Tuesday, June 28, 2011

I love Aspen, I love the Aspens



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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Choices… choices..
Analysis
More and more.
The lists never get smaller.
For about the last year I have been using Kiva.org.
I am a huge advocate of microlending and Kiva makes the process somewhat easy. The selection process is what makes this difficult.
I typically spend about 45 minutes narrowing down my choices. I debate on country and the project.
I carefully look at all the pictures. I know a pictures is worth a thousand words… So I study them. Then I read the Bios.
It has been great to watch the results. I guess for me it is the small things sometimes!

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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Cheyenne Cannon

so lucky to have amazing friends that love to cook

Brown Rice and Swiss Chard






Shrimp and Sea Bass





Peppers stuffed with Cheese




Thursday, June 09, 2011

How to make Moroccan Tea

How to make Moroccan Tea
Add two tablespoons of loose green tea (Sultan - yellow/green box) To a Teapot


Pour one cup of boiling water over top.

Let sit for a minute

Pour one cup of the tea into a glass slowly without shaking. Let sit.

Poor another cup of very hot water into the teapot and shake and swirl the loose tea.

Pour a second cup of tea - this will be discard.


They believe by shaking the tea and water together any dirt will be washed away as the tea leaves have opened.

Pour the first tea glass back into the pot and fill the pot with hot water leaving enough room to add the mint leaves.

Place the tea pot back over the heat and reboil. Remove from heat and add a handful of fresh mint leaves.

Add approximately 3/4 cups of sugar to the pot.

To mix the sugar tea you should slowly pour cups of tea and filter from the glass to the pot several times.
When you serve the team pour the tea so that each glass has foam on top. This represents good tea.

Also, it is said that if you stir with a metal spoon it ruins the flavor so avoid at all costs!

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Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Wednesday

Midweek.
We have been goign to the classroom for the three days now. Some volunteers come from anywhere between a week to three months so it is very transient group. The children are pretty much happy to see anyone that walks in saying hello, sings songs, makes crafts and ultimately has the coveted stickers. As like everyone around the world stickers are key to any 3-5 year old's heart. So, if you consider this bring more stickers.
The house is very comfortable and the routines move effortlessly.
I went back to the medina to pick up a few gifts, scarves and camel purse for Abby.
I am reluctant to spend a ton of money in the medina. I know they survive on tourism but I am not completely convinced that all funded is actually good.

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Monday, June 06, 2011

oh btw

Bread is sacred and cannot be placed in the trash or food waste!
Khobst is the same reference as Iraq but Mohammed mentioned that they do not samoon at all.
The good thing is that use and recognize the word shoof. which mean listen/look to grab the attention. I suprisingly new the words Lion and Princess assad/alymira.. both equally imporant to children and children stories - and yet it was important to us in Iraq too!

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Cannot upload the photos until later. But the trip is going very well. There is a mixture of volunteering and cultural exchange. Yes, I am using my arabic but I still have so much to learn it is incredible. I am working in the inner city of Rabat at the IBNY street school. The children are children of beggars and they have a safe place to go during the day for education, food, clothing and a clean environment. Sadly, for their parents begging can be the best option of choice as the economy is not that great and the jobs are scarce.
Lots of singing, reading, coloring and small chit chat. They enjoy the attention and especially the singing.
The capital city is very cosmopolitan and in fact the home base does not reflect most of how Moroccans live. Which is ok. It is large home that can fit up to 30 volunteers. We are less than 1/2 that now.
We are near the ocean and there is plenty of humidity in the air.
The medina is jammed packed with vendors selling goods. Contemplating any major purchases.
We shall see the rugs do not compare to the rugs from Iraq. They are known for shoes and leather tanning.
The meals have been very tasty and have been able to eat easily with no problems.

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Wednesday, June 01, 2011

H-24

Almost ready.
Last night I picked up a new memory card, baby wipes and chewable pepto.
I have the suitcase packed even with a little room in case I have last minute add ons.
Exhausted the mental note check list. Even added band aids and Neosporin.
I need to grab sunscreen just in case.

I downloaded a few books for the kindle. I had not used it too much but the last month I have used it more.

I am ready. The door opened – I am walking