Monday we were set to leave around 10:30am for Morocco (obviously, that means we left around 11:30 - Latinos have never been well accustomed to using a clock religiously). Crossing the border took next to no time at all, and after about an hour, we got to the first city (Tetuon, I think) and stopped for lunch with some of the foundation members that live there. Lemme tell ya, I'd forgotten just how long it can take people to meet, greet, talk and eat - especially when there is catching up to be done. And holy goodness, five and a half hours later, we started to move on towards Chefchaouen.
The drive was beautiful, and gave me a good chance to look at the countryside, and how greatly it contrasted against the city. They certainly move to a different drum out there - and it was absolutely gorgeous.
The town, which took about an hour and a half to get to, Chefchaouen, is located on the edge of the Atlas mountain range, dividing the northern half of Morocco from the Sahara desert, shutting in the winds blowing down from the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, making the whole area much cooler than you'dve thought. I'd guess that we're hitting mid-80s when it's hot, mid-afternoon, but no warmer. It does, however, supposedly get much warmer later on in the summer - we shall see. But right now, it's quite normal and expected to be wandering around in jeans and a sweater (Thank the LORD I brought my fleece...).
The night we arrived, all six of us (the two organizers from Ceuta, and the three women that live/work here, and myself) went to dinner in the 'old town', which is obviously the more touristy area, full of shops and currency exchange and EXCELLENT food. We went to a place that did two courses for a set price, so I got couscous with veggies and the local traditional soup (I forget the name, but it was tasty). SO MUCH FOOD. After the excellent, extended, and very filling lunch we'd had earlier, I was only able to eat about half of my food - but it was very good. I'll be wanting to head back to old town at some point to be able to pick up postcards and the like. I refuse to be too conspicuously touristy, but I'll probably take pictures right before I leave to be able to show ya'll sometime, because it's just gorgeous.
The women I'm living with are absolutely charming - their names are Anita and Myrna. Anita is from Mexico and works directly in the house as a long term volunteer caretaker of the orphans, and Myrna is the coordinator/overseer (from Honduras, I believe). Both are kind and caring, Anita being more quiet but very in-tune with the local population, and Myrna happy and bubbly and always learning more about the people around her.
Moving on to work, I'll be working Wed/Fri/Sun (for now - the schedule is put up every two weeks) and covering for a couple of the local girls that are on holiday. Let me tell you, it's going to be interesting. My Wednesday shift if with Anita, who speaks excellent Spanish and will explain anything I need - she also drives to work, so I have a ride to and from. Fridays, I'll be working with one of the local girls, who speaks no English, no Spanish. Oooooohhhhh boy. *sigh* Sunday I'll be working with a girl who speaks a fair amount of English and really wants to improve it, so I figure I can deal with that, heh.
There are five boys and two girls, the boys all being under a year old, and the two girls being 2 and 3 years old. Oh boy, it's a handful - and we're there for the full care of the children, sending the two older ones to school, feeding all of them, keeping the place clean and tidy, etc. It's one heckuva job - hopefully I'll learn better patience when dealing with children, as I have very little at the moment.
But that brings us up to about current time. I'm home for the day off, both Myrna and Anita are at a birthday party - I elected to stay home and rest up from yesterday, clean around house, etc. It's a nice place, and I think once I settle in, I'll like the situation - I'll be walking to work tomorrow! Woo!
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