Beer!!

At a going away party/happy hour on Friday, I met a couple that works for Peace Corps here in Morocco.  They are both RPCVs themselves and just wonderfully fun people.  On Sunday, the families got together for the afternoon- kids outside playing, moms drinking wine, and dads brewing beer. I mostly stuck with the guys (and the beer).  Steve has been home brewing since I've known him, but this my first time going from start to finish with him in the first phase of brewing.  We made a brown nut ale, which I'm pretty excited about.  Plus I was able to spend a lot of time talking about Peace Corps with our new friend.  I've really missed my Peace Corps family!!! And even though this couple was in PC over 10 years ago, I still feel a connection to them.  That's just how it is with PC- different generations, different countries, it doesn't matter, you're family.  I'm looking forward to meeting more people in the PC community here in Morocco.

He deserved it

So I've finally started running again, now that I have running shoes and plenty of down time.  I'm used to getting honked at or whistled at or whatever other clever way men try to get my attention.  Today turned out to be a bit more exciting.  I got two waves, a thumbs up, a honk, a drive by (drove by once, pulled a U turn, and came back around), a round-of-applause, and caused a man to crash his motorcycle.  Ooooooops!! He decided to watch me rather than the road and ended up running into the curb.  But don't worry, the bike was fine.  Maybe I should start wearing my hair up in a hat...

Wii!!

Everyone is at work or at school while I’m here at the house, but today I discovered the Wii.  After an hour of boxing and another hour of random other Wii Sports activities, I found Super Mario World.  Best part of my day!  Worst part of my day- developing a giant blister on my thumb from playing too long. Totally worth it.

Girls day

Tara, Dee, Lou and I all treated ourselves to a girly day today.  Started with mani-pedis (oh how the nail techs hated me! I haven't had a legit pedicure since before Peace Corps... ooops...), some delicious coffee and french pastries (pain au chocolate, thank you!), then "shopping" from a fellow ex-pat who is leaving the country.  I literally doubled my wardrobe in the span of an hour! (not that I had much to start with).  Once home I officially unpacked all my things and moved in.  Topped off the night with delicious food and great South African wine.  It was a good day.

Week One

The house is pretty much empty during the day- the girls at school and the parents at work.  That's left me with lots of time to read, nap, internet, nap some more, and try to brush up on my French.  The woman who works in the house doesn't speak much English, so I've been trying to practice my French with her, but all that ever comes out is Portuguese! I keep telling her, "I really did speak French! I promise it will come back!" I think I'm saying that more for my benefit than hers at this point.  Regardless, I understand everything she says just can't find the words to respond. Instead I stand there and stammer or mumble or open my eyes real big and open my mouth, like that will make the words come.  Yeah, I'm getting a bit frustrated.  And my brain hurts.  But it will come...