As last week's post, an introduction to Peace Corps Bloggers [1], 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 [2], has posted some photos of his home in Morocco. Here's one of the kitchen:
[3]
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 [4] has been traveling, and shares with us a beautiful photo from the Cascades d'Ouzoud [5], Morocco's most famous waterfalls.
[6]
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 [7] (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.
[8]
And lastly, a repeat performance of one of last week's bloggers. Cory Driver of 32n5w [9] 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 [10]
The Blog of John Coyne, a Returned PCV [11]
A Site for Returned PCVs [12]
A Collection of English-Language Morocco blogs [13] from Friends of Morocco