Here are some of the things we consider ourselves really lucky to have (in no particular order):
Our site: Taounate. It's awesome here. We requested being in a big city, that isn't too cold or hot, to be close to a very big city, and to be in a replacement site. We have... Okay well we got all of those things. Alexis also wanted to inherit a cat from another volunteer, but I guess you can't have everything.
In Taounate, we also have a lot of amenities that we didn't expect. We have big Hanuts with soy sauce, ramen, and hot sauce. We also have crosswalks! Who would have thought we would miss the crosswalks in DC?
We have each other. Okay, sure, this is super corny. But real talk, we're really lucky to have another American around all the time for whatever. We can plan lessons together, we can remind each other how to actually speak English, and we can just hang out. Plus, because of the whole marriage thing we've already decided to hang out together all the time, and now we just get to keep that up.
We have an amazing support system outside of Morocco. Our friends and family let us talk about everything here (both the good and the less than great) until we're blue in the face, and they have yet to get so irritated that they stop talking to us. They also send us things that we miss (food, dental products, nice sheets, and a ton of other stuff) or bring us stuff (cheese. From France). It's nice to temporarily get away without actually getting away.
Jessica just came from France! Yay friends and food!
Here's the French cheese that we savored.
This has been the week-o-goods. These are our two most recent care packages!
A support system within Peace Corps. Our Staj is more than 90 other volunteers and there are about 100 or so still here from groups before ours. Needless to say, whatever problem we're having, someone else has either already been through it or is going through it at the same time. One of the joys of Peace Corps is our phone plan. At any point in time, we can call each other and just talk. Sure it can be about something important, or it can be to literally discuss how much we miss brunch and delivery (special shout out to Grub Hub).
We have an awesome house. It's huge. It's significantly nicer than anywhere we've ever had in the states. We don't really have much furniture, but we have enough stuff, a well-stocked kitchen, and an awesome roof. We also have a great landlord (mul dar). Whenever we have any issues, he's there in a heartbeat to try and help. Sometimes we have problems communicating, but we can always get the point across! He also decided to just bring us a huge thing of fresh olive oil and olives, just because he's an awesome dude.
We are also extremely lucky to be in a country with such amazing people. All of the Moroccans that we have encountered have been so hospitable that it's hard to stay frustrated for prolonged periods of time. Whether it's our cousin coming to help us with a power outage or broken door or our neighbors bringing us food randomly or whatever. We know that our Darija is very far from perfect, but people are always willing to work through any problems we have until we can reach the final point.
This is Siham. Her family invited us over for couscous a few weeks ago.
Another snack from the neighbors.
This is after a hike we took with some students from the Dar Chebab.
Coffee! Again, it seems silly, but we have access to really well made coffee. There are literally more than 50 cafes in Taounate, and a cafe creme (basically a small latte) is 6 dirham. It's pretty convenient.
Coffee, pastries, and a post card!
Access to Internet. We have wifi in our house and at our cafes and a few other places about town. Generations of Peace Corps Volunteers before us still find this shocking, but it's awesome.
Okay, I think that's a good overview. We have a whole lot more other things to appreciate, but that's the main jist.
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