I think this post will bring me up to date. I'm not really sure as I don't know what feeling up to date is like after becoming so slack, but it's quite possible.
It's now Sunday afternoon, and I'm sitting on the roof in the sun listening to a bit of The Kooks. My housefamily have gone out for the afternoon, and I'm home all on my lonesome waiting so I can let Lexy back into the house. It's a lazy weekend here in Rabat; Lexy and another group of volunteers from Projects have headed to Moulay Idriss and Volubilis for the weekend, and I chose to stay home, as my body wouldn't physically allow me to wake at 7 after falling into bed at 5am. We had a late (or is that early?) night on Friday. However, I will start at the beginning, as it is the most logical place to start!
My placement has been different this week! When I returned to work on Wednesday morning I found that I was not one of 2-4 volunteers, but one of approximately 13 (this went up and down by two or three during the rest of the week), as the local high schools have an agreement with the hospital that students can come and look after the children when they are on holidays! This is an interesting concept, as for a care organisation which never (well-in my time there) has above 15 kids, the resource allocation and the capacity of the building are stretched to the limit, as the rooms are fairly small and the environment is not conducive to really long term learning (due to the unpredictable nature of children's-and voluteer-attendance). We want to and are suposed to teach, but it's impossible to do so when the children won't necessarily be there the next day, and will forget what they've learned as soon as they start playing.
I do really like the younger volunteers-they are so fresh and energetic and really genuinely nice people. My week was more enjoyable because of them! However, I think that the way in which the hospital uses them needs attention. Most days were started by drawing or playing cards, and then quickly migrated outside for play once the number of volunteers outdid the children. We had a ratio of over 2-1 going at one stage, and it proves that more voluteers doesn't necessarily mean a higher quality of care, rather more people standing around unsure of what to do. We could have smaller groups actually visiting the wards, or assigned to different jobs or areas such as teaching and sport, rather than just playing with the children. It would be more beneficial for everyone involved, as the children staying in the hospital don't get to attend normal school and have little to no French skills and absolutely no English; if you're lucky they can do basic mathematics. However, it is difficult, as to suggest that we focus more on learning and change the structure slightly with the added volunteers, whilst being really good and beneficial to the children, will change again and become impossible when we go back to three volunteers on a good day and children that won't listen when you tell them to be quiet, let alone when you try to teach them. Why not have an integrated program wherein the younger volunteers come once or twice a week for 2 hours in the morning and run an actual program, rather than for only two weeks in the holidays? Resource allocation: a slightly important concept.
Moving on to a more mild topic; on Wednesday night we had our weekly get-together, this time held at the host family of Christina, a middle-aged volunteer from Dresden. The house itself is split over two or three levels, and you enter by walking slightly underground through a small doorway, into a magnificently tiled sitting room. The food was incredible-mainly sweet consisting of sweet biscuits, pancakes cake, mint tea (eh? eh!), coffee, and then chicken rolls/sandwich things which were quite sweet as well! However, beforehand Lexy and I decided to walk to Tour Hassan (The Hassan Tower) to do a bit of sightseeing. We felt like such locals walking around on our own rather than in a tour group. It was quite nice, and the Mausoleum was also lovely. I was lead to wondering what these people must have been like to inspire the building of such intricate and lush buildings and monuments. Hassan Tower is a mosque that was never quite finished, so it sits there looking pretty surrounded by pillars and large expanses of concrete, but the mausoleum is quite incredible. Think marble and intricate mosaic tiling everywhere, whilst inside more marbe, stained glass and lush red carpets under lamp light. Everything about the place says wealth, however it was still really nice to visit and relax there, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Rabat (even just to people watch-you get all sorts of characters!).
Thursday night was spent at the apartment of two other volunteers from Canada, Louis-Phillipe and Merriam, who have the most gorgeous son called Rupert. It was billed as 'drinks and sushi', and when we arrived (bringing pastries) the boys were handed beer and us, mojitos (which were incredible with fresh Moroccan mint). The sushi itself was a hybrid; we used rice paper and your normal ingredients of rice, capsicum, avocado and carrot, but then added ingredients such as Clementine Oranges, cream cheese, peanut butter and nutella. It was a genuinely lovely night, and I will remember it with fondness. I swear I was going to take photos, however I had taken my camera out of my bag and replaced it with my beach towel earlier in the day (as John and I had wanted to go kayaking) and then forgotten to switch it back. As you do. It is so good to have independence and a social life around placement, as whilst placement is fun you do need time to get out and relax and wind down.
Which brings us to Friday, or more affectionately known as "John's last night". When writing this blog there were a number of titles to do with this night that I was considering; "Waka Waka", "More like camo, less like whiskers", "Ice Woman", or "Where's Cameron?". All of these are in some way from Friday night, and what a night it was!
John is now back in London after his 7weeks here, and on his lat night, he had a to do list, a ''tick the box before I go'' list, if you will. After vising Chella (ruined gardens in Rabat), we headed for the beach, partaking in a rather freezing night swim (turns out the Atlantic at night is cold. I'm so glad I answered that question) after which we hightailed it to McDonald's (because that's what you eat when in Morocco) and had a family dinner meal. Apparently you can't get them in London, which is an absolute travesty. The night continued as we made our way home, and then (Lexy and I) to the hamams to get cleaned up as the gas is still out at home. It was after this that the night got interesting. Lexy and I, running late as usual but wearing all black with war paint/mascara on our faces (which more than made up for our tardiness) rocked up at the Mosque ("WHICH MOSQUE?!?") to find that the game of Capture the Flag had not started, and that people were dropping like flies. We recruited two randoms (Sufyan and his friend) and our friend Hamza from the beach and off we went. It wasn't well planned, but we had a lot of fun anyway. The night moved on to the cheap bar after a quick wash of the face and change of clothes where wine and beer was drunk and merry times had, after which we moved to the club Amnesia.
Amnesia was an...interesting experience. When we arrvied, it was shit. Plain and simple. there was no-one there, the dancefloor was empty and it was playing crappy dj remixes. However, it took off a bit after 2am (it didn't open until 12) and was soon packed with young Moroccans (or not so young as we found out-but hey, they had a drinks tab!) dancing and gyrating on the dancefloor. Cameron took part in this with gusto and apparently enjoyed himself to the fullest. I found the experience slightly less enjoyable after losing count of the offers to dance and attempted 'crack ons'. Australian guys in clubs have nothing on these guys in terms of confidence, rhythm (the majority can dance well! Shock! Horror!) and general enthusiasm. Not being physically able to dance on your own (apparently) is tiring though, and I was saved at one stage by a kind American stranger speaking fluent Berber who managed to get rid of a particularly keen (but thick) male. Many thanks! Clubbing in Morocco had to be done though (and us girls got in free, which is a plus!) to fully complete the youthful experience (Yeah...I don't believe it either).
We walked home through a not quite deserted medina (hot Moroccan pancakes with nutella looked really good as an early breakfast/hangover food) at 5 am Saturday morning, saying goodbye to John at the door and falling into bed. Lexy woke at 7 to go to Moulay Idriss, and my body physically wouldn't let me wake and move, so here I am, sitting and blogging whilst having a long overdue rest weekend. It is technically my first weekend in Rabat since I started here, which is nice especially since I've been sick.
Well, I guess this is what being up to date feels like! I have nothing more to say. Well, actually, that's not quite true, but to put it all down here would be silly. I may do a very serious blog (read:essay) about the infrastructure and levels of unemployment in young people in the not-to-distant future, however for that to happen would mean I am not getting out and doing things, rather spending my time sitting on a computer! If it happens before I leave, you should stage an intervention (before the Moroccan government does). Until then, I will endeavour to provie witty (maybe) insights (definitly)into my time here whilst utilising self censorship and listening to good music.
Until next time!
Love Love,
Clem xx
It's now Sunday afternoon, and I'm sitting on the roof in the sun listening to a bit of The Kooks. My housefamily have gone out for the afternoon, and I'm home all on my lonesome waiting so I can let Lexy back into the house. It's a lazy weekend here in Rabat; Lexy and another group of volunteers from Projects have headed to Moulay Idriss and Volubilis for the weekend, and I chose to stay home, as my body wouldn't physically allow me to wake at 7 after falling into bed at 5am. We had a late (or is that early?) night on Friday. However, I will start at the beginning, as it is the most logical place to start!
 |
| This is possibly one of my favourite photos. Love these guys! |
My placement has been different this week! When I returned to work on Wednesday morning I found that I was not one of 2-4 volunteers, but one of approximately 13 (this went up and down by two or three during the rest of the week), as the local high schools have an agreement with the hospital that students can come and look after the children when they are on holidays! This is an interesting concept, as for a care organisation which never (well-in my time there) has above 15 kids, the resource allocation and the capacity of the building are stretched to the limit, as the rooms are fairly small and the environment is not conducive to really long term learning (due to the unpredictable nature of children's-and voluteer-attendance). We want to and are suposed to teach, but it's impossible to do so when the children won't necessarily be there the next day, and will forget what they've learned as soon as they start playing.
 |
| Friends at L'Hopital des Enfants <3 |
I do really like the younger volunteers-they are so fresh and energetic and really genuinely nice people. My week was more enjoyable because of them! However, I think that the way in which the hospital uses them needs attention. Most days were started by drawing or playing cards, and then quickly migrated outside for play once the number of volunteers outdid the children. We had a ratio of over 2-1 going at one stage, and it proves that more voluteers doesn't necessarily mean a higher quality of care, rather more people standing around unsure of what to do. We could have smaller groups actually visiting the wards, or assigned to different jobs or areas such as teaching and sport, rather than just playing with the children. It would be more beneficial for everyone involved, as the children staying in the hospital don't get to attend normal school and have little to no French skills and absolutely no English; if you're lucky they can do basic mathematics. However, it is difficult, as to suggest that we focus more on learning and change the structure slightly with the added volunteers, whilst being really good and beneficial to the children, will change again and become impossible when we go back to three volunteers on a good day and children that won't listen when you tell them to be quiet, let alone when you try to teach them. Why not have an integrated program wherein the younger volunteers come once or twice a week for 2 hours in the morning and run an actual program, rather than for only two weeks in the holidays? Resource allocation: a slightly important concept.
 |
| Tour Hassan |
Moving on to a more mild topic; on Wednesday night we had our weekly get-together, this time held at the host family of Christina, a middle-aged volunteer from Dresden. The house itself is split over two or three levels, and you enter by walking slightly underground through a small doorway, into a magnificently tiled sitting room. The food was incredible-mainly sweet consisting of sweet biscuits, pancakes cake, mint tea (eh? eh!), coffee, and then chicken rolls/sandwich things which were quite sweet as well! However, beforehand Lexy and I decided to walk to Tour Hassan (The Hassan Tower) to do a bit of sightseeing. We felt like such locals walking around on our own rather than in a tour group. It was quite nice, and the Mausoleum was also lovely. I was lead to wondering what these people must have been like to inspire the building of such intricate and lush buildings and monuments. Hassan Tower is a mosque that was never quite finished, so it sits there looking pretty surrounded by pillars and large expanses of concrete, but the mausoleum is quite incredible. Think marble and intricate mosaic tiling everywhere, whilst inside more marbe, stained glass and lush red carpets under lamp light. Everything about the place says wealth, however it was still really nice to visit and relax there, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Rabat (even just to people watch-you get all sorts of characters!).
 |
| At the Mausoleum |
Thursday night was spent at the apartment of two other volunteers from Canada, Louis-Phillipe and Merriam, who have the most gorgeous son called Rupert. It was billed as 'drinks and sushi', and when we arrived (bringing pastries) the boys were handed beer and us, mojitos (which were incredible with fresh Moroccan mint). The sushi itself was a hybrid; we used rice paper and your normal ingredients of rice, capsicum, avocado and carrot, but then added ingredients such as Clementine Oranges, cream cheese, peanut butter and nutella. It was a genuinely lovely night, and I will remember it with fondness. I swear I was going to take photos, however I had taken my camera out of my bag and replaced it with my beach towel earlier in the day (as John and I had wanted to go kayaking) and then forgotten to switch it back. As you do. It is so good to have independence and a social life around placement, as whilst placement is fun you do need time to get out and relax and wind down.
Which brings us to Friday, or more affectionately known as "John's last night". When writing this blog there were a number of titles to do with this night that I was considering; "Waka Waka", "More like camo, less like whiskers", "Ice Woman", or "Where's Cameron?". All of these are in some way from Friday night, and what a night it was!
 |
| Chella! |
 |
| Yes, those are birds... |
Amnesia was an...interesting experience. When we arrvied, it was shit. Plain and simple. there was no-one there, the dancefloor was empty and it was playing crappy dj remixes. However, it took off a bit after 2am (it didn't open until 12) and was soon packed with young Moroccans (or not so young as we found out-but hey, they had a drinks tab!) dancing and gyrating on the dancefloor. Cameron took part in this with gusto and apparently enjoyed himself to the fullest. I found the experience slightly less enjoyable after losing count of the offers to dance and attempted 'crack ons'. Australian guys in clubs have nothing on these guys in terms of confidence, rhythm (the majority can dance well! Shock! Horror!) and general enthusiasm. Not being physically able to dance on your own (apparently) is tiring though, and I was saved at one stage by a kind American stranger speaking fluent Berber who managed to get rid of a particularly keen (but thick) male. Many thanks! Clubbing in Morocco had to be done though (and us girls got in free, which is a plus!) to fully complete the youthful experience (Yeah...I don't believe it either).
We walked home through a not quite deserted medina (hot Moroccan pancakes with nutella looked really good as an early breakfast/hangover food) at 5 am Saturday morning, saying goodbye to John at the door and falling into bed. Lexy woke at 7 to go to Moulay Idriss, and my body physically wouldn't let me wake and move, so here I am, sitting and blogging whilst having a long overdue rest weekend. It is technically my first weekend in Rabat since I started here, which is nice especially since I've been sick.
 |
| Gardens in Chella. Beautiful. |
Well, I guess this is what being up to date feels like! I have nothing more to say. Well, actually, that's not quite true, but to put it all down here would be silly. I may do a very serious blog (read:essay) about the infrastructure and levels of unemployment in young people in the not-to-distant future, however for that to happen would mean I am not getting out and doing things, rather spending my time sitting on a computer! If it happens before I leave, you should stage an intervention (before the Moroccan government does). Until then, I will endeavour to provie witty (maybe) insights (definitly)into my time here whilst utilising self censorship and listening to good music.
Until next time!
Love Love,
Clem xx
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