First Impressions From Kristin

I just arrived today in Rabat with our OneWorld team from New York; Eric our Global Arts Project Photographer; Hoa the Principal from Henry Street School for International Studies and teacher Annie! After a quick orientation where we learned about eating with our right hand only; not to show our feet; why we should cover our arms and legs as women and how to use the Turkish toilets... we headed straight for the beach to cool off from hot temps. Hoa and Annie had a super lunch with their host family in the Medina, the old city, while Eric and I used our broken French to negotiate a lunch of chicken and cous-cous at a downtown restaurant. We spent the afternoon getting lost through the windy streets of the medina; see this link for photos of the medina and no; I do not know this guy = but it gives you an idea: http://people.w3.org/rishida/photos/html/0409-morocco-2.html

This place is so beautiful with such a mix of people and cultures. Morocco is one of the few Muslim countries where about half of the women are covered and the rest wear more Western clothing. However; the medina; the old city; is the more traditional part of the city where women are more covered and we were told it is best to walk with a male escort.

Tomorrow morning we are joining the OneWorld students at an orphanage for the start of our community service projects... more later:: but for now, I can say I am very happy to be in this fascinating country...