Small Girl, Big World: Week Five

Well the good news is that I have not been sick at all this week. My stomach has been totally fine, which made everything. Unfortunately, the increased pollution and other new environmental factors have started to trigger my asthma. Therefore, I have come to the realization that I would not have survived in a pre-modern society. I would not have survived the Oregon Trail. I would have died of pneumonia. I would have been the small, sickling, bed-ridden girl in Victorian England. My body is weak and inferior and can only handle highly controlled environments.

Me - in the 1800s

Mon

We were all a little tired from the Sahara trip, making class a little difficult. My eyes were also super sensitive, I think from the sun and sand of the desert. After class, we wandered through the Medina, trying to find Susannah some new shoes (the ones she bought did not survive the desert). It is amazing how complex the streets of the Medina are - I feel more comfortable with the "main roads" but there are so many small streets that make it easy to get turned around. Good thing I don't have to navigate, otherwise I would never make it out.

Tues

Classes are definitely getting harder. Arabic does not come easily to me and I really struggle to remember the vocab. After class, we just worked on homework all night. Super exciting.

Wed/Thurs

I am (luckily) not the only sickling on this trip and another girl in our program had to go to the hospital. Susannah went to see her during lunch, so I had to go home by myself. And I didn't die. It was a miracle. (And the medicine worked for the girl in our program - she is doing much better now)

We got to watch the Turkish soap opera - we think that it is almost at the end of the series because things are getting crazy. And then lots of homework.

In English, the soap is called "Lady's Farm"

And Thursday was pretty typical. Sorry, this week is kind of boring.

Fri

Quiz in the morning (rough) and then home for lunch. The afternoon class was just Susannah and me because everyone else from our class was traveling. It was actually really nice to get some personal instruction - and I clearly need it.

After class, we went home to a surprise. Our family was hosting a bachelorette party for a friend. You could hear the music booming down the street. It was crazy!

View from the balcony - by the end, the center of the room was filled with people dancing

The bride was getting henna while all her girlfriends had a huge dance party around her. It was really fun to get to watch.

Sat

We decided to stay in Fez this weekend because of the wedding and so that we could really explore the city. We went to a hotel pool during the early afternoon because it was over 100 degrees out. It felt really nice to relax by the water! Then we went into the heart of the Medina and did a little shopping. I got some really cool pants and a kaftan, which is a type of traditional Moroccan dress.

Susannah and I in our Kaftans

Then we went out to a nice dinner at an Italian-ish restaurant (everything here still has a distinct Moroccan touch). It was a really fun and relaxing day.

Pizza and beer - Moroccan style

Sun

Wedding day! We went to the courtyard where the ceremony was held around 2 and didn't leave until 10:30. There was a lot of sitting around in the heat (again, over 100 degrees) but it was amazing to get to see such a traditional Moroccan event. We got lunch and tea (a couple times) and watched the teens and kids dance in front of the bride and groom. For most of the wedding, the bride and groom sat on a throne-like couch. It was pretty spectacular. The bride had 4 different dresses and got carried 3 separate times.