Monday March 5
(thanks again Sara for the pix)
Today was a REALLY great day. I can’t wait till I am 91 and I can look back on my 21st birthday, and say that I was in MOROCCO for it. I woke up earlier than normal and did my Arabic homework. My homestay gave me cake for breakfast, and then I went to Arabic class. My Arabic teacher said that we would have a “hafla” (party) in Arabic on Monday, but there was no balloons or confetti or cake upon my arrival. Haha… We had our normal first half of class, and then she sent us out on our break to get whatever we wanted for the party! I picked Poms (kinda like sparkling apple cider) and elephant ears (duh). We got back and ALL of the kids that study Arabic in the building that I study came into our classroom and sung me happy birthday (in arabic of course!). It was so nice and sweet. They all left and we continued class.
Lunch was normal and then we had three classes. I had a 45 minute break after the first two, which was perfect because that was the exact time that Kristen and Lisa were arriving in Rabat! My mom called me as I was walking to the train, and we had a very nice conversation (we were on the phone at the exact time that I was born- 9:49 EST, so that was fun). I think that we also decided that a visit was definitely in order, and I told her the best dates to come—TICKETS ARE BOOKED!! See you in 37 days…. Their train was a little late, but it didn’t matter because I was able to get them to the hotel, buy a birthday avocado (only 4 dirham ~ 50 cents) AND made it in the nick of time for class!!!
Class lasted until 5 pm and then the US ambassador to Morocco held an optional lecture for us. I went, and it was good. He spoke with his wife- they are very nice people, but some parts of their talk were a little curious. He essentially got the job because he was a big Obama supporter/ “fundraiser” aka he donated a lot to his campaign, he doesn’t speak French OR Arabic, and he said that he wanted to come to Morocco because it was “exotic” and he wanted to make a difference. He has been here for 2.5 years, and upon further questioning- was not able to say exactly what type of difference he believes he has made, only things that he wants to/is supposed to do. They were a Jewish couple from Minnesota- VERY cute, and I wouldn’t mind being Sylvie (the wife) when I am older (I am reconsidering my position on gray hair). They also said that they visited the canine unit of the Moroccan Armed Forces the other day, and were offered a gift- a two week old yellow lab puppy! In the Arab world it is incredibly rude to refuse a gift, so now they are raising “sunny boy” in their house, and invited us over to play whenever we wanted- an offer that I actually want to take them up on… After the lecture we picked up Kristen and Lisa for dinner
We went to a tapas bar that Sarah wanted to go to since we have been here, and I am sorry that we didn’t go sooner- it was great! To start we ordered four tapas each. My group got grilled camembert, chicken wings, chicken fingers, and calamari. All very delicious. I also ordered my very first legal drink!!! Drum roll plz…. A mojito! Lol I thought it was a good idea because of how famous Morocco is for their mint, and I was NOT disappointed. It was amazing- very delicious, and enjoyable to be able to legally get a drink at dinner. I actually was kind of disappointed because they didn’t check my ID L. I can’t wait to go home and use my passport card!!! After dinner we went to a bakery and got some bday cake. They sung to me on the street, and we inhaled the cake- minutes everyone claimed to be “SOOOO STUFFED” - I also got delicious chicken brochettes, and a margarita (equally as good as mojito). Someone an older man) came up to us on the street and pointed at me and said “I just have to say… you are very very beautiful”. Usually the men yell weird things that don’t make sense/stare at us, but this man was very nice and un-abrasive. It was refreshing. Yummy cake, and then we walked home.
My family was nice and wished me a happy birthday again- they asked how my night was etc, and I told them it was lovely. I remembered that I still had another present from my mom to open! I was delighted (I already got the Chloé stick, and a mint tee shirt). I opened the present in front of them. It was a jean shirt that I REALLY wanted to get before coming here, but I wasn’t able to find the perfect one- THIS is the perfect one. They all passed it around and said “zweeena” (beautiful). It reminded me of “guess-Claire’s present game”, so I explained it to them, and they thought I was weird (only because I said it was kind of weird…). My “mom” left the room, and I didn’t think much of it. She came back and whispered to Imane “Happy Birthday?” and imane nodded. She came over to me and gave me a BEAUTIFUL white and blue flowered scarf- blue is her favorite color (same as my real mom’s!!! You can NOT steal this scarf from me mom, even though I knowww you will want to). I was SO shocked and happy I almost cried. I gave them big big hugs!” (bc that’s what we do in America and I couldn’t help it) & thanked them a lot “zweeena bizeef” -very beautiful It was a very, very happy birthday.
No comments:
Post a Comment