tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42589326511069044872023-12-31T03:42:54.184-08:00Emily & Jon in MoroccoA Place Where Friends and Family Can Better Understand Our Experience in MoroccoEmily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-48264054055306526162011-04-30T18:23:00.000-07:002011-05-01T06:19:07.943-07:00Learning Moroccan EmbroideryPlease note that this post was originally published on my new site, <a href="http://zween.wordpress.com/">zween.wordpress.com</a>. For more news about what I've been up to post Peace Corps, please visit me there. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5661441159/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5661441159_fecd871df9.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5661439219/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5661439219_9e400083c9.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5662008196/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/5662008196_52357be9a4.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />This May I will be teaching an embroidery class at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CraftyGoodnessCleveland?sk=info">Crafty Goodness</a>. In the class, I will introduce a very unique and traditional style of embroidery known in Morocco as "Fesi," after the well-know city of Fez (or Fes, as it is spelled in Morocco). One of the things that makes Fesi so unique is that it is completely reversible! So, as part of the class, we will be making greeting cards, thus accentuating this wonderful aspect of the embroidery. To sign up for the class click <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UaAYr6eOffxf9Scge869c6FsaQf45lRlUER72ZwKfgo/edit?hl=en#">here</a>. (more details to follow at end of post).<br /><br />Now for a little background as to how I came to learn this technique. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco (2008-2010), I was assigned to work with a women's handicraft cooperative and though the women are very talented, they needed some help with product development and marketing.<br /><br />At first, I mostly concentrated on helping them with <a href="http://zween.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/a-crochet-tale/">their crochet work</a>, since crochet was a technique I was already familiar with. However, I desperately wanted to work with developing products with the Fesi embroidery that would be more marketable for them.<br /><br />Traditionally, this type of embroidery is done on a grand scale. Women embroider large table cloths, densely covered in stitching, and make napkins to match. These tableware sets can take months to finish. The end result is that, though beautiful, the products are either so expensive hardy anyone can afford them, or more commonly, they are priced at an amount which severely undervalues the maker's time and craftsmanship.<br /><br />Below, <a href="http://www.paynefulart.com/">Lisa Payne</a>, a fellow Peace Corps volunteer, worked with Fatima (right), who is one of the most skillful fesi embroiderers I've ever seen. Here they are with a table-cloth that Lisa commissioned Fatima to make for her parents. Photo courtesy of Lisa Payne.<br /><br /><a title="goldtable1 by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5665799474/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5148/5665799474_2427b1aec3.jpg" alt="goldtable1" width="500" height="271" /></a><br /><br />And this is another beautiful custom piece made by Fatima for Lisa's friends. Look at the detail! Now <em>that's</em> a lot of work! (Photos by Lisa Payne).<br /><br /><a title="bluetable1 by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5665800426/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5065/5665800426_79151f20ab.jpg" alt="bluetable1" width="387" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="bluetable3 by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5665233835/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5665233835_1ddc203cc4.jpg" alt="bluetable3" width="455" height="500" /></a><br /><br />Now you get an idea of what I'm talking about when I say that these pieces take months to make. To counteract this, some volunteers who work with embroiders try to help them come up with new products that showcase the lovely technique, yet are smaller, take less time, cost less to buy and make, and therefore are generally more attractive to the growing tourist market. Some groups have started making small items such as handkerchiefs and coin purses.<br /><br />In the case of Al Falah (the cooperative that I worked with), I taught the women how to embroider on paper so that they could make greeting cards and bookmarks. <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/06/paper-making-tale.html">They even learned how to make handmade paper</a> (out of egg cartons and toilet paper rolls) to do so, since thick, good quality paper is hard to come by in Morocco. Below are greeting cards made by the women of the cooperative using their own handmade paper.<br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5662091346/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5662091346_d45187f0b7.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5661524117/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5065/5661524117_f3b70ecf72.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />When coming up with new products for the co-op to try (such as the cards), I quickly learned that actual, finished prototypes were the best way to communicate my ideas. That meant I would need to learn the "right way" of making this embroidery.<br /><br />You see, what makes Fesi embroidery so unique isn't just the intricate, beautiful, traditional designs that originated in the region near Fez. It's the fact that it is completely reversible. When done correctly, there is practically no difference between the front and the back of the work. Below are a pair of handkerchiefs made by a woman who worked with another Peace Corps Volunteer. The two handkerchiefs are identical but the one on the left shows the front of the handkerchief while the one on the right shows the back.<br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5661999848/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5661999848_19700737b5.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />So in December of 2009, about one year into my Peace Corps service, I started to learn the Fesi technique. I learned it the same way that generations of women have learned before me, by apprenticing under a master (in this case, the principal embroidered of the cooperative, Hafida) and made a sampler. Below is my sampler along with detail photos.<br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5662009176/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5662009176_6778c9ffac.jpg" alt="" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5662008652/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5182/5662008652_ac99e8833e.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5662000922/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5662000922_91c74f4af5.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5661435675/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5023/5661435675_c3b6d63ab8.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />The sampler starts at the bottom with the most simple, rudimentary stitch and works its way to the more complicated designs at the top. After about the fifth row I no longer needed Hefida to get me started on each design and could figure out how to do the designs on my own just from looking at other samplers at the co-op or a pattern book. On days that we didn't have other workshops or activities planned, I would bring in my sampler and Hefida would check over my work. The 9 1/2 x 19 inch sampler wasn't completed until April, 2010 and most of the work was done while I was sick with pneumonia for about three weeks and could do little else.<br /><br />Being an American, learning Fesi embroidery had a very similar effect as learning Moroccan Arabic had, that is to say, it endeared me to Moroccan women. Not only was Hafida and the rest of the co-op proud that I had made the effort to learn the technique, but Fatima (the co-op's most talented crocheter but didn't know how to do Fesi embroidery) soon wanted to learn as well. This was important because at the time the co-op had a t-shirt order to fill with an American company called <a href="http://www.mushmina.com/">Mushmina</a>. I had introduced the co-op to Mushmina after meeting the owners, Heather and Katie O'Neill, in a nearby town. The sisters had just started their company and were looking for co-ops to work with and, since Heather was a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Morocco, they were led to the area where I was working at the time. Below (top photo) Oumaima, an apprentice, works on a black t-shirt for Mushmina while cooperative member Fatima (bottom photo, left) and apprentice Fatima (right) work on two sleeves of the same purple shirt.<br /><br /><a title="DSCN5270.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5662257452/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/5662257452_fe1e33e85d.jpg" alt="DSCN5270.JPG" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="DSCN5259.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5662256478/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5662256478_f006311329.jpg" alt="DSCN5259.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />As the co-op worked at a feverish pace to finish their last t-shirts order in the summer of 2010, I decided to show my support by doing a Fesi embroidered t-shirt myself. I did this partly because I wanted to see for how difficult it is to do this type of embroidery on t-shirt material and to apprieciate the amount of time that goes into making just one shirt. It was clear when they first received the order, along with the gorgeous t-shirts sent by Mushmina, that this was going to be a challenging project. The t-shirts were oh so soft and stretchy, which made doing the embroidery incredibly difficult. Sometimes just getting the shirts into the embroidery hoops would tear the delicate fabric. Below are detail photos of the t-shirt that I embroidered. The embroidery runs the entire lower edge of the shirt, about 37 inches total and took about 2 weeks to complete (it would take the co-op about 7-10 days for a similar amount of embroidery). In order to have a grid in which to embroider, a mesh material is placed on the top of the fabric and then unraveled to reveal the design after it is completely done.<br /><br /><a title="DSCN5204.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5662310316/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5181/5662310316_0364e5db16.jpg" alt="DSCN5204.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="DSCN5223.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5662075106/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5662075106_4f4e923686.jpg" alt="DSCN5223.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="DSCN5230.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5661743063/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5661743063_0c60c734ff.jpg" alt="DSCN5230.JPG" width="500" height="278" /></a><br /><br />I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to work with such a great group of women and learn this amazing embroidery technique in the process. I hope that the women continue making and selling small items (in addition to their larger ones), so as to keep the technique alive for generations to come. By writing this post and teaching Fesi embroidery here in the US, I hope to make Americans aware of and interested in this beautiful and unique art from Morocco.<br /><br />If you are in the Cleveland area and enjoy embroidery or at least admire this technique, I hope that you will join me on <strong>Sunday, May 22, 2011 from 2-4 pm at <a href="http://craftygoodnesscleveland.blogspot.com/p/2010-show-reviews.html">Crafty Goodness</a></strong>. The cost of the class is just $25 and will hold up to 6 people, so we will have a nice intimate atmosphere in which to work. To sign up for the class click <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UaAYr6eOffxf9Scge869c6FsaQf45lRlUER72ZwKfgo/edit?hl=en&pli=1#">here</a>. The class is listed by date and under the title <strong>Fesi (Moroccan Embroidery)</strong>. I hope to see you there!<br /><br />Make sure to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zween/192889497413763">like zween on Facebook</a> if you liked this post and want to be updated on future posts about classes, crafty news, stories, and much more!<br /><br />Below and top of post: Fesi embroidered greeting cards on high-quality art paper by zween.<br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5661439633/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5304/5661439633_d80f00eb25.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a>Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-74139146794481679282011-03-21T13:59:00.000-07:002011-03-22T07:43:10.580-07:00A Crochet Tale...Please note that <a href="http://zween.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/a-crochet-tale/">this post</a> was originally published on my new blog, <a href="http://zween.wordpress.com/">zween</a>. To read more about what I've been up to since finishing Peace Corps, please visit me <a href="http://zween.wordpress.com/">there</a>. You may want to read <a href="http://zween.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/a-crochet-tale/">this post</a> on my new blog, as the right side of my photos were cut off when I transferred the post to this blog. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a title="DSCN4302.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538405796/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5174/5538405796_72778ee5d2.jpg" alt="DSCN4302.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />This is a story about how crochet not only <em>influenced</em> my work with the Al Falah Woman's Cooperative in Oulmes, Morocco, but how it became the <em>driving force</em> behind it.<br /><br />First, a little background. When I arrived in Morocco as a Peace Corps volunteer in the fall of 2008, I <em>thought</em> I knew the basics of crochet. I knew how to crochet in the round and back and forth, and I could do so in single crochet (not double, half double, or triple; just single crochet). I knew how to increase and decrease (incorrectly). I had made hats, fingerless mittens, and a <a href="http://zween.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/toot-tuesday-crochet-blanket-and-slippers/">granny square blanket</a> in yarn, market bags from plastic bags, and a giant copper wire installation that was my thesis project for graduating college.<br /><br />I took up crocheting in Morocco near the end of our three-month Peace Corps volunteer training period (where we learned about Moroccan culture and customs, as well as how to speak Moroccan Arabic). Other volunteers started to take an interest in what I was doing and ask me to lead an introductory crochet class. It was my first time teaching crochet and when I look back on it today I laugh because it was truly the blind leading the blind.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5548118044/" title="PC Slideshow - 22 by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5548118044_72e5585de2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="PC Slideshow - 22" /></a><br /><br />Soon afterwords, in November of 2008, we swore in as volunteers. Next, it was time to get settled into our permanent sites where we lived for the next two years.<br /><br />When I first arrived in Oulmes the women of the cooperative that I was assigned to work with weren't even coming to work. Eventually a couple of girls did show up (usually one or two) and I'd sit with them for however long they stayed at the Artisana, usually just a couple of hours. Sitting there was uncomfortable. It was cold and damp (it rained nearly every day and there is no indoor heating) and the silence was deafening. I wasn't very confident in my speaking abilities yet and it was <em>so</em> difficult to communicate anything.<br /><br />The first few months were the hardest. I had received almost no background information about this woman's group from Peace Corps, so it was up to me to try to figure out what was going on. It wasn't easy. Mostly I asked very simple questions and relied on my observation skills.<br /><br />The products the cooperative had on display were so different it was striking. They had rugs woven long ago from people who were no longer involved with the co-op; ugly, heavy macromé "decor" monstrosities; large, intricately embroidered table cloths; and crochet doilies and water bottle cozies. And the projects that they would usually bring with them to work on were hand knit gloves made with the most awful acrylic yarn. Yicks! I didn't know much, but I knew that they were in desperate need of some product development.<br /><br /><a title="DSCN9884.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537559951/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5537559951_8a3e7e92aa.jpg" alt="DSCN9884.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="DSCN9862.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538404388/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5538404388_bfdfeaab14.jpg" alt="DSCN9862.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />It didn't take me long to start bringing crochet projects with me to work on while I sat with the girls, and it quickly became my best mode of communication with them. I started with something familiar, a granny square blanket. It was an easy project that took a long time, about 2 months. Finding materials was interesting. I used this terrible wool yarn, usually used for weaving carpets. It was itchy and the colors bled, but it was also a conversation starter at the co-op, mostly because of my strange yarn choice I'm sure.<br /><br /><a title="DSCN8797.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537828581/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/5537828581_8735c6efa3.jpg" alt="DSCN8797.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="PC Slideshow - 211 by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538405136/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5538405136_22d000c19e.jpg" alt="PC Slideshow - 211" width="500" height="454" /></a><br /><br />Soon I decided that I needed to expand my knowledge of crochet, so I burrowed a book on needle craft (circa 1984) from the Peace Corps library. I learned three very important things from that book;<br /><ul><br /> <li>How to make all of the crochet stitches</li><br /> <li>How to read a pattern (and thus make motifs that were featured in the book)</li><br /> <li>How to do tapestry crochet</li><br /></ul><br />The crochet flower motifs were a big hit. Fatima, the woman in the cooperative best at crochet, wanted to learn how to make each motif as fast as I could explain them. By this time it was spring and the three co-op members (Hafida, Fatima, and Achora) had recruited several girls (ages 16-22) to come to the Artisana to apprentice under them for a year, at which time they would receive their diplomas and become members themselves if they wished. After I taught Fatima how to make a motif she would then teach the younger girls. The Peace Corps calls this "Training of Trainers" (TOT) and it made me feel like I was finally doing something useful, though small as it was.<br /><br /><a title="PC Slideshow - 283 by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538482802/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5538482802_acdab2bedb.jpg" alt="PC Slideshow - 283" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />When I brought my first tapestry crochet piece to work, a round coin purse made with the same yucky acrylic yarn they use to make gloves, the ladies became <em>very</em> interested in what I was doing, especially Fatima. Below is Fatima's very first coin purse.<br /><br /><a title="DSCN0269.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537564549/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5537564549_5781f5cdc4.jpg" alt="DSCN0269.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />News about my tapestry crochet teaching abilities spread to other volunteers. In July, 2009, I was invited to go to Ain Chaib, down in Southern Morocco where my friend and fellow volunteer, Joy Chen, lived and worked with another woman's cooperative. There I taught two woman the technique. I also found a different type of acrylic yarn that was more suitable for making coin purses. It was a smoother and with more of a luster. When I returned, I was delighted to learn that the same yarn was available right in Oulmes!<br /><br />I really wanted the women to make more of the coin purses for the upcoming Marché Maroc Craft Fair (a craft fair organized by Peace Corps volunteers) in October, 2009. This was the first craft fair that the women participated in since I came to Oulmes. However, the women only made a few coin purses, and brought mostly the hodge podge of stuff that they had since before I arrived, nearly one year prior.<br /><br />Sales-wise, The craft fair was a huge disappointment. Though their prices were well below other vendors at the fair, they hardly sold a thing. But sales aren't everything, and it wasn't a total loss. As single women from a small town, Fatima and Hafida (the ones attending the fair) had the opportunity to visit a big city on their own for the first time and network with other Artisans from across Morocco, most of whom where women. As part of the event, the volunteers who organized the show brought in Moroccan consultants to talk with the Artisans about their products and teach them how to better manage their cooperatives. Below, Fatima watches over the co-op's booth at that first Marché Maroc in Fes.<br /><br /><a title="DSCN2022.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538530430/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5538530430_7874214d84.jpg" alt="DSCN2022.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Another good thing about the women participating in the event was that they were able to see for themselves which co-ops were doing well. They realized that for them, smaller, more transportable products were the way to go. They learned that a cohesive booth was much more attractive, and about the importance of having products that appealed to tourists as well as Moroccans.<br /><br />After the fair I encouraged them to make some purses for me to test out with volunteers and Peace Corps staff in the capital (Rabat) during our mid-service medical exams in December. My fellow Small Business Development volunteers critiqued the products and I was able to sell several of the purses for the co-op. A week later when I returned I gave them the feedback from the other volunteers as well as their money. It was almost twice as much as they had made at the two-day craft fair in Fes! Below are a few change purses that the women made with the nicer yarns.<br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538137740/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5538137740_4825e243bd.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />Now that the ladies had a product that was small and marketable, they went to work making more for the next Marché Maroc in April, this time in Marrakesh. In addition to making the round change purses, I introduced the idea of making rectangular ones for cell phones, but it was their idea to incorporate the Amazigh letter "Z." Not only are they visually interesting, but they have an extra layer of cultural meaning.<br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537556873/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5537556873_6807972b7b.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />The women were always so excited about new ideas and they liked being introduced to new techniques. Whenever I suggested new products, like the i-pod Nano and i-pod Touch pouches they were always willing to give them a try. Though I would make prototypes for all of the products I introduced to them, they always took ownership of what they made, coming up with their own unique color patterns and color combinations. Below are some of the Nano and Touch cases that the women made.<br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537566103/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5537566103_d3e2dfed7d.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537562447/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5537562447_9255dbb22d.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />When I came up with a prototype for earrings that looked like blga (pointy Moroccan shoes), I knew that it was time to start teaching the girls how to read crochet patterns so that they wouldn't forget how to make all of these new designs [prototype for shoe at top of post]. For patterns such as the shoes and flower motifs, I drew them out in diagram form, then taught Fatima and Achora (the two main crocheters) what each symbol meant. The women didn't have names for slip stitch and half double crochet, so we decided on what we would call them, then I made a key so that they would remember what the symbols stood for. Luckily, all the coop members are literate. Below, Achora studies a diagram for a textured coin purse.<br /><br /><a title="DSCN4277.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538142812/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5538142812_b32f30a709.jpg" alt="DSCN4277.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="DSCN4397.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538571763/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5538571763_a2d06ab9af.jpg" alt="DSCN4397.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Once I developed a way for them to record their tapestry crochet designs, using mainly Roman letters in conjunction with numbers, I compiled several designs, along with samples, in a book for them. Knowing how empowered I felt after learning how to write in Arabic script well enough to get by if I needed to jot something down for the girls (which came in handy in several instances), teaching them to be crochet literate was pretty cool.<br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538111342/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5538111342_e4937e0d56.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537532619/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5537532619_2bcce0ee16.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538139752/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5538139752_a5f78e943b.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537533371/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5537533371_ebc9a50ae3.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537532139/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5537532139_93912e0337.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />In April, 2010 they participated in the Marrakesh Marché Maroc craft fair and did very well. Again, the best part of the experience was leaving town and visiting with their growing network of crafty friends, but this time the benefits were also monetary.<br /><br /><a title="DSCN4609.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537558197/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5537558197_956a675663.jpg" alt="DSCN4609.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="DSCN4607.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538602271/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5295/5538602271_8382a1f5f4.jpg" alt="DSCN4607.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Shortly following the Marrakesh craft fair was yet another Marché Maroc in Rabat (May, 2010). Now the women were starting to pick up momentum in a major way. I could see how much they enjoyed getting out of town to meet up with their new friends, who they kept in contact with between fairs via phone. They also liked the idea of being successful and finacialy independent.<br /><br />In July, 2010, I had another opportunity to teach tapestry crochet to another group of women in southern Morocco. This time I traveled to the very remote village of Oulad L'Arbia and the site of fellow volunteer and friend, April Koury. This time I taught two sisters over the course of three highly intensive days. Though the days were long and hot, the woman were determand to learn the tapestry crochet technique.<br /><br /><a title="Untitled by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5536699067/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5536699067_0c5b6b0b25.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />This area of Morocco is much more conserve than Oulmes. Here, woman and girls don't even go to the weekly market, let alone travel alone to the major urban areas where craft fairs take place. The education of girls in Oulad L'Arbia is also not what it is in Oulmes. One of the sisters didn't even know how to count. I'm really proud of the progress they both made over those three days. Not only did they learn the technique (which involves counting), but they learned how to read and write tapestry crochet patterns (like the ones shown above) as well!<br /><br /><a title="DSCN5620.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537278532/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5537278532_ff2c973871.jpg" alt="DSCN5620.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />There was another Marché Maroc scheduled for October, 2010 again in Fes, but unfortunately the event was cancelled. Luckily, the Oulmes ladies would be able to go to the second Marrakesh Marché in early December, 2010, shortly after I finished my Peace Corps Service. I was helping them prepare for the fair right up until I left the country.<br /><br />Though crochet was just one of many projects that occupied my time as a volunteer, it was probably the most important because it was what helped me to feel accepted and respected among this amazing group of women.<br /><br />Believe it or not, there are some people who actually think that knowing how to do traditional crafts such as crochet, knitting, embroidery, etc. is a waste of time and a step in the wrong direction for the female sex. But to all those nay sayers I say that you can't judge a woman until you've crocheted a mile of yarn with her hook.<br /><br /><a title="DSCN5594.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5538140804/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5538140804_bb66f2c1ee.jpg" alt="DSCN5594.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="DSCN5592.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537563423/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5537563423_f92e31f4e1.jpg" alt="DSCN5592.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="DSCN4188.JPG by Emily Lindberg, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53620572@N04/5537827983/"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5537827983_ff17c43a82.jpg" alt="DSCN4188.JPG" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Above three; prototypes and motif samples by Emily LindbergEmily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-13385316241214096992010-11-20T12:01:00.000-08:002010-11-20T13:11:57.337-08:00Starting The Next ChapterAbout one week ago, on November 12, 2010, Jon and I went from being PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers) to RPCVs (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers). The following are some photos from that day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6t8TqXYZ8uV54aLats9A6w6fynm-NfCH0DBrU-riyw3O2ldfpE4regwFJEtzmzaWRCclgx0u-BdM4oytF8QKTMGS4RnKJm1YWuC9PTxTENElh_YjVfvwsQa_sFYF3qfrZTNf0QikQVY/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6t8TqXYZ8uV54aLats9A6w6fynm-NfCH0DBrU-riyw3O2ldfpE4regwFJEtzmzaWRCclgx0u-BdM4oytF8QKTMGS4RnKJm1YWuC9PTxTENElh_YjVfvwsQa_sFYF3qfrZTNf0QikQVY/s320/IMG_2846.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541728271239301106" /></a><br />Our Small Business Development group together for one last picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPREcCvL5KauzSGo0Pby7IVs0W9IJtLK2eU7IRugurFTpdDD-gGRz4AwWMB3RTq7y3d7oQfYY8aUPCc4SA6SBQeMzRQwBL8vu_MEl2STAO8ZoyziK6V8BajMONbmYVC_6dkSlFmnR28k/s1600/IMG_2820.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPREcCvL5KauzSGo0Pby7IVs0W9IJtLK2eU7IRugurFTpdDD-gGRz4AwWMB3RTq7y3d7oQfYY8aUPCc4SA6SBQeMzRQwBL8vu_MEl2STAO8ZoyziK6V8BajMONbmYVC_6dkSlFmnR28k/s320/IMG_2820.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541729107542248818" /></a><br />Our community based training group.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPMKMUqyNPbyUo_jd5FdY5whp04zxn3bgcFRI3f3rkmZQc8CcjSnh2IGwuSTUDumjlx1lzRbDw5jsvRWthThkNXGjzHCvrKl_rmc1Jg2UlWZN8m183O0M_U8Rb0xB-KqJUq4TBxJC8Yg/s1600/IMG_2843.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPMKMUqyNPbyUo_jd5FdY5whp04zxn3bgcFRI3f3rkmZQc8CcjSnh2IGwuSTUDumjlx1lzRbDw5jsvRWthThkNXGjzHCvrKl_rmc1Jg2UlWZN8m183O0M_U8Rb0xB-KqJUq4TBxJC8Yg/s320/IMG_2843.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541733487654431586" /></a><br />Angie and Terra.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe54hut3gH3cJl6pYCmmfv_FQCdwwjjj5cc0MrXjGzoF9MU75MtILu0Qhx57RLzgkY6tNAsGXmu2o48qlftxx2NjjblU944VV4yi0DiORs0sBsTe94e9VwRpHHNPcPROC1wWBM4S8rgM/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe54hut3gH3cJl6pYCmmfv_FQCdwwjjj5cc0MrXjGzoF9MU75MtILu0Qhx57RLzgkY6tNAsGXmu2o48qlftxx2NjjblU944VV4yi0DiORs0sBsTe94e9VwRpHHNPcPROC1wWBM4S8rgM/s320/IMG_2884.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541729826190843538" /></a><br />"Stamping Out"<br /><br />After November 12th we returned back to our site for a couple of days to pack up our stuff and clean out our house. On November 16, the day before 3id Kabir, we traveled to our friend Lisa's site. We left our town shortly after dawn and the drive was one of the most beautiful we've ever had. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoiFsNkRyfIKHoXFVr_JtHSK57iD-fP0kVfZOoT3prKK0IpzYVKnd76adkfMBKVnJYJZ8ImvWNxcXniJZf_CnNo1qEFcyxEM2s8-835JaTOAHy1CvHFhoebcsXIV8ndMVHF0U5tpQy_U/s1600/IMG_2922.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoiFsNkRyfIKHoXFVr_JtHSK57iD-fP0kVfZOoT3prKK0IpzYVKnd76adkfMBKVnJYJZ8ImvWNxcXniJZf_CnNo1qEFcyxEM2s8-835JaTOAHy1CvHFhoebcsXIV8ndMVHF0U5tpQy_U/s320/IMG_2922.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541734117420496514" /></a><br /><br />Lisa suggested that we go to souk one last time to get some photos. Being the day before the most major holiday in Morocco, we knew that it would be <span style="font-style:italic;">crazy</span>, and sure enough, it was. Most of these pictures were taken while my camera hung at waist level around my neck so as to draw less attention to myself and not make people uncomfortable. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagR4xG2QszsmmudC0duQpf06Wf_Cdc1i1uIMadEM65HZArkIUYi1ngAuCmTVOCiwrmltUckOmx_b4-H-2DPAzloGcwBZGFMXN3cDOHYM6cKrCFLLeKuo0KNZx1ahR6RcbF_QPTdZfVdE/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagR4xG2QszsmmudC0duQpf06Wf_Cdc1i1uIMadEM65HZArkIUYi1ngAuCmTVOCiwrmltUckOmx_b4-H-2DPAzloGcwBZGFMXN3cDOHYM6cKrCFLLeKuo0KNZx1ahR6RcbF_QPTdZfVdE/s320/IMG_2986.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541726691280809970" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3quNqv-8OX9THb6yK3ZJCqosGa2_QN7_oN5f0hdlswCJfgnkGblPDdE4_BAnQ5KW2BMHJEs7vUdtkMyaCPcHKwGHJUujB-rrtI7mCVUH8CbcvTyxIbeOMnyOqWLI-M-mPAZXzieKJuc/s1600/IMG_3008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3quNqv-8OX9THb6yK3ZJCqosGa2_QN7_oN5f0hdlswCJfgnkGblPDdE4_BAnQ5KW2BMHJEs7vUdtkMyaCPcHKwGHJUujB-rrtI7mCVUH8CbcvTyxIbeOMnyOqWLI-M-mPAZXzieKJuc/s320/IMG_3008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541736487264182082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiAczODQw5lFwF596elCpNB-iIQXfPV__yNB9EJ1R4XMGyabMQXNal9aZgXEHSJFRWkCFholMrad-EjHT-9Ke1sMt-5cFDM3JBNaUrEvng60HLK2iUsU3cwej9D6r6OCEs-jdJ9Hbrkw/s1600/IMG_2983.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiAczODQw5lFwF596elCpNB-iIQXfPV__yNB9EJ1R4XMGyabMQXNal9aZgXEHSJFRWkCFholMrad-EjHT-9Ke1sMt-5cFDM3JBNaUrEvng60HLK2iUsU3cwej9D6r6OCEs-jdJ9Hbrkw/s320/IMG_2983.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541736481496159138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EAd3HKWpzKPhmwfqSrSX3cDdO8Pel2ypeA2WetpAM7j-sr9Q7qe6Ut1fpLTt5gpJuaNRPJPUTYqeb7dIAx_FoiwEEp0cx9QO8wwyeRuyu1IQwczEV-OnvSHYireq1iXWU01FPeHa9Hk/s1600/IMG_2971.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EAd3HKWpzKPhmwfqSrSX3cDdO8Pel2ypeA2WetpAM7j-sr9Q7qe6Ut1fpLTt5gpJuaNRPJPUTYqeb7dIAx_FoiwEEp0cx9QO8wwyeRuyu1IQwczEV-OnvSHYireq1iXWU01FPeHa9Hk/s320/IMG_2971.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541736469576733794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSr7-WygW0QZQVFyfQKnhVPvuSy9CyBpvK-OOp9djYcWC72UoLpgLLnzm2t-naDWEB9_hRKjWWtv3AUylXO1793zC9WzcHH_-uBAb3TKAkS84qVhKG9ycMCg-bk_0ZAnk8yLM4olyOY0/s1600/IMG_2944.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSr7-WygW0QZQVFyfQKnhVPvuSy9CyBpvK-OOp9djYcWC72UoLpgLLnzm2t-naDWEB9_hRKjWWtv3AUylXO1793zC9WzcHH_-uBAb3TKAkS84qVhKG9ycMCg-bk_0ZAnk8yLM4olyOY0/s320/IMG_2944.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541736466164715170" /></a><br />Lisa and Jon standing in front of the horse-draw carriage we took to get to the souk.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPrUDfxg_hfw_3uUDZO6uuNUAwpni6DWPDB6lGCAERu78qxa8CgOfCdWuwgo9ll_uTR1KSFvnBhanITZhHeTg_4YxN2zJGhb2_K1gFA8IxfnK2uaql0fgUmpqSOqZhgeohyZ8FKh0oao/s1600/IMG_2932.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPrUDfxg_hfw_3uUDZO6uuNUAwpni6DWPDB6lGCAERu78qxa8CgOfCdWuwgo9ll_uTR1KSFvnBhanITZhHeTg_4YxN2zJGhb2_K1gFA8IxfnK2uaql0fgUmpqSOqZhgeohyZ8FKh0oao/s320/IMG_2932.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541737154126982050" /></a> <br /><br />The Next day was a full day of sheep slaughtering and eating in celebration of 3id kabir. The following are some of my favorite photos from that day. *Warning, some pictures may not be for all audiences.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pTBMbPUsbns4X7qxAt6BnEwKnFrZgM9DLJzX-823r05bVcaCqja132VBI9Q1nmVmIkIR36WC3VNJUb56dOdAR0LsbRQtQd8wzzgTQf4aLll5Z2PH3Y4jVRlANRpXEUNKQEjKEkuOEHs/s1600/IMG_3044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pTBMbPUsbns4X7qxAt6BnEwKnFrZgM9DLJzX-823r05bVcaCqja132VBI9Q1nmVmIkIR36WC3VNJUb56dOdAR0LsbRQtQd8wzzgTQf4aLll5Z2PH3Y4jVRlANRpXEUNKQEjKEkuOEHs/s320/IMG_3044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541738688999714194" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZMXFPeaaPhT9ZKzX5VRgpgypkNznzuRi8aQ2Smd5bGDt7Yc-Xu6rSFCozAdt2RE28ikATLpwifXDru1tYZ2DJ_n2yqY0vTsCFjMDwg-7KpjgyCTJHooIJe6G77yjxaKd0bTtcBkSX6I/s1600/IMG_3043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZMXFPeaaPhT9ZKzX5VRgpgypkNznzuRi8aQ2Smd5bGDt7Yc-Xu6rSFCozAdt2RE28ikATLpwifXDru1tYZ2DJ_n2yqY0vTsCFjMDwg-7KpjgyCTJHooIJe6G77yjxaKd0bTtcBkSX6I/s320/IMG_3043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541742124735670130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVNbLY5To9fsL3Q-YgK-e7EolhQFeWLJubvr7MpE6-dS9mQMOtmdK-8eIhhLH21SwrGzSd1izCZsd8HPjJTPE-kAwqeeyqVgAfGSLEK45ff68N1OhWesd1yPU9uK5EkjGHcR0lWy6ECA/s1600/IMG_3121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVNbLY5To9fsL3Q-YgK-e7EolhQFeWLJubvr7MpE6-dS9mQMOtmdK-8eIhhLH21SwrGzSd1izCZsd8HPjJTPE-kAwqeeyqVgAfGSLEK45ff68N1OhWesd1yPU9uK5EkjGHcR0lWy6ECA/s320/IMG_3121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541742110200935858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYacQ8jAon_0SumtbL3bdnR_24z3WhtSGcvkeTT50mLW3VLNDq6JchECDITz60T7MSyEC81ldtneWmoVrLlTAEZT5vj869Gr8-QQ23X296NXRDNa91gZBln80GQRpfMhj4tmKfwj0Ig8/s1600/IMG_3140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYacQ8jAon_0SumtbL3bdnR_24z3WhtSGcvkeTT50mLW3VLNDq6JchECDITz60T7MSyEC81ldtneWmoVrLlTAEZT5vj869Gr8-QQ23X296NXRDNa91gZBln80GQRpfMhj4tmKfwj0Ig8/s320/IMG_3140.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541741198294798946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXerDKxwZiOMHwx5iZaV4yJpNV0y41gEYrf572kfb9p2YDFmx2ha7o85bsn-FN_XIqDPRXxJiTsgiebiZY-XKUPv6DqqXvdi8frNDg6eRGUjHSJTFunCyzHoaeotyH9ZEnGT9B0na27-4/s1600/IMG_3142.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXerDKxwZiOMHwx5iZaV4yJpNV0y41gEYrf572kfb9p2YDFmx2ha7o85bsn-FN_XIqDPRXxJiTsgiebiZY-XKUPv6DqqXvdi8frNDg6eRGUjHSJTFunCyzHoaeotyH9ZEnGT9B0na27-4/s320/IMG_3142.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541741197348271234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeqVZBnQtcxL0pu4w5NmVWTSJK8e5U6R9fQGaF2n457HRxVyyYKr1w2DNEas96r7pV4SiSSlTyxMf2bUBUzrza_nSkNRudYLpTrawpww4oMnF0TFEw0zR1LS2olhvXitjYm_0TNxKGo4/s1600/IMG_3166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeqVZBnQtcxL0pu4w5NmVWTSJK8e5U6R9fQGaF2n457HRxVyyYKr1w2DNEas96r7pV4SiSSlTyxMf2bUBUzrza_nSkNRudYLpTrawpww4oMnF0TFEw0zR1LS2olhvXitjYm_0TNxKGo4/s320/IMG_3166.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541741192885993074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuupOnUtof9jRbZApqE4Fr880uRnJuA7qb0YVQxha05inSwvsTQu-mIn0On_IBsYzJ6apRsFO1k_ApFZrU1SOPrN7iERghRGEtxulSam8sl7kSGOYN9ewIEWPfNqhxrhgGTjifRCoPpo/s1600/IMG_3173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuupOnUtof9jRbZApqE4Fr880uRnJuA7qb0YVQxha05inSwvsTQu-mIn0On_IBsYzJ6apRsFO1k_ApFZrU1SOPrN7iERghRGEtxulSam8sl7kSGOYN9ewIEWPfNqhxrhgGTjifRCoPpo/s320/IMG_3173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541741188476643954" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday Jon and I left Morocco and are now doing some traveling in Europe before embarking on a transatlantic cruise and then finally returning home. It is just the beginning of the next chapter of our lives.Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-17725684830156967942010-11-05T23:57:00.000-07:002010-11-06T02:44:56.327-07:00Saying GoodbyeAs I mentioned in my last post, our replacement, Kathy, came for her site visit this week. It was also our last full week of being Peace Corps volunteers in our site. And so, it was a busy week of introductions and saying goodbye. <br /><br />On Tuesday, Hefida, the President of the cooperative, invited me to her home in the nearby <span style="font-style:italic;">bled</span> (country) town for dinner and to spend the night. It was wonderful to finally meet her family and see where she lives. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_kwp24cwAFll4fRXasMBw-pHh-tRaF3bv_ebCQKOQeKxzf-wZMTVwq_q0DruxLQE-5Z6xg-2FLRxQx4KZqsqkh2YT8TTGqAqzgDKWiut9uhyBs1WfzRxzwqREtOiMWklggb6PW7vheE/s1600/DSCN6244.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_kwp24cwAFll4fRXasMBw-pHh-tRaF3bv_ebCQKOQeKxzf-wZMTVwq_q0DruxLQE-5Z6xg-2FLRxQx4KZqsqkh2YT8TTGqAqzgDKWiut9uhyBs1WfzRxzwqREtOiMWklggb6PW7vheE/s320/DSCN6244.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536341216880429298" /></a><br /><br />Hefida has nine siblings. All are grown and most have moved to other areas of Morocco and even France, so now it's just her, one of her brothers, and her parents living at home. But with plenty of aunts, uncles and cousins as neighbors, they still have plenty of family nearby. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACpxX-CLX31UU4nV8Rzqj3KFL3ePvwU9hbq1sjEp0piBEXBCWW0hdto0_gDu8yh2Wpfa3LliQCr_YXo9Zwx5rbuZ27ejOAfaKAknGaUIQVlHCZiftbw6gW0hMxLIEW-SlvUyLh3WnjaM/s1600/DSCN6261.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACpxX-CLX31UU4nV8Rzqj3KFL3ePvwU9hbq1sjEp0piBEXBCWW0hdto0_gDu8yh2Wpfa3LliQCr_YXo9Zwx5rbuZ27ejOAfaKAknGaUIQVlHCZiftbw6gW0hMxLIEW-SlvUyLh3WnjaM/s320/DSCN6261.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536334286958637266" /></a><br /><br />Below is Hefida holding her two-year-old cousin Marwa. As you can see, she's super cute. Just think, she was just born when we got here!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemSbdyFnrWUDkRpPzvK4dVV5FJamFkeUX9zOlTOk-TSgxTrc1oSn_gEkJsAMt-iwJpOy7iakW_NorGpnhiv5Z8RAuuPYRb7M1d0RFzgzXrGjPa9ayXL3rMXxkROA7uqIe6uo07mtRQ78/s1600/DSCN6259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemSbdyFnrWUDkRpPzvK4dVV5FJamFkeUX9zOlTOk-TSgxTrc1oSn_gEkJsAMt-iwJpOy7iakW_NorGpnhiv5Z8RAuuPYRb7M1d0RFzgzXrGjPa9ayXL3rMXxkROA7uqIe6uo07mtRQ78/s320/DSCN6259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536339199213255810" /></a><br /><br />The weather has been beautiful all week (a big difference from when we had our site visit two years ago), so on Wednesday morning Hefida took me on a short walk trough the fields that surround her home. We saw sheep, turkeys, and plenty of olive trees. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuoveojda-n7m29QemQV2AAm8vnPNlHMhuiASlFv1EeFVM4pN5zQLpsA5pz-tHAlzwJ9-9Tk-4X-dUYcleGROwljbPrVIwIbGX4nqstBegNuwNJ6f1cJPvb7PU8Ea1hFotedRFoLmHr4/s1600/DSCN6238.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuoveojda-n7m29QemQV2AAm8vnPNlHMhuiASlFv1EeFVM4pN5zQLpsA5pz-tHAlzwJ9-9Tk-4X-dUYcleGROwljbPrVIwIbGX4nqstBegNuwNJ6f1cJPvb7PU8Ea1hFotedRFoLmHr4/s320/DSCN6238.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536333321409071698" /></a> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoPNhhs3KRLXqPqdRuhXG8yVwt25OGyOSbJmaVp1ZXRaQJISuK5jX1WcqC_1Rk6FaU2SQrK_UqQdj67AqNmfKtcBa3Q8o0Af3FsUD4N9dVYxutU1gPQkl5bnQN_QS1u0g4_tz95BkfFo/s1600/DSCN6247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoPNhhs3KRLXqPqdRuhXG8yVwt25OGyOSbJmaVp1ZXRaQJISuK5jX1WcqC_1Rk6FaU2SQrK_UqQdj67AqNmfKtcBa3Q8o0Af3FsUD4N9dVYxutU1gPQkl5bnQN_QS1u0g4_tz95BkfFo/s320/DSCN6247.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536344480216739026" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygDwCYvcgQkBCl73QenREQWpLazWX94WjYE3Sxjz5deOuZPzJhsbqwqU1lJLrmR2FMAfbMP78NXp9OOXCMOiQFbnzznGWu2pEPC2YIUQqnvSBOeMBTOC_oElLxjxWLgrmo3Ibfx-0HCM/s1600/DSCN6248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygDwCYvcgQkBCl73QenREQWpLazWX94WjYE3Sxjz5deOuZPzJhsbqwqU1lJLrmR2FMAfbMP78NXp9OOXCMOiQFbnzznGWu2pEPC2YIUQqnvSBOeMBTOC_oElLxjxWLgrmo3Ibfx-0HCM/s320/DSCN6248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536346023995798338" /></a><br /><br />We were supposed to return to town after breakfast, so of course I ended up staying for lunch (cous cous, even though it was Wednesday), and in the afternoon the ladies showed Kathy how they make paper. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T6aaaOn7jjaL56vKL43rLqf-SryxjGyO-v79KG9TFYxLmyYKRsYntSKf0Hu7vHps_dZOYsabA3SrA-QH_I7u0ZYaSpaSE-zJRgBBJ0zC6zNejs2QCM97b_Z28qdlwgBe9DV1i73C-aw/s1600/IMG_2673.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T6aaaOn7jjaL56vKL43rLqf-SryxjGyO-v79KG9TFYxLmyYKRsYntSKf0Hu7vHps_dZOYsabA3SrA-QH_I7u0ZYaSpaSE-zJRgBBJ0zC6zNejs2QCM97b_Z28qdlwgBe9DV1i73C-aw/s320/IMG_2673.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536353307533657202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYX65dDAd3EbnIOQLw2scE7hpbbcU0_Zu8ud_dnbz1_PT8pcaCqXrqW9iFFzEfPxpbJgElDez_1u8Ladp0OFpPp5AsbO2OjtPh1DiwD5KrezbPfRGyfQNu3iVTtXOFFQ60gzHQPy6IK8/s1600/IMG_2679.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYX65dDAd3EbnIOQLw2scE7hpbbcU0_Zu8ud_dnbz1_PT8pcaCqXrqW9iFFzEfPxpbJgElDez_1u8Ladp0OFpPp5AsbO2OjtPh1DiwD5KrezbPfRGyfQNu3iVTtXOFFQ60gzHQPy6IK8/s320/IMG_2679.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536355455893374162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi44pnEnOBwtv0jmSSlHYxnfQtSmQ0lW6dsxUfl-KOWoJYL0P2DDuqe31j4hrKsbJxQP6B8PJG8hj3R1BtkxLH8YjHmihWsSydxJeOZEy7BNgg24tHyOGiy-QIQtJrkQF9-NssdU-g7g/s1600/IMG_2682.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi44pnEnOBwtv0jmSSlHYxnfQtSmQ0lW6dsxUfl-KOWoJYL0P2DDuqe31j4hrKsbJxQP6B8PJG8hj3R1BtkxLH8YjHmihWsSydxJeOZEy7BNgg24tHyOGiy-QIQtJrkQF9-NssdU-g7g/s320/IMG_2682.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536354776195835058" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday morning I was pleasantly surprised to find them already working on their next batch of handmade paper when I came in. I brought two old bed sheets and one of our gray blankets to be cut down so that they could make more paper at a time. Hafida helped me with cutting down the sheets while Fatima and Achora worked on forming the paper. By the end of the morning they had made 32 more sheets of paper!<br /><br />Then in the afternoon the girls threw a goodbye party for me. At first, there was some concern over the fact that no one brought a CD player, but that was quickly remedied by them singing the songs themselves. They were songs that I recognized from my time here but still didn't know the meanings of so a couple of times I asked. One song was about an Arab man wanting to marry a Berber woman, but not understanding the customs of his in-laws. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVP_PlJbPEpGWOJvXtImtcAo6mVagenhD6cBjKueHVmnMFddh8WGDPYPxyteexue2Z3n4x1KbEVgYH01PEsZm4MZKOB85kZXrqDVm1GaM2dYT995EQ5nhEs8tDsTGyY2BgrN8PKmL4Wd8/s1600/IMG_2724.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVP_PlJbPEpGWOJvXtImtcAo6mVagenhD6cBjKueHVmnMFddh8WGDPYPxyteexue2Z3n4x1KbEVgYH01PEsZm4MZKOB85kZXrqDVm1GaM2dYT995EQ5nhEs8tDsTGyY2BgrN8PKmL4Wd8/s320/IMG_2724.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536360370494908882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6Lm0eCromVHxUxtIXfQk8Yx55Ao7omo3UJpBIkz1QwU1fKEY3cyIQnyPKEQnc7jupm-V55aX3xGE3kMf-xcKhcxRedcOFEHgUaYYPKNy_ZI_5X-n7ZiFHzyXND_ja8kZYJ2fGpL39nc/s1600/IMG_2726.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6Lm0eCromVHxUxtIXfQk8Yx55Ao7omo3UJpBIkz1QwU1fKEY3cyIQnyPKEQnc7jupm-V55aX3xGE3kMf-xcKhcxRedcOFEHgUaYYPKNy_ZI_5X-n7ZiFHzyXND_ja8kZYJ2fGpL39nc/s320/IMG_2726.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536360363959914402" /></a><br /><br />And of course there was plenty of tea, sweets, coffee, and dancing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgL13wSQuMDDnDsjuJKE-ynGNYl0v0B1XQ-qmu1ElraaDv8bfrJYv7lCj1Zm-WaR7fcGOf-mnj0hxbePKUyU7r6Sq5w5UeESV7m1vLc1g_cLJs64zrdQtdd02g7McpM42IJ0M4n7I_uR4/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgL13wSQuMDDnDsjuJKE-ynGNYl0v0B1XQ-qmu1ElraaDv8bfrJYv7lCj1Zm-WaR7fcGOf-mnj0hxbePKUyU7r6Sq5w5UeESV7m1vLc1g_cLJs64zrdQtdd02g7McpM42IJ0M4n7I_uR4/s320/IMG_2730.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536364557702326642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKKjIX-6QLDJn_dJA-l2Ryg9eYcuNGqjWdrqB3mhnPecWcZ0orzO_C4FUdpm0GO8Zo3Q1vM94UUhPGy1Tmoww63Wi6ZgSgFFr52q85ztRKS9Se05Vld5zTVyV8YqfJM1aeuRFdlqctF4/s1600/IMG_2699.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKKjIX-6QLDJn_dJA-l2Ryg9eYcuNGqjWdrqB3mhnPecWcZ0orzO_C4FUdpm0GO8Zo3Q1vM94UUhPGy1Tmoww63Wi6ZgSgFFr52q85ztRKS9Se05Vld5zTVyV8YqfJM1aeuRFdlqctF4/s320/IMG_2699.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536365774036493650" /></a><br /><br />Here's a picture of all of us on the steps of the Artisana taken yesterday after the party. I'm really going to miss this group!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedSl_evedGEhr4QSB79DLZyU0ey7cuw23rXefu0LsKYnonVStLr6TEGeEEJaVHKEbah36RQANo4YzmiNFQaewPB30LUbtmqAN0yXJf0N82MmrN1-KKuuDmhKBj0J_xVdIHkKsV9Azx4Y/s1600/IMG_2744.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedSl_evedGEhr4QSB79DLZyU0ey7cuw23rXefu0LsKYnonVStLr6TEGeEEJaVHKEbah36RQANo4YzmiNFQaewPB30LUbtmqAN0yXJf0N82MmrN1-KKuuDmhKBj0J_xVdIHkKsV9Azx4Y/s320/IMG_2744.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536369549294094450" /></a>Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-54180767501609371922010-11-01T00:30:00.001-07:002010-11-01T01:22:07.047-07:00A Warm Welcome + Happy Halloween<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWyF2A9620gq5SxAF53tzML-EWJivUO4TWWvhUUCqmbYwB6wSABBJAfsKy3jLg-n5ggHaS2AMdGnZMhrMPw6gDENFCUgxA9ObbPlUIo5rhQ799XknCkBgE0BtLNseQ4f59O6Ogb1JEbw/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWyF2A9620gq5SxAF53tzML-EWJivUO4TWWvhUUCqmbYwB6wSABBJAfsKy3jLg-n5ggHaS2AMdGnZMhrMPw6gDENFCUgxA9ObbPlUIo5rhQ799XknCkBgE0BtLNseQ4f59O6Ogb1JEbw/s320/IMG_2660.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534483869193777458" /></a><br /><br />I just wanted to give a warm welcome to Kathleen, the Peace Corps Trainee who will swear in as a volunteer later this month and take over for us in our site. She just arrived yesterday afternoon and I hope that we didn't completely bombard her with too much information all at once.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeV-OXapd_3OQQTDtQxvVegrCgAgCb9JcsZ2FaUTIItZOi07ozlN7WRoQTx4gLgf9AOdDeXnWP5ee2c_xFROvy8jVso4MNseXx_2whPpjNcV5PIDqMnuyLmDyldh1CmuD4dSKXZNBHqA/s1600/IMG_2637.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeV-OXapd_3OQQTDtQxvVegrCgAgCb9JcsZ2FaUTIItZOi07ozlN7WRoQTx4gLgf9AOdDeXnWP5ee2c_xFROvy8jVso4MNseXx_2whPpjNcV5PIDqMnuyLmDyldh1CmuD4dSKXZNBHqA/s320/IMG_2637.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534485234290727250" /></a><br /><br />It's just that there is a lot to talk about. The truth is, we didn't get a whole lot of information from the volunteer that we replaced two years ago and that is a very frustrating situation to be in. <br /><br />Ever since our site visit two years ago I vowed that the volunteer(s) replacing us would be a lot more informed than we were. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_WpXsWLiCxDTpdOeIAEWcIMKETwNoCSPkiEUVvEIc5fmTZJEPAkCGPsCP2DGfH3ojhizWnDwNLwpsDehVK-tKlXO1Nx7GdOiX4zNnWGUvW8ipglg2Aalb4-jElv-y-x8AL65RXyV4Ho/s1600/IMG_2627.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_WpXsWLiCxDTpdOeIAEWcIMKETwNoCSPkiEUVvEIc5fmTZJEPAkCGPsCP2DGfH3ojhizWnDwNLwpsDehVK-tKlXO1Nx7GdOiX4zNnWGUvW8ipglg2Aalb4-jElv-y-x8AL65RXyV4Ho/s320/IMG_2627.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534488325539433714" /></a><br /><br />Think about it, we've been here for two years and we know what's going on here. I want my work to continue and I want the new volunteer to take what I've done and <span style="font-style:italic;">build</span> on it. We want her to stand on our shoulders, not have to start from scratch. And to do that she needs as much information as possible, even if it is a little overwhelming at first. <br /><br />This is a very busy and emotional time for us. We're almost done, we're excited about going home, we'll miss the people we've become close to, we have to tie things up with the electric company, phone company and our landlord, but we can't think of this as being the end of our work. Filling Kathleen in on our site is one of the most important things I will do as a volunteer. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjB8VUufUuoi5cPPD0ksby6vk1My1NbHZa-9bX96bsqfERmG41wqpvFeew4pAswo20Gd4EyKvdRZavmJpesRLhPVNrWKgM8yZy_o0YYXkWoxQqtR6Q9EVaQ4deoucAL6meqwkCVLih0BE/s1600/IMG_2652.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjB8VUufUuoi5cPPD0ksby6vk1My1NbHZa-9bX96bsqfERmG41wqpvFeew4pAswo20Gd4EyKvdRZavmJpesRLhPVNrWKgM8yZy_o0YYXkWoxQqtR6Q9EVaQ4deoucAL6meqwkCVLih0BE/s320/IMG_2652.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534491017394147106" /></a><br /><br />If you are currently a Peace Corps volunteer, think about how you felt when you first got to site and what you would have liked the volunteer you replaced to do. If you did replace another volunteer, did you feel that you were given an accurate description of your site? Do you feel that there were a lot of really simple things that you would have been a lot better off knowing from the begining, if only the volunteer would have shared that information? It's very important that the new volunteer learns things for themselves, but why make them start from square one if they don't have to? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdGDXbI_aGTMI19MQJWWD8jiYy_BXXvEGaQRX9xzB18jrJWyebuN2ac2IQoO5DEVYj3qNFjpyx5LTb6XpSdLrboYS_7VUX-n952ZKnCJaL2mzFLbZbhV4u-LnjbrfloZJ26cE0xx8XRc/s1600/IMG_2644.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdGDXbI_aGTMI19MQJWWD8jiYy_BXXvEGaQRX9xzB18jrJWyebuN2ac2IQoO5DEVYj3qNFjpyx5LTb6XpSdLrboYS_7VUX-n952ZKnCJaL2mzFLbZbhV4u-LnjbrfloZJ26cE0xx8XRc/s320/IMG_2644.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534492753175670354" /></a><br /><br />On an unrelated note, Happy Halloween!!! Jon and I traveled to see our good friend Lisa on Saturday and as always it was a day full of cooking, eating and EATING! Though she hasn't updated <a href="http://lisapcv.blogspot.com/">her Peace Corps blog</a> in a long while (to the dismay of my mother) she also has a wonderful <a href="http://brushandspoon.blogspot.com/">food blog</a> (recipes included) for your food ogling pleasure! Though I know that Halloween was just yesterday, you should still check out her <a href="http://brushandspoon.blogspot.com/2010/10/pumpkin-marshmallows.html">pumpkin marshmallow post</a> because the flavor has a very fall feel and could be easily adapted for a Thanksgiving treat.Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-70428856616853375102010-10-24T01:26:00.000-07:002010-10-24T02:25:00.691-07:00A Week In Paper MakingThis past week was very eventful for the Al Falah cooperative. This is the week that we <span style="font-style:italic;">finally</span> made paper <span style="font-style:italic;">in</span> the Artisana. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj0pSrQF1w1IOuBuqWpPexDq3vKKGeExFHWDbOVQnXakni7abvYHGGedZGjqhHFYP9vJ-vjhJ6HUBmLS0K671B9yy0q1cjJzuz-QhQ9vwmDm9_r20YIbETuIW638uhEMn4IkoWd8xAFY/s1600/IMG_2511.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj0pSrQF1w1IOuBuqWpPexDq3vKKGeExFHWDbOVQnXakni7abvYHGGedZGjqhHFYP9vJ-vjhJ6HUBmLS0K671B9yy0q1cjJzuz-QhQ9vwmDm9_r20YIbETuIW638uhEMn4IkoWd8xAFY/s320/IMG_2511.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531526695334780098" /></a><br /><br />I'm really grateful to all the volunteers who ordered large greeting cards and bookmarks from the coop. I'm afraid that without these orders the ladies would not have been motivated enough to make paper again before I left, mostly due to the fact that Fatima and Hefida (<a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/06/paper-making-tale.html">the two members that have made paper before</a>) have been and will be traveling a lot recently. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSfF25gfhJ3q87hwGr5uWec_Uo1x1krij1SskneJQ93tASnTocHylhtJAAc7PRkMJwAJ5lhzTxv5aTZswXljVfNms7EERvPTvJNGNqHCEt2sxBPtuoPoxdRprEKJiSTdIjm6X_wpKKLo/s1600/IMG_2514.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSfF25gfhJ3q87hwGr5uWec_Uo1x1krij1SskneJQ93tASnTocHylhtJAAc7PRkMJwAJ5lhzTxv5aTZswXljVfNms7EERvPTvJNGNqHCEt2sxBPtuoPoxdRprEKJiSTdIjm6X_wpKKLo/s320/IMG_2514.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531527345321581042" /></a><br /><br />They made twenty two sheets of paper on Tuesday all by themselves, meaning that I only supervised the operation and gave them little reminders when I saw that they had forgotten a step, but I did not form a single sheet of that paper. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NrGtNJhGFqLJWOrDU1L6a5YnyVz1lTPkfACPIg8or5hFfpu4W_obvnpPbZZrZpvISlsjjKoCthdDTvEh0Oj8vcWEBCIrTk0fqu1-XicobNg5oLdoZJUBJ3TAgpiXnvpKmxYtZ8TPfvg/s1600/IMG_2518.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NrGtNJhGFqLJWOrDU1L6a5YnyVz1lTPkfACPIg8or5hFfpu4W_obvnpPbZZrZpvISlsjjKoCthdDTvEh0Oj8vcWEBCIrTk0fqu1-XicobNg5oLdoZJUBJ3TAgpiXnvpKmxYtZ8TPfvg/s320/IMG_2518.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531528016370633346" /></a><br /><br />I was very pleased to see Fatima and Hefida explain the process to the other girls present. They were visually proud that they knew this very unusual skill, and that they were already so proficient at it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_2SrEjWLLltCipyXexxfTdbl33zGifDk3BnbMfMXViaWZNtBy7EnjgdcHvVkEwaoge-jnS8mQz2dknoxSt1dCKM5auDD0QZn3iMNMGKfji6nAaXi0eSdrLm8IgUrgGlYKCsiI8ytopM/s1600/IMG_2543.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_2SrEjWLLltCipyXexxfTdbl33zGifDk3BnbMfMXViaWZNtBy7EnjgdcHvVkEwaoge-jnS8mQz2dknoxSt1dCKM5auDD0QZn3iMNMGKfji6nAaXi0eSdrLm8IgUrgGlYKCsiI8ytopM/s320/IMG_2543.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531529733202732530" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLvOW0A0-Zcmk-Q4M5yHWfU08kUk961ZYie0gD1uhQ33EDFYFKYoyuM17vdN7c-jaoXOXZRKtZGYc5cbCcaGWI5lmw3NtiT4q00ICCqWtqGEdazPie2yMbvA0VCaS2NAAh5vXgzBbdtY/s1600/IMG_2532.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLvOW0A0-Zcmk-Q4M5yHWfU08kUk961ZYie0gD1uhQ33EDFYFKYoyuM17vdN7c-jaoXOXZRKtZGYc5cbCcaGWI5lmw3NtiT4q00ICCqWtqGEdazPie2yMbvA0VCaS2NAAh5vXgzBbdtY/s320/IMG_2532.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531529026745373026"/></a><br /><br />By Thursday morning the paper was already dry and they were ready to tear down the sheets to make cards and bookmarks and cut out envelopes from a pattern I had made. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr29StZZt07qD8xjPndim14DbDRule11uim68ZqT6-lesth2ItdG61WGVi59ODTVAOI-ti-RZRxjyUn126Fk1MQq95NJ_j4G2IE2XnBUSZN46EP0K71NeLHCMjfP5LqXWrCC8FpK6vzmQ/s1600/IMG_2552.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr29StZZt07qD8xjPndim14DbDRule11uim68ZqT6-lesth2ItdG61WGVi59ODTVAOI-ti-RZRxjyUn126Fk1MQq95NJ_j4G2IE2XnBUSZN46EP0K71NeLHCMjfP5LqXWrCC8FpK6vzmQ/s320/IMG_2552.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531532300597993282" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3ut5PsWlC8PMQEaFLmsJXitc3d3h_2BddUV67qjukpfRVPz13Id6i0gTPtS_mOtHjTqbPCDT1fB-P1tBuutouus3Z2IMxNtkBee8li4VrwB2kAFSZiv32DhLrgvNc0ixtnKq9aqGq6A/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3ut5PsWlC8PMQEaFLmsJXitc3d3h_2BddUV67qjukpfRVPz13Id6i0gTPtS_mOtHjTqbPCDT1fB-P1tBuutouus3Z2IMxNtkBee8li4VrwB2kAFSZiv32DhLrgvNc0ixtnKq9aqGq6A/s320/IMG_2555.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531533279927979602" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjMze46TyK7LpomkEbrwQs37jYSaTZX44Op1IJMs9c3yk4Q3yq2vWVcvQpuepBK5IOyt0Zh6dQP_nNI89fuofctZmVINenjH4TWMfYO5nHjZtZiMzPyGf9VzvOiNFxBMTz9nVTW1Nvxg/s1600/IMG_2556.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjMze46TyK7LpomkEbrwQs37jYSaTZX44Op1IJMs9c3yk4Q3yq2vWVcvQpuepBK5IOyt0Zh6dQP_nNI89fuofctZmVINenjH4TWMfYO5nHjZtZiMzPyGf9VzvOiNFxBMTz9nVTW1Nvxg/s320/IMG_2556.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531534136042827650" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFv34V-KqsdqfYhNTxrb6MU-aWEBgBpwrvu7dM4B0NhADZNSxBDtk-j6mA6dt_WVNuQDyERrTxl9rQ-6ze5IkWIhxb0Qu1hrlhyphenhyphenmJVCj3zhFtIWf-ejGxG6GCKq6tH20Qpn0J7b35sSE/s1600/IMG_2557.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFv34V-KqsdqfYhNTxrb6MU-aWEBgBpwrvu7dM4B0NhADZNSxBDtk-j6mA6dt_WVNuQDyERrTxl9rQ-6ze5IkWIhxb0Qu1hrlhyphenhyphenmJVCj3zhFtIWf-ejGxG6GCKq6tH20Qpn0J7b35sSE/s320/IMG_2557.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531535287284797746" /></a><br /><br />Hefida worked on drawing out new designs for the cards and both Hefida and Ashora worked on embroidering them. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgQ6-vMskUnHaWJV5qxTm8ErYOrppyBac6zWRRQGZVvSUqR4ZuvN9K0yZ9Swa-2L-Zdyhlgo5_zXejhcDfVjEzQiZ50Wlyf-Khq_gZBqN7BX5ggtKSB4aTN32BRnuTcj_W0xS9078YlU/s1600/IMG_2560.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgQ6-vMskUnHaWJV5qxTm8ErYOrppyBac6zWRRQGZVvSUqR4ZuvN9K0yZ9Swa-2L-Zdyhlgo5_zXejhcDfVjEzQiZ50Wlyf-Khq_gZBqN7BX5ggtKSB4aTN32BRnuTcj_W0xS9078YlU/s320/IMG_2560.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531536730893241922" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6ogrV49HzDSL7HiwHtWCPEU19sc1B203SM2xIuDCcceZBC_OZ86gK3KMiuOfbXvVxgvU64XgdQcT6bvBibIeT8JQSGAQ1YgDZFJHnXu5bAEGSTNPUmQdnWuXsIwGf17t1wJk1Cfj5Ok/s1600/IMG_2558.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6ogrV49HzDSL7HiwHtWCPEU19sc1B203SM2xIuDCcceZBC_OZ86gK3KMiuOfbXvVxgvU64XgdQcT6bvBibIeT8JQSGAQ1YgDZFJHnXu5bAEGSTNPUmQdnWuXsIwGf17t1wJk1Cfj5Ok/s320/IMG_2558.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531538454681695938" /></a><br /><br />By Friday they had two cards complete with another on the way. They have orders for a total of ten cards and three or four bookmarks, which they wont have any trouble filling by their deadline of November 9th. They do very well filling orders using the color chart of embroidery threads I made for them back when they were working with <a href="http://www.mushmina.com/">Mushmina</a> making <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/06/t-shirt-order-compete.html">t-shirts</a>. (To see an Al Falah t-shirt for sale click <a href="http://www.mushmina.com/shirts.html">here</a>.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BDIsgyAYRgz6v2TVuAPJ6ZaR4pYthqm9dPVmgogaK7E0IXBHEgj-Q8Lsnhc608FS2Te6_CSt_F09F2E_uh7VVKxrHbTjMj668HA9qcszQ_NVTzJ3C3ONAFbDRQ6eK5uS8euYgX-IQzA/s1600/DSCN3913.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BDIsgyAYRgz6v2TVuAPJ6ZaR4pYthqm9dPVmgogaK7E0IXBHEgj-Q8Lsnhc608FS2Te6_CSt_F09F2E_uh7VVKxrHbTjMj668HA9qcszQ_NVTzJ3C3ONAFbDRQ6eK5uS8euYgX-IQzA/s320/DSCN3913.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531537590549853522" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhSqciNcAyQTgBC3O4D1Axn0jbfFhpHgKPCmPbpxPeNPg7aoPG2scG5kZ42JGdtvdKPh4oG9PjfyIsBS5HOHtzp2ni9SQsXi1DF-JIqEQ9Ojfvk1nlaYpJLJYZwjBeePlsTee95mLYsw/s1600/IMG_2559.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhSqciNcAyQTgBC3O4D1Axn0jbfFhpHgKPCmPbpxPeNPg7aoPG2scG5kZ42JGdtvdKPh4oG9PjfyIsBS5HOHtzp2ni9SQsXi1DF-JIqEQ9Ojfvk1nlaYpJLJYZwjBeePlsTee95mLYsw/s320/IMG_2559.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531540706345919266" /></a><br /><br />I'm really hoping that they will stick with this project and that the next volunteer encourages them to expand their line of paper products. Because greeting cards are not really appealing to the Moroccan market (for the most part), it will be very important that they continue going to craft fairs that cater to a tourist market if they choose to continue with this product line.Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-59469660028914991512010-10-20T04:28:00.001-07:002010-10-20T11:46:30.387-07:00The Sights of Souk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvzpkF8AAUsBCZuYvTQaDlyPsyuIXnzOuCoiGW-vt6kXKxu9uo0RHCPc7UTKuKUxjTA3YkItB_CgGp1f_0stRilz3AvjWamrA05z5duYCgT_CuxM_LQYaVkAoP8rvhJhRPEYlwODPMwM/s1600/DSCN6220.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvzpkF8AAUsBCZuYvTQaDlyPsyuIXnzOuCoiGW-vt6kXKxu9uo0RHCPc7UTKuKUxjTA3YkItB_CgGp1f_0stRilz3AvjWamrA05z5duYCgT_CuxM_LQYaVkAoP8rvhJhRPEYlwODPMwM/s320/DSCN6220.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_55300916152410322" /></a><br /><br />Every Tuesday is Souk day in our town. The American equivalent of souk would probably be a farmer's market. But I'm not sure you'd be able to find a farmer's market quite like this. <br /><br />Like most souks in Morocco, our souk is located on the edge of town, in a large walled off area, featuring grand arched entryways on three sides.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4lOYDvLCf2pb4wTJxSlfZCUYqFD2LsIRmufpd3p2Gnb0ye2W5UiHzjRag5N-UsgyXSFzb2Gpsq8nXLQ8oq3m6Z9asUMEE2HKgNwx9WhfohqtBJ2QJwaqvd9zQuwsFA0rGzNo_nrSbcc/s1600/DSCN6221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4lOYDvLCf2pb4wTJxSlfZCUYqFD2LsIRmufpd3p2Gnb0ye2W5UiHzjRag5N-UsgyXSFzb2Gpsq8nXLQ8oq3m6Z9asUMEE2HKgNwx9WhfohqtBJ2QJwaqvd9zQuwsFA0rGzNo_nrSbcc/s320/DSCN6221.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530090831319749378" /></a><br /><br />Jon wrote a <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-i-love-souq-day.html">very detailed account</a> of what a typical souk day was like for him back in April, 2009. However, it's very difficult to describe the experience that is souk without visuals. So, I will now take you on a walking tour of our souk. <br /><br />After you enter the archway you see tents lined up with people selling everything from used and new clothes, to housewares, to food. The vendors cluster around each other to sell similar items. All the produce is one area, while the used clothing is in another, which is next to the new clothing and across from the housewares, etc. It's actually very organized, though it might not seem like it at first. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRHOw4PDik31VEI-0x_3wKhgLhWanGWm4rorbRXOnOcN0VSjLWpfjpfZTQ0XeahjlgO2fvMiosUl4_he37dOesAeL8HTA3Xs7NiekVwEb9p60RjpvzelLKibuWzaorozSVlEvTz7nP8U/s1600/DSCN6217.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRHOw4PDik31VEI-0x_3wKhgLhWanGWm4rorbRXOnOcN0VSjLWpfjpfZTQ0XeahjlgO2fvMiosUl4_he37dOesAeL8HTA3Xs7NiekVwEb9p60RjpvzelLKibuWzaorozSVlEvTz7nP8U/s320/DSCN6217.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530194729171674306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0BrotMHTv6K36AXnBsNytpuUIbCSlZZVzmxfUreM4yd8xt_DQGmg2TO0IP2AzpCW4BKCa-LGwlYmiYMqzQLSboR-XH7S3pit7zufuL0l1QuGEf17Fsv0Vy2LGgJGXZGl-2VgK_Nf_cc/s1600/DSCN6204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0BrotMHTv6K36AXnBsNytpuUIbCSlZZVzmxfUreM4yd8xt_DQGmg2TO0IP2AzpCW4BKCa-LGwlYmiYMqzQLSboR-XH7S3pit7zufuL0l1QuGEf17Fsv0Vy2LGgJGXZGl-2VgK_Nf_cc/s320/DSCN6204.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530096264401887362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAfD0dCQge9wMTOGWFgGTwhY2-yBXLJoNn0EwLaG47oYYEp94vm2cC7WHaSpN54ee27dbIB4KjYPdN-6ip8ri9CTML3LO_E2MzzTqXBpirC4bNT1rjnnpG5Y7t7g38MzpwEr1bISf_DQ/s1600/DSCN6203.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAfD0dCQge9wMTOGWFgGTwhY2-yBXLJoNn0EwLaG47oYYEp94vm2cC7WHaSpN54ee27dbIB4KjYPdN-6ip8ri9CTML3LO_E2MzzTqXBpirC4bNT1rjnnpG5Y7t7g38MzpwEr1bISf_DQ/s320/DSCN6203.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530093493978839186" /></a><br /><br />These days I go to souk alone and very early, while most vendors are still setting out their wares and pitching their tents. This came about because I began to dislike going at 11 or 12 o'clock, when the sun is very hot and the souk is very crowded. For many people, souk is a time for socializing. It's almost the equivalent to a mall outing for American teenagers; it's a place to be seen. It's almost comical to see souk through the filter of my American eyes. I see girls dressed in their best (and wearing high heels) to wade their way through mud, trash, and excrement; but they look good doing it. <br /><br />I, on the other hand, go to souk for different reasons. I mainly go there to buy produce for the entire week. Though there are a couple of places to buy produce throughout the week, the quality is usually sub-par. I like to go to souk early (about 8am) to beat the crowds, the heat, and to have the best selection of fruits and veggies. <br /><br />Week after week I patronize the same vendors. They know me and I trust them to give me fair prices. Below is my "nut guy." He is my first stop every week and is the person I buy peanuts, almonds, raisins, and garlic from. He always gives me exactly three complementary dates which I eat while he fills my order. Below are pictures of him and his stall. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzHy5oLMma8L41OAzB3XHWaOQvz3LuChYjDkZvDcW5ChMqXZjbF7qRIRVxzQxfAC9FMi6a_tVIVyW3y2RmVCSsNRvHSy2h4uGDvvLkTC8Z-OZuGoDrLZP79NP0jyRrf_upduCtjXtti4/s1600/DSCN6205.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzHy5oLMma8L41OAzB3XHWaOQvz3LuChYjDkZvDcW5ChMqXZjbF7qRIRVxzQxfAC9FMi6a_tVIVyW3y2RmVCSsNRvHSy2h4uGDvvLkTC8Z-OZuGoDrLZP79NP0jyRrf_upduCtjXtti4/s320/DSCN6205.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530189671421456994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt005XFY2tRK2bXgDHfUCc4WmlaVxvJdRGcNfZIr_9Iysx2sNPRCxRxEzZKKbjWEsU6_zsXGlLx3XDNCDkPwgsxKOqurnbLRGy8nG01lsSTMV1mLMtRSv63XY5nWfEWU6Z7YSuFPJNmFs/s1600/DSCN6207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt005XFY2tRK2bXgDHfUCc4WmlaVxvJdRGcNfZIr_9Iysx2sNPRCxRxEzZKKbjWEsU6_zsXGlLx3XDNCDkPwgsxKOqurnbLRGy8nG01lsSTMV1mLMtRSv63XY5nWfEWU6Z7YSuFPJNmFs/s320/DSCN6207.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530190361412193298" /></a><br /><br />After getting my supply of nuts I go to my favorite veggie guy. His stall is big and he has a really great variety of veggies and some fruits, as you can see from the photos below. He has a deaf helper who is very insistent on putting my purchases in plastic bags, though I tell him over and over that I brought my own cloth bags and don't need their plastic ones. They were both very excited to see the pictures I was taking of the veggies...I think they thought I was very odd. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxX8fykusDk7-5FBKxdSt3jQEGQ5HRt9foeUt8ElsDPSDu8j_6R6IA4wop9DAbKh-AJTQC-04pSfag9Yoxx0ia0ltbAK9K-wX-Z0aCtRWL0LVTC99cZetDlnB4nreDGRZNsuLIe0Kxew/s1600/DSCN6209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxX8fykusDk7-5FBKxdSt3jQEGQ5HRt9foeUt8ElsDPSDu8j_6R6IA4wop9DAbKh-AJTQC-04pSfag9Yoxx0ia0ltbAK9K-wX-Z0aCtRWL0LVTC99cZetDlnB4nreDGRZNsuLIe0Kxew/s320/DSCN6209.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530191724892997970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzvffFigU-vSOveLvqPkkTqimoIgMGbj-6SBG8faL2sRiLn500vqG88RpTtyw6Xa6ug4teomkjKY6br3kbirDXZDFvn3-SRO3oBoYwKciauKtGGMd0DBbzeoWg9njDRht1uT_s-YhcY4/s1600/DSCN6210.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzvffFigU-vSOveLvqPkkTqimoIgMGbj-6SBG8faL2sRiLn500vqG88RpTtyw6Xa6ug4teomkjKY6br3kbirDXZDFvn3-SRO3oBoYwKciauKtGGMd0DBbzeoWg9njDRht1uT_s-YhcY4/s320/DSCN6210.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530192303900240242" /></a><br /><br />And as always, the noble donkeys know where to find the tastiest morsels from souk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzOmGJRcRPCA86PN-2sZgQiwFeJdavHe5Y_NV6nKYaC5TSgvNvSxTa4-VNsmf_j75EFIkiUldoass3NtH7oAgq3sePQS36oX8pEdtQ4RLTDzMmn6LwtvCzN6koZTQfGDHN1PhtvuLEV8/s1600/DSCN6223.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzOmGJRcRPCA86PN-2sZgQiwFeJdavHe5Y_NV6nKYaC5TSgvNvSxTa4-VNsmf_j75EFIkiUldoass3NtH7oAgq3sePQS36oX8pEdtQ4RLTDzMmn6LwtvCzN6koZTQfGDHN1PhtvuLEV8/s320/DSCN6223.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530200455562251202" /></a>Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-63068424222712104912010-10-17T04:56:00.001-07:002011-03-22T07:44:25.444-07:00Morocco in CrochetFor the last week or so I've been working on a fun project. It all started with the crochet Moroccan style shoes that I designed several months ago to be made into earrings. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuT32VzlwNIDA6usxwQ0_TMHxAQyuj1TpdNpGAJjgaQTuTLHOXz3GDvjiLC3tuo3sfxD84eavs-ChOm9MkilLkTNBB5WXVDasVPvvxEHW3L1zAlvORS-03oMOKc_zx_RegfxB03w8n33U/s1600/DSCN4302.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuT32VzlwNIDA6usxwQ0_TMHxAQyuj1TpdNpGAJjgaQTuTLHOXz3GDvjiLC3tuo3sfxD84eavs-ChOm9MkilLkTNBB5WXVDasVPvvxEHW3L1zAlvORS-03oMOKc_zx_RegfxB03w8n33U/s320/DSCN4302.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528985748629568530" /></a><br /><br />Then, when some friends came over a couple of weeks ago to visit, the idea of using the shoes for dolls came up. That's when I had the idea to make dolls to go with the shoes...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJHYvoYyt7OIVCyHLHuLTMLg3g1oz81t7jq5C_UCbtOcMWnghfA067UhAOnu7MV6_oAnAuANqIwNMGbgP6LiU2CsbxbxMCxeSbJIMcs3Kfxqztp8vLguPQekKk9VHThsh-6pLtuctZ_A/s1600/IMG_2474.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJHYvoYyt7OIVCyHLHuLTMLg3g1oz81t7jq5C_UCbtOcMWnghfA067UhAOnu7MV6_oAnAuANqIwNMGbgP6LiU2CsbxbxMCxeSbJIMcs3Kfxqztp8vLguPQekKk9VHThsh-6pLtuctZ_A/s320/IMG_2474.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528983727567383970" /></a><br /><br />But I didn't want to stop with just dolls. I wanted accessories! First the shoes needed to be slightly redesigned to fit over the feet. For the boy I made shoes in bright yellow, a traditional color for mens shoes. He also got two hats. One is a white skull style cap (traditionally made in crochet anyway) and the other is a straw hat, usually worn by men while working in the fields. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTmx3_EAKU-SuCJMHEfMktF59_SbKT08jSJ3QqJ-87YGa8UOrGrxDnijOdiCwObGq6eDtDx9EVc6Z2N1ESYw3jbry2EJVRbb8NfND8hBW8LxqyBJQJVJeC9hVh5kvzkcOKW1rLjNH7G8/s1600/IMG_2501.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTmx3_EAKU-SuCJMHEfMktF59_SbKT08jSJ3QqJ-87YGa8UOrGrxDnijOdiCwObGq6eDtDx9EVc6Z2N1ESYw3jbry2EJVRbb8NfND8hBW8LxqyBJQJVJeC9hVh5kvzkcOKW1rLjNH7G8/s320/IMG_2501.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528984971058834674" /></a><br /><br />And for the girl, I made a purse with sequins to match her shoes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnyPgnIien0nqfgsOjJG5y0AO6ZMhToTQUSW57GzAbhB-hBuTdBGqz1hnwpup_Puo73-M78mg3N_tiaDvvcQMCpGarktYNdJglG0FSc-4cLGowInGVqwaTOnnBFik952oz9ehGMDQQXk/s1600/IMG_2502.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnyPgnIien0nqfgsOjJG5y0AO6ZMhToTQUSW57GzAbhB-hBuTdBGqz1hnwpup_Puo73-M78mg3N_tiaDvvcQMCpGarktYNdJglG0FSc-4cLGowInGVqwaTOnnBFik952oz9ehGMDQQXk/s320/IMG_2502.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528991350244028050" /></a><br /><br />Of course they also needed a tajine with some bread so they could have something to eat...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusptGFaPB_4sRcV1ExsZFnMyXz2JH7luZAoKJI9RH3rhWfkSwYoaHGMODy8-QxOpf_Rwi0DZMiijAmB8DIjBQt4pXwOSDVwGyM8LDD3egh8KyG8nNCCADQY96kErWvdWr5t2rUrgp_WY/s1600/IMG_2492.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusptGFaPB_4sRcV1ExsZFnMyXz2JH7luZAoKJI9RH3rhWfkSwYoaHGMODy8-QxOpf_Rwi0DZMiijAmB8DIjBQt4pXwOSDVwGyM8LDD3egh8KyG8nNCCADQY96kErWvdWr5t2rUrgp_WY/s320/IMG_2492.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528988602697074498" /></a><br /><br />I also have a very colorful Moroccan rug in progress for them to sit on while they eat...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBYVn76kIKUTm0LwYjZrSyxGxohqck6lZ-kkkXoV3m-3AZwFh5IolZUlVDansDeCLZ3sLu6Z9C9mAhA6ro3V7QwrP4TvbnuAEOcJcLeCWrGjgyvE0rjC-bXjOAUGXtdiJkLyUN_GvVlM/s1600/IMG_2493.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBYVn76kIKUTm0LwYjZrSyxGxohqck6lZ-kkkXoV3m-3AZwFh5IolZUlVDansDeCLZ3sLu6Z9C9mAhA6ro3V7QwrP4TvbnuAEOcJcLeCWrGjgyvE0rjC-bXjOAUGXtdiJkLyUN_GvVlM/s320/IMG_2493.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528989862541348866" /></a><br /><br />Oh the possibilities are endless with this! Now I want to make pillows, a sheep skin rug, an embroidered table cloth, and of course Jellabas for both girl and boy (maroon for the girl, white for the boy). Have any suggestions for other items I could make? Leave me a comment below. <br /><br />I introduced this project to the girls last Tuesday and they absolutely <span style="font-style:italic;">loved</span> it, especially the tajine! Fatima, the main crocheter of the group was in Rabat all last week, so I can't wait to see what she thinks of all this when I show her tomorrow. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Inspiration:</span><br /><br />There are two or three cooperatives currently working with volunteers who make small dolls. I've always really liked the idea representing Moroccan culture in miniature, especially doll form because dolls are generally made for children and are a great way for young people to learn things, like about a different cultures for instance. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijynB2aVDGDABmTcl5np6EVXzYyd45W9RPGekQ-70CpYyCx4-leGO7Lw6cYm6M85jIyA3wCRQJjWif8k3t6gxhi1oPbSS4oSFRnW7poHwWfHEtjeV-ihx_EaY3EqEddExAL5HHFGGVYd0/s1600/DSCN4622.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijynB2aVDGDABmTcl5np6EVXzYyd45W9RPGekQ-70CpYyCx4-leGO7Lw6cYm6M85jIyA3wCRQJjWif8k3t6gxhi1oPbSS4oSFRnW7poHwWfHEtjeV-ihx_EaY3EqEddExAL5HHFGGVYd0/s320/DSCN4622.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528987061201275570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkqW-aF81VmG90BV8CB35g68b8xnRdFK3UG83ko_SbBNXqriOmw2uHUw1zhe1c6ACyI5UbCBauOqWm0I5WwUFF5h-2n4xCWCbaX9xEEzGZZcIfahVnLqrB3EHiTF7XYQU7X9gmYzmZ-0/s1600/DSCN4655.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkqW-aF81VmG90BV8CB35g68b8xnRdFK3UG83ko_SbBNXqriOmw2uHUw1zhe1c6ACyI5UbCBauOqWm0I5WwUFF5h-2n4xCWCbaX9xEEzGZZcIfahVnLqrB3EHiTF7XYQU7X9gmYzmZ-0/s320/DSCN4655.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528987056516718866" /></a>Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-7110000899920103422010-10-13T05:16:00.000-07:002010-10-14T01:03:58.632-07:00"This Would Not Fly in America" comixEnjoy!<br /><a href="http://cacamamiecritters.blogspot.com/2009/10/recent-ink.html">http://cacamamiecritters.blogspot.com/2009/10/recent-ink.html</a>Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-18060296181736152282010-10-10T10:51:00.001-07:002011-03-22T07:45:32.306-07:0010-10-10<span style="font-weight:bold;">Ten newly finished objects </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20hN5FFZVNP6pd4Nuog2J5Qv8CiGOZmgpdwYu86QhSmQTJ2C0_P6cTE6tbZFDiyIC7M5ytkXT-r6Pky8bKXEH3uuO71E06yJVLenmTM8hOs6o86e9FxQS-5PKlE-kG2COrh6-7pMgYfw/s1600/IMG_2437.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20hN5FFZVNP6pd4Nuog2J5Qv8CiGOZmgpdwYu86QhSmQTJ2C0_P6cTE6tbZFDiyIC7M5ytkXT-r6Pky8bKXEH3uuO71E06yJVLenmTM8hOs6o86e9FxQS-5PKlE-kG2COrh6-7pMgYfw/s320/IMG_2437.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526478919847979922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDqAvF0GZwf0tKtOVe3DjkMaEnD23eDkxhtqej2c_Ei8vOOAP5Dl0WLh8d-bQpQJ17w5KW1NWc4jQxkatKkKPPuJcml7szqtk5OwRMtcQfV-pKv4LKEELSCEAB9b-w_rupzxkzT1FWsg/s1600/IMG_2449.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDqAvF0GZwf0tKtOVe3DjkMaEnD23eDkxhtqej2c_Ei8vOOAP5Dl0WLh8d-bQpQJ17w5KW1NWc4jQxkatKkKPPuJcml7szqtk5OwRMtcQfV-pKv4LKEELSCEAB9b-w_rupzxkzT1FWsg/s320/IMG_2449.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526490345736220242" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ten UFOs</span> (unfinished objects)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbu6fTnB7eaFN9v7OVzzkIDfzL1atLbJo8hVXTa3cVACbFssjxOAPKniTJNXiIL-6-Vz6V6br0Y6yUpCSnQm811Amkw_0_IT7uas2VJl3boYMe4Mv2aKFw-o0LOdpj7KejGiZD4DltxQ/s1600/IMG_2432.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbu6fTnB7eaFN9v7OVzzkIDfzL1atLbJo8hVXTa3cVACbFssjxOAPKniTJNXiIL-6-Vz6V6br0Y6yUpCSnQm811Amkw_0_IT7uas2VJl3boYMe4Mv2aKFw-o0LOdpj7KejGiZD4DltxQ/s320/IMG_2432.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526493457612208338" /></a><br /><br />Ten different crochet coin purses featuring the same flower motif and four colors</span> (also unfinished)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4fKS9jh-WgM9NvO0JoNuXBTnmFwYoMx_uFH4hrAODvrltyRp26LeNvVVSl3Qd4mQu8wr5C3lOuSa_Ui4GK8LNeq37EyM9CpiaKm9WiQ9fpEbsEzJO_YqqyJlSRzWRqAoYA72ztgB6O0/s1600/IMG_2426.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4fKS9jh-WgM9NvO0JoNuXBTnmFwYoMx_uFH4hrAODvrltyRp26LeNvVVSl3Qd4mQu8wr5C3lOuSa_Ui4GK8LNeq37EyM9CpiaKm9WiQ9fpEbsEzJO_YqqyJlSRzWRqAoYA72ztgB6O0/s320/IMG_2426.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526494679569485106" /></a>Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-10596435896321721282010-10-09T11:16:00.000-07:002010-10-09T11:23:49.184-07:00Haiku of the dayneed a crochet break <br />called my mom for her birthday<br />shepherd's pie tastyEmily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-822502028415045602010-10-07T10:37:00.000-07:002010-10-08T00:39:50.024-07:00Close of Service ConferenceLast week was our Close of Service Conference, which means that it's time to start saying good bye. It was really great to see everyone in our staj again. Out of the 29 Small Business Development volunteers that come to Morocco in 2008, 26 of us will finish our service this November. To commemorate the two years that we've spent together, Lisa Payne drew this lovely picture of our entire staj. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4h3BMYuilg79deSxG7DgckRRh3w6PPbLtuq43hcJnWD0vYuiVbOnlI9k7hss1b3iIq2Ri6_ajWeD7Y9h2x4cAtk-mNerFV8rV44UiG87LfHHGjeQX5P33suo9tFikvGOSp9Pg4lHqFc/s1600/IMG_2412.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4h3BMYuilg79deSxG7DgckRRh3w6PPbLtuq43hcJnWD0vYuiVbOnlI9k7hss1b3iIq2Ri6_ajWeD7Y9h2x4cAtk-mNerFV8rV44UiG87LfHHGjeQX5P33suo9tFikvGOSp9Pg4lHqFc/s320/IMG_2412.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525367489358376482" /></a><br /><br />And here we are in the same configuration in photo form. As you can see, Lisa was pretty much spot on with her interpretation of us!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zLmESsec4loJFBgJmYntuKlIkiBy-t_5aPhRirEOoTWsVwxry0DvpLoACWfuJ1w0-W_nLp32wWgKfb_l-nw6lDJTiMO4sDgS5rTytF3pNuUk_PkUeK4_xoNh78s9NMl6wn7xxMlTHrw/s1600/IMG_2271.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zLmESsec4loJFBgJmYntuKlIkiBy-t_5aPhRirEOoTWsVwxry0DvpLoACWfuJ1w0-W_nLp32wWgKfb_l-nw6lDJTiMO4sDgS5rTytF3pNuUk_PkUeK4_xoNh78s9NMl6wn7xxMlTHrw/s320/IMG_2271.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525371174325592978" /></a><br /><br />Top row (from left to right):<br />Jon Lindberg, Mike Lightman, Jonathan Santeliz, Joy Chen, Kristen Apa, Tim Michetti, Rebecca Luhrs<br /><br />2nd row:<br />Emily Lindberg, Jennifer Jae Boyd, Steven Schnelle, Nathaniel Krause, Lynn Dines, April Koury, Courtney Healy (upper), Angie Bertramson (lower), Randy Leisenring (lower), Jared Imse (upper)<br /><br />3rd row: <br />Lisa Payne, Maggie Downey, Colin Huerter, Michael Craig, Dena Thomas, Dan Hudner, Sarah Young, Terra Fuller, Cynthia Berning<br /><br />In addition to the awesome drawing, each SBD volunteer received a superlative. Everyone pitched in with coming up with ones for our fellow stajmates, but I think it was Joy who was the mastermind. She was in charge of gathering them and making sure that everyone had a really good one. More on that later when I get the complete list from Joy.Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-38890691583999674562010-09-27T11:34:00.001-07:002010-09-27T12:04:19.333-07:00Comfort CookiesA couple of hours ago Jon announced that he was in need of some comfort food and suggested that we make chocolate chip cookies with the M&Ms my Uncle Bob and Aunt Sandy sent us a short while ago (all the way from Alaska!). The weather is starting to get cool so it was the perfect time for some cookie making. As you'll see, the recipe makes quite a lot of cookies, so we'll be taking them along to Rabat for the COS conference this week to share. Speaking of which, since we'll be in Rabat we won't be posting any new blog posts for about a week. Enjoy the photos (and the recipe at the end of the post)!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCcKK1lpNXfDLgKQyNIcJ5MyDe0zfPLHuE-wEImZIyhvuBqSu8v0dyDWsqNpaxPpSL0DOMuJ8-VMGTBnjuV60u5Y7-ya-fsZSejv0zWTD8JCZnq8KqeQmqS27Wg_GLTJFJBmjSAoggN4/s1600/IMG_2150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCcKK1lpNXfDLgKQyNIcJ5MyDe0zfPLHuE-wEImZIyhvuBqSu8v0dyDWsqNpaxPpSL0DOMuJ8-VMGTBnjuV60u5Y7-ya-fsZSejv0zWTD8JCZnq8KqeQmqS27Wg_GLTJFJBmjSAoggN4/s320/IMG_2150.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521665979567765618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsn5g0qcF_QTtdFJ4sHQ8Yd731gZR_IPrihnyXE7qJsbNwAM2qqypBBjrmi16vz5T5GPhkWywPHG1zLVg2NzdkBe-fIR2fpD1u4nG7tCZRzFZnccho-RT68MrJLznD5JhM4SZdSwqud0/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsn5g0qcF_QTtdFJ4sHQ8Yd731gZR_IPrihnyXE7qJsbNwAM2qqypBBjrmi16vz5T5GPhkWywPHG1zLVg2NzdkBe-fIR2fpD1u4nG7tCZRzFZnccho-RT68MrJLznD5JhM4SZdSwqud0/s320/IMG_2168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521667135124022770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcMPsWwgZx1_CRxgE_VXYYCyBFxaEj6GZTTlMuc5mTT4v9HbvIHGiurzx3SBwINyjof1LBfAUL7KawtJzFhiHN5IsFl8wEGn2oGZLCYJmuPlIcmOoZMLCB2qgZ0qM4KCNWz6vsdRQrGc/s1600/IMG_2177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcMPsWwgZx1_CRxgE_VXYYCyBFxaEj6GZTTlMuc5mTT4v9HbvIHGiurzx3SBwINyjof1LBfAUL7KawtJzFhiHN5IsFl8wEGn2oGZLCYJmuPlIcmOoZMLCB2qgZ0qM4KCNWz6vsdRQrGc/s320/IMG_2177.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521667859248364834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish2MMAxYNoSuXI_Ns1gbDi9Lds4rCA8lnqrOPhLftIZCb4aOz1LRr09TJ6sw7dRudUn7nWN-2L6cjLXf5nPpPR9juSNgsZwfs4-ugrDtsVMEhXlcZZzMpeKEtsm2MkhmDqZlwO7TvFWg/s1600/IMG_2156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish2MMAxYNoSuXI_Ns1gbDi9Lds4rCA8lnqrOPhLftIZCb4aOz1LRr09TJ6sw7dRudUn7nWN-2L6cjLXf5nPpPR9juSNgsZwfs4-ugrDtsVMEhXlcZZzMpeKEtsm2MkhmDqZlwO7TvFWg/s320/IMG_2156.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521668713554154546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL3tK0Np4jnCTvKgMF7R_WnQFQePGUT2XcG6LQxU3QZbGIYSZDJXXoA4ar0gmfcst_-I5lboe503kzRN2x_v9JzO2FmyUIPI7Bcv7I9EmJTEaYw3n0TTIKVGxiGpX-HKszKH5LdtaHM0/s1600/IMG_2187.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL3tK0Np4jnCTvKgMF7R_WnQFQePGUT2XcG6LQxU3QZbGIYSZDJXXoA4ar0gmfcst_-I5lboe503kzRN2x_v9JzO2FmyUIPI7Bcv7I9EmJTEaYw3n0TTIKVGxiGpX-HKszKH5LdtaHM0/s320/IMG_2187.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521670212320602354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsETAYkUwQzMmAhgv1WWwWGLzzvSlJy0c3QDPLjGfihDriYGUk_ZtZKRHVb8lDVk9c79nqdFtgRGsNAxKWVAHW1KbeJmAln1z9wxeJqpyrH6QRGGoNkJsxdJzbaG36FV2DuxOD31d0Xo/s1600/IMG_2182.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsETAYkUwQzMmAhgv1WWwWGLzzvSlJy0c3QDPLjGfihDriYGUk_ZtZKRHVb8lDVk9c79nqdFtgRGsNAxKWVAHW1KbeJmAln1z9wxeJqpyrH6QRGGoNkJsxdJzbaG36FV2DuxOD31d0Xo/s320/IMG_2182.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521670209060853522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAHl_QCWyUMETkr-4kIEi4HWz-ucxiU9i6gWmUK6XVI76mgJiA095fEYr2KAt4FMizqiD0paabuQ9Wdlo-9XUTpHyR0UBLVXLqzaAg_u307Qr5inXsQDExDfqLbXvtjiJKVqh-SJQWRM/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAHl_QCWyUMETkr-4kIEi4HWz-ucxiU9i6gWmUK6XVI76mgJiA095fEYr2KAt4FMizqiD0paabuQ9Wdlo-9XUTpHyR0UBLVXLqzaAg_u307Qr5inXsQDExDfqLbXvtjiJKVqh-SJQWRM/s320/IMG_2190.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521671017488431394" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Chocolate Chip (or M&M) Cookie Recipe</span><br /><br />2 1/4 cups flour<br />1 t salt<br />3/4 cup sugar<br />1 t vanilla extract<br />2 cups chocolate chips or M&Ms (we used 1 cup and it was plenty!)<br />1 t baking soda (we used baking powder, because Lisa Payne said it was okay)<br />1 c butter, softened <br />3/4 cup packed brown sugar<br />2 eggs<br />1 cup chopped nuts<br /><br />Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a sm bowl. Beat butter, white sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in a lg mixing bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chips and nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 9-11 min or until golden brown. Let stand for 2 min; remove to cool completely.Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-24938052605605329912010-09-25T23:48:00.000-07:002010-09-26T01:27:20.737-07:00To Eat Meat, or Not to Eat MeatThat is the question.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvm1YmbZOiYccaYIweyhh-ev1gozIwBYBevCmdR_3Jrzad0_cYphG0D9SyqyfSd0O38Jcw4qIIPaTbkUmIjBgVvHnHjQCMpdeACK64-_ptSlg6GcGvpx4xAgUITNd309vfyxqUmdsSmg/s1600/IMG_2076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvm1YmbZOiYccaYIweyhh-ev1gozIwBYBevCmdR_3Jrzad0_cYphG0D9SyqyfSd0O38Jcw4qIIPaTbkUmIjBgVvHnHjQCMpdeACK64-_ptSlg6GcGvpx4xAgUITNd309vfyxqUmdsSmg/s320/IMG_2076.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521126600753159490" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">-note-</span> The photos that appear in this post are of the chicken pot pie that Jon lovingly made earlier this week. It feed the two of us for two meals and was delicious! See the bottom of this post to find the recipe he used for the crust (also great for other pies, like apple).</span> <br /><br />This blog post was inspired by a invitee couple who are both vegetarian/vegan. They asked, "Based on your experience, do you believe we will have options other than meat, including the time with host families? Just curious to see if you think this will be a great source of frustration for us." <br /><br />As far as food in general is concerned, Morocco is probably one of the best Peace Corps countries to be sent. Unlike some other countries (like in Sub-Saharan Africa) we have a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. A wider variety than in Ohio in fact. And with the exception of cheese, which is available in larger urban areas, you can find almost everything else you could want in or near even the smallest sites; bread, milk, yogurt, butter, olive oil, eggs, meat, beans, lentils, rice, spaghetti, plenty of spices, dried fruit, nuts, etc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV8ek4Oknq8nRuER8slHrhM1A9I8SipMZAOSTxKM5b1fAQZGCLNYAHab9KlaDHE7ultV29uoFdhoumCfxcYZw1oiT7Dbg7aI9SaBQ1so5lcbsh9GE3Xxk2xyRcp7ZMbqzUDVPCmMJAVg/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV8ek4Oknq8nRuER8slHrhM1A9I8SipMZAOSTxKM5b1fAQZGCLNYAHab9KlaDHE7ultV29uoFdhoumCfxcYZw1oiT7Dbg7aI9SaBQ1so5lcbsh9GE3Xxk2xyRcp7ZMbqzUDVPCmMJAVg/s320/IMG_2080.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521134585712921090" /></a><br /><br />So the short answer is, yes, there are many other options other than meat, and as a married couple you will probably be pressured to eat at other people's houses less often than a single volunteer would once you are living on your own. Though Jon and I are not vegetarians ourselves, we eat meat (usually chicken) rarely (maybe once a month or so) and instead get the majority of our protene from the before mentioned beans, lentils, nuts, eggs, and milk. <br /><br />But lets talk about home stay. For about <span style="font-style:italic;">four months</span> you will be living with two different families. Yes, you can have Peace Corps explain to the families that you are vegetarian/vegan and what you do and do not eat (because you probably wont be able to yourselves with your limited speaking abilities at first), but it might be difficult for the families to fully understand because vegetarians/vegans don't really exist in this culture. <br /><br />There are many reasons why people are vegetarian/vegan and you might want to examine the reasons why you are. Is it because of animal cruelty, global warming, religion, you don't like the idea of eating something that was once alive? And also think about how long you've been a vegetarian/vegan. The reason you might want to do this is because you might want to consider eating meat while you are here, at least for those four months when you are in home stay and going through a lot of <span style="font-style:italic;">other</span> stresses such as learning the language, living with strangers, living in another culture, being stared at, lack of privacy and anonymity, and no mater what, you will likely have an array of GI problems on top of all of this. <br /><br />That said, Peace Corps tries to be as supportive and accomidating as possible to vegetarian/vegan volunteers. Eating meat every day wont be a requirment of your survice, but to fully exsperience the culture, and food is a large part of culture, you might want to at least try it, depending on how you feel about being vegetarian/vegan. If you do decide to "go for it" and eat meat while your here you might want to start getting your body used to it ahead of time so that it is less of a shock. If you decide that you just can't do it, for whatever reason, know that you're not alone, there are other vegetarian/vegan volunteers out there and that you will be supported as much as possible by Peace Corps staff. There is even an entire section in our Peace Corps cook book dedicated to vegetarian main dishes!<br /><br />I hope that this post has been helpful in some way to anyone out there who is a vegetarian/vegan and considering joining Peace Corps. I recommend seeking out volunteers who are currently serving the the country that you have been invited to who are actually vegetarian/vegan, as they will probably be better resources. You can ask your recruter to put you in touch with either current or returned PCVs. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0HgR1zflCBFP73xH15L_VLPGHoaa7tOKSAm_v3MMVyTFGm1iTuV1xoqxe22O3NqEusnjBhmD7rEp2_vngkQYqufo7D_5Yv-dR8FWk6qz0v9a-KOf4gy9zTRsQ4yyRQ_3j5h3v_Hx_kg/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0HgR1zflCBFP73xH15L_VLPGHoaa7tOKSAm_v3MMVyTFGm1iTuV1xoqxe22O3NqEusnjBhmD7rEp2_vngkQYqufo7D_5Yv-dR8FWk6qz0v9a-KOf4gy9zTRsQ4yyRQ_3j5h3v_Hx_kg/s320/IMG_2075.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521135612828929442" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Now for that recipe</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Picture Perfect Pie Crust Recipe</span><br /><br />1 1/8 c flour<br />8 T cold butter, cut into small pieces<br />1 t sugar (optional, best for sweet pies but omit if using for a savory pie)<br />1/2 t salt<br />3 T cold water<br /><br />Combine the flour, salt ,and sugar, then add the butter and blend using your hands until the butter is distributed throughout and the mixture looks like cornmeal. Add the cold water and form into a dough, if it is too dry add more water. Make the dough into a ball, wrap in a plastic bag and flatten it. Place the dough in the freezer for 10 mins to aid in rolling. Roll the dough into a large circle and about 10 inches in diameter, on a large surface, dusting liberally with flour to avoid sticking. Use any ragged edges to repair tears. When finished rolling, place the dough onto the pie plate, press it firmly to the bottom and prick it all over with a fork. If you want to pre-bake the dought, place for 15-20 mmins or until brown in a 350 F oven.Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-46120078392097239552010-09-25T01:32:00.000-07:002010-11-01T00:19:09.547-07:00New Jewelry with Paper BeadsEver since the women at the Al Falah coop learned how to make paper beads out of recycled magazines earlier this month, they've been going bead crazy! I'm so happy (and surprised) how quickly this project has taken off with them, and with only a minimal amount of guidance from me. <br /><br />If there's one thing you can say about these ladies it's that they work great under pressure. They've been working on finishing up all their UFOs (unfinished projects) and making necklaces and bracelets out of their new paper beads so that I can take them to Rabat and hopefully sell them to COSing volunteers. <br /><br />This past week Fatima even traveled to Khemisset to seek out jewelry closures. Way to go Fatima!<br /><br />The following pictures were taken yesterday as the ladies worked on putting the finishing touches on their beaded creations.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrZdsf_nNdkOx864XO3LwFBhS4OEKOm53rb9kurQBhFTF3wfu0dgvDebupzRp8qZHoJoQOOXfheDkaKT3qVzL2tN1YYzCYZRQGzvc8dHg5MTnZUCl784G7CXoC4OiaCynSeX0Oj1dI54/s1600/IMG_2133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrZdsf_nNdkOx864XO3LwFBhS4OEKOm53rb9kurQBhFTF3wfu0dgvDebupzRp8qZHoJoQOOXfheDkaKT3qVzL2tN1YYzCYZRQGzvc8dHg5MTnZUCl784G7CXoC4OiaCynSeX0Oj1dI54/s320/IMG_2133.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520884441482107394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_kE9MBxRPpjWrKT7eHjTWFvpHovqIZnOUnqdig3tpsRS0iSSMOOqCIGE6ZKb1LcKFCpP_TJz3Ab8gOY-WbF6D-CyZT6uZNEU2fue6MLqCmBJ9esZeXp74DqGCZkH4fEZscb8ALhI-H0/s1600/IMG_2135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_kE9MBxRPpjWrKT7eHjTWFvpHovqIZnOUnqdig3tpsRS0iSSMOOqCIGE6ZKb1LcKFCpP_TJz3Ab8gOY-WbF6D-CyZT6uZNEU2fue6MLqCmBJ9esZeXp74DqGCZkH4fEZscb8ALhI-H0/s320/IMG_2135.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520885460176456594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSDdeX0QqBJb7bxEAAcYohkV3BWXkzjUqS2hZd5q94P9hkIHuHXbgombJM83YCfjC_XCvBqTBfFwQDYXuN2vSwtdCWwUEDn15JNd0ToBvNtTvqTd26XTBp5K0KevGMB_E7xTtGfbbO3Q/s1600/IMG_2121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSDdeX0QqBJb7bxEAAcYohkV3BWXkzjUqS2hZd5q94P9hkIHuHXbgombJM83YCfjC_XCvBqTBfFwQDYXuN2vSwtdCWwUEDn15JNd0ToBvNtTvqTd26XTBp5K0KevGMB_E7xTtGfbbO3Q/s320/IMG_2121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520887671609077762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm78vsn41_l_DCGltkxgZbvEqClc4yqbW9BKHsOYFm8tVyP-1SLv7O-qvVM2R8aYY7KOv7pKeFIoZsE-ag1PNc-iw0TLUCYTEBiX79PWSEy9jsPBUrsZPcsrMbo-uEsZTATnia8H8Espg/s1600/IMG_2108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm78vsn41_l_DCGltkxgZbvEqClc4yqbW9BKHsOYFm8tVyP-1SLv7O-qvVM2R8aYY7KOv7pKeFIoZsE-ag1PNc-iw0TLUCYTEBiX79PWSEy9jsPBUrsZPcsrMbo-uEsZTATnia8H8Espg/s320/IMG_2108.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520887672059731154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6YBtUDsR6D98Wwh1-FqlJWrSog2n1QVrpyLwT8TJAx9iGb5qUaLnP1mZsICjw7SaEfR1azvqTvMgyigewdcGuCTSZoS9an_Kv_Lq6ViUdQqmqfvz7cXMTAf8FGr3IShXVolUP61hMl8/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6YBtUDsR6D98Wwh1-FqlJWrSog2n1QVrpyLwT8TJAx9iGb5qUaLnP1mZsICjw7SaEfR1azvqTvMgyigewdcGuCTSZoS9an_Kv_Lq6ViUdQqmqfvz7cXMTAf8FGr3IShXVolUP61hMl8/s320/IMG_2101.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520887669265741410" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Related Posts:</span><br /><a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/09/fun-with-paper-beads.html">Fun With Paper Beads!</a><br /><a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/08/fun-easy-and-cheap-jewlery-projects.html">Fun, Easy, and Cheap Jewelry Projects</a>Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-6672651364929927892010-09-24T02:07:00.000-07:002010-09-24T02:35:00.585-07:00Harvest Moon +1 dayLook closely for Jupiter...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhi7lxKPbUBsqVuLfAAuV8GYgU_CrjlcLFq0oTo9J58BJB_mHlB4z7TfyqUmDxm5jQS8o_rC11Z3bBBVB8VV6VrQyq_aPH9cZpKEDqUL9BM9WFJR0B25M562USqz52YkHi3f92YwpFM8/s1600/IMG_2086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhi7lxKPbUBsqVuLfAAuV8GYgU_CrjlcLFq0oTo9J58BJB_mHlB4z7TfyqUmDxm5jQS8o_rC11Z3bBBVB8VV6VrQyq_aPH9cZpKEDqUL9BM9WFJR0B25M562USqz52YkHi3f92YwpFM8/s400/IMG_2086.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520408839020353234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewCm3krX-ZLptKUZqd6uClUialTUGCdtmnVO2av4w7L8HX6Od8NaZIHRuhQ2cChXCTuiRAVhfpjqcTDrjjE27mCdj3NOgUJbmMJyzmxAoy_xCbpe4WLTpjAZzN0RbqMbrK2v_jiSOQB4/s1600/IMG_2090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewCm3krX-ZLptKUZqd6uClUialTUGCdtmnVO2av4w7L8HX6Od8NaZIHRuhQ2cChXCTuiRAVhfpjqcTDrjjE27mCdj3NOgUJbmMJyzmxAoy_xCbpe4WLTpjAZzN0RbqMbrK2v_jiSOQB4/s400/IMG_2090.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520408834038933442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny_g4pcxEK1xjxAZza8gZ9-SkXAoTEqIJ0uhbcWKXcwp3VlfVgE0U3We4eXIDI0-p4oFQZLlw-QrL6AKROMmNuQwFRvyArfNRpKEenSc9w7qlIpj-JXqkubHR01Pw9fp7OgBdjn2HyrM/s1600/IMG_2093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny_g4pcxEK1xjxAZza8gZ9-SkXAoTEqIJ0uhbcWKXcwp3VlfVgE0U3We4eXIDI0-p4oFQZLlw-QrL6AKROMmNuQwFRvyArfNRpKEenSc9w7qlIpj-JXqkubHR01Pw9fp7OgBdjn2HyrM/s400/IMG_2093.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520408830792633122" /></a><br />And one of his moons...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQviYPv-tNlGUuzfaj4ayrV8ez39vwbDr1ki8YpeXSynDnowCZApSzR7Fg8kIgsatmGkFTh1AVy3cdG2c-AcAC0Q1OLWlQVzbpAPWHAOPfcuq-nm1gBUPeGJwQBOL4zSbiiOg1wpfpfM/s1600/Picture+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQviYPv-tNlGUuzfaj4ayrV8ez39vwbDr1ki8YpeXSynDnowCZApSzR7Fg8kIgsatmGkFTh1AVy3cdG2c-AcAC0Q1OLWlQVzbpAPWHAOPfcuq-nm1gBUPeGJwQBOL4zSbiiOg1wpfpfM/s320/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520409190677036834" /></a>Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-21280986890817701242010-09-24T00:19:00.001-07:002010-09-24T01:33:13.152-07:00Fall Inventory UpdateNow that the Close of Service conference is just 4 days away, the cooperative women are putting the finishing touches on their new products for fall. <br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Embroidered Greeting Cards</span> <br />These beautiful cards made of hand made paper are 8 x 8 cm and embroidered in the signature Fesi style that I've only seen here in Morocco. The cards have an insert of white paper (which is also recycled) for ease of writing and come with a hand made paper envelope. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcodK-6Qo3HYa6H3gtDwY8GoxXS_5Ay8NWkpVNPq7JcdjbBDApP89sRfEUmiULkqdwh8RKaKv-R_obkfNcUyg8wuz2MVoCxdvquJ_-oL9Hfsebgx_1Zyvu5K9IQyMGgB3wU06R_p0P9o/s1600/IMG_2051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcodK-6Qo3HYa6H3gtDwY8GoxXS_5Ay8NWkpVNPq7JcdjbBDApP89sRfEUmiULkqdwh8RKaKv-R_obkfNcUyg8wuz2MVoCxdvquJ_-oL9Hfsebgx_1Zyvu5K9IQyMGgB3wU06R_p0P9o/s320/IMG_2051.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520394678124987090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRCvJ-sEzVeuLSNREE9qs5pppaK-LNB9gOqfuHeR4EUom1dFWUjkHVNc9c4UJ7ee6ptdZIv7KkV8TdXqNu1t2VYFytO7SUaMuceiAQgx03sbI5irJfnidJWJTj57arr-KyhWlzS1YS6k/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRCvJ-sEzVeuLSNREE9qs5pppaK-LNB9gOqfuHeR4EUom1dFWUjkHVNc9c4UJ7ee6ptdZIv7KkV8TdXqNu1t2VYFytO7SUaMuceiAQgx03sbI5irJfnidJWJTj57arr-KyhWlzS1YS6k/s320/IMG_2050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520385442735236146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfIzyMBaS68RcCRCUrH5wnrmtBBvPlbx4iTsFuK8NCjJUo6_cGcVPWEmTmvanUQlJ4Jw868R60F3o8A4X6srCViv97BBBOTqVImEebq724DLxAkpVbvrkg-6AGzgr8yYOm0BNUatpMZE/s1600/IMG_2064.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfIzyMBaS68RcCRCUrH5wnrmtBBvPlbx4iTsFuK8NCjJUo6_cGcVPWEmTmvanUQlJ4Jw868R60F3o8A4X6srCViv97BBBOTqVImEebq724DLxAkpVbvrkg-6AGzgr8yYOm0BNUatpMZE/s320/IMG_2064.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520388914893649234" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">iPod Nano Pouches</span> <br />These fun pouches fit the Nano perfectly and are supper handy when you're on the move with the strap you wear around your neck. You can even tuck the pouch under your shirt for added security if wearing your iPod in public. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfW4ae2UD3Sc_a1LfpUYBeUX48i9J85dEgjChXeh2mfQ8fY1NRPqE0I_sR-OsKpan6VRXkf3wsk6LP8buczmCV_xi3WSztRUcfLOs9gh795JPmi9Svoo2lTMxOLjAif3G9u92ctFHv5pg/s1600/IMG_2060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfW4ae2UD3Sc_a1LfpUYBeUX48i9J85dEgjChXeh2mfQ8fY1NRPqE0I_sR-OsKpan6VRXkf3wsk6LP8buczmCV_xi3WSztRUcfLOs9gh795JPmi9Svoo2lTMxOLjAif3G9u92ctFHv5pg/s320/IMG_2060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520391766625384626" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">iPod Touch Pouches</span><br />This pouch fits the iPod touch perfectly, but can also double as a case for a small digital camera. It comes with a long strap that can be worn over the shoulder for convenience and security. Plus, it's way cooler-looking that those ugly camera cases you buy in the store. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75q7u_aNdyE5h_lWjdwfSDgKwizsbKbI2TQRm0c44T9jOys-S63mhURtzPuNIESoI2s2XG9kxAfoSTeXUBHm3KpLVU2clj-wCU3Y-jTTYqD2sW1UMn6OvZx10N5yaJNwE3B9Eu8ei9IA/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75q7u_aNdyE5h_lWjdwfSDgKwizsbKbI2TQRm0c44T9jOys-S63mhURtzPuNIESoI2s2XG9kxAfoSTeXUBHm3KpLVU2clj-wCU3Y-jTTYqD2sW1UMn6OvZx10N5yaJNwE3B9Eu8ei9IA/s320/IMG_2059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520393099135497058" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Related Posts:</span><br /><a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/09/new-inventory-for-fall-2010.html">New Inventory for Fall, 2010</a> and <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/09/more-new-inventory-for-fall-2010.html"><span style="font-style:italic;">More</span> New Inventory for Fall, 2010</a>Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-17359738344755059742010-09-23T05:28:00.000-07:002010-11-01T00:21:18.451-07:00Get OrganizedThis post is about organizing your workspace on a budget. In my experience, us Small Business Development volunteers often work with groups (cooperatives, associations, individuals) who's work spaces are often dirty, disorganized, and even moldy. Some volunteers are able to secure grants to renovate work and showrooms, like this beautifully redone showroom in Ain Leuh that Randy has been working on. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qZxvMBD_G7OqSU_iquyMbEw8ZxhlCudZAo_VLfBs03i5UlaLnYDVnyHtLLCWHIy41cIJe-NwOdqd-dg9EJ4GWjUTC6-mD7k1ZI_nc_yeDqL7qG741DvfoupuoiGZqW0o4JWa_ho8s-E/s1600/IMG_1885.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qZxvMBD_G7OqSU_iquyMbEw8ZxhlCudZAo_VLfBs03i5UlaLnYDVnyHtLLCWHIy41cIJe-NwOdqd-dg9EJ4GWjUTC6-mD7k1ZI_nc_yeDqL7qG741DvfoupuoiGZqW0o4JWa_ho8s-E/s320/IMG_1885.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520180106735453570" /></a><br />This is a great option for towns and villages, even small ones, who see a good amount of traffic from tourists or locals willing to buy their products. But for some groups this isn't the case. They still need to keep finished projects clean for future craft fairs and know where to find their tools, but making it look super nice is not that important. So why not use what you have to get organized? <br /><br />For the last two years I've cringed at my coops' "method" of organization. Basically, they have a big heavy desk with 4 missing drawers out of six where they keep <span style="font-style:italic;">everything</span> from paperwork (which they have tons of) to crochet hooks and knitting needles, to embroidery thread, to pens, and so on and so on. Finished projects get "displayed" on tables along one wall where they gather dust and get grimy, while some of the new tools and materials that I've introduced in the last two years (<a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/06/paper-making-tutorial-part-1.html">paper making supplies</a>, magazines, <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/04/marche-marrakech-products.html">craft fair displays</a>, etc.) have no home at all. <br /><br />So on Tuesday, I decided to do something about it. I first had the idea of making a sort of peg board where they could hang tools from nails and have easy access to them. But when I was cleaning my house this Tuesday I decided to go a different route and use just stuff that I already had. <br /><br />We had a very ugly, kinda rickety, bamboo shelf from the previous volunteer that became completely moldy before we even moved out of home stay. Though we tried multiple times to scrub it with bleach, we just couldn't keep the mold at bay. So it ended up living on our roof, exposed to all elements for about a year and a half until I finally decided that it was "weathered" enough and brought it back inside to use. <br /><br />With the shelf as my base for the "organization station" I took some scraps of vinyl from the <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/09/about-marche-maroc.html">Marché Maroc</a> banner and made shelf liners. We had a few plastic baskets that we don't really use, so I put one on the top shelf and filled it with empty glass food jars that the women can use to separate their new <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/09/fun-with-paper-beads.html">paper beads</a>. Finally, I cut the tops off of four plastic bottles and secured the bottom cup-like containers to the bamboo frame to store things like the for mentioned crochet hooks, knitting needles, pens, rulers, scissors, etc. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifEsKjBQhT0lURmcM9KST8b56URVNCnKEeuPoQYfV7C4ouTOl4K94JG3ALAOVk9H0zI81yjeq5hWzpqfALJZC9Kuq_acB9HJpkWmPt6p7G30mdeF6kZnB8wxq37Rdh0GgQLq3wHHCgdY/s1600/IMG_2048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifEsKjBQhT0lURmcM9KST8b56URVNCnKEeuPoQYfV7C4ouTOl4K94JG3ALAOVk9H0zI81yjeq5hWzpqfALJZC9Kuq_acB9HJpkWmPt6p7G30mdeF6kZnB8wxq37Rdh0GgQLq3wHHCgdY/s320/IMG_2048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520173656047253922" /></a><br />It was really easy to make and got a lot of laughs when I took it to the Artisana, but it does the job so I don't really care what it looks like. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU9nWx_Q2tGDcw5kS6wwFdrTyGEKkYqFyKq6C9jhFWHoGNPWlzCrrCIaR5WYV22iMoUVoH8JykQCuDMrZpFZZ85ReKIyipLIYxXNY5mCiSMuTAgTORQG_mR76C8xBo2znsZFtvfV3XgI/s1600/IMG_2052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU9nWx_Q2tGDcw5kS6wwFdrTyGEKkYqFyKq6C9jhFWHoGNPWlzCrrCIaR5WYV22iMoUVoH8JykQCuDMrZpFZZ85ReKIyipLIYxXNY5mCiSMuTAgTORQG_mR76C8xBo2znsZFtvfV3XgI/s320/IMG_2052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520175073875545330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1blkrrHr6KsLV4mqPrEq7QHxhEvp3Er0aqh8-H-vWMq5-Y4C4hD6294cVgRVyGxLWKGbsD0SX3grn1WmZmzh934Spv9i7X7ndFEbYMfNulDLvLdO4mMUOuLrHg674S8d1oUvtGn6Ukg/s1600/IMG_2054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1blkrrHr6KsLV4mqPrEq7QHxhEvp3Er0aqh8-H-vWMq5-Y4C4hD6294cVgRVyGxLWKGbsD0SX3grn1WmZmzh934Spv9i7X7ndFEbYMfNulDLvLdO4mMUOuLrHg674S8d1oUvtGn6Ukg/s320/IMG_2054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520175979583893618" /></a><br />I want to show the members of the coop that it doesn't take a lot of money to get organized and I'd <span style="font-style:italic;">really</span> like to see them come up with stuff like this on their own, but that might be a bit in the future. <br /><br />If you are a volunteer facing an organization problem I urge you to try to find creative and inexpensive solutions.Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-83983831345382929472010-09-20T05:07:00.000-07:002011-03-22T07:51:26.625-07:00More New Inventory for Fall, 2010Just thought I'd share some more pictures of recently completed crochet coin purses from the Al Falah Cooperative. If you are a 2nd year YD or SBD volunteer you will have a chance to purchase these and other products from AL Falah at the COS conference next week. <br /><br />Here's a coin purse in a really nice maroon and camel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiQWxESUTMbAr5TWqlTi3oOOosWcOY5wa-6T6W4sKcUWYwxtpX7ERv6vVYn5lywtikj7uW1AfftMU9l-7bc9erPU_zp3o9U7X93OT7koLjFJpYfB9gTQvAOkJaSe2XBxrZ0vIYW351hA/s1600/IMG_2025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiQWxESUTMbAr5TWqlTi3oOOosWcOY5wa-6T6W4sKcUWYwxtpX7ERv6vVYn5lywtikj7uW1AfftMU9l-7bc9erPU_zp3o9U7X93OT7koLjFJpYfB9gTQvAOkJaSe2XBxrZ0vIYW351hA/s320/IMG_2025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518968093635653282" /></a><br />And here is a double pocket coin purses in the same color pallet. I just love the puffy quality of this style of crochet, it gives it some extra texture. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYWNjXQ2uSKc56cOk9Ow51X-1an6_X9LuCJ3QtRZTmVzaEJ8h8os9ZCkkzQx6io19SDfXKHFxFZwWfA5K7Yd6PyFpnH7cvqXfQcvw7Hccdn2ISHddXwCaHJh7o_PxBgSpFTkZVja6544/s1600/IMG_2014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYWNjXQ2uSKc56cOk9Ow51X-1an6_X9LuCJ3QtRZTmVzaEJ8h8os9ZCkkzQx6io19SDfXKHFxFZwWfA5K7Yd6PyFpnH7cvqXfQcvw7Hccdn2ISHddXwCaHJh7o_PxBgSpFTkZVja6544/s320/IMG_2014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518969986863198930" /></a><br />Here's a couple new purses with the Tifinakht letter "Z." These would be really great for the tween in your life.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7Zj2Eh6Kz8X0WjVxjqrZq4e0_mFOk5B8X1zARKHcAIfsBivMYtNnOw3FYM1srUC4cN6NF4W1C782bgOHo2Yx_imFn1UYcgPNKTHjoUPWifViW4DPyXD0qNNNwAKwjpN8eO4GnHaQ6Xk/s1600/IMG_2022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7Zj2Eh6Kz8X0WjVxjqrZq4e0_mFOk5B8X1zARKHcAIfsBivMYtNnOw3FYM1srUC4cN6NF4W1C782bgOHo2Yx_imFn1UYcgPNKTHjoUPWifViW4DPyXD0qNNNwAKwjpN8eO4GnHaQ6Xk/s320/IMG_2022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518971134764728050" /></a><br />And here is a stack of unfinished coin purses. I can't wait to see these completed!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQTZ2VGeZo5OGYWV0HeaMce9AcXFnn9dyOSzCtrZCxO9pCpbGff8Z5DdlT9mTNtLIfjUbbq5r24F3Adr2kVKu5MSbqJb2mkpZbZmHoq2gxejiqbR4CQDfJK6m0EpedROSR6YI18Xa_4A/s1600/IMG_2033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQTZ2VGeZo5OGYWV0HeaMce9AcXFnn9dyOSzCtrZCxO9pCpbGff8Z5DdlT9mTNtLIfjUbbq5r24F3Adr2kVKu5MSbqJb2mkpZbZmHoq2gxejiqbR4CQDfJK6m0EpedROSR6YI18Xa_4A/s320/IMG_2033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518972273597634850" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Related posts:</span><br /><a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/09/new-inventory-for-fall-2010.html">New Inventory for Fall 2010</a>Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-88212726317035504032010-09-18T12:15:00.001-07:002011-03-22T07:52:19.606-07:00New Inventory For Fall 2010Here are some of the crochet coin purses that the Al-Falah Womens' Cooperative have been working on recently. I will bring them with me to our COS conference and medicals, and they will be available for sale at that time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivl6utqZ8Oh0BRgsORlHAx3jogJiH03tj54tl4D69N3MFaLgQjLdRJgSXjjNyVyE03KJgDgZ3bQ2jI8Ynnhqax_QahptXPEBwVuz5UBEB_dZB2R0te_Tc5DDzfYYGu3j7ShzW2c_brhOc/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivl6utqZ8Oh0BRgsORlHAx3jogJiH03tj54tl4D69N3MFaLgQjLdRJgSXjjNyVyE03KJgDgZ3bQ2jI8Ynnhqax_QahptXPEBwVuz5UBEB_dZB2R0te_Tc5DDzfYYGu3j7ShzW2c_brhOc/s320/IMG_1973.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518338814070298402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBR8ag-xNyoAAN31EncblulfCoXZYgx2yHHKLFqaiTsf2JCssIwgvxxGhBUbhFel6at1HHwz_GNA4aBTQkzm2szsZBvS4sBVu6Rgj6VTiWVbRtOVvee6IIaRB24L1EXRaHMh_1I1lzFmk/s1600/IMG_1969.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBR8ag-xNyoAAN31EncblulfCoXZYgx2yHHKLFqaiTsf2JCssIwgvxxGhBUbhFel6at1HHwz_GNA4aBTQkzm2szsZBvS4sBVu6Rgj6VTiWVbRtOVvee6IIaRB24L1EXRaHMh_1I1lzFmk/s320/IMG_1969.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518343651607671698" /></a><br /><br />Cell phone purses, featuring a berber letter on one side and various geometric shapes on the other, are only 30 DH each.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1uYSe4nocZwMZ8GAAFjsso1INb_AhizHaIgJu5aqztcYK4ItwKILMlQ7XgzhyvihES4ERn63Xzj3wGAOI3VBl4POriUl1GxRrtlWtJblhyphenhyphenk6qfd2qv7s3rf8oINTEm1eQfSmk_0_riA/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1uYSe4nocZwMZ8GAAFjsso1INb_AhizHaIgJu5aqztcYK4ItwKILMlQ7XgzhyvihES4ERn63Xzj3wGAOI3VBl4POriUl1GxRrtlWtJblhyphenhyphenk6qfd2qv7s3rf8oINTEm1eQfSmk_0_riA/s320/IMG_1981.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518340254259618914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3qlyVDl9okslwLwadruaIqSxLKWnXaXWgOHt1z3fcVYUEx_c25QAFyrDcBYPCfwYv8visvh2IcFs9z45I_v6WWcAWwKAelo9PxwhPKKggaTWpuT-UaieYaSM5pwCUduhFQeKV81l3tM/s1600/IMG_1950.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3qlyVDl9okslwLwadruaIqSxLKWnXaXWgOHt1z3fcVYUEx_c25QAFyrDcBYPCfwYv8visvh2IcFs9z45I_v6WWcAWwKAelo9PxwhPKKggaTWpuT-UaieYaSM5pwCUduhFQeKV81l3tM/s320/IMG_1950.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518340264097070146" /></a><br /><br />Small round coin purses, featuring designs on both sides will also be sold for just 30 DH each.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TneABbPlQV2bu-Nplc8KhW7gbFCFrYCR1bbPtuaw4Nxk6YQBzoXi4YAJHx298o-us_YntcAWzTYHfXO6Sqqq_p4SiCv1-5kITICU1lwaKzgJoe27GnqlHZiXTLS58Nrf1bq3mS02YlU/s1600/IMG_1943.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TneABbPlQV2bu-Nplc8KhW7gbFCFrYCR1bbPtuaw4Nxk6YQBzoXi4YAJHx298o-us_YntcAWzTYHfXO6Sqqq_p4SiCv1-5kITICU1lwaKzgJoe27GnqlHZiXTLS58Nrf1bq3mS02YlU/s320/IMG_1943.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518342447525891618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_sT5VH7aQIA31OchhLhIPQz-uXS9DEdn_csbKxOwEOrRc7ocJJpIoXE7EuyLiDcHsnr1s9jAMer21rFOLRirBV92iV1kTVh8gNsbXOhQ4SdYzTpfMzO_gB4xk2f-PZMNvYlGcSU0W7A/s1600/IMG_1935.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_sT5VH7aQIA31OchhLhIPQz-uXS9DEdn_csbKxOwEOrRc7ocJJpIoXE7EuyLiDcHsnr1s9jAMer21rFOLRirBV92iV1kTVh8gNsbXOhQ4SdYzTpfMzO_gB4xk2f-PZMNvYlGcSU0W7A/s320/IMG_1935.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518342438991321586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5e2qwPB6jQXfbq0Re3vaP6oD9cenzJkFv9p098K3z1VXTEndvqVFJYY4aKdxzXyV4IVfVolcOZauY4ATw5hvUVYfcUEoz7CDv3zZwPcOY-4BanUY-0K1xeRVuaF_S2cMDnWUXk08Gfhk/s1600/IMG_1987.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5e2qwPB6jQXfbq0Re3vaP6oD9cenzJkFv9p098K3z1VXTEndvqVFJYY4aKdxzXyV4IVfVolcOZauY4ATw5hvUVYfcUEoz7CDv3zZwPcOY-4BanUY-0K1xeRVuaF_S2cMDnWUXk08Gfhk/s320/IMG_1987.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518344348208443362" /></a><br /><br />And two-pocket round coin purses will be sold for 40 DH each. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalxxeIrOOgiaPuq4X8rMBDhm2pqU8bYXElETShw6wn-i1rRpS2zMfRdZrLkkYKgBXqw2fmhWchcZswuWf6Y2mS7IRukHv6HkgOtya2Si2BiyWhwQXtDzynA_mSn53JFjjnqmk9BkneiI/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalxxeIrOOgiaPuq4X8rMBDhm2pqU8bYXElETShw6wn-i1rRpS2zMfRdZrLkkYKgBXqw2fmhWchcZswuWf6Y2mS7IRukHv6HkgOtya2Si2BiyWhwQXtDzynA_mSn53JFjjnqmk9BkneiI/s320/IMG_1983.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518345117245006034" /></a><br /><br />*Please note that some of these photos feature purses that do not yet have zippers attached. All coin purses and cell phone purses will have a zippered closure.Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-78025759816019797642010-09-17T09:02:00.000-07:002010-09-17T14:48:09.023-07:00Top ten memories of Morocco: EmilyYesterday, Jon posted his <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/09/top-ten-memories-of-morocco-jon.html">top ten memories of Morocco</a>, and wanted me to do the same. I will say that we came up with our lists completely independently of each other and I haven't yet read what he's written, (which is killing me) and that's why I was so motivated to come up with my "top ten" as soon as possible. It was a little hard to narrow it down to ten, and most of my favorite memories happened over several days, weeks, or months. I've arranged my list in roughly chronological order.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Our first Eid Kabir</span><br />For our first Eid Kabir we were still in home stay. We had seen pictures of Eid kabirs from other volunteers, so we had an idea of what to expect...the sheep slaughter in particular. The morning of Eid felt very much like any big holiday back in the States. We got dressed up and went over to Rachida's mother's house to visit and eat sweets then went back home to prepare for the festivities. The sheep was brought to the roof were we had the chance to look it in the eye for a few hours, knowing it's fate. Our host mom, Rachida, started the mijmare (small grill) that we'd use to cook the organ meat right after the slaughter. The mijmare is fueled by charcoal and is quite tricky to get going. As luck would have it it started to rain, so we moved indoors; grill, sheep and all. Since a woman isn't allowed to kill the sheep and our host brother was either still too young or inexperienced or both, a man came over to do the job. The sheep was killed over the bathroom toilet, so that it's blood would flow down the drain. We all gathered around the doorway to watch, but I started to feel sick to my stomach so I turned away after a while. After the sheep was skinned and the organs removed, our brother started grilling them over the mijmar in the living room, filling the house with smoke and causing our smoke detector to go off. My eyes became so irritated from the smoke that I had to stand by an open window. The organ meat was wrapped in fat, seasoned with salt, pepper, and cumin, and eaten with bread. It's was one of the most delicious meals I've ever had here!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHhyqXmJ6uOJHAGMZm5R4tmEVUouv8BLMN45VNeTEkJIPRF8ZpcyjT6LoNrNe6QUOKn4QeJY9oG8Fyc_xABoJBJVy0PXzNtOiUgSHIs_ESwx02DLSoB9cQ3O86vEP8CKHHdTqMiQDbgo/s1600/DSCN8474.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHhyqXmJ6uOJHAGMZm5R4tmEVUouv8BLMN45VNeTEkJIPRF8ZpcyjT6LoNrNe6QUOKn4QeJY9oG8Fyc_xABoJBJVy0PXzNtOiUgSHIs_ESwx02DLSoB9cQ3O86vEP8CKHHdTqMiQDbgo/s320/DSCN8474.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517918611128425122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVoSaNrazhZSdhyphenhyphenDd8dZb7_s1c9wY9mcZsyiQ_WQofjR4w91ccyQtlii9ZvYR5n9ujZb2t4QHKMDsOjbC2RkTrh00t60dswQ2AaFSrHJF7QwW6wVNeiVOKoYrTvsrMojG8idJ_tP7sxc/s1600/DSCN8519.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVoSaNrazhZSdhyphenhyphenDd8dZb7_s1c9wY9mcZsyiQ_WQofjR4w91ccyQtlii9ZvYR5n9ujZb2t4QHKMDsOjbC2RkTrh00t60dswQ2AaFSrHJF7QwW6wVNeiVOKoYrTvsrMojG8idJ_tP7sxc/s320/DSCN8519.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517920108134496066" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Trip to Merzouga and the Todra Gorge with fellow PCVs</span><br />This was a trip that happened fairly early on in our service, in March 2009. It was our first time in the southern region of Morocco, so the landscape alone was something completely foreign to us. It was a pretty typical trip I guess you can say and we did the same things that many other volunteers have done. We rode camels in Merzouga to a Berber camp site were we spent the night and climbed at least part way up the big dune and looked at the stars. In Todra we hiked up to the top of the gorge where we were rewarded with a beautiful view (and Jon was rewarded with a shoe shine, but that's a different story). It was a great opportunity to see the parts of Morocco that I tend to enjoy more...the smaller towns and rural areas. They beat Marrakesh and Fes any day. There was a core group of four volunteers that went, with others meeting up and leaving along the way, but always great company. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd637kXL_LZ0ZNhltZnkr1MZ1ksGAgNEy0hLNHyHrfJPubfLL0Yta_BBDvRMafTJ7qUf4G9fDoJ70uHa6m2Bt1G32lKEno1vcPc51Yy08i4OFr3N6cANw0kezGZglN6tjBN2iWrN0y3J0/s1600/DSCN9413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd637kXL_LZ0ZNhltZnkr1MZ1ksGAgNEy0hLNHyHrfJPubfLL0Yta_BBDvRMafTJ7qUf4G9fDoJ70uHa6m2Bt1G32lKEno1vcPc51Yy08i4OFr3N6cANw0kezGZglN6tjBN2iWrN0y3J0/s320/DSCN9413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517921138007580914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvA5JkHrZMKnwHkecevVKGC-7LRRsj9ygGi69m6GOLtuk0M1sIh7ihSidxiz2He_G9hicP5Y4GJCLQlG0QvVU9NihbmTTWwPTNm9Af2ELu6VJDBSwcn2_3XpE48JyEUhFL9X37A-UONc/s1600/DSCN9508.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvA5JkHrZMKnwHkecevVKGC-7LRRsj9ygGi69m6GOLtuk0M1sIh7ihSidxiz2He_G9hicP5Y4GJCLQlG0QvVU9NihbmTTWwPTNm9Af2ELu6VJDBSwcn2_3XpE48JyEUhFL9X37A-UONc/s320/DSCN9508.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517922306774775314" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Spring Camp 2009</span><br />It was a crazy week of teaching English and art classes, playing unusual games, dancing, getting up early and going to bed WAY too late. Some highlights include;<br />One very intense game of ultimate Frisbee<br />Seeing one of the girls from my English class singing "The Hokie Pokie" to herself as she walked to lunch.<br />Singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" at the talent show with the other PCV counselors. <br />Learning circus tricks along with the kids<br />Attending one of the aerobics classes with all the teenage girls<br />Dressing up as a pirate for the costume party<br />Attending the awards ceremony the last night that lasted until 2 in the morning!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XE3aGhUD_kLy4h2LGKGphzZqxVFFOzE37_8VUFKpD8wfFdBNztT7nAvGZegbUsPGl8gcGkriEk4wr5B_UQTbIJVuJh3rNrJloSAdLSXwgRdmotx72j7NmrTALUiaSd0YBSJSISAhVhY/s1600/IMG_2709.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XE3aGhUD_kLy4h2LGKGphzZqxVFFOzE37_8VUFKpD8wfFdBNztT7nAvGZegbUsPGl8gcGkriEk4wr5B_UQTbIJVuJh3rNrJloSAdLSXwgRdmotx72j7NmrTALUiaSd0YBSJSISAhVhY/s320/IMG_2709.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517923089561505474" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Paper making project</span><br />The paper making project has been an odyssey. From coming up with the idea, to constructing the mold and deckle, to gathering the materials, to teaching the women, to coming up with products to make out of it...it's been a long long process. To read more about the paper making project click <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/06/paper-making-tale.html">here</a> and <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/06/paper-making-tutorial-part-1.html">here</a>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv01SBviKPj7qW5v3neQu6K-klnctmOrJRcqIS1gH5je4_G8xfO9mUDBqcREJEnTlagqQuHc4bF5V0lsG8dTShvYqY8sPOvPR6rL6y0zYny2xJxLBQgYwA8eCLH1egme1fvJPJl714V4/s1600/DSCN4914.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv01SBviKPj7qW5v3neQu6K-klnctmOrJRcqIS1gH5je4_G8xfO9mUDBqcREJEnTlagqQuHc4bF5V0lsG8dTShvYqY8sPOvPR6rL6y0zYny2xJxLBQgYwA8eCLH1egme1fvJPJl714V4/s320/DSCN4914.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517923777846937858" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Learning to speak and write in a different language </span><br />Learning Darija was one of the hardest things I've ever done and something I'm glad that I had the opportunity to do. By the time I reached my mid 20s I thought I'd never have the chance to learn a second language, but here I am. I give all the credit of any language success to final tutor, Salima, who started teaching me in June, 2009. She was patient, persistent, and a great teacher. She taught me how to write in <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2009/07/trials-and-tribulations-of-script.html">Arabic Script</a>, and that really helped me with my pronunciation. Plus, it's really cool to be able to write things for my ladies and decipher signs. Though I feel self conscience about my language skills most of the time, it's nice when a complete stranger overhears me speaking to a shop keeper and strikes up a conversation with me because she can't believe how well I speak Arabic, which happened yesterday. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvdk7oOgrIR3vHPDB0z5Y7ZuqwSmu6Ty4CheqONq20UottJjmsjhno03XFToMCUdabuHlBNXnV2atY5TjxG7QmBM7azm6MDl0SS-zMYm_r75yNJEC_FqiDezPXUq0vxjY1mAINSKue9g/s1600/DSCN2189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvdk7oOgrIR3vHPDB0z5Y7ZuqwSmu6Ty4CheqONq20UottJjmsjhno03XFToMCUdabuHlBNXnV2atY5TjxG7QmBM7azm6MDl0SS-zMYm_r75yNJEC_FqiDezPXUq0vxjY1mAINSKue9g/s320/DSCN2189.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517928931456419682" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Day at the beach near Asilah</span><br />On a long holiday weekend during Ramadan in August 2009, Jon and I met up with several other volunteers, mostly from our staj, in Asilah, a coastal town in the north. On one of the days we took a trip to a place called Paradise Beach, just a few miles from town. We arrived early in the morning to find the most expansive, empty beach I've ever seen, and since it was the first or second day of Ramadan, it was practically empty. The tide was out and the sand was smooth and free of trash. We spent the day exploring the rocks, chasing seagulls, riding the waves on boogie boards, and lounging around under sun umbrellas reading. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP_0rFE2wT8A-sPn5XwiKIc8RXJgYOXHdg4nMHq8vX74h9BZaN8w512cDX6jzJPKfJYaUZcWa-hJADq5xE_qMYbD8k1UaZKtobCAMw3bNjSvOL-urwznX3gVbi1B9Hnk2-tES4zhOqaA/s1600/IMGP1855.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP_0rFE2wT8A-sPn5XwiKIc8RXJgYOXHdg4nMHq8vX74h9BZaN8w512cDX6jzJPKfJYaUZcWa-hJADq5xE_qMYbD8k1UaZKtobCAMw3bNjSvOL-urwznX3gVbi1B9Hnk2-tES4zhOqaA/s320/IMGP1855.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517924903567518882" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ain LeuH </span><br />This might be cheating, but I have three wonderful memories of Ain LeuH. The first was back in August, 2009 when we went there to participate in an Environment camp. The camp had many challenges but it was a great opportunity to meet with other volunteers and work with some really great kids. It was also when we first discovered Ain LeuH's treasure trove of blackberries and I made jam for the first time ever. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8hyphenhyphen_Oz7pSE4gGJfP79yZgWdS-ZZbTAd-hoGP61Nqsda55QJrI5YHhMjP3ozg3kloaWBUWvJAbYTY-QlgRxGS5j4Ojj3qGJRSgRVmqyvz5w3_azFljq1v6uBsSfFu2GAk37hSF5iNWJo/s1600/DSCN1470.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8hyphenhyphen_Oz7pSE4gGJfP79yZgWdS-ZZbTAd-hoGP61Nqsda55QJrI5YHhMjP3ozg3kloaWBUWvJAbYTY-QlgRxGS5j4Ojj3qGJRSgRVmqyvz5w3_azFljq1v6uBsSfFu2GAk37hSF5iNWJo/s320/DSCN1470.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517925780071490994" /></a><br /><br />The Next time we went to Ain LeuH was for Christmas, 2009. It was pouring down rain on Christmas Eve as we made our way there from taxi to taxi. By the time we arrived we were soaked to the bone, but we were greatly rewarded. Randy's house (the volunteer who lives there) was warm, cozy and welcoming. Lisa and two of her friends from the US came as well and we spent the next two days making and eating delicious food, listening to Christmas music, and playing Scrabble. I made hand-knit Christmas gifts for everyone there and Santa even came and filled our stockings with treats. It was the most low-key, unstressfull Christmas I ever had, and although I missed my family back home, it was a wonderful experience. The picture below of Jon and Randy was taken the day after Christmas, as you can see, it ended up being a beautiful weekend. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw-2NpXPl0daYzV6pugt-uQYUXvEdXGjPI3ir9GUykPsoFxu23G9qM4RW1c3sF7dFsV1DYvGEpcY5dzkWFifBHbY_CZy3Ef-Q85iq5ppWqE61WUkH8__L6GqphJmValClw6VpwuK4l28/s1600/DSCN3825.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw-2NpXPl0daYzV6pugt-uQYUXvEdXGjPI3ir9GUykPsoFxu23G9qM4RW1c3sF7dFsV1DYvGEpcY5dzkWFifBHbY_CZy3Ef-Q85iq5ppWqE61WUkH8__L6GqphJmValClw6VpwuK4l28/s320/DSCN3825.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517926459514421522" /></a><br /><br />Most recently we went back to Ain LeuH two more times in the last month for workshops and more <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/09/blackberry-cookies.html">blackberry picking</a>. The site is beautiful and there is nothing better than getting up at 6 o'clock to pick some berries before anyone is out and the sun gets hot. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Marché Maroc</span><br />This again is a bit of a cheating response because there have been three Marché Maroc craft fairs, and I've enjoyed all of them. The best part of these craft fairs was seeing how much Fatima and Hefida grew and learned from their experiences attending them and how much fun they had each time. My work is a very important part of what I'm doing here (well, duh), but sometimes it's hard to pin point a specific time that was "memorable." It's the little things that happen on a daily basis that seem to add up, but the craft fairs gave me the chance to look back on my work here and see the bigger picture. For more on Marché Maroc, <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/09/about-marche-maroc.html">check out this post</a>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqn4nDc8W9_5f9-BC_annNx2xHSK7L5f4LxtXFuHLMNWC2VwTyTAajh75-zq1NhZTknEBpuNIw1ToOLKjzKu5md9rB979i2hd4rRoNh8cHHaKmvwt4ilUbKZWX3LZowQwkVdbsaj3s74/s1600/DSCN4838.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqn4nDc8W9_5f9-BC_annNx2xHSK7L5f4LxtXFuHLMNWC2VwTyTAajh75-zq1NhZTknEBpuNIw1ToOLKjzKu5md9rB979i2hd4rRoNh8cHHaKmvwt4ilUbKZWX3LZowQwkVdbsaj3s74/s320/DSCN4838.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517927170364499346" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Learning Fesi embroidery</span><br />From early on in my service, I have been particularly interested in a specific style of embroidery made here in Morocco called "Fesi" Embroidery. Shortly before our Mid Service Medicals in December, 2009, I decided to ask the women at the cooperative to teach me how to do it. I do a lot of mini workshops with the women to teach them different crochet techniques, so it was nice to change roles and be the student for a while. Since my work primarily consists of product development and quality control, it was very helpful for me to learn the "right" way to do this embroidery and better understand the labor that's involved. Since I'm about the same age as the coop members I think it was good for them to see that I'm not afraid to try new things and therefore it's never too late for them to learn something new. In fact, after I started doing my embroidery sampler one of the coop members who didn't do fesi embroidery decided that she wanted to learn too! It took about four months, but I finally completed the sampler. For more on Fesi embroidery check out <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/06/about-new-banner-photo.html">this</a> and <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/06/t-shirt-order-compete.html">this</a>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyciHtB9ZWrcynK63SNCH4fsDef_kmx5JGAK3CcmHKia9Gl8cIAd2327PZXSSz-GlB6ZiGxius0fvgEIOK7wUjy_EfppnsJfYlQZxhnGB43QuzM1BZktfr01Fgf9Nrz4zgDHcGooj8bO8/s1600/DSCN4862.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyciHtB9ZWrcynK63SNCH4fsDef_kmx5JGAK3CcmHKia9Gl8cIAd2327PZXSSz-GlB6ZiGxius0fvgEIOK7wUjy_EfppnsJfYlQZxhnGB43QuzM1BZktfr01Fgf9Nrz4zgDHcGooj8bO8/s320/DSCN4862.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517929822436158482" /></a> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Teaching crochet in the bled</span><br />This past July I had the opportunity to travel down south and teach a crochet workshop in the bled (small community in the countryside, in this case about 500 people strong). The site doesn't even have transportation all the way to it, so we had to walk in from the nearest town, which takes about an hour. Though most of the area is dry and desert-like, the town is in the middle of an oasis. It was an extremely quiet place with all mud-brick houses. It's basically what a lot of people think of when they think "Morocco." The two sisters that I taught were very excited to learn the two-color crochet technique that I went there to teach. The workshop was supposed to last two days, and be about 2-3 hours a day. It ended up spanning four days with our average day being 8 or 9 hours! It was a really intense time and we all learned a lot. I really enjoyed how welcome the sisters and the rest of their family made me feel. It was very easy to joke around and talk with them. On my last day I even learned how to make cannon bread, which is a specific type of bread that I've only seen made in that area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uEldb4NoowgKAHP1zJooOC3UvO5mQCk3w_xeZPnJqPdq8MQkoa2nxTHDL2hVtDMESLQA7EcQ63k6EK4ZzUuB2lKWOKK-mgJYihQSylCu_bCGTcJ7c5SYGv2IjALjB_uKOgM2IL6Xrj4/s1600/DSCN5621.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uEldb4NoowgKAHP1zJooOC3UvO5mQCk3w_xeZPnJqPdq8MQkoa2nxTHDL2hVtDMESLQA7EcQ63k6EK4ZzUuB2lKWOKK-mgJYihQSylCu_bCGTcJ7c5SYGv2IjALjB_uKOgM2IL6Xrj4/s320/DSCN5621.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517961484065908850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDVFXKtDx20WJBYlfHR1KdJoTuVlCr2h9a2QvJX0Ms1CkF5FBZJEgE-v-5xs1to1gT_G6QpWU9Cr6qLCxTVAzw2A6fvLSRxRpQqq8Y6lF4FwwaguGBRVcTsyfvVaFEp_7249Vyz6__hU/s1600/DSCN5654.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDVFXKtDx20WJBYlfHR1KdJoTuVlCr2h9a2QvJX0Ms1CkF5FBZJEgE-v-5xs1to1gT_G6QpWU9Cr6qLCxTVAzw2A6fvLSRxRpQqq8Y6lF4FwwaguGBRVcTsyfvVaFEp_7249Vyz6__hU/s320/DSCN5654.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517961478407597218" /></a>Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-68794083173963180032010-09-16T03:10:00.000-07:002010-09-16T05:38:54.609-07:00Top Ten Memories of Morocco: JonAs per one particular response in Emily's previous post, <a href="http://emily-jon-morocco.blogspot.com/2010/09/what-do-you-want-to-see.html">"What do you want to see,"</a> I decided to recount my top ten memories of Morocco.<br /><br />So, without further ado, I present to you (in no particular order of significance) my top ten memories:<br /><br />-<span style="font-weight:bold;">Our town's souk</span> - Fresh, cheap vegetables, warm French greetings (eventaully arabic), fresh popcorn, hanging sides of sun-baked, fly-orbited meat, God-awfully synthesized Berber music, and made-to-order, seasoned-to-perfection ground beef sandwiches. What more can you ask for to quell your Tuesday blues out here in the stix? Just make sure to stand UPWIND of the cooking meat, otherwise you'll end up smelling like a campfire. <br /> <br />-<span style="font-weight:bold;">English language camps</span> - Let it be known that Moroccan teens' and pre-teens' hormone levels and rowdiness are JUST as off-the-charts as their American counterparts'!! The only difference is that the Moroccan youth can GET DOWN on the dance floor with the quickness! These rug-cutters are also eager to please in the classroom, as many an exhausted PCV "teacher" can attest. <br /><br /> -<span style="font-weight:bold;">Traditional mid-morning meal of l3id Kbir</span> - Lovers of meat as they are, Moroccans are quick to use up all the giblets, offal, and innards of any creature that they are so fortunate to slaughter and consume. In the sacrificial feast of l3id Kbir in Morocco, a sheep's organ meat (heart, lungs, liver, and others) and abdominal fat are pulled from its abdomen shortly after the animals death. Still steaming, these cherished bits are chopped to bite-sized pieces, wrapped in strips of the aforementioned fat, and grilled to mouth-watering perfection over an open flame! Sprinkle some salt and cumin on those babies, stuff 'em inbetween two pieces of bread, and you got yourself one heck of a taste celebration! Emily LOVES this meal, possibly more than me. Who knew?<br /><br />-<span style="font-weight:bold;">Vacation with stage-mates in AsilaH</span> - Being spoken to in Spanish was refreshing and the secluded beach that we found was even more refreshing! Perhaps the single best ocean swimming experience I've ever had! That is, until the tide came in and brought with it piles and piles of garbage. Nonetheless, every stage should have a beach vacation together! One last word: a word of advice. Please, never mix alcohol and spinning rides. At least 2 other volunteers can attest that this is an incredibly bad combination. <br /><br />-<span style="font-weight:bold;">Stargazing on the roof with Emily</span> - The unique house design in Morocco and the lack of "yards" as we Americans know them mandated us to spend alot of our "outside time" on the roof. We even slept up there when it was too hot to sleep indoors (above 90 degrees F). Of course, even with the nasty light pollution in our town, we still had an amazing stellar display almost every night of the summer. Equipped with binoculars and a tripod, we even took in magnified views of the moon and various deep sky objects (like nebulae and clusters) that are invisible to the naked eye. Of course, most of the time was spent just looking up at the heavens with our naked eyes. We liked spotting Iridium flares, the International Space Station when its brightness rivaled Venus, and other satellites as well. We will probably never have another opportunity to experience the night sky like this again, which is unfortunate. However, it will be a fond memory we will share together. <br /><br />-<span style="font-weight:bold;">Chrismas '09 spent with other Americans in 3in LeuH</span> - After traveling for at least 4 or 5 hours through at least as many monsoons, we ended up in the warm embrace of one of our friend's, and fellow volunteer's, home. We decided that we simply could not take another depressing Christmas, and decided to make the trek, which we did not regret in the least bit! Stockings, presents, an amazing Christmas chicken dinner with all the trimmings, games, WARMTH, and happiness were all shared together. <br /><br />-<span style="font-weight:bold;">Arriving in Morocco and our first few days in Rabat</span> - Wow. So long ago yet such a still-vivid memory. Our plane ride was our first exposure to Islamic culture: Arabic writing on the inside of the plane (khuruj - exit) which I didn't know then, but am all too familiar with now; breaking fast on the plane before the sunrise in the early morning, and the unsettling feeling of committing the next 2 years of our lives to an as-of-yet unknown job and life. Next was our 3 day stay at the Hotel Chellah, and our freedom to walk around the city of Rabat (albeit limitedly) during the few hours prior to sundown. We felt so vulnerable...wandering amongst people and a culture we didn't understand. Many of us came to dislike that first experience in Rabat, but since then, it's become one of my favorite cities in Morocco. <br /><br />-<span style="font-weight:bold;">Being pickpocketed on a town bus on our way to the Agadir airport</span> - Who said that these memories all had to be good ones? Nevertheless, some good was to become of this jarring experience: not everything in my wallet was stolen. In fact, the only thing that was taken was the cash...only about 50 DH ($6.25) or so. All of our credit cards/debit cards and my cell phone were left in place, allowing us to embark on our vacation to Ireland and the UK without a hitch, but with the poignant lesson of paying extra attention to our surroundings and keeping our guard up. It could have ended up much, much worse. <br /><br />-<span style="font-weight:bold;">The smells and tastes of CBT</span> - In the spring of 2009, I went back to our CBT site to visit a friend and fellow volunteer for a hiking trip. Of course, since I was there, I wanted to see our former host family as well. Entering their courtyard for the first time in about 9 months, the musky sheep aroma stimulated the part of my brain involved with memory to transport me back to September of 2008, when we did not understand hardly a word of darija, when our stomachs still hadn't adjusted to the particular flora which was then making itself comfy-cozy in our guts, and when life was still mostly ambiguous and unknown. Wow that was a long sentence (in the grammar sense, not the prison sense...haha) For some reason, we humans associate smells, tastes, and other senses with particular moments in time and particular feelings. I don't know if I'll ever get to smell that particular sheep odor or if I'll ever get to taste a stewed stomach tagine or experience the many other smells and tastes endemic to our first significant immersive experience in Morocco, but they will be remembered as best they can; and released whenever said molecules find themselves drifting too close to olfactory or gustatory receptors.<br /><br />-<span style="font-weight:bold;">Adult Camp(s) in 3in LeuH</span> - Our first "Adult Camp" started out not as volunteers waxing vocally and in the culinary arts but as us aiding a Moroccan environment camp which was shoddily led, ill organized, and ripe with exploitative and thieving association members: sadly typical. Eventually, we realized, we could only do so much for them and with them. So we decided to pass the majority of our time by picking the locally-abundant blackberries, making preserves out of said berries, preparing delicious meals with each other, playing lots of Scrabble, Bananagrams, and Rummikub, and generally enjoying each others' company. Hence, "Adult Camp" was born. And it was so successful that it was repeated a second time, in the summer of 2010, sans "environment club" or any such corruption. When life gives you berries, make preserves!<br /><br /><br />So there you have it. Some good, some bad, and some just plain ugly. But all memorable. For all volunteers with Morocco blogs, try this challenge out...post your top ten in Morocco. It would be interesting to see the difference in responses!Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-66660715144308404482010-09-15T10:21:00.000-07:002010-09-15T11:36:42.940-07:00Classic Toys; ObservationsHave you ever thought that toys are getting more and more advanced these days? In the age of Play Stations, Nintendo DSes, and X Boxes, it's sometimes hard to find toys that don't light up or make some kind of annoying noise. <br /><br />Not here in Morocco. <br /><br />Here are some of the toys I saw actual kids playing with today;<br />wooden top with pull string<br />marbles<br />ball (used for playing soccer, but not a "soccer" ball)<br />paddle ball<br /><br />When I saw this, I thought, "now that's pretty cool!" <br /><br />Growing up, my brother and I always got a small, "classic" toy in our Christmas Stocking and Easter Basket. One year it was a yo-yo, the next a set of jacks. One time I got one of those paddles with a rubber ball attached to it with a piece of elastic and the paddle was in the shape of an ice cream cone. They were "simple" toys, but they did the trick. <br /><br />It's not like these were the <span style="font-style:italic;">only</span> toys I played with. I also remember my Easy-Bake-Oven, Barbie dolls, Play School Little People, Legos, and Cabbage Patch Kid. Sure, the Little People came from yard sales, my Barbies' clothes were almost all handmade by my mom and grandma (which I always liked better than the store-bought outfits), and my grandma <span style="font-style:italic;">made</span> my Cabbage Patch doll, but my point is, is that the kids here have a fraction of the toys their counterparts in the US have. I know this because we lived with two different families when we first arrived in Morocco. Our first family had four children; ages 22, 19, 15 and 8 months. Our second family had three kids aged 18, 11, and 7. <br /><br />Like most girls in our neighborhood, our seven-year-old host sister's favorite toy was a long piece of elastic tied into a large loop which she would then jump over and onto. The game is called "lastic." <br /><br />I guess what I'm saying is that I like what I'm seeing here. Though I had many many more toys than the children I see on my way to work, I can see a connection between the type of play that they're engaging in and the type of play that I use to. Though I <span style="font-style:italic;">did</span> grow up at the beginning of the Nintendo era, it was never something that interested me at all, and thus I found myself drawn to toys that I consider to be more "creative." <br /><br />Also, a small bag of marbles, a couple of paddles, a simple ball, and a long piece of elastic might not sound like much, but I have seen these classic toys bring the neighborhood kids together to form strong friendships and a sense of community. It makes me wonder if we wouldn't be better off putting down the Wii and going back to the basics.Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-59908488821668902602010-09-14T01:35:00.000-07:002010-09-14T10:08:11.033-07:00Becoming BeastTo better pass the time, and in the spirit of having better health/being stronger, I started doing various exercises starting this past April (when I caught the bug from <a href="http://mikelightman.blogspot.com/">Mike Lightman</a>).<br /><br />Since then, I've done various workouts, mostly body-weight circuits that cover both the cardio AND weight-lifting spectrum. I wouldn't necessarily rely on them as solely weight-lifting routines, but they do their fair share to strengthen and tone. Really, during this entire time, I've been looking for the perfect "full body workout."<br /><br />What I've gleaned from sources like <a href="http://www.menshealth.com/men/fitness">Men's Health</a> is that in a full-body workout, you generally need 4 components:<br /><br />1) A "pull" exercise<br />2) A "push" exercise<br />3) An exercise that works glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps<br />4) An exercise that works the core (abs, lower back, and hip flexors)<br /><br />I want to talk about one exercise routine in particular that I have done, the 300 Workout (I did it like I have done other routines...for about a month. After that point, I usually get bored and need to change the workout). Also, I want to talk about what I'm currently doing.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br /><a href="http://www.menshealth.com/men/fitness/workout-plans/muscle-building/article/5e1790ecab7e1110vgnvcm20000012281eac">300 WORKOUT</a><br /></span><br />This guy was WAY out of my league at first, so I devised a plan to make it a bit easier for myself but still be able to work the same muscle groups in the same way. You can also use a modified workout that they suggest on the link above. Any variation of this workout is great because it will get your heart going like CRAZY and it will exhaust your muscles with an added <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plyometrics">plyometric</a> bonus: the box jumps. Of course, if this workout gets easy, you could always modify the pushups and squats to be more difficult by making them plyometric: jumping or pushing yourself airborne!<br /><br />After 5 minutes of jumping jacks and 5-10 minutes of stretching, I sunk my fangs into this:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />SET 1 and 3</span><br />15 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsegIJyqRNvHMim4-3ycapTEbxFVMmgTyQtggpgE4Ucs3KwpiP4Ywnr7iK4ULvb259N7YTU2jbIMwHUXufboMIvxat5g_s6j7oPPU5d7yT7zUBjG0hXJAu1YLp90Sq4q6Pz2A10tRs8E4/s1600-h/inv_row.JPG">bodyweight rows</a><br />30 <a href="http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/squats.jpg">bodyweight squats</a> - hands straight out or behind your head, prisoner-style<br />25 pushups - or <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7sYaJP0RyU4/S9e0XWaOG9I/AAAAAAAACrs/YE7qNM7zswo/s1600/knee_pushup.JPG">"knee pushups,"</a> so you're only pushing up half your body <br />30 <a href="http://www.ttfatloss.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/box-jumps-225x300.jpg">box jumps</a> - vary the height of the jump to make it easier or harder<br />20 <a href="http://fmtennis.org/images/test/photo4.jpg">pike-ups</a> - lay flat and pull your upper torso and legs up as in the photo<br />15 <a href="http://www.better-chest-workouts.com/images/diamond.jpg">close grip pushups</a> - index fingers and thumbs forming a diamond shape<br />10 bodyweight rows<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SET 2</span><br />15 bodyweight rows<br />30 bodyweight squats<br />25 pushups<br />40 box jumps<br />20 pike-ups<br />15 close grip pushups<br />15 bodyweight rows<br /><br />And here's the time schedule for the above sets including the initial calisthenics/stretches. I tried to keep to this, but sometimes, it didn't go EXACTLY as planned. Even though I may have gone over my time limit, I made sure to finish the sets ASAP. As time went on, however, I was finishing the sets quicker and quicker. That's the idea, of course.<br /><br />WARMUP JUMPING JACKS ~ 5 minutes<br />STRETCHES ~ 5 minutes<br />SET 1 - 165 reps ~ 8 minutes<br />REST ~ 3 minutes<br />SET 2 - 170 reps ~ 8 minutes<br />REST ~ 3 minutes<br />SET 3 - 165 reps ~ 8 minutes<br />REST ~ 3 minutes<br />STRETCHES ~ 5 minutes<br /><br />TOTAL TIME: ~48 minutes<br /><br />I would do the above sets w/o a scheduled break during the course of the set. This was hard. Especially during/after doing the box jumps. Those kicked my ass. Literally. <br /><br />I did this routine 3 or 4 times a week, usually with a day of rest in between, although I'm sure after you're acclimated to the strenuousness of it, you could do it every day. Since I was pretty out of shape when I started, I wanted to give my body the chance to heal itself and be able to build muscle. They say rest is equally as important as working out because your body needs time to heal and rebuild muscle. Without this healing, you won't reap the rewards of growth as quickly. At least that's once school of thought. <br /><br />Different specific exercises can be substituted in for the ones above to fit your own personal preference. For example, if you don't like the pike-ups, you could do a <a href="http://dodoesdid.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/article-0-030c0810000005dc-790_468x251_popup.jpg">bodyweight plank</a> for 30 seconds or 60 seconds. Or, you could supplement the circuit by doing exercises for specific muscle groups, like <a href="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/arm-chest-shoulder-exercises-8.jpg">triceps dips</a> OR <a href="http://www.greatweightlifting.com/Legs/images/CalfRaise/CalfRaise2.jpg">calf raises</a>. The main thing is that you include exercises in your circuit that fall under the 4 categories that were listed above. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">CURRENTLY</span><br /><br />Currently, I'm doing an upper body workout that consists of only pushups and pullups. I'm trying to develop my stamina for doing both of them and I'm following two seperate workouts but combining them together. These two are <a href="http://hundredpushups.com/index.html">One Hundred Pushups</a> and the <a href="http://www.texasmarineofficer.com/armstrong.html">Armstrong Pullup Program</a>. <br /><br />I will skip the details of these two workouts and leave them to your research, if you are so inclined. I'm making good progress on both (started out being able to only do 1 pullup and I'm able to do 9 consecutive now). My goal is 25 pullups by November 8th.Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258932651106904487.post-35820624326286382452010-09-10T04:06:00.000-07:002010-09-10T04:16:24.155-07:00What do you want to see?For those of you who've been keeping up on this blog, you might have noticed that I've been updating it a lot more often recently. I'm not always sure exactly who's looking at this thing, so I'd like to invite you to tell us a little about yourself (are you a friend or family member, fellow PCV, PC applicant, indie crafter, etc.?) and let us know which posts you found most interesting and helpful and what types of posts you'd like to see more of in our last two months of service. Please leave your thoughts in the comments below. Thank you!Emily and Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831459435103764118noreply@blogger.com9