A Day in the Life - August Edition

When interviewing for Peace Corps, our recruiter spent a lot of time asking what we would do when we got bored (notice that it is "when" and not "if"). We both found it kind of strange and listed off some random hobbies. "I really like to bake and cook new things... Hopefully local food! And I'm really trying to get back in to reading more. I have a kindle, why not use it?" said Alexis. "I like to read. Maybe go on a hike now and then? I'll figure something out" said Toby. 

He went out of his way to be sure we knew that we would get bored and that it would happen a lot, and while we knew we would get bored, no amount of talking during an interview could have prepared us for our first Moroccan August. 

An average day (it doesn't matter which one, as they're basically all the exact same):

Somewhere between 6:00 and 9:00 am: wake up. Sometimes it's because it's so warm were already sweating and need a shower, sometimes it's because the cat has decided to try to pierce Alexis' nose in her sleep. Either way, now we're up. 

10:00 am: I guess we should eat. 

12:00 pm: laundry/clean the kitchen time (alright. You got me. This is a very ambitious day) play with the cat. 

2:00 pm: food again? Sure. 

3:00 pm: I think the post office closes at 4, so we should leave soon if we want to check our (likely empty) PO box. 

3:30 pm: yep. Still empty. Want to go to the cafe?

4:30 pm: Alexis still isn't a fan of the public toilets, so I guess it's time to buy some food and go home. 

5:00 pm: eh I guess we need bananas or cheese or beef or something. 

5:30 pm: okay now we're home. That was a big day! Let's study for the GRE (occasionally done at the cafe). 

7:00 pm: dinner! Alright. 

8:30 pm: why didn't we plan and buy something for dessert?! Well, I'm not getting dressed to go out again, so I guess we'll survive without it. Let's play with the cat. 

9:00 pm: movie/reading/standing on the roof and talking about food or something in the U.S.  

11:00 pm: yeah I guess I'm tired enough. Good night. 

Add in occasional meals with our various favorite Moroccan families, more playing with the cat, talking about going to Fes, one-on-one English lessons, and (depending on the heat) numerous cold showers and that's been the majority of our summer.  

We do feel much more involved with our community and like people really know us now, which was a big goal. We have also put together a whole list of things were ready to try with our classes at the Dar Chebab when they start again (September 10), which feels great. We have also planned a vacation! We'll be in London for a few days in December and will go from there to Marseille for our anniversary, Alexis' birthday, and Christmas. (Imagine here the faces we're both making in relation to the food.)

Random accomplishments:

Check out the reading list tab. We've read a LOT of books. 

We have mastered quite a few recipes in site. Yes, they're mostly American foods that we miss, but that makes it no less impressive. 

One of our pipes burst and Toby was able to buy a new one and have a friend call a plumber for us - all in Darija!

Our cat is still really cute. 

Being here is complicated. Sometimes it's a lot of fun and everything is great, and other times nice weather and lack of cheese can lead one of us (okay, it's Alexis) to actual tears. But then something happens to make everything better again, and the cycle just continues. Who knows what the fall will bring, or the next 20 months of our service for that matter, but we'll be slightly more ready for it.