Well, it has been a long time, hasn't it?!
Friday marked the end of the first nine weeks of school. That's right, folks! One quarter down, only three to go this year. The first nine weeks have been filled with tears, frustrations, more tears, and more frustrations! :) Actually, it was really cool to finally be a teacher. After six years of schooling, I still wake up some days and think, "Is this really happening? Do I really have my OWN classroom?!" It's pretty surreal. I'm still adjusting to the life of a teacher, having difficulty managing my time, figuring out what the students REALLY need to know, and what I just THINK they need to know. . . but it's been a blessing and a learning experience--maybe not for the students, but definitely for me!
A few weeks ago, I traveled "outside" the country to Melilla, Spain with 3 other teachers from Amicitia. Melilla is an enclave in the northeastern part of Morocco. We took the midnight train (I would not suggest doing that as it's pretty much impossible to sleep in coach), arrived in Nador, Morocco at about 6am, took a taxi to the bus station, and a bus to the border where we walked across the border to Spain! The guy stamping passports gave us a hard time because we didn't have our Visa papers (Of course we didn't! They're at the police station for processing). We can only stay in the country for 90 days until our Visa's go through, but of course, they act like they don't understand that fact when it's their rule! Thankfully one of my roommates came with us who speaks Arabic, and she was able to talk the guard down and get him to stamp our passports. We spent the night in Melilla, and it was super cool! My favorite part: the cars actually stop for you when you step into the crosswalk. We walked around the quaint city center until, unfortunately, I ended up with a 24-hour flu bug that had been going around the school. We were staying at a hostel that night (cheap route to go!), and the shared bathroom situation was definitely not my favorite that evening. We left the next morning, Sunday, at about 10am, walked back across the border (ironically, it was the same guy as the day before and he was in a jovial mood this time!), and took a taxi to the bus stop. We decided NOT to take the train back to Fes, as it was a 6-hour journey, and I was feeling poorly. Instead, we all paid for seats in a grand taxi (basically a regular-sized sedan) and took the 3-hour car ride back to Fes.
The past two weeks were filled with "end of the quarter" stuff in preparation for our current break. We had papers and tests to finish up, and now we're in the middle of a 5-day weekend in celebration of the Eid el Kabir. This holiday is like the Moroccan version of Christmas. They all get together with their families (so the train to Melilla yesterday was packed with people traveling home or to relatives' houses), have a week off school, slaughter a sheep in honor of Abraham nearly sacrificing Ishmael. . . . (hmmmmmm), and then feast on the sheep (yes, ALL parts of the sheep--liver, stomach, head, eyes. . . you name it, they eat it!) the rest of the week. In my apartment building, the families keep their sheep in the basement until the actual holiday, which is Monday; the building has been continually smelling worse and worse this week. It's like a regular farm!
In order to escape the farm smell, and the upcoming blood-fest, I traveled BACK to Melilla with the Wieds. It was the cheapest route, as the closer we got to the holiday, the higher plane ticket prices to mainland Spain became. Some friends of friends know a family here who have a large flat where we could all stay for a relatively cheap price. A. and I took the train yesterday, and it was a much more enjoyable ride traveling during the way. We chatted, read, napped, and arrived at the border about the same time as M. and boys (they drove and left three hours later than us!). However, we were able to walk right across the border, and the men had to take forever waiting in the car! :) So. . . we got to the border, and the guy in the booth started speaking to me in Arabic. I quickly grabbed my translator, and, come to find out, I was overdue to leave the country! What?! My 90 days expired this past week; yes, I knew that, but that's why I left the country two weeks ago! Well, he was saying that the time didn't count because we only left for a day. Excuse me?!!!! I was never told that was a problem. Everyone I had talked to who had gone to Melilla for a visa run had never had a problem; in fact, one person had left and returned in the SAME day. Why in the world was I having a problem??? In all actuality, he could have taken my passport, detained me, and not allowed me to leave the country, but A. was able to explain to him that the police have my paperwork, and I DID leave the country within my 90 days. . . . and FINALLY he graciously stamped my passport. So now we're just praying that they actually count this one since I'll be out of the country for about 3 days rather than just 1. M. even had trouble crossing the border--they didn't stamp his passport! Apparently he looks Moroccan! :) By the time he got to the Spanish border he didn't have an exit stamp and had to go back through and wait, again, to get a stamp! But, we're here now in beautiful Spain. The weather in Fes has been rainy and cold lately, but today in Melilla, it's beautiful and sunny!!!!
I'm so thankful for this much needed break, and I'm looking forward to a great weekend with such wonderful friends!!! They are such a blessing in my life! :) The boys and I spent the morning playing Heart & Soul on the piano, and we're about ready to head out the door and take a walk to the city center in the sunshine!
Oh, one other story before I go. When A. and I were leaving the border guard yesterday, she said Insha'allah, the paperwork will be here by the time I have to leave the country again. The man angrily asked if she even knew what that phrase meant. After replying with the correct translation (If God wills it), he asked if she even trusted in God. Yes! Really?! Yes, I trust in God through the Messiah!!! :) So, I leave you with this little tidbit--How wonderful that we can come openly to the Father through the one He sent here. I'm so glad that I can trust through the Messiah & know that my salvation is secure! Oh, praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!
Friday marked the end of the first nine weeks of school. That's right, folks! One quarter down, only three to go this year. The first nine weeks have been filled with tears, frustrations, more tears, and more frustrations! :) Actually, it was really cool to finally be a teacher. After six years of schooling, I still wake up some days and think, "Is this really happening? Do I really have my OWN classroom?!" It's pretty surreal. I'm still adjusting to the life of a teacher, having difficulty managing my time, figuring out what the students REALLY need to know, and what I just THINK they need to know. . . but it's been a blessing and a learning experience--maybe not for the students, but definitely for me!
A few weeks ago, I traveled "outside" the country to Melilla, Spain with 3 other teachers from Amicitia. Melilla is an enclave in the northeastern part of Morocco. We took the midnight train (I would not suggest doing that as it's pretty much impossible to sleep in coach), arrived in Nador, Morocco at about 6am, took a taxi to the bus station, and a bus to the border where we walked across the border to Spain! The guy stamping passports gave us a hard time because we didn't have our Visa papers (Of course we didn't! They're at the police station for processing). We can only stay in the country for 90 days until our Visa's go through, but of course, they act like they don't understand that fact when it's their rule! Thankfully one of my roommates came with us who speaks Arabic, and she was able to talk the guard down and get him to stamp our passports. We spent the night in Melilla, and it was super cool! My favorite part: the cars actually stop for you when you step into the crosswalk. We walked around the quaint city center until, unfortunately, I ended up with a 24-hour flu bug that had been going around the school. We were staying at a hostel that night (cheap route to go!), and the shared bathroom situation was definitely not my favorite that evening. We left the next morning, Sunday, at about 10am, walked back across the border (ironically, it was the same guy as the day before and he was in a jovial mood this time!), and took a taxi to the bus stop. We decided NOT to take the train back to Fes, as it was a 6-hour journey, and I was feeling poorly. Instead, we all paid for seats in a grand taxi (basically a regular-sized sedan) and took the 3-hour car ride back to Fes.
The past two weeks were filled with "end of the quarter" stuff in preparation for our current break. We had papers and tests to finish up, and now we're in the middle of a 5-day weekend in celebration of the Eid el Kabir. This holiday is like the Moroccan version of Christmas. They all get together with their families (so the train to Melilla yesterday was packed with people traveling home or to relatives' houses), have a week off school, slaughter a sheep in honor of Abraham nearly sacrificing Ishmael. . . . (hmmmmmm), and then feast on the sheep (yes, ALL parts of the sheep--liver, stomach, head, eyes. . . you name it, they eat it!) the rest of the week. In my apartment building, the families keep their sheep in the basement until the actual holiday, which is Monday; the building has been continually smelling worse and worse this week. It's like a regular farm!
In order to escape the farm smell, and the upcoming blood-fest, I traveled BACK to Melilla with the Wieds. It was the cheapest route, as the closer we got to the holiday, the higher plane ticket prices to mainland Spain became. Some friends of friends know a family here who have a large flat where we could all stay for a relatively cheap price. A. and I took the train yesterday, and it was a much more enjoyable ride traveling during the way. We chatted, read, napped, and arrived at the border about the same time as M. and boys (they drove and left three hours later than us!). However, we were able to walk right across the border, and the men had to take forever waiting in the car! :) So. . . we got to the border, and the guy in the booth started speaking to me in Arabic. I quickly grabbed my translator, and, come to find out, I was overdue to leave the country! What?! My 90 days expired this past week; yes, I knew that, but that's why I left the country two weeks ago! Well, he was saying that the time didn't count because we only left for a day. Excuse me?!!!! I was never told that was a problem. Everyone I had talked to who had gone to Melilla for a visa run had never had a problem; in fact, one person had left and returned in the SAME day. Why in the world was I having a problem??? In all actuality, he could have taken my passport, detained me, and not allowed me to leave the country, but A. was able to explain to him that the police have my paperwork, and I DID leave the country within my 90 days. . . . and FINALLY he graciously stamped my passport. So now we're just praying that they actually count this one since I'll be out of the country for about 3 days rather than just 1. M. even had trouble crossing the border--they didn't stamp his passport! Apparently he looks Moroccan! :) By the time he got to the Spanish border he didn't have an exit stamp and had to go back through and wait, again, to get a stamp! But, we're here now in beautiful Spain. The weather in Fes has been rainy and cold lately, but today in Melilla, it's beautiful and sunny!!!!
I'm so thankful for this much needed break, and I'm looking forward to a great weekend with such wonderful friends!!! They are such a blessing in my life! :) The boys and I spent the morning playing Heart & Soul on the piano, and we're about ready to head out the door and take a walk to the city center in the sunshine!
Oh, one other story before I go. When A. and I were leaving the border guard yesterday, she said Insha'allah, the paperwork will be here by the time I have to leave the country again. The man angrily asked if she even knew what that phrase meant. After replying with the correct translation (If God wills it), he asked if she even trusted in God. Yes! Really?! Yes, I trust in God through the Messiah!!! :) So, I leave you with this little tidbit--How wonderful that we can come openly to the Father through the one He sent here. I'm so glad that I can trust through the Messiah & know that my salvation is secure! Oh, praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!
