Swearing In!

All 57 of us Health and Environment Volunteers

It’s official. I’m a volunteer. No longer a mere trainee. At about 11:00 this morning, we all took the oath as Peace Corps volunteers. It’s the day we’ve been pointing toward throughout training, and it’s a big deal. 

Our country director, Peggy McClure, talked about what an exciting time it is to be in Morocco. Morocco, perhaps alone among the North African countries, is pursuing democratic reforms through a political process, and we’ll be witnesses to that. Peace Corps has a long history in Morocco – next year it will be celebrating 50 years in the country. And Morocco was the first country in the world to recognize the U.S. as a sovereign nation way back in 1777. Our countries’ association and mutual respect go a long way back.

Brahim gives his speech in Tamazight

After she spoke, three of the volunteers – the highest scorers on the LPI – spoke in their target language. My buddy Ryan (Brahim) gave the Tamazight speech and got quite a few laughs. 

Afterwards there was a very nice reception for us. Now we have the rest of the day free to say goodbyes and finish packing for our departures tomorrow.

My training group - Najat, me, Amel, Said, Brahim, & Zizi

.عid lmilad

Birthdays (.عid lmilad) are not celebrated much here in Morocco. But we Americans still make a big deal out of it. I received so many birthday wishes today from people both in the States and here in Morocco. Thank you all so much. It was quite a treat.

This evening at dinner everyone surprised me by singing "Happy Birthday." Then my CBT mates, Najat, Zizi, and Brahim gave me a handmade card with everyone's names on it, a luscious piece of cake (which I mangled while photographing), a fruit tart, and salt and pepper dishes in the shape of tagines. Afterwards, a bunch of us went to a cafe on the square and had more treats. Actually, I had another piece of cake, lqhwa ns ns (coffee half  milk half coffee) and two servings of gelato, one with strawberry and tiramisu, the other with papaya and a chocolate-hazelnut. They were really good. It was a wonderful way to celebrate.

LPI Is Over…Swearing In Next

We’re back in Oz for the final week of PST (Pre-Service Training). We had our LPIs yesterday morning. The LPI (Language Proficiency Interview) is a 20-30 minute one-on-one conversation with a tester in the host language. It’s something Peace Corps gives us at regular intervals during our two years of service to gauge our progress in the language. It helps them assess their training techniques and is, at least indirectly, a measure of our ability to work effectively. At this stage (PST), we have to score at least at the Novice High level. Since most of us still feel pretty inadequate in our language, there was a lot of pre-LPI anxiety.

But now it’s over, and I learned this afternoon that I scored Intermediate Low. At least I passed, and I'm grateful for that! The rest of our time this week will be spent on administrative details and preparation for moving to our permanent sites. On Wednesday morning, we swear-in as PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers), and that’s when our service officially begins. Up till now, we’ve been mere PCTs (Peace Corps Trainees). The next day, everyone fans out to their permanent sites.

Even though we’re all pretty eager to move on, there’s a bittersweet aspect to this time. CBT (Community Based Training) is an intense experience. We’ve formed close bonds with our CBT mates and our host families. But now we’re leaving our families and separating from our friends. On Thursday, we had a party at my host family’s house to mark the end of CBT. About 60 people came. We volunteers made chocolate chip cookies and fruit kabobs. There was lots of talk and music and dancing. And not a few tears.

For me, this is a little easier. I go back to the same village, where I already have friends and have been welcomed into the community – some people already call me “Bouri,” my host family’s last name. But there’s still the departure of my CBT mates. Maybe it’s time to start thinking of a reunion.

American Food!...Sort Of

This afternoon, after class, a bunch of us went to a restaurant near the main square in Ourzazate and I had my first American food (other than the one I cooked for my host family a month ago) since I came to Morocco - a hamburger and fries, with a Coke. The fries were great. The Coke was...Coke. And the burger was a good burger: medium rare, on a large bun, with tomato and lettuce. The restaurant called it a "packet sandwich." Normally, that comes with cheese. I'm not crazy about cheeseburgers, so I ordered mine without (bla frmaj). As a matter of course, they just substituted a fried egg for the cheese. That was a novel touch, but it was still tasty!



I didn't have the foresight to take my camera with me, so I can't show you the full majesty of the meal, but I have included an old photo of a Coca-cola can. I just love the logo in Arabic. It's just as impressive as the American version.



```

Last week we had a “family gathering” at my house that included all five of us volunteers in our CBT, plus members of everyone’s families, about 30 people altogether.



It was kind of a mid-CBT check-up to make sure things were going all right. We covered Peace Corps goals and some cultural issues and gave each side the chance to say if anything bothered them. As it turns out, nothing earthshaking. The Moroccans said that when we went to our rooms and stayed there for a little bit, they always wondered if they’d done something to offend us. We assured them they hadn’t, that we Americans are used to, and like, alone time. For our part, we said it was difficult to eat dinner so late at night. For some reason it’s been getting later than it was even at the beginning. At my house, dinner time has moved from about 9:00 to 11:00 or even later sometimes. For most of us, all we want to do is sleep by that time.



The great thing that came out of the gathering was simply that it happened. Our families really appreciated being asked to visit and talk about why we’re here, to be involved in our work.

For me the gathering was particularly valuable because my training village is where I’ll be permanently stationed for the next two years. I discovered that one of the fathers is a member of the Commune (the equivalent of a county commission). Some women talked about the need for an association to help women with literacy and other issues and the need for something for young people to do. Several middle-school aged kids came up to me afterwards and told me they really want to learn English. And I was able to identify a few people I think might be willing to partner with me in doing some projects. I’m receptive to all those ideas, so my immediate work is beginning to shape in my mind.



```

Last week we also had some hands on practice at making well assessments, which will be one of the things I will be doing early in my service. I’ve attached a couple of the photos I took as documentation of the assessments.



Right now I’m in Oz getting technical training in health education and prepping for our LPI (Language Proficiency Interview). This is something we have to do at the end of CBT and at various other intervals during our service. Language is one of the stress points in our training. Except for a couple of superstars, most of us feel pretty inadequate. We have to score at Novice High in order to pass out of CBT. We got a presentation on what that means exactly, and it was reassuring. I’m confident that I’m already speaking at that level (and I still have a week of training to go!). But it still doesn’t change the feeling of inadequacy in terms of being able to do the work we’re expected to do. Fortunately, we also get a tutoring allowance, so that we can continue our language study after CBT is over.



Well, only two weeks of PST (Pre-Service Training) left. One more week back in our villages, then five days back here in Oz,. Swearing in is on May 25, a big day in a Peace Corps volunteer’s service.

A Family Gathering

Last week we had a “family gathering” at my house that included all five of us volunteers in our CBT, plus members of everyone’s families, about 30 people altogether.

It was kind of a mid-CBT check-up to make sure things were going all right. We covered Peace Corps goals and some cultural issues and gave each side the chance to say if anything bothered them. As it turns out, nothing earthshaking. The Moroccans said that when we went to our rooms and stayed there for a little bit, they always wondered if they’d done something to offend us. We assured them they hadn’t, that we Americans are used to, and like, alone time. For our part, we said it was difficult to eat dinner so late at night. For some reason it’s been getting later than it was even at the beginning. At my house, dinner time has moved from about 9:00 to 11:00 or even later sometimes. For most of us, all we want to do is sleep by that time.

The great thing that came out of the gathering was simply that it happened. Our families really appreciated being asked to visit and talk about why we’re here, to be involved in our work.

For me the gathering was particularly valuable because my CBT village is where I’ll be permanently stationed for the next two years. I discovered that one of the fathers is a member of the Commune (the equivalent of a county commission). Some women talked about the need for an association to help women with literacy and other issues and the need for something for young people to do. Several middle-school aged kids came up to me afterwards and told me they really want to learn English. And I was able to identify a few people I think might be willing to partner with me in doing some projects. I’m receptive to all those ideas, so my immediate work is beginning to shape in my mind.

Last week we also had some hands on practice at make well assessments, which will be one of the things I will be doing early in my service. I’ve attached a couple of the photos I took as documentation of the assessments.

Right now I’m in Oz getting technical training in health education and prepping for our LPI (Language Proficiency Interview). This is something we have to do at the end of CBT and at various other intervals during our service. Language is one of the stress points in our training. Except for a couple of superstars, most of us feel pretty inadequate. We have to score at Novice High in order to pass out of CBT. We got a presentation on what that means exactly, and it was reassuring. I’m confident that I’m already speaking at that level (and I still have a week of training to go!). But it still doesn’t change the feeling of inadequacy in terms of being able to do the work we’re expected to do. Fortunately, we also get a tutoring allowance, so that we can continue our language study after CBT is over.

Well, only two weeks of PST (Pre-Service Training) left. One more week back in our villages, then five days back here in Oz,. Swearing in is on May 25, a big day in a Peace Corps volunteer’s service.

Roses, Running and the Week After Site Visits

This has been another good week, but in a different sense than last.

The week before, all of us were visiting our permanent sites. This was the first time Peace Corps Morocco sent the volunteers out so soon. Usually, they don’t visit their permanent sites till CBT is over, after swearing in, then they go…and stay. For a variety of reasons (one of them budgetary), they decided to send us for the one week “get acquainted” visit in the middle of our training. As with so many things, there were unintended consequences.

Mostly, the results were good. Nearly everyone was enthused with their sites (as was I). The unintended consequence is that now we’re all a little impatient with training. We want to get on with it, do the real thing, not just training, not just practice. Of course, we all recognize that we still need more language and we still need technical training. But…we’d all still like to be doing actual work… a very American trait. In a deeper sense, it magnified the cultural differences we live under. It made us all yearn for the sense of autonomy that we feel in America (without even realizing it).

 

Even though I have a very good living situation with my host family, I became acutely aware this week of how much I wanted to be able to live on my own schedule. As it is now, I go to school all day. When I come home, I’m expected to spend time with my family, which I willingly do…and yet it’s also an expectation. Moroccans tend to always be together and think that people should not be left alone. So, for example, if I say I’m going for a walk in the fields, they will almost always tell Sulayman to go with me. And that’s just a minor example. During her site visit, one volunteer said her family sent one of the children to her room every night so that she wouldn’t have to sleep alone.

Anyway, the tenor of our training changed this week. Still lots of language (I think we were introduced to about 600 new words in the last two and a half days) with the addition of technical training on water and sanitation, but a lot of thinking ahead to when we’ll be on our own, have our own places to live, etc. Because I’ve already found a place, I’ve begun to think of what I will do to spiff it up a bit. One of the things I did here in Qalaa today was price paint…but I’ll save the redecorating details for later.

We've done a couple of things to help offset our restlessness. For example, yesterday afternoon several of us watched a movie together (Crazy Hearts). Afterwards we went for our first run in Azlag. It drew a few comments of amador (crazy), but the exercise was good for the soul.

But don’t get the idea that I’m pulling back from my desire to become an active member of my community. This morning at breakfast Mohammed said they were going into the fields to pick roses. “Everyone?” I asked. He nodded and asked if I wanted to go. I did. We went to fields I had never seen before, quite far from the village, along Hobbit-like paths. My sisters Aicha and Ouardia showed me several new trees, including quince and several others I haven’t found the translation for yet. It was a great hour and a half.

So today, I’m following my nose, being American, not drawing back from, but trying to find the sweet spot of “integration.”