End of week 4

The weeks just seem to be flying by. I can’t believe that our fourth week is already ending. But, it was a wonderful week at our placements. We are finding so much satisfaction in watching our students’ growing understanding of English. We are very busy with teaching, preparation for future lessons, our afternoon activities and planning the next weekend journey.

On Monday afternoon, we stayed around the home base for another lesson in Arabic (my students get such a kick out of my pronunciation when I throw out Arabic phrases) and another talk on women’s issues by Khadija.

On Tuesday, we went to the train station right from placement for the 12:30 train to Casablanca. We all decided to go to Rick’s Café for lunch. Rick's Cafe, the mythical saloon from the 1942 film "Casablanca" has been transformed from celluloid to wood, glass and plaster thanks to the imagination and determination of an American woman enamored of Morocco, Kathy Kriger. Set in an old courtyard-style mansion built against the walls of the Old Medina of Casablanca, the restaurant - piano bar is filled with architectural and decorative details reminiscent of the film: curved arches, a sculpted bar, balconies, and balustrades. The movie runs continuously in the bar area upstairs. The food and service were top notch and we all enjoyed our meals. We then split up and Harold and I went on a walking tour of the city (which admittedly was underwhelming).

Enjoying lunch at Rick's Cafe

You can watch the movie non-stop in the bar upstairs

 

A view from the balcony

 

Sacre Couer Cathedral in Casablanca 

On Wednesday afternoon, the CCS staff took us to Challah which was an independent city before Rabat ever existed. It dates from the 7^th or 8^th century BC. We saw the remains of the subsequent Roman city, Sala Colonia, with the remnants of the forum, baths, market, ramparts entrance gate and the majestic portals. The Chellah was also used by the Merenids as a spiritual retreat. There is a pool with eels in it which is said to produce miracles – women are known to toss eggs to the eels for fertility (no one in our group participated in the ritual although we did see several eels). It was a beautiful day to be outdoors and wander through the ruins. Almost as interesting to us as the ruins were the many storks that had incredibly large nests built around the area. These soaring white birds against the blue skies were an awesome sight.  Later Wednesday night, Harold and I took Gwen out for her going away drink – a CCS ritual. I had another delicious Moroccan mojito!

Standing in the Roman ruins



Some of the storks in the area

Stork nest on top of the minaret

Another photo of the ruins

On Thursday, we had another cooking lesson (my third). We made a coconut cake that we all love as well as a delicious sweet pastry called msmn. I doubt if I’ll make many of these new foods at home (difficult to get the ingredients and too much work!) but it is fun to participate in the lesson. Afterwards, we had our second Arabic script lesson. We have made it through the Arabic alphabet which is a feat in itself.  Here’s my name: كارول وهيت.

Tonight we pack again and leave after our placement tomorrow for our fourth weekend trip. This time we are going to Chef Chaouen. Until Sunday, bsalama.