Well, it's been a few weeks hasn't it??? I've been keeping busy planning, grading, lounging, etc. This past month has been the coldest of my life. The weather during the day gets up to about 60--it's beautiful! But at night, it gets into the 30s, and without insulation, indoor heating, and the amount of tile in the houses, it's FREEZING!! I finally bought a budda heater last week. It's a gas heater that uses a gas bottle to heat. I have to make sure not to leave it on when I'm sleeping and to crack a window when it's open, but it is so amazing and wonderful. I can finally feel my toes again! :) I have a feeling I'm going to go through a bottle of gas per week! Amy also let me borrow an extra rug form her home. This means no more walking on cold floors, and it adds a nice homey, warm touch to my room.
It's hard for me to believe that it's almost Christmas. I don't know if I've tried to suppress the knowledge of this or just haven't thought it about it. I've only had one day this month where I truly realized that I wouldn't be with my Ohio or Memphis friends and family for Christmas. Most of the time, there's nothing to visually remind me of Christmas. There are no windows decorated or stole sales; no houses covered in lights; no mall or street corner Santa; no collecting or giving money for charity; no Christmas songs being blasted from every radio across town. It's crazy! It's like the movie Groundhog Day. . . only I feel like I'm living days in October over and over again. The weather is beautiful during the day (outside) and freezing at night (inside). No insulation, indoor heating, and houses covered with tile make for chilly living. Thankfully I was able to get a gas heater this past week, and I've been slowly thawing out.
I've been meeting with some of the teachers the past few weeks and we're discussing where we are in life (and in the world). Sometimes I forget that I'm teaching in Morocco, and when I remember I say "I'm living in Morocco?!" in either two ones. One: I think it's the coolest thing ever. Two: I think it was the worst decision of my life. We've been talking about what a blessing it is to be here and be lights for others even if we (especially me) get frustrated by the constant obstacle and hurdles here: students who refuse to speak in English in class, students who can't write complete sentences, walking down the street and getting harassed by men, the inability to find necessary items for cooking "normal" meals (a.k.a most canned food items), the fact that laundry takes days to dry hanging outside, when the water pipe breaks and you can't communicate with the person who's supposed to fix it, having to have someone constantly translate anything for you, not having a car and having to walk for 30 minutes to someplace it would take 2 to drive to. . . just to name a few! :) It's always nice to have conversations with other teachers and remember that we are here for a purpose, even if were not exactly sure what it is. Please continue to pray that I feel at peace and can look at this obstacles as what they are--ways people do things in other cultures--rather than road blocks that continually get me down.
Miss you all. Can't believe I won't be home for Christmas, but trying to embrace the fact that I'm gaining so many new experiences. . . and will be breathing Parisian air and WILL get to see Christmas lights and trees in Paris for Christmas! :) xoxo
It's hard for me to believe that it's almost Christmas. I don't know if I've tried to suppress the knowledge of this or just haven't thought it about it. I've only had one day this month where I truly realized that I wouldn't be with my Ohio or Memphis friends and family for Christmas. Most of the time, there's nothing to visually remind me of Christmas. There are no windows decorated or stole sales; no houses covered in lights; no mall or street corner Santa; no collecting or giving money for charity; no Christmas songs being blasted from every radio across town. It's crazy! It's like the movie Groundhog Day. . . only I feel like I'm living days in October over and over again. The weather is beautiful during the day (outside) and freezing at night (inside). No insulation, indoor heating, and houses covered with tile make for chilly living. Thankfully I was able to get a gas heater this past week, and I've been slowly thawing out.
I've been meeting with some of the teachers the past few weeks and we're discussing where we are in life (and in the world). Sometimes I forget that I'm teaching in Morocco, and when I remember I say "I'm living in Morocco?!" in either two ones. One: I think it's the coolest thing ever. Two: I think it was the worst decision of my life. We've been talking about what a blessing it is to be here and be lights for others even if we (especially me) get frustrated by the constant obstacle and hurdles here: students who refuse to speak in English in class, students who can't write complete sentences, walking down the street and getting harassed by men, the inability to find necessary items for cooking "normal" meals (a.k.a most canned food items), the fact that laundry takes days to dry hanging outside, when the water pipe breaks and you can't communicate with the person who's supposed to fix it, having to have someone constantly translate anything for you, not having a car and having to walk for 30 minutes to someplace it would take 2 to drive to. . . just to name a few! :) It's always nice to have conversations with other teachers and remember that we are here for a purpose, even if were not exactly sure what it is. Please continue to pray that I feel at peace and can look at this obstacles as what they are--ways people do things in other cultures--rather than road blocks that continually get me down.
Miss you all. Can't believe I won't be home for Christmas, but trying to embrace the fact that I'm gaining so many new experiences. . . and will be breathing Parisian air and WILL get to see Christmas lights and trees in Paris for Christmas! :) xoxo
