Category Archives: Morocco

I am tired

Life, Morocco
It is 1.40 in the morning here in England.Oh yeah, I’m back in the UK by the way guys! So be prepared for a lack of posts for a while.

Anyway, I digress. It’s 1.40 in the morning. I have had a long day, full of cooking, and travelling, and sports, and stresses. And now I am sat in my kitchen doing some much needed clothes washing, and trying to find something to eat. And listening to people argue on telly.

And it has just come to me, that in a material way, there is one thing I love about England more than anything else. And that is being able to watch the BBC without cheating in some way by streaming online or by using some kind of proxy. The BBC should be more free with their online service, because they produce such interesting programs, and I feel like as (basically) an ex-pat, it’s a shame I can’t keep up with those. But since I’m back in the UK that’s not too much of an issue.

I feel like I’m rambling because I’m tired. G’night all.

All the ajanib

Life, Morocco
We went to a party, filled with the most bizarre concoction of ajanib you’ve ever seen in your life. Ajanib is foreigners, and we made up a pretty good cross-section of the expat community of Fes.We were
6 English students
3 American Fulbright scholars
2 English teachers
1 Lebanese hydrologist
1 French engineer

It was an interesting party, and it was nice to meet some new people who are living here in Morocco for different reasons. I can’t imagine being like the teachers who live in the medina full-time and really hate going to the more modern parts of the world, but I think the lifestyle which they have is cool anyway. And I love the idea of being like the Lebanese hydrologist, doing interesting research for a year.

It’s interesting to look at some of the options I might have after I finish my degree.

The Life of Brian

Fun, Life, Morocco
Today we have baked. We have baked cinnamon buns, and harcha which are a type of Moroccan semolina flatcakes, and we’ve made home-made jam.In order to make this jam, we needed a kilo of strawberries. It was during the purchasing of these strawberries that I encountered Brian.

He began with a subtle ‘Please, please’
I looked up. There he was, sidling up to us. He’d heard us speaking English. I ignored him.
He continued, ‘Can I have you?’
I was surprised. So were my friends. I didn’t look.
‘Please madame, madame. Can I have you, for two minutes?’
I turned slightly.
‘My name is Brian. What is your name? Please?’
I told him I didn’t want to tell him my name. He moved closer. My friend made it clear he needed to leave. He slid back off again, and blended into the city streets.

We burst out laughing.

Of all the creepy men I have so far met in Morocco, I have to say that ‘Brian’ was the funniest, and the most bizarre so far. Oh Morocco. How we love you and your crazy citizens.

Sefrou and Spiced Tea

Fun, Morocco
Today I went to Sefrou. If you’ve never heard of it, then you’re up there with the majority of the rest of the world. It’s a small town about half an hour’s drive from Fes, and it is known for being the first Berber town you reach in Morocco.If you don’t know what a Berber is, they look like this.

Okay, okay, one of them might actually be me. But I pull it off quite well.
So we walked around Sefrou, saw the market, and chatted a lot. It was lovely. Then I came back to Fes (grand taxi style, 4 in the back) and we got some ridiculous ice-cream. And then we had spicy tea, and it was good. And now I’m ready for bed. Well done Morocco, a good time was had by all.

 

Success!!!!!!!!!

Fun, Life, Morocco
I know it would probably be appropriate to post something proper today, after yesterday. But I feel the need to inform everyone that I have been totally successful in my attempt to get the bucket hat out there. And here is proof.This is Evan, famed by this post, has taken on the bucket hat trend. And I salute him.

andres

Funny Face

Fun, Life, Morocco
I feel like recently my posts have been a bit devoid of humour. It’s all very well to vent your frustration on the internet at large, or to share something deep and meaningful and hope that people take something from it. But once in a while you just need something to lighten the tone.Welcome to the world of my bucket hat.

Now, despite my quite obvious status as nothing less than a fashion icon, people seem to insistently comment in a negative way about my clothing. Yes, it is true that I wear the same purple fleece most days of the week, but who’s to say that I don’t pull it off?

In my position as a fashion icon, I feel the need to introduce people to the trends which I think show off the best in them. And I need the world to understand how stylish the bucket hat can look. It has been suggested I look like a tourist, baby, and crazy person when I wear it, but I am insistent that it is the most practical piece of headgear on the market. As you can see in the particularly attractive picture to the right, it can be worn with sunglasses (mine are a gorgeous red pair) and it conveniently covers the back of the neck, forehead and ears from the heat of the sun. And it looks damn good of course.

I seriously suggest you all get out and buy one. You might not be able to achieve the full look, without the flyaway hair and purple fleece, but you might come close to being as stylish as me, if you try hard.

Time to Waste

Life, Morocco
Today, I had time to waste.However, I did not tell anyone this fact, because I am really tired, and would like to spend my spare time doing something chilled out like sleeping. However, as per the usual, Morocco interfered with my plans.

I have just spent two hours parading around Fes looking for a variety of things including but not limited to: Kaftans, Belts for Kaftans, More Kaftans. Which would be totally fine if firstly I wasn’t really tired, and secondly I wasn’t a ridiculously impatient shopper anyway. I am one of those people who likes to buy and move on. If I need something, then I just get it. In a way of course that’s bad because I tend not to shop around or quibble about prices. In many ways that’s good because it makes me not ridiculously annoying to go shopping with, and in the end, who really cares about the price anyway.

I’ll tell you who cares. Madame Halima cares.

I am now so tired I can’t talk anymore. See you tomorrow world.

Little Drops of Rain, Little Grains of Sand

Life, Morocco
Little drops of rain
Little grains of sand
Make the mighty ocean
And the pleasant land
Little notes that sing
Little words that rhyme
Make the mighty memories
And the dreams of time
These are the words to the first two verses of the song ‘Little Drops of Rain’ sung by Judy Garland in the film ‘Gay Pur-ee’. If you’ve never seen it, then you’ve missed out so far. She is an amazing singer, and it is a lovely film. And there is nothing which has touched me more about it than the words to this song.
As you all know by now, I’m a big fan of memories. I think that they are the things which matter the most, and I will treasure the moments I spend with people for much longer than I will treasure anything material (although don’t let that stop you buying me presents!). I have many fantastic memories of different people in my life, and I gained so many more over this weekend. So I just wanted to thank The Boy, for the memories I have with him, my family, for the memories I have with them which now luckily for me includes this weekend, and my friends with whom I share a million amazing moments.
I also want to thank the couple I sat next to on the plane today, who were very kind to talk to me, very interesting, and just very lovely. I’m so sorry I ran off without saying sorry. And I want to thank the guys from Adventure Spec who went offroad biking through the Sahara, because talking to them made my flight on Thursday interesting. This year, and the rest of my life is made up of the moments which people like that give me.
Thankyou all for being the drops of rain, grains of sand, notes that sing and words that rhyme in my life. You make it what it is.

Secret Trippin’

Fun, Life, Morocco
Sorry for my lack of posting yesterday. I had a good reason though. The reason is, I’m in the UK! I came back in secret for a party to surprise my Auntie. Because she reads the blog I couldn’t mention I was back, but of course being in the UK I have had nothing to say about Morocco.I have had a lovely day being back. We went for a very posh meal at a very posh hotel, which was toned down by the presence of my tiny cousins who enjoyed a lot of running around. We followed up our meal with a long walk around the gardens of the estate, which was great because it was a really sunny (if nippy) day. After that we headed back to my Aunties house for a catch-up on the Libya situation and some cheese and wine. I popped to the shops with my Dad to get some food for the evening, and then we made it back home, cousins in tow, to have a light pasta dinner and watch some comedy TV.

Tomorrow I get back on a plane to Morocco. Which is fine, but I’m glad I’m only back for a week. I need my break in England again, there are people I really want to see, which I’d not realised until I got back here. I miss you all (you know who you are).