In Morocco and it's Hot

It's Day 2 for me and the NYC team in Morocco - and apparently = after a pleasant summer = today Rabat hit record highs as the Yahoo Weather Webpage says "Feels like 114 Degrees F" = Well, let me just confirm that it really feels that way and the feeling is HOOOOOOOOOOT and sweaty!

We spent the morning at the orphanage for our community service project and an amazing thing happened...I was at this same orphanage two years ago with OneWorld Now and fell in love with a baby that they called "Number 92" a.ka. "Feris". Well, I was on a quest to find him again, and sadly, he still hasn't been adopted, but happily, I did get to spend the morning with him - and now he's much bigger at 2 and a half years old. His eyes are still very sad and distant and he was very untrusting at first - but soon warmed up to me again. It then broke my heart as he cried two hours later when I had to leave! Does anyone want to adopt my Feris???? You have to be married and convert to Islam, by Moroccan adoption laws. I'm going back tomorrow to see him again! I can hardly believe he is still there... we were told that most of the children in the orphanage are left by single or divorced women = as it's culturally shameful to have a child on your own here.

After the orphanage we found the best way *sarcasm* to enjoy the heat = by visiting the Moroccan Ancient Ruins at Chellah. We really baked in the 114 degree weather! Our only relief was a visit to a cafe the Kasbah - overlooking the water below - where we cooled off with mint tea and Moroccan sweets! The smartest folks were swimming in the water...

The OneWorld students are taking their Arabic classes now and in an hour, Eric, Hoa and Annie and myself are going to have our own crash course in Moroccan Arabic = In Challah or God Willing...

More later - also, thanks to all of you for posting your comments, it's great to hear from you all!

Kristin