"No human, nor any living thing, survives long under the eternal sky. The most beautiful women, the most learned men, even Mohammed, who heard Allah's voice, all did wither and die. All is temporary. The sky outlives everything. Even suffering." - Bowa Johar, Balti poet.

25 September 2008

IMMOUZZER!

Hello all from my CBT site located in Immouzzer! I have never lived so high in the mountians before and i love it! waking up and going for a walk and finding yorself walking through the cloud, it is an amazing feeling. I will try to put up some photos while i am here, but virus and electonic issues are HUGE here in Morocco and i do not want to risk my computer or USB stick to any bad bugs or issues at this moment. The Darija lessons are everyday for about 4 hors a day... LONG. I finally got to take a shower last night at my ost family. I am mucky that i live with a well off family or i would of been taking a COLD bucket bath instead of a luke warm one... i am still trying to master that area in bathroom dfferences. The Dar Chabeb is closed for most of Ramadan so my awesome group of YDs with me here are just trying to undestand a little bit of conversation between the family members we are living wth. I am starting to hear fa,iliar aords like "this, that, no, thank you, and bad Mimi;,"my host families cat. I have mments of feeling like i will never get this language and the host family will ALWAYS give me that " what are you talking about" look, but i know that i can do this.. sweiya b sweiya (little by little)
I also want to give my sister a HUGE hug from over the ocean... eventhough i am here and you are there... i will always be here for you... be srong little sestra... better days are ahead.. i know this because i am your older sister.... that is why :)
I will b spending time wth my host family when Ramadan ends in 7days! i can not wait to be able to eat in public again during the day... it is hard not to drink a bottle of water or apply chap stick on while in public and on a hot day to, but it has been a fun and interesting expiernce. my host family has been great! they are maling me feel very cmfortable and i am always laughing whenever i am around them. Last night while mama was filling the propane tank up in the kitchen, a HUGE ball of fire came out and i have never seen a group of women run so fast out of a room... afterwards i was in tears of laughter with my sister Nadia and Fatima_Zhara while mama was just shaking her head at us;
The food here is amazing!!!! if you are a carbaholic.Mrocco is the country for you.... bread of all shapes; sizes, and texture are here for you to try. I am trying to be god with my carb issues, but it is hard... i know once i am sworn into PC i wil be able to eat what want and not have an overly worrid host mther sitting next to me and refilling my plate every 10 mins.
i also can not wait to be able to have my wn place and be able to work out!!!! i really want to go on a run, bt a woman running and in public.. very shuma (bad bad)

I hope everyone at home is doing well while i have been over here... i am missing everyone and am hoping to get ome photos up when i can find a more trustworthy cyber.
keep in touch and i will talk to you guys again son via blog :)

baslama!!!!

16 September 2008

Atlas Mt.

HELLO ALL. this is just a message to say that all is well here in Morocco^ the food is great_ and learning how to use an Arabic keypad kinda sucks...LOL... but i am trying. I know some people posted messages to me and i will soon answer. BUt please after every comment leave your name. I have been getting messages asking for my address with no name at the end so i can not tell you °tears* PC have been great with me and my language handicap. i am not giving up any time soon:) but it is hard... WISH ME LUCK. sweay sweay... Little by Little.
HUGS ALL

11 September 2008

Rabat

Well today is the last day of staging at the hotel in Rabat. I have got A LOT to read in the next couple days, but I am excited about it all! Our Program Manager for YD seems totally awesome and I can not wait to work with him starting Friday! I miss everyone back home and will be thinking of you as i begin the real hard work tomorrow. I will be having 11 weeks of language (4 hours plus a day) and skill training . I will not be near the internet or phone for a while and I am needing to connect with my host family and program so I can learn the language and culture in these intense next 11 weeks. If you do not hear from me much in the next few weeks that is why... i still will be missing you all like crazy! Please by all means send me some snail mail to keep me company and getting some form of english to me:) there is something very beautifully spiritual about this place, something that is not found back in the states. 
Love, 
Hillary 

08 September 2008

PHILLY PHILLY!

HELLO FROM PHILLY! well today is the day folks! MOROCCO here I come:) I am totally pumped. Staging was LONG but informative. I am nervous about learning the language but I will try to have faith in myself to do it! My roomie Lisa and one of the coolest girls I have met here. Man packing really foes suck and i lost the blue thing that helps space bags suck the air out of them.. ek! wish me luck in finding that thing somewhere in my 60+ lbs of stuff! 
well i g2g! next time i will write will be from MOROCCO!