Tuesday, March 31, 2009

les riches de Casa


This is my new job. Going from major office building to major office building and teaching some of the most well off people in the city. The good thing about the job, I am like an independent contractor, having only to check in with the school weekly. The rest of the time I just show up at my gig. The great thing about my job is that I am getting to see so many different neighborhoods and buildings and meet people that I would not normally have access to.

The downside here is that I am meeting people that are economically able to out dress me. I think it is generally known that you do not become an ESL teacher to get rich. The thing is, I am used to teaching international students who are themselves living in a different country, most of the time working under the table and generally struggling. I am not used to this new breed of Moroccan corporate executive, dressed to the nines with an attitude to match. This is new for me. I am certainly learning to adapt. I am learning which sectors are worse than others with this stuff. I am also getting to know these students and thoroughly enjoying their company during class.

But there are these moments where I find myself waiting in the lobby of a massive bank, with the seam around my left ankle totally frayed and dust marks on my boots, starring at the parade of high heeled boots, fishtailed mini skirts and extremely tailored black trench coats, marching by. In these silent moments for me it is a struggle to feel up to it. It is a struggle to quiet the demonic voice in my head telling me to enroll in intensive private French classes and "give these people your CV woman so you can dress like that too"!!!! In these moments I have to remind myself that I left and, before that, turned down the access to this kind of a life. I have to remind myself that I had a three hour nap in the middle of the day and I walk along on the shore on my breaks between classes and eventually I'll get some new clothes!

Then the class got cancelled and I had some of the best ice cream I have ever tasted at a café called Oliveri. They specialize in ice cream. I only know that Oliveri and their ice cream even exist because I work in the neighborhood and figured it out on my own. So yeah, not the best dressed person at Oliveri but maybe the proudest.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Ma vie en rose


Wow - That took a while. But I'm back...from outer space...I just walked in to find you...Okay I'll stop. I just got this live wire connection to the internet like 5 Minutes ago, I promise.

So my life, my brilliant life in Casablanca... Boy oh boy, let's just say I have jumped in head first to this one people. It has been 4 weeks and two days and my place looks like I have been living in it for 6 months. I hang the towels out of the living room window to dry every morning and when I go and pull them in, in the afternoon, they smell of the salty sea that is 5 minutes away.

I am quickly and fiercely falling in love with the city. As I am learning the neighborhoods, streets, cafes, bakeries, shopping districts, I am falling more and more.

Casablanca is the mother load of everything I have ever said I wanted in a city. Let me explain:

First of all, it is huge.

Second of all, it is a linguistic oasis (although some days I find this very challenging).

Thirdly, it has an ocean (45 minutes walking distance to a beach, 5 minutes walking to the shore).

Fourth of all (can I say that), the food is out of control good, the shops are out of control good.

The city is much Europeanized, which is a little good and a little, well honestly, that's mostly good for me. I'll tell you why...because I get both here. I get the little European posh posh side of things that I love and I get the disorderly, passionate, affectionate, ancient fusion of African and Arab culture which I have always loved.

The city is a meeting point of language and culture that constantly keeps me on my toes. It is a daily challenge filled with eccentric characters and lots of lots of mint tea. I am Happy here.

Friday, March 06, 2009

It has been a while

Oh my, look at me. Urging everyone to come and read this thing and then I dont post for a month. I have a good reason though, I promise. I am not yet conected in my apartment and I can not strike up the inspiration needed here where I am typing. For now I will just say that everything is wonderful. I love my place, I love this country, I love the languages here, I love the trees and my neighborhood and my life really. I know it is soon, as in one week, but the permeating feeling for me in Morocco is comfort. I am comfortable and relxed. I smile...alot. I laugh...alot. My heart feels quite happy.

I love my job, I love my spare time to think and listen to music and take care of myself. I love my walks everyday. The city is big and exciting and has so much character. And of course, to be expected, the people are crazy and funny and mostly very nice.

I will write more soon. A real story and update with photos and what not.