Salaam from Fez!
The Morocco group has had a busy initial five days in this country! In Casablanca we visited the Hassan II Mosque (see photos), the Jewish Museum and Bayti Association for street children. The group also had a lecture/ conversation with Emily Pickerill about sub-saharan migration to and through Morocco and had their first Ramadan ftour (breaking of fast) meal.
The girls with our tour guide inside the Hassan II Mosque (Contributed by Katie S.)
We arrived in Fez on Wednesday and have been kindly welcomed by our partners here. The students seem to be enjoying the old city, and find it more similar to their expectations of Morocco than Casablanca: Fez's narrow, twisting alleyways filled with pedestrians and donkeys alike.
Yesterday they had their first Darija (Moroccan Arabic) lesson and have new phrases to practice with those we meet. Last night, much to their delight, the girls had their first couscous meal prepared with chicken and six vegetables at Riad Lalla Fatima where we were staying. Katie and I enjoyed watching them dig through the communal serving dish as if they were digging in a sandbox, scavenging for and savoring their preferred morsels, chatting and giggling the entire time. They went to bed with full stomachs, anxious and excited for what was to come this morning... going to their host families' houses! Katie and I checked in with them each this afternoon and they were all doing well. We are both looking forward to hearing their stories tomorrow when we will all gather for a surprise activity!
Addie
The entire group in front of the mosque (Contributed by Katie S.)
Lindsey, Kate, Lexi Kate, Katie G, Katie S in front of colorful zelij on the exterior of the mosque (Contributed by Addie)
A view of the medina from Dar Roumana, where we were welcomed for our first tea and ftour in Fez (Contributed by Lexi Kate)
The group on the terrace of Dar Roumana with the old medina in the background (Contributed by Lexi Kate)
Comments
Great photos!! So wonderful to see some of what you are all experiencing, and all the beautiful smiling faces!
Posted by: Karen Doolittle | September 19, 2009 3:00 PM
Very envious of ya'll getting to hang out at Dar Roumana--looks really nice from here! I have vivid memories of rooftop sunsets in Fez and the peals of the call to prayer. Enjoy every minute.
Posted by: John Eastman | September 19, 2009 5:04 PM
Hi! My name is Fadoua and I once was the mentor of a Global lab student - Alexis Karlin- and I'd love to meet the group, if you're interested you can contact me through this email: anamateurpoet@yahoo.ca
I will be in Fes for few days and then I will be moving to Tangiers for studies and I know you will be there in some point. So, if you want to meet me it can be either in Fes or Tangiers,
Best wishes,
Fadoua
P.S. Enjoy
Posted by: fadoua | September 19, 2009 7:02 PM