A Moroccan Emprise



A Moroccan Emprise

Pigeons
Wednesday, September 24th, 2003

Through my estute observation, I have come to the realization that there are two different types of pigeons in Morocco (or at least Rabat). The first is the thick-necked poop machine that is common to Europe and the USA. The other is a smaller and more delicate thin-necked flying bird (and not rodent with wings). I’ve also notice that they don’t like each other and that they try to stay away from each other.In other news, I went to my first real artisanal shop yesterday called Oujda in Sale (across the river from Rabat). It was beautiful! There were showrooms in the front and smaller, item-specific and factory shops in the back. We talked …

Posted in Morocco, Animals | No Comments »
Cell Phone?
Monday, September 22nd, 2003

Hello! Just a quick update that I finally got a cell phone. A cell phone in the Peace Corps?!? Well, we are in the 21st century and I plan on mainly using it for my work. ;-)

Posted in Morocco, Work | No Comments »
The first week
Sunday, September 21st, 2003

Of course it’s hard to realize that I’ve only been in Morocco for one week. One can defenitely see it in my Darija, but other than that, things feel quite normal here. This, in my opinion, is because of the amazingly warm and open culture. Case in point: because of the ‘world events’, you have to be careful when you’re walking around the streets; it is not a good idea to bring more attention to yourself than already possible. Two days ago, I was walking with three other PCT’s (Peace Corps Trainees) through the medina (city in Darija, but more like the market). We passed by a door that was only half-way open and one …

Posted in Morocco, Culture, Work | No Comments »
Salam u Alaykum
Wednesday, September 17th, 2003

Hello! So it’s been a true whirlwind since I’ve landed. I do apologize for having written so little upon my arrival, but it was not until yesterday that I figured out how to switch the French keyboard to an English keyboard. I am still in Rabat, going through eight hours of training, six days a week. For the first few days, we stayed in a hotel at the training site, which is right across the street from the parliament building. Yesterday we went to the first of our three homestays. I will be with this family until next Saturday, September 27th, when I will be doing my community-based training for about nine weeks in Fès …

Posted in Morocco, Culture | No Comments »
Arrived
Monday, September 15th, 2003

Hi I’m here and I had written a very long entry, but because this is a French keyboard, I pushed the wrong button. My time is almost up, so know this: I’m here, I’m safe and everything is wonderful!!!

Posted in Morocco | No Comments »
Wi-Fi Revolution
Tuesday, September 9th, 2003

When I ordered my new laptop, I preferred one without a wireless LAN card (internet card). Because this is the year 2003 in the land of the United States, I didn’t have too much choice, so once it arrived, I merely disabled the wireless capabilities. Last night, before the screening of my first viewing of “Casablanca”, my laptop was not connected to the internet, as my roommates and I were sitting in the living room. I was fooling around, and much to my surprise, my wireless connection worked. Although I didn’t know where the connection hub was, I didn’t care: I was connected without being connected. So today, two days before I leave for my …

Posted in Thoughts | No Comments »
4
Sunday, September 7th, 2003

Four days and counting….

Posted in Thoughts | No Comments »
Preparing
Friday, September 5th, 2003

I finally set up a website I actually like….Now if I could only get my archives to work. ARG. One week left to go; reality is slowly sinking in.

Posted in Thoughts | No Comments »
Gearing up
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2003

Wow. Things are happening quite quickly. Today is my last day at work. I’m going to miss most of the people at CIEE. It’s an organization with a great mission; I’ve had fun over the past 13 months.I have less than eight days left. There’s a lot to do. In reality, it’s probably more in my mind that I have so much to do rather than in actuality. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve gotten my Moroccan Arabic (Darija) - English dictionary and two grammar books. The Peace Corps Morocco also sent me a very good introduction guide to the language. There’s actually a chance that I won’t be learning Darija, but …

Posted in Morocco, Culture, Thoughts | No Comments »

When this story was posted in November 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

Read the stories and leave your comments.