Arabic class today consisted of many Arab nationalities – talking about it later, we figured out
Al-Kitaab was written in emphasis for UN translation work. It makes perfect sense, as ch. 1 taught the word for UN, and ch. 2 the verb for translate; meanwhile we don’t even know our colors or the weather yet.
To make up for missing Jamaeya (Friday) my family had couscous for lunch. Amazing as always. I also had the interesting experience of changing “zones” as after I started eating, the mother sat down next to me and I had to shift over closer to the corner. It worked meshy-mushky and I even grabbed a quick nap before heading back to the center.
Today was the Mid-program evaluation session, basically they wanted input on whether anything (lectures, class, homestay, excursions) needed immediate attention (there will be an ending session where we give advice for future programs). Following are some comments from others’ homestays. Some people are having trouble with late dinners (i.e. midnight 30) and others have to skip dinner and sleep. Curiously enough, Whitney’s family asked her to buy some of her stuff (which apparently is a practice other CCCL students started, not the family). We all have various experiences trying to help, while Steph can help with half the house work (which she does so the “little maid” aka – girl, child labor doesn’t have to do it all [on a side note she will be changing families, as the program does not allow students to stay with families practicing child labor, which is a problem here]), Mely isn’t allowed to help (though I don’t know if she actually insisted, which is the culture - to help despite declination) and neither is Josh (because he is a guy). There is a joke in Morocco that “men cannot do two things at once,” i.e. they can’t stand and talk or help around the house and watch tv. This is just a generalization though, my family is nothing like that, and while the mom does cook most meals (excellent cook), the father has cooked fish for us, and I’ve seen him help with taking out the trash (I’m gone for much of the day so I can’t list off all the ways he helps - but I get the feeling he helps where he can). Likewise I’m allowed to help in some ways, though I haven’t had the time to wash my own clothes (they use a washing machine I don’t know how to use) I do help carrying dishes and serving for meals. Hopefully I’ll find more time to help as time goes on as well. I definitely get the feeling my family is more modern and understanding. On a very depressing note, one of the girls was full on groped yesterday in the market. She was even with her host sister, and though this event was more of the extreme sort, nevertheless, sexual harassment one of the biggest problems here. By the first week all the girls in our program had pretty much zoned out all others while walking down the street, even other students, which makes it hard for a fellow student to catch up to walk with them and wane some of the catcalls.
Everyone pretty much enjoys that Arabic class is all in Arabic, and I’ve already mentioned the unpractical-for-beginners UN slant. Concerning the excursion, the hotel we stayed at was very nice (except for room 32, Sam and I’s, which seemed tossed together as an afterthought beside the dusty storage area, with lights sticking out of walls by the wires, though it did have a shower (without pressure)) and the program had a relationship with both the ones we stayed at, so we knew our stuff would be safe. Lectures were seen with an amalgam of opinions, though most all agreed it was tough with some readings given last minute, others of us also wanted more in depth, as specific details are interesting but usually swept away because of time constraints. Overall though, the program has a great atmosphere, replete with jocularity, leading to nicknames like Fadowa’s and the CCCL standing for “3x Crazy, 1x Learning.”
The lecture that followed was on Historical & Cultural Identities in Morocco. By far the three greatest influences here are the Berbers (PC term being Amazighis), Jews, and Arabs, though French, Roman, Spanish, Andalusian, and Africans also have influences. Curiously enough, the independence movement from France colonization was described as a revolution from French control, not French culture, which is promoted here. The speaker mentioned that the French language has an economic and social prestige, which isn’t hard to believe. Morocco is a melting pot without a mainstream culture as strong as the US. Hassan II (the previous king) described Morocco as a tree, whose roots extend to Africa, branches to Europe, and trunk securely Arab. The multiple identities we covered were always shifting, and the speaker describes them as a practical, pragmatic thing that can be changed to optimize the situation (see Hassan Zemmaouri or Leo Africanus). He also mentioned the three movements in terms of changing generations the newest (like America) focusing more on the self, while also identifying more with a global culture. Describing themselves, three generations ago would have started with their tribes, later generations with ‘Arab’ or ‘Moroccan,’ and this generation with ‘Muslim’ (global ID of the Islamic Umma).
Also, on the way home from the internet café we totally passed a Moroccan peddler returning home with his wares who was whistling (the first ever Moroccan I saw doing this). They do exist!
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