End of week 2

Thursday:

After placement, lunch and another cooking lesson, six of the women loaded into the van and drove to the pottery village where many artisans make colorful local plates, bowls, etc. When we returned, Khadija drew lovely henna designs on our palms (and Harold’s forearm).

See our beautiful henna'ed hands (and forearm)

After dinner, we went to the nearby shopping and dining area called Mahaj Ryad for a going away celebration as seven of the nine of us were leaving this weekend. I had the best Moroccan mint mojito and Harold and I split a pastry.

We toast the departing CCS volunteers.

 Friday:

Friday was a day of changes. Since Feminin Pluriel is Monday-Thursday, my plan was to go back to IBNY; however, as we were leaving the home base, we realized Joyce would be at the hospital by herself (Sylvia was sick and Judy and Melissa had already left for Fes). So, I got the opportunity to experience yet another placement. Sick children are admitted to this hospital (there are only two children’s hospitals in Morocco) with their mothers. Only when CCS volunteers come do they open this playroom. So, we had about 20-25 children trying to relieve the boredom and pain of a hospital stay.  We colored, did crafts, played ball, etc. The mothers mostly stayed outside the room watching through big glass windows, but they were very appreciative of the efforts of CCS.

Just before we left for our placement, Khadija asked if we would mind changing rooms to an upstairs room. Usually there are no men upstairs (what does this say about Harold?), but they just noticed that a new volunteer coming this weekend was named Matthew and is male, so they are giving him our room on the first floor. Again CCS volunteers are flexible, so, as soon as we returned from placement, we threw our belongings back into our suitcases and took everything upstairs – to be put away Sunday evening. We then hurriedly ate lunch (it was couscous Friday), caught a cab and board the 1:50 PM train for Marrakesh.