Happy Birthday. Joyeux Anniversaire. عيد ميلاد سعيد
Last Saturday I went to my first real Moroccan celebration, a nine-year old family friend’s birthday party. I was a little nervous about attending. I expected to be pretty much ignored by the Moroccan guests and, therefore, a little bored. But still felt I couldn’t pass up this chance. And I am so glad I didn’t! The party was so much fun. Homemade candies, cookies, and cake were passed around and I met two American girls studying abroad with another program. But the best moment was when the music came on and the Moroccan moms, decked out in djellabas and headscarves, stood up and began to dance. To see their energy and excitement emerge from under their typically reserved demeanors was fantastic. They even pulled me and the other Americans and tried to teach us some moves!
On Sunday, Amideast organized a trip to a professor’s farm an hour outside of Rabat as an “Introduction to Rural Life.” A platter of cookies, homemade couscous, and fresh squeezed juice from fruit we picked ourselves hardly seemed “rural” to me but I wasn’t going to complain. Things got a little more realistic as we planted trees, milked cows, and made homemade bread, but mostly the day just felt a relaxing break from the bustle of Rabat.
No comments:
Post a Comment