I anticipated. So, we spent almost two hours reading, writing, learning and sharing. J and I were very disappointed to learn that, due to the upcoming conference, we will not return for two weeks. So, J will join Harold and Alana and I will join the group at IBNY. Be flexible is the CCS mantra.

Ready for our first day of school

After lunch, the CCS staff took us on our first field trip. First we went to the Rabat Medina, a walled  open air market located in many tiny winding streets. Here they sell everything from shoes to food to clothing to home furnishing. This is like many other markets we’ve seen (think Korea’s Nam Daemun) but without the high pressure to buy.

Next we visited the Oudayas Kasbah. A Kasbah is a fortress, this one built to protect the city of Rabat in the 17^th Century. Inside we visited the gardens then wended our way up the cobblestone streets passing row after row of blue and white homes. From the alleyways, one only sees the ornamental doorway; however, the back of the house faces lovely gardens.



Blue and white homes



We then emerged on a large veranda overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Bou Regreg River which separates the cities of Rabat and Sale.

View of the Atlantic

Our final stop was the Mausoleum of King Mohammed V. The grandfather, father and uncle of the current Moroccan king are buried there.  This is also the site of the proposed largest Mosque in the world in the 12^th Century; however it was never completed.  

Harold helps guard the Mausoleum

After walking around the neighborhood for exercise, another scrumptious dinner and lesson preparation, we are getting ready for bed.