The Excursion From Kiondra
EXCURSION WEEK:
Wow, we just went to Fez, Azrou, Ifrane, Ain Leuh, Tagnite, Khenifra, Marrakesh, and Imlil (8 destinations) in 6 days! The excursion was intense to say the least. We met 4 Peace Corps volunteers along the way ranging in age from the mid-20s to 57. We spent time talking to 6-7 Moroccan high school students in the YES program who all just returned from studying 1 year in the US. One YES student`s family was so eager to make us feel welcome in Marrakesh that they hosted a special gathering for Morgan`s birthday on July 5th and dinner the next night. Great Fun!
For me, the most impressive point of the trip was watching OWN students enter into a 2 room Berber village home with no electricity or running water, sit down on the colorful floor rugs, and take turns weaving on a basic loom and playing with 2 children from the family. No one complained about the heat or the flies. For about 20 minutes, the OWN students were completely adjusted to the lifestyle of people living in extreme poverty - living on less than 1 dollar a day. After visiting another community nearby, we all noticed that the Berber people seemed to be comfortable with their lifestyle and capable enough to welcome us with tea and Moroccan pancakes. OWN students taught games to about 15 community children and learned games from them. I think that everyone took something from this experience, but also gave a little, too.
Oh, and there was The Hike -the six hour hike to Oukaimeden. It was quite challenging for me and all the students. We moved through the rocky mountain terrain at our own pace drinking bottles of water and stopping for occasional and much-needed breaks. We climbed high, very high. It was amazing to stop, think about, and see where we were -on the peak of a mountain, on our way to an even higher one. The experience was a personal and physical challenge for all. We each made it to the top, and then down to the bottom.
Now, we are all back in Rabat -a sort of homecoming.
Best,
Kiondra
Wow, we just went to Fez, Azrou, Ifrane, Ain Leuh, Tagnite, Khenifra, Marrakesh, and Imlil (8 destinations) in 6 days! The excursion was intense to say the least. We met 4 Peace Corps volunteers along the way ranging in age from the mid-20s to 57. We spent time talking to 6-7 Moroccan high school students in the YES program who all just returned from studying 1 year in the US. One YES student`s family was so eager to make us feel welcome in Marrakesh that they hosted a special gathering for Morgan`s birthday on July 5th and dinner the next night. Great Fun!
For me, the most impressive point of the trip was watching OWN students enter into a 2 room Berber village home with no electricity or running water, sit down on the colorful floor rugs, and take turns weaving on a basic loom and playing with 2 children from the family. No one complained about the heat or the flies. For about 20 minutes, the OWN students were completely adjusted to the lifestyle of people living in extreme poverty - living on less than 1 dollar a day. After visiting another community nearby, we all noticed that the Berber people seemed to be comfortable with their lifestyle and capable enough to welcome us with tea and Moroccan pancakes. OWN students taught games to about 15 community children and learned games from them. I think that everyone took something from this experience, but also gave a little, too.
Oh, and there was The Hike -the six hour hike to Oukaimeden. It was quite challenging for me and all the students. We moved through the rocky mountain terrain at our own pace drinking bottles of water and stopping for occasional and much-needed breaks. We climbed high, very high. It was amazing to stop, think about, and see where we were -on the peak of a mountain, on our way to an even higher one. The experience was a personal and physical challenge for all. We each made it to the top, and then down to the bottom.
Now, we are all back in Rabat -a sort of homecoming.
Best,
Kiondra
posted by M Halsey at 5:38 PM
1 Comments:
Your discription of the excursion leaves me with visions of our OWN members,climbing,smiling, thinking and contemplating their own experiences. The thought of them on top of a mountain breathing fresh air, half a world away is a wonderful vision to behold.I feel so more comfortable with Jackie there than on the Metro Buses here in Seattle. I know everyones exhausted and recoperating from the long hike, can't hardly wait to see pictures and too hear what happens this coming week. Thinking of you all. Jackies family
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