I'm playing catch up with my blog entries; this brings me up to date.
I'm feeling very proud of myself at the moment, as I started placement yesterday at "L'Hopital des Enfants" in the "Association des Amis". It is without a doubt going to be one of the most challenging yet rewarding exeriences of my life.
After waking up in the freezing cold (acclimatising is proving more difficult than first thought), a breakfast of mint tea and toast and honey, I made my way to the taxi stand. I have to tell them "Souissie" and then L'Hopital des Enfants, and I get dropped across the four lane road by the grande taxi.
My placement is wonderful. It's a small building in the grounds of the hospital, and it's bright and colourful. When I rocked up, there were more volunteers than children. The two French volunteers were keeping the one child occupied with connect four and drawings, and when he ran off, we occupied ourselves with list making and idea generation. For us, it's pretty much organised chaos, as the children arrive when they arrive and leave whenever they have treatments or their parents are finished with theirs.
As every child enters the room, they walk to us and say salaam, and then give us kisses on both cheeks, as is the Moroccan way. I have never met such polite 10 year olds (both male and female) in my life! After my placement (I finish at 1), I again made my way to the Projects Abroad Office in a district called Agdal; once my meeting finished I returned home to a large lunch and my host family.
I'm feeling very proud of myself at the moment, as I started placement yesterday at "L'Hopital des Enfants" in the "Association des Amis". It is without a doubt going to be one of the most challenging yet rewarding exeriences of my life.
After waking up in the freezing cold (acclimatising is proving more difficult than first thought), a breakfast of mint tea and toast and honey, I made my way to the taxi stand. I have to tell them "Souissie" and then L'Hopital des Enfants, and I get dropped across the four lane road by the grande taxi.
My placement is wonderful. It's a small building in the grounds of the hospital, and it's bright and colourful. When I rocked up, there were more volunteers than children. The two French volunteers were keeping the one child occupied with connect four and drawings, and when he ran off, we occupied ourselves with list making and idea generation. For us, it's pretty much organised chaos, as the children arrive when they arrive and leave whenever they have treatments or their parents are finished with theirs.
As every child enters the room, they walk to us and say salaam, and then give us kisses on both cheeks, as is the Moroccan way. I have never met such polite 10 year olds (both male and female) in my life! After my placement (I finish at 1), I again made my way to the Projects Abroad Office in a district called Agdal; once my meeting finished I returned home to a large lunch and my host family.
It struck me today how easily the language barrier is broken, and how quick these children are to not only trust but make friends and care. It's as easy as smiling. There is a quote from an unknown author, and it goes as such:
"A smile is a language even a baby understands"
"A smile is a language even a baby understands"
This has never been more true and the baby at the Association would agree I'm sure.
That being said, it does help knowing the local language, and whilst my Arabic is coming back to me fairly quickly now, not knowing French is a serious disadvantage. Furthermore, it is a weird sensation when the French volunteer looks at you for translation when a child doesn't understand and says something in Arabic. I want to say "I'm as clueless as you are, I don't speak it either", but I'm too polite.
The language barrier also provides some entertainment and the doctors think it's hilarious how the children argue over who's necklace I make, while I sit there oblivious, threading beads.
It is the same on the street, although you pick your audience. People look at you because you are different and unusual, but (for most) it's not threatening in the slightest. You get the odd male who decides to make a fool of himself in front of his mates and get rejected, but most people are genuinely friendly, and surprised when you know how to communicate (to a degree).
I guess my learning curve has just started. I'm on the steep part of it, and I hope it will level out in the next few weeks. I want to say days, but things change so quickly here, such is the frenetic pace of life and indeed the tranport system.
I am now up to date, but will post a facebook status with the links as soon as I write anything more.
Love love!
C xx
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