Hotel d'Alsace Rabat

I've been in Rabat for a week now, a thriving City of history, religion, sultans, commerce, and 98.7 % friendly liberal muslims, who still like the donkeys to lead and the women to follow behind. Morocco competes with Albania for the title of the US’s closest Muslim ally.

Rabat's history began in the 3rd century BC with a permanent settlement on the banks of the River Bou Reg Reg, and has been continuous from that time. The original ...

... she was more informed she didn't come across that way. It's a fascinating topic that we were excited to discuss. There are prevalent issues here including extremely high illiteracy rates, unemployment, sexual harrassment, etc. - maybe my expectations were just too high for this session. Mohamed sat in for a portion of it, and he interjected some good information to supplement her talk (as he always does!). Khadija was there and added ...

... their hand gestures and tone what they were saying. I assume the traction is part of the treatment plan, and they confirmed it is really painful for her. They also said that many of the kids in the ward have asthma, but there are also some with tuberculosis among other things. Yikes. Now I'm wondering which kids have what. I guess it doesn't matter, but my curiosity is piqued. It explains why some of the kids seem so much more ill than others ...

Today was an amazing day at placement! We had the usual crowd of kids, and several were waiting for us when we got there this morning. I think the moms are happy to see us, and we got some smiles and waves. They all speak Arabic and/or French, so I do my best and try to greet them with a "salaamu lekum" which means hello or technically, "peace be upon you". I had one mom reply back to me with the traditional reply of "wa lekum as ...

... hear how everybody's first days went. I can't get into it here, but it was quite a conversation! Then, after lunch, we visited the Hasan Tower; a Mausoleum for the King's father, grandfather and brother; and toured the Medina. We took the city bus home, along with one of the CCS managers. It was an experience, but I didn't feel nervous because Abdellah was with us. There aren't bus stops - people just "know" where to go. If you miss a bus, just wave ...

... Moroccan guests for a local meal, Tajine. We had already eaten (and it was full of meat) but they insisted. Moroccans can be very persistant. Mimosa obliged them but after she had a few bites and wanted no more, they wouldn't let her go. It is apparently a Moroccan custom that once you begin eating you cannot stop until it is finished...or so they said. The next day we made it to the tower! Yay. It is quite a nice tower (although you can't go up it) with guards ...

... we had the proper clothing... unlike here. My Jelaba was a god send, if I hadn't of had that I fear I would have been crying icicles. Getting off the main road and onto rocky terrain we drove past a lake and behind a rocky hill before stopping to set up camp. It was only 16:00 the sun was sinking fast and already bitterly cold. We set up tents and gathered firewood before raiding our packs for as ...

... took the time to point us in the right direction but guided us around their city.  They were open, and honest, generous and kind, and at this point we can't say enough good things about our time here. The information we've gathered does tell us that Rabat is where people are least dependent on tourist dollars and therefore likely to be more open, so we hope that our next few stops still reveal such wonderful people in a rich culture. All our best from Morocco Dan and Gabes

... on the side in bright yellow. A group of little boys had their keftans pulled up around their knees, revealing their traditional point-toed yellow slip-on sandals, as they pressed around "Cruisin' World," one of my very favorite videogames. And a little girl lay helpless in her stroller, a small face with heavy eyeliner, blue eye-shadow, and bright red circles of rouge surrounded by brown curls completely enveloped in her lacy white dress that ...

... me a little, but I really think the caffeine is harder to do without than the food. I've been struggling with the language, and the soul-crushing feeling that I'll never be able to remember all the words, and will forever remain a stuttering, confused girl amidst what seems to only be babel. But it does seem, maybe, that some of the words are sticking lately, and that very possible, my pronunciations may be becoming intelligible to native ...