Summer is the time when one sheds one’s tensions with one’s clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all’s right with the world.
– Ada Louise Huxtable
Listening to: Ratatat – LP4 (Highly Recommended BTW to you!)
It was a crazy spring, in terms of work. I was busy from about Mid-February up until the end of May. Most of that (well, up until beginning of May) was work related stuff. Then I took my vacation, and came back for a week, only to travel to get my mid-service check up. Let me fill you in on that.
In a few days in Rabat, I had to do the following:
- General Physical
- General Dental
- Parasite check up
- Any other appts. as needed from the above three
In short, I was pretty much completely healthy. I had a small wart to be frozen, and I have (yes, currently as I write this) a parasite in my digestive system. Its no big deal… no really, it isn’t. The thing doesn’t give me problems at all (well, maybe like once a month), so I was not going to take care of it and kill it off. The reason you ask… Because in order to kill a bad parasite off, you kill ALL the good parasites off, potentially knocking your system and making it susceptible. So that guy can wait until another day.
It was nice to get to Rabat, and see some of my fellow PCVs in my environment group. It will be the last time I see some of them until we have our COS (close-of-service) conference next February. We hung out, saw a number of concerts (there happened to be a festival with Elton John, Santana, Thievery Corporation, Alpha Blondy, Suen Kuti as acts I saw), and just kicked it Rabat style. Going to the beach, watching the sunset enjoying a bottle of wine from the roof of our hotel. It was great fun… but naturally, exhausting.
So I returned to summer really, and for the last week and a half have been transitioning into summer. The season of summer in my village brings so many changes.
One of the most notable changes is the weather. Luckily, I live in one of the coolest areas of Morocco, and my summers are gorgeous. Very little rain, dry weather, with temperatures generally staying between 25-35 degrees. For you US folk, that is 80-95. Without humidity, it is fantastic. When you are in the sun, it beats down on you, and you have trouble staying hydrated.
Another change that occurs is everyone seems to become laid-back. Don’t get me wrong, Morocco is already pretty laid-back. Children are no longer in school, and people tend to lounge around during the daylight hours, take longer lunch/midday breaks. They also tend to stay out later at night, maybe until 11pm or so. Then cafes start to close. In winter maybe 9pm at the latest.
Another great change comes in the form of presents from the land. Fruits and vegetables that are super fresh, and very good quality. Mainly the change occurs for fruits, and I love this time of year. I currently have in my house fresh cherries, apricots, melon, oranges. So sweet and succulent, and really, this is just the beginning of the season. Soon I will see peaches, plums, nectarines, figs, watermelon, pomegranates. Cherries are my favorite fruit, and sometimes I will buy a kilo, and binge. The season is short, about a month, so I figure I have to get my fill. The prices are also wicked cheap.
Lastly, I live summer for the chance to get outside, and just be at one with the place I live. I have been out hiking a few times, and also I have been mountain-biking. The terrain is really awesome, and day hikes (morning hikes) are the best. I have yet to get out and trek/backpack, but hopefully here shortly I will take advantage of this awesome aspect of being here.
Work is slow (no teaching, everything is independent work), so this gives me more of a chance to take advantage of the above, in addition to reading books, watching movies, and getting to hang out with folks in my village. I have also had a few fellow PCVs come and hang out for a day or two.
In addition, I will be having a friend come and visit here shortly from the states and we will be traveling around seeing some of the places I have yet to see. It should be a great time, and I look forward to seeing a familiar face, and just being a super-knowledgeable tourist. Having fellow PCVs in the country I can have places to stay sometimes. I also have the language and cultural understanding to have a more relaxed time. Morocco is a difficult place to travel if you do not know language and how things operate (organized confusion… if you know how the confusion goes you are fine.)
With this potentially being my last full summer here in Morocco, I am trying to cherish it the best I can. Oh yeah, the nighttime stars are great for seeing up from my roof. Welcome to summer.
World Cup starts soon folks (3 days), you best be getting excited!!! It will be great!
Much Love!
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