Casablanca with ISA

Day two in Casablanca was AMAZING!! We got breakfast in the hotel and then got on a lovely air conditioned bus and drove around a few sites in Casa. The first stop was the square with the pigeons. 

The next stop was a Catholic Church Our Lady of Lourdes. It had beautiful stained glass! We were there on Sunday which was nice. There was a choir rehearsing for mass and they sounded so wonderful with the acoustics in the chapel. 

After the church we went to the palace of Mohammed VI and the old city or medina. The palace doors were so beautiful and intricate. There is one door for the royal family and another door for the king, and it is HUGE!!

Family door

King's door. Just to give you an idea I'm 5'3" and I only come up about 2/3 of the way to the door knobs. 

In the medina we saw many craftsman shops and an olive market. 

After the medina we went to the Hassan II mosque. It's the 3rd largest in the world the only mosques that are bigger are the mosque in Mecca and the mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The Hassan II has the world's largest mineret, it even has an elevator for the muezzin to give the call to prayer. The mosque took 6 years working 24/7 to build. The marble floors are heated electronically and the roof can be opened on hot days for air circulation. Part of the mosque is actually out over the Atlantic Ocean. It is a beautiful! My photos don't do it justice. I think it's a place everyone should go but especially my Muslim friends, if you get the chance go there for prayer!

The roof that opens

All of the mare for the floors is from Morocco. 

This is the genealogy of the king of Morocco. 

This is the enterance to the ritual wash rooms

This is just inside the wash room. 

This is a washing station the water flows from the top of the flower down below. 

Chandelier over the wash stations. 

The wash rooms are actually under the mosque but with the use of some great sky lights you would never know. 

There is also a hammam (Turkish bath house) under the mosque. Which was beautiful too. 

All this beauty and it's never been used!!

After the mosque we went to the beach in the Ain Daib neighborhood and I was able to put my feet in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time! I don't have any photos because they're on Jen's camera but as soon as I get them I'm post them. 

After the beach it was time to get on the road to Meknés. :)

Ok that's all for now. I know I still need to catch up to today but, I have homework to do. :)

Hope you're all well!

Kayla نور

  

Casablanca

The flight from Paris to Casablanca was fine, it was supposed to be 3 hours but we had a strong tail wind so it was only 2 and a half which was nice. We got off the plane and on to a bus that drive is to the terminal, then I was off to baggage claim. There was an issue with some bags and they created a dam on the belt so everything got piled up. It was interesting to see two airport workers sit there and watch the passengers try to solve the problem it was a learning moment for me about cultural differences. :) I had to make my way to the train station with my luggage and then try to load my luggage on the train. Thankfully everyone here has been so kind and helpful. :)

I got a taxi to take me to the hotel that I would be staying in with my program hoping they would have a room available for me, and they did. I spent most of the rest of the day catching up on some sleep which was really nice. I woke up and it was dusk so I decided instead of wandering the streets alone at night looking for food I would just eat in the hotel's restaurant. 

I was served vegetable soup which was really good, the main course was beef stroganoff with rice and vegetables and for dessert I had yummy yogurt. 

 I remembered my phone this time to take pictures. 

After dinner I went back to my room to sleep. In the morning I got up and went to eat breakfast. While when the elevator arrived, Iman form student services for my program stepped off and recognized me as being in the program. She welcomed me to Morocco and made sure I would be able to get something to eat (it was almost time for breakfast to end) and told me she would meet up with me shortly. She came to my room and gave me a map of Casablanca with suggestions of sites to see or places to eat, an emergency contact card and a small English to Darija (Moroccan dialect) phrase book. 

I stayed in my room for a little while looking at the map Iman gave me and mustering up the courage to go out and about on my own. I also had to switch rooms because it was the night most people arrived and i would be sharing with my roommate for the program. I left my hotel and went around the block, then decided to go down a different direction when I got back to my hotel. This is where the it gets interesting. 

While I was walking I noticed an older man, he was probably in his mid 70's, walking at my same speed and almost next to me. Well, I was just kind of out for a stroll so I found it a little odd that he was next to me so I turned the corner hoping that I was just being paranoid. 

 

He turned the corner too. Ok, no big deal it's a big city and I'm in an area of town where people frequent, right next to the main post office and government buildings. I saw a square with a fountain and about a zillion pigeons and some people so I thought I'd test my theory of whether or not he was following me. There were men there taking pictures of people with the pigeons eating out of their hands with the fountain behind them and a woman doing henna. While it was a little difficult to have to keep telling them "la, shukran" (no, thank you) especially once they saw my Noor necklace and tried to act like we were old friends, I eventually left that square for one across the street. 

There were people sitting on the benches and since it was a nice day I sat down. I was hoping to be able to hear the call to prayer since I hadn't heard it yet. Well, the old man, who I thought really wasn't following me came and sat next to me in the bench. I didn't know what to do. He just sat there and stared at me. I decided I would just ignore him, since even if I'd wanted to I wouldn't have been able to talk to him. Eventually he left the bench and went and stood next to a tree at the next corner of the square. 

Behind me on the bench on the grass was a man playing with his son, it looked like he had been teaching the boy how to ride a bike and they decided to stop for awhile. The man and his son left and the old man swooped in to claim that shady spot of grass. From there he whispered words at me. I didn't understand him except for one word, "latifa" which means, nice. I just ignored him again and didn't turn to look at him at all. Eventually he gave up and left. I waited until he turned the corner nearly a block away before I moved, making sure he really was gone this time. 

I walked around the square and then another man, probably in his 40's started to walk circles around me. I was really uncomfortable and walked quickly back to the hotel. When I got to the lobby I heard two guys speaking English and asked if they were part of my program. They were so I sat and talked to then for a few minutes until one I them went up and got two more people. They were all hungry and decided to go to a pizza place just down the street. I wasn't going to go with them but decided it would be better to go then to sit in my room alone. 

The pizza place was interesting, trying to communicate with a crazy mix of English, Arabic, French and Italian, but we eventually all got what we ordered and the food was tasty. 

I decided to go back to my room after eating while some of the group went to see the fountain square with the pigeons. I watched a little tv in my room and fell asleep. I woke up when my roommate Jen arrived. She got in about 5:30, we introduced ourselves and then eventually made our way to the lobby for our group meeting. 

In the group meeting we introduced ourselves and got to know a little more about the director Daniel and the student services members, Iman and Mohsin. They're all really nice. Daniel grew up in DC and did his own study abroad program in Spain which lead him to working with ISA and eventually being here in Meknes as director. Iman and Mohsin are both Moroccan, Iman was born and raised in Meknes and Mohsin moved to Meknes when he was 15. 

After our meeting we went to dinner which was buffet style and everything I tried was yummy! A few of us decided to walk just across the street to buy water and then went back to the hotel to sleep. 

Up next will be my adventures in Casablanca with my ISA group. 

Kayla نور

Transatlantic flight

This whole adventure began on June 26 at the Salt Lake City airport. The flight I was tentatively scheduled for I didn't make so I was rolled to the next flight. That flight was delayed due to mechanical issues which meant I wouldn't catch my flight to Madrid. 

While I was waiting to see what my fate would be my dad's friend Doug who got me the amazing deal on my flight walked up to the counter I was sitting by to help someone so I asked him how likely I was to get of of SLC. He told me it would be best if I was able to get on the nonstop from SLC to Paris so he added me to the standby list for that flight.

Also thanks to Doug I got to fly in business class so I had a 4 course meal for dinner, my own pillow and blanket and a travel kit waiting for me. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to fall asleep on the flight so by the time I arrived in Paris I was really tired. I was even more tired by the time I got my luggage 4 hours later and decided it would be best to get a hotel near the airport for the night. 

I got to my hotel and took a short nap before going in search of food. I had bad timing though, because the restaurant was closed so I had to settle for a salad and cheese platter for dinner. The front desk guy at my hotel was really nice, he actually spoke Arabic with me which was fun and crazy. :)

My view from my hotel room. 

I had to get up at 3 in the morning to leave in enough time to catch my 6:00 flight to Casablanca, so while my stay in Paris was short it was nice. 

In the morning I took a taxi to the airport and was able to get two delicious French pastries for breakfast. And then I was on my way to Africa!

If you look closely you can see Europe on the right and Africa on the left. 

Ok friends, I've got to go learn about my neighborhood. I'll write more when I get back!

Kayla نور

California, knows how to party...

I went home to central California the evening after I worked my last graveyard shift, needless to say it was one of my easier shifts to get through. ;)

The reason for the trip was because my Goon was graduating from high school! For those of you who don't know what that means, which is pretty much everyone, let me explain. My mom's best friend is Louetta, her son is Ryan. Ryan as been like a little brother/cousin/nephew all in one for me and about 6 years ago due to some crazy texting the term Goon became a term of endearment for us. Ryan is the only one I use this term with, and I'm pretty sure I'm the only one he calls Goon too. :) So when your Goon graduates you wanna be there to witness it. When I lived in Fresno I was a regular at his baseball, basketball, soccer, and football games, as well as recitals and Spanish Immersion camp presentations. I've spent a lot of time listening to Disney Radio and hearing about school projects while acting as a substitute chauffeur. I wanted to be there when this chapter of his life was coming to a close and I'm so glad I was! I monkey you, Goon!!

While I was there, I got to see most, but unfortunately not all of my "family." The reason for the quotation marks is that my family has a habit of adopting other families into ours and they become just as important to us as those we're related to through blood. I was able to get some pretty good pics of the kids that I call my nieces and nephews and am SO honored have blessed me with the title of Auntie/Tia! I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My first real stop was to visit my sister Debbie, and my brother-in-law Ric at their beautiful home in Arroyo Grande, on the central coast with my mom and niece Baby Bear (Claire). The nice thing about visiting with Deb and Ric is all the laughs and good times that are had unintentionally, oh yeah, and the beach. I promise, in that order! :)

We went to the beach a few times, and I got some cool shells. My mom has collected shells for as long as I can remember, so it's become a family tradition to look for them.

Oceano Beach, one of the last in California cars can still drive on

Half a sand dollar

We kept seeing them with these barnacle things. :)

It was still alive, I could feel it moving in my hand.
SOOOOO strange!

Bear and Banjo, Deb's dog

Mom and Louie, Deb's other dog.

We also went to Avila Barn and fed some animals, which was fun, my favorite part was when my mom saw the llamas.  Apparently, my mom has wanted a pet llama for years, so I was excited to see her with one.

Before we left Deb and Ric's we went out to lunch at a FABULOUS place, and we got a little silly.

Me, Bear, Debbie

Ric doing his best Pop Eye impression

Silly Bear

The next morning I got to spend some quality time with Kylee (Ky Ky) and Nikolai (Niko).  Ky is so much fun, but hard to keep up with because of all her energy.  Oh and she's soooo smart too! There's no fooling her by trying to distract her!  I also went out for ice cream with my friend Chrissy and her two little cuties, Isaiah and Aubrey.  I didn't take any pictures of them though. :/

This is her, "Um I'm trying to play here" face

Happy Ky!

Niko and his rice cracker.

Playing on the iPad

Louetta's family came to town all the way from Duncan, Oklahoma and she had asked my mom to help her with a few errands.  I tagged along and my reward was a pedicure and lots of kisses from these two!

Bruce and Brownie

So hard to resist that face of Bruce!

The graduation went well, it was really a pretty nice ceremony.  You could tell that they had practiced to make sure it was quick and efficient.

Goon and Goon

I'm soooooo proud of you, Ryan!

Chani and Ryan

Louetta and Ryan

The next day was filled with lots of love and laughs! I got to spend the morning with Leo (Bubba, or Bubba Leo) and Miguel (Giguel).  My sister Chani and I played with them all morning, which included a trip to the park, I don't know what we were thinking though, it was soooo hot!  We tuckered the boys out good though, they both fell asleep on the way to Ky Ky's house.

I took note of some of the things Leo said that morning that made me laugh.

Me to Chani : I love his hair!
Leo: My mom grew it for me.

Chani to Leo : So what do you think of the price of tea in China?
Leo: Ummmmm dragons? 

Leo and Chani's teddy bear

Wrestling

Love that smile

Giguel really likes trains

Big brother's shouldn't grin like that. ;)

Having fun at the park Leo calls "Chani's Park"

You know the park was good when you fall asleep

Sleeping Giguel

That afternoon I spent some time with Leo and Miguel's sister Adriana (Azalina).  Chani and I picked her up from her last day of school and then she and I watched a movie (well, she watched I napped) and just hung out until Baby Bear came for a sleep over and I went to have dinner with my friend Janice.  I'm ashamed to say it had been WAAAAAY too long since I'd seen her, but it was really nice to catch up. :)

Azalina and me, isn't she beautiful!?

She has a great smile.

I love this girl!

Funny faces

Then it was up early to drive back up to Oakland and catch my flight back to Salt Lake City.  It was a good trip, I got to see a lot of people and recharge my batteries a bit.  I've decided though, it's rarely ever long enough.  There's always more I want to do or people to see.  I guess, that's kind of how life is though.  :)