Morocco: Peace Corps Bloggers Part 2

As last week's post, an introduction to Peace Corps Bloggers, garnered an overwhelming response, this week's post will continue to introduce this illustrious and hardworking category of bloggers, complete with photos.

We'll start off this week with a rare glimpse into the home of a PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer). Samuel Gunter, of Life Called, has posted some photos of his home in Morocco. Here's one of the kitchen:

Kitchen

Now remember that there is no running water so I have to go collect that which can really be a pain. I have the conversation almost every day about why I don't have a wife to do that for me. The Peace Corps of course didn't put “Wife to carry water” on the packing list so I didn't bring one. I'm very upset about that and am lodging a complaint through the proper channels. I'd get one in country, but my budget doesn't allow for that.

Connie in Morocco has been traveling, and shares with us a beautiful photo from the Cascades d'Ouzoud, Morocco's most famous waterfalls.

Cascades

The next day we took a day trip with another nearby volunteer to a place called Cascades d'Ouzoud. The drive there in the taxi was rather spectacular, but mostly uncomfortable. It was quite hot, the driver had the native music playing very loudly, and it was hairpin turns in and out of mountains for a couple of hours. But the place, once we got there, was quite pretty. I think it must be very beautiful early summer. Most Moroccan people there, many kids enjoying the cool water, lots of folks brought picnic lunches, blankets, and just spent the day in the shade.

Sometimes when abroad, it's nice to come across something – anything – familiar. James Collins of واخا (or wakha, which means “ok” in Moroccan Arabic) is another PCV with a blog, who shares this story of spotting The Wizard of Oz in Morocco:

Several months ago I stayed with my neighbor Meddi and his family in Oujda, where he’s a school teacher for most of the year. On a satellite TV with more than 200 channels, less than 10 of which are in English, we found the original “Wizard of Oz” being shown with Arabic subtitles. I then took the following photo, showing Oumayma watching this classic.

Wizard of Oz in Oujda

And lastly, a repeat performance of one of last week's bloggers. Cory Driver of 32n5w demonstrates what air travel from Morocco can be like:

the plane was 5 hours late, but that didn't really affect me. what did have some effect on me was the man who lit a cigarette in his seat and merrily puffed away until two somewhat mortified flight attendants asked him to put it out. he asked why, because he wasn't dropping ashes or anything (he had a henry's cookie package open and was dropping his ashes into it, after all). the flight attendants not-so-calmly explained that smoking was not allowed on the flight. the man very calmly replied that it was allowed on the bus, so it should be allowed on planes too. the flight attendants then snatched the cigarette, lightly burning the smoker's neighbor and told the man not to light up again. he said it was his last cigarette anyway. the flight attendants came on the loud speaker and told everyone on the plane not to lend the smoker a cigarette. the flight continued…

A special thanks to last week's readers, who posted some helpful links for Peace Corps or would-be Peace Corps volunteers (as well as those of us who just find the Peace Corps interesting!). Here are the links they shared:

Peace Corps Writers
The Blog of John Coyne, a Returned PCV
A Site for Returned PCVs
A Collection of English-Language Morocco blogs from Friends of Morocco

13 comments

  • bomestc

    Peace Corps Bloggers is a great idea. I think it has enough momentum to get alot bigger.

    I noticed all the PCVs swaring in have mentioned foreign and domestic. I think they missed that it’s the same as the army, a federal employee, and they are classified as the same. Alot of people wouldn’t go to swaring in or wouldn’t wear a suit. They changed the rules and if you weren’t present you were fired.

    I was going to ask some questions about the photos, but you have to join Google corp. to do that.

  • Casey Frazee

    I am looking into going into the Peace Corp and right now the number one country on my list is Morocco. I am interested to hear more about your day-to-day life and your experiences so far. I’m not sure the best way to go about this, maybe you can email me so we don’t have to make short comments back and forth : ) Thank you, Casey.

  • Welcome to Morocco,Casey.
    You may want to get more information from someone at Peacecorps Morocco. M’Hamed El Kadi is IRC Manager. email: melkadi@ma.peacecorps.gov

  • Casey, I’m not sure if your comment is directed to me or not, but if you want to get in touch with me:
    themoroccoreport at gmail dot com

  • bomestc: If you have any questions about the photos, I might be able to put you in touch with the bloggers who took them.

  • Casey Frazee

    Oh thank you so much for M’Hamed’s email. I just sent him a note to get more information. And, yes, Jillian, my comment was for you. Sorry I didn’t make that very clear! : )

  • khadija

    I’ve been a teacher of English since 1989.I’ve heard about the peace corps but I’ve never got the opportunity to know any one from this organisation to give me its true image , its intents and aims .Nevertheless Iam gratful to all volenteers who come to my country willing to listen ,to help and to coexist with us .

  • khadija

    For Global voices,Iknew this association via a cclleague in sidi moumen but I see that one person can’t depict the right image of the association.thank you

  • Brenda Engle

    Are there any older volunteers (65 plus) in Morocco?

  • Brenda – Yes, although I don’t know them by name. I do know that Morocco’s PC program does accept/involve older volunteers, though.

Cancel this reply

Join the conversation -> Casey Frazee

Authors, please log in »

Guidelines

  • All comments are reviewed by a moderator. Do not submit your comment more than once or it may be identified as spam.
  • Please treat others with respect. Comments containing hate speech, obscenity, and personal attacks will not be approved.