Friends Graduate

I'm so happy for everyone who has made it so far in Morocco. I follow several of you and I'm very glad you are all enjoying your assignments. I still have the dream in my heart. I guess I wasn't strong enough to follow it through. I went from one hard assignment to another back home. God bless you all..

Home and Home again

It has been an amazing time. The commune was amazing. The family was really nice. It is really hard when no one can talk. We did a pretty good job! Although I'm back home.. Ok Eric no comment from you!! First I'll tell you about the site then why I decided to come home. If I could only paint a picture.. When I got out of the Taxi who will only go if there is 6 passengers and himself. Tight squeese. I'm in this Mountain town looking up and down. The bridge is out so everyone has to go around in the mud. Donkeys everywhere talking to each other... People milling around. Smoke rising from several places. Trash is everywhere. My host family was there to meet me and walk me back to the house. I mean treck up the mountain to the house. It is all rock. There are no paths to follow just rocks. Oh boy I thought carrying 50 lbs of stuff well I made it. I would have to make this hike 2-4 times per day. Let me tell you a little about the house and all. I go into meet the parents who are retired and I'm sure younger than me with the 3 girls. Its Ramadan during my stay which means no food from sun up to sun down. I know so much more about Muslem Religion than I did before. They show me my room. Like I said everything is made out of cement. Those poor Donkeys carrying all that cement up and down..

I have one foam cushion and a single hanging light bulb. They show me the 3 other rooms one living room which is also their bedroom. They have 5 cushions, a rug and a tv on top of a sideboard. Everytime you come into the room you need to take off your shoes. Not knowing why before I found out because they Pray on the rugs five times a day. Second room the kitchen. The size of small bathroom. Kitchen sink, 2 burner hot plate. Round wood spool they use for a table and 3 plastic kiddie step stools they sit on. Then we go up stairs outside where there is the turkish toilet 2 walls and a sheet. So this is interesting to say the least! They carry the water so its cold only. There is a public Hamman that is a public shower that they will use once a week. No heat. I beleive I have more camping equipment than they have total in their whole house. The first meal was to break the fast. This is what they eat every night for 1 month. Soup (clear broth) dried figs, 1/2 hard boiled egg, bread along with tea. They then have dinner at 10 - 11 pm which consists of coucous with a few root vegies 2 pieces chicken for 6 people and water. There is no stores or cafes open so no muchies either. With it being Ramadan it was a very family orienated. When I went back to my room my mind went crazy.. I started to think about going up and down the mountain 2-4 times per day. I knew I would not beable to to this with out falling. You know me and falling. Then i'm looking at what I brought to wear and I have no boots or heavy coat. I'm here with tennies and sandles with skirts. Then I am with a family that it means so much to be together and I'm not with my family. So after sole searching I decided to come home. I would not have been fair to me the Peace Corps or my family if I wasn't there 100%. I don't know what I will do now. I will look for a job of some sort. I will enjoy my family and friends. As the saying goes What will I do when I grow up!!

Leaving for the Atlas Mountains

Its final my first 9 weeks will be in the Atlas Mountains where they have 2 seasons Winter and Wind. We leave early am for a 6 hour bus ride to meet the new family. There is a Father who is retired, mother a housewife and 3 daughters 27,24, 22 I guess I always wanted a daughter now I will have 3. They have running water, electricity and they are in the middle of building an inside plumbing. So all in all it won't be so bad. There is no internet connections there so I will not have a lot of time to blog although Makenzey and I both have journals going so I will keep track of my journey.

Made it to Morocco

It all started 9-7-09 I met my family and friends at Mcdonalds for breakfast and good bye
Zach and Ash took me to the airport, Jeff & Kelley & kids came too. I was 16.5 pounds over weight. I sure was not going to pay the $125 they wanted for over weight bags, we got it down to 3# although the friendly skies of United still said no..bitty.. Now on to security where I got stopped again. Me moved everything around so much I now had liquids in my bags. Finally I got to the plane and they were boarding. On to Chicago where after walking to another terminal they were boarding. No rest for the weary. 2 hour shuttle ride to Hotel as I was the last of 10 to get dropped off.. Next morning 4 hr bus ride to JFK where we had to wait another 2 hours before we could check in. It was quite funny to see 63 adults laying on their luggage. We arrive in Cassablanca 8 am the following da,. another 4 hour bus ride to Medhrea. We will have 5 days here which is a beach town on the ocean. Town very dirty. No one out everything closed up due to Ramadan. it was kinda creeky. True to myself I had to carry all my luggage down a flight of stairs where sure enough I fell!! See I don't have to play baseball to get hurt I do it quite well on my own! Hurt my little pinky and now its black and blue and I cant bend it. Boy what will happen when I get old. Had medical meetings today got our first aid kit and it has everything in it plus the kitchen sink. We also got our mosquto net so we can sleep.
Taking them to my room guess what yep I well UP the stairs. No damage this time boy oh boy!
I'm sure the next few days will get more exciting so keep reading.........

As I try to pack everything I want to take for two years in this one suitcase which I thought was really big I'm finding it really small. Taking a back pack and purse wow.. Getting as much Cori time as possible every morning. She is a beautiful baby girl. She is almost 6 weeks now. She is starting to see and follow people, dogs and the Evil kitty. I will have Collin and Makenzey this week end then Monday off to PST.
Being on the older side getting everything in order to leave the country for 2 years has been a challenge. I thought I would be on easy street all I have is my house payment and Zachary and Ashley will take that over. Done right! Not..It has been an interesting journey already and I'm looking forward to the next adventure. My going away party was fantastic I have wonderful friends and family. I had family from Houston, L..A. Salt Lake City, Denver and I'm sure some I forgot. I truly missed my oldest son Jason and his family who live in Portland. All in all the tears flowed, huggs and good times were had by all. Next catch plane to Chicago changing planes for Philly. Orientation then on to Morocco.. s-salamu e alaykum

I'm finished working. I'm getting my affairs in order. Received tickets and hotel information. I guess it is really true I'm going to Morocco. I've started visiting with family and friends. My sweet grand daughter Makenzey (10) stays with me whenever possible.. She is my best bud! She cried herself to sleep the last time she was with me. It is very hard on both of us. It is wonderful to know that someone loves you that much.

Almost in

Last July I went on vacation with my 2 sisters. I said boy I wish I could have been in the Peace Corps. When I got back home to Colorado Springs I picked up the local newspaper turned a few pages darn if there wasn't a ad for the Peace Corps recruiter. She would be having a meeting at the library the next week. I went and yes it was just as I thought it would be. I took all the information got on line and applied. After I applied I told my family. I got very mixed emotions.
No you cant go, great I'm proud of you mom, you only live once go do what your heart is telling you. The process is long long long.. I had my first interview in September, a few days later the recruiter told me she was going to nominate me and that she had a spot opening up in Eastern Europe as a Small business developer. I still had to go through all the back round checks, legal, and medical. Which was the longest part. I had to have one test 6 months apart..So I'm thinking of all the things I would need in Eastern Europe in the winter!! Planning in my head for the next 2 years. I got my call in May stating Eastern Europe was no longer available How about Morocco? I excepted first of June. More reading on new Country!! Leaving September 8th.