This morning Khadija met us at the hotel and then we walked to a café for breakfast. The café was brand new, with a glass exterior that allows people to look out over old Meknes city. We ate outside, as it was a beautiful morning and
Khadija explained that the city of Meknes had taken on an initiative to make a nearby green space safe and clean for citizens. There were many people jogging and stopping to do exercises and two guards periodically make their rounds on
bicycles.
Khadija explained that the city of Meknes had taken on an initiative to make a nearby green space safe and clean for citizens. There were many people jogging and stopping to do exercises and two guards periodically make their rounds on
bicycles.
Upon finishing our breakfast, we walked in to the city (new city- with a much more prominent French influence) and observed very large homes on our walk. The houses were really quite beautiful but many appeared to be abandoned or in
disrepair. We asked Khadija about this and she mentioned that many people once lived in a house with their extended family, but that tradition has becomeless common. Many children are choosing to move to different cities in Morocco or may even move to Europe for better economic opportunities. If a family owned a home, and the elders died, the home may no longer be important to the family, yet they do not sell it. Unfortunately this means Morocco is dotted with abandoned homes that become an eye sore for citizens and visitors alike.
disrepair. We asked Khadija about this and she mentioned that many people once lived in a house with their extended family, but that tradition has becomeless common. Many children are choosing to move to different cities in Morocco or may even move to Europe for better economic opportunities. If a family owned a home, and the elders died, the home may no longer be important to the family, yet they do not sell it. Unfortunately this means Morocco is dotted with abandoned homes that become an eye sore for citizens and visitors alike.
We ended up at the plaza in front of Khadija's school, where we stopped at a photography shop to check on photos taken during the public speaking competition last night. Next, we walked to the produce market- large stands of olives, prunes, dates, figs, avocadoes, strawberries, bread, and spices. With Khadija's help, I purchased some cinnamon and cardamom to use in coffee- we tried this at her house and it was not only delicious, but the smell was wonderful! On our way out of the market, we took a photo of a beautiful array of cookies and pastries- there is no shortage of sweets here!
We walked back to the hotel and Laura and I sat out by the pool to work on our blogs and lessons for the week ahead. The weather has been incredible here- not much warmer than 70 degrees, nor cooler than 50 degrees- low humidity (or at least low compared to warm days in Missouri!) and clear skies. It has only sprinkled on us a few times, and only once have we seen an actual rain shower... knock on wood... which, by the way, is a saying the Moroccan students know well- they are remarkable in their understanding and use of the English language.
We walked back to the hotel and Laura and I sat out by the pool to work on our blogs and lessons for the week ahead. The weather has been incredible here- not much warmer than 70 degrees, nor cooler than 50 degrees- low humidity (or at least low compared to warm days in Missouri!) and clear skies. It has only sprinkled on us a few times, and only once have we seen an actual rain shower... knock on wood... which, by the way, is a saying the Moroccan students know well- they are remarkable in their understanding and use of the English language.