Hey! Tonight's episode of Jack is sponsored by UK one-hit wonders The Dream Factory who reached #7 in the US in 1985 with "Life In A Northern Town". Remember that one? Though, I'm listening to the 2008 remake by the country group Sugarland with Little Big Town and Jake Owen. Better than the original, I say...
It's kind of remarkable what you can used to. I don't have a television. There is a website I learned of from a colleague that somehow allows you to stream any sporting event worth watching to your computer, just like that. With the time difference here, that basically means watching the Sunday NFL 1 pm games, the 4 pm games if I'm really motivated. Basically, I haven't watched any American TV for over 2 months, and don't much care. I've done it a week at a time before while traveling, but nothing like this. I read newspapers electronically of course. I miss my personal free lending library (a/k/a Barnes & Noble). The IMAX Theatre at the mall plays a movie Thursday in English, but I haven't gone yet...
I came to the realization earlier this week that I've pretty much tuned out the adhan, or, call to prayer that blares out across the city multiple times every day from the minarets of the mosques. I can get around town with relative ease, be it by using the taxi system or driving, which is saying something because the way taxis work here is ridiculous, and the drivers are lunatics. My New Jersey training with traffic circles is no good because there is a different way you have to navigate the roundabouts, or, rond-point, the French term you hear around here. I say this because I've began taking private French lessons within the past month, and am loving it! My tutor is great! I look forward to it all week. And I'm starting to respond somewhat instinctively to basic stuff when interacting/practicing with native staff. I'm trying to learn Moroccan Arabic on my own by reading/listening through the computer. Not easy...
Wild thing happened this week. I help students in all subjects - I'm a Jack-of-all-trades, if I say so - and I do. Anyway, a kid in one of my small-group pull-out classes had a social studies assignment which mentioned the Arab Spring. The talk moved to the Palestinians and Israel. When I told the kids that in my country that the PLO is considered a terrorist organization, you could have knocked them over with a feather - they were legitimately stunned. The real fun began when I asked some question about Israel and the Palestinian quest for certain of their land. I'll never forget how one student reacted. This teen did not yell and scream, or use profanity. He was never inappropriate. But in an extremely agitated, raised voice he made a brief, very angry, yet reasoned, statement for the Palestinian cause. Now I was the one in shock. All depends on one's perspective, huh? Speaking of which, roommate got off a good one this morning, when I said I had a generally cynical view of things, he replied that could walk in a room, see a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and ask who died. Gotta admit, he got me with that one...
Finally, folks, a few random photos from home and school...
God, I hate this stuff. It's a 1 liter carton of the UHT milk I've told you about previously. I buy it by the six-pack off a shelf. Actually, I've kind of gotten used to it, but I really need to head to the King's Market for the real stuff, price be damned...
This is a canister of the "propane-like" gas hooked up to your stove so you can cook your tagine (had it for lunch today), or couscous (after all, it is Friday). Looks safe, right? Umm...
This is a typical piece of furniture you'll see in living areas 'round these here parts. Notice it has no back. Does wonders for your posture, though...
This is from the multipurpose room at school. Remember, this is an American school in Morocco, hence the flags of 2 nations and the pictures of their heads of state on either side of the stage. Here are a couple of close-ups...
This is His Majesty King Mohamed VI...
and the other Muslim...
Thank you, folks! I'll be performing again next Friday night at this time. Bonne nuit!
It's kind of remarkable what you can used to. I don't have a television. There is a website I learned of from a colleague that somehow allows you to stream any sporting event worth watching to your computer, just like that. With the time difference here, that basically means watching the Sunday NFL 1 pm games, the 4 pm games if I'm really motivated. Basically, I haven't watched any American TV for over 2 months, and don't much care. I've done it a week at a time before while traveling, but nothing like this. I read newspapers electronically of course. I miss my personal free lending library (a/k/a Barnes & Noble). The IMAX Theatre at the mall plays a movie Thursday in English, but I haven't gone yet...
I came to the realization earlier this week that I've pretty much tuned out the adhan, or, call to prayer that blares out across the city multiple times every day from the minarets of the mosques. I can get around town with relative ease, be it by using the taxi system or driving, which is saying something because the way taxis work here is ridiculous, and the drivers are lunatics. My New Jersey training with traffic circles is no good because there is a different way you have to navigate the roundabouts, or, rond-point, the French term you hear around here. I say this because I've began taking private French lessons within the past month, and am loving it! My tutor is great! I look forward to it all week. And I'm starting to respond somewhat instinctively to basic stuff when interacting/practicing with native staff. I'm trying to learn Moroccan Arabic on my own by reading/listening through the computer. Not easy...
Wild thing happened this week. I help students in all subjects - I'm a Jack-of-all-trades, if I say so - and I do. Anyway, a kid in one of my small-group pull-out classes had a social studies assignment which mentioned the Arab Spring. The talk moved to the Palestinians and Israel. When I told the kids that in my country that the PLO is considered a terrorist organization, you could have knocked them over with a feather - they were legitimately stunned. The real fun began when I asked some question about Israel and the Palestinian quest for certain of their land. I'll never forget how one student reacted. This teen did not yell and scream, or use profanity. He was never inappropriate. But in an extremely agitated, raised voice he made a brief, very angry, yet reasoned, statement for the Palestinian cause. Now I was the one in shock. All depends on one's perspective, huh? Speaking of which, roommate got off a good one this morning, when I said I had a generally cynical view of things, he replied that could walk in a room, see a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and ask who died. Gotta admit, he got me with that one...
Finally, folks, a few random photos from home and school...
God, I hate this stuff. It's a 1 liter carton of the UHT milk I've told you about previously. I buy it by the six-pack off a shelf. Actually, I've kind of gotten used to it, but I really need to head to the King's Market for the real stuff, price be damned...
This is a canister of the "propane-like" gas hooked up to your stove so you can cook your tagine (had it for lunch today), or couscous (after all, it is Friday). Looks safe, right? Umm...
This is a typical piece of furniture you'll see in living areas 'round these here parts. Notice it has no back. Does wonders for your posture, though...
This is from the multipurpose room at school. Remember, this is an American school in Morocco, hence the flags of 2 nations and the pictures of their heads of state on either side of the stage. Here are a couple of close-ups...
This is His Majesty King Mohamed VI...
and the other Muslim...
Thank you, folks! I'll be performing again next Friday night at this time. Bonne nuit!
Great writing and I look forward to the updates! Thanks for keeping us posted.
ReplyDelete