A week filled with meetings, classroom set-up and preparation is what took place this last week. Chad has the opportunity to continue to play with a lot of his friends and then spend sometime in my classroom helping out a little bit here and there. Friday evening, the staff that chose to, joined for socialization up on the rooftop of our apartment building. It was a great opportunity to get to know everybody a little bit better and relax. Chad met a lot of of children of other ASM expats and was running around until the boy sweated himself tired. We stayed to watch the sun disappear, then headed home to shower and crash into bed.
This morning, the school provided a bus for those teachers who wanted a little more preparation time. Chad and I (okay, I did) decided a couple more hours in the classroom would help avoid the hecticness of Monday's scheduled family meet and greet. My classroom has come a long way-- stay tuned for pictures of before and after! I admit that I brought piles of paperwork and planning home, but more to keep me busy at night instead of pretending to watch tv in French and Arabic. I am excited for the rest of my family to arrive, so my nights run a bit different!
On the bus home today, I decided there is NO WAY I could drive here. People are crazy. Mopeds, horses, donkeys, cars, bicycles, pedestrians... it is all a bit much for me since it seems that there are really no traffic laws besides stopping at red lights. Instead, they just honk at each other to communicate. I think our bus driver is amazing because he navigates our incredibly large bus around successfully.
Tonight, we decided to head to the square so we can see the snake charmers, shop a little bit, and then head home a bit after dark so we can see the Djemma el Fna lit up. Another amazing experience lies ahead! I hope all of you are well at home! More pictures of our continuing adventure coming soon!
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
Hi Ho! Hi Ho! Back to Work I Go!
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| Enjoying Moroccan Tea Sitting in one of my Classroom Windows |
My summer has officially ended, yet more adventures remain! It has been an amazing summer filled with experiences I will surely never forget. My alarm went off this morning at 6am which meant it was time to go back to work. I rolled out of bed, readied myself and Chad and we loaded the charter bus at 8:30am with all of the other new expats from our complex. We drove out of Marrakech and through the desert for about 15 minutes. We passed many villages living in poverty with no potable water. Which upon arriving to school, we learned due to the distance from Marrakech, we do not have potable water either... at least for a few months. A crew has just been hired to bring potable water to the villages and the crew. In time...
When we arrived, we drove through a large gate and Chad and I could see our new school. It is definitely apart of the "Red City." (Every building in Marrakech is red because it absorbs the heat.) There is a large grass area out front with soccer goals and a mixture of grass and dirt surrounding other areas. Our school is KG0 (2 years old) up to 12th grade. They are separated into two wings; the upper school and the lower school.
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| The American School of Marrakesh |
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| Hallway Corridors |
Upon arriving we were greeted by the ASM administration team and provided a welcome breakfast and the nitty gritty with paperwork, etc... After we completed the portion of that meeting, we toured the school. I will have pictures to post at a later date, but please, let me describe many of the wonders to you! As Mouad, the Lower School Coordinator, took us around the school, I was pleased to see my own classroom that will be equipped with new chairs and desks this week. There is a KG area for the kinders and I got to see where Claire will attend KG0. The colors were vibrant and the playgrounds were filled with olive trees and new playground equipment! Chad ran out and played immediately. I have never seen him so excited to let go of me. The walkways between classrooms and extracurriculars are open to the outdoors with windows and doorways and we have large Moroccan windows open to the courtyards and lunch area.
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| Assigned Picnic Tables for Lunch Time |
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| Claire's KG0 Entry |
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| Claire's KG0 Classroom |
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| Claire's KG0 Classroom |
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| One of the Playgrounds |
We traveled upstairs to the library, copy room, teachers lounge, computer labs and the upper school classrooms. The library was beautiful. A huge Moroccan window took up an entire wall separating two rooms in the library. Shelves were filled with books flowing all the way up the ceiling. We then headed to copy room.
Now, the copy room is not what I am used to in The States. The copy room is a place where I submit copies to a team of people and they copy FOR me. Yes, I do not copy my own papers, laminate my posters, or bind my own booklets. There are people hired to do that!! That takes a whole load off my shoulders considering time management. We headed to the teacher's lounge which happens to be rather large. A huge fridge, kitchen area, tables and coffee machine sit in another area. Now, the kicker to the teacher's lounge is we have a large double-winged terrace off the teacher's lounge equipped with picnic tables and all. Room to really relax and enjoy the Moroccan sun! The funny thing about the terrace is that teachers are allowed to smoke on the terrace. Coming from The States, I obviously find this rather odd.
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| Teacher's Lounge |
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| Enjoying Lunch on the Teacher's Terrace |
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| Student Dismissal Area with Grade Level Benches |
There is a lot of construction and cleaning happening right now at ASM, but completion is near. They are a growing school, still hiring people to come join the team. ASM staff has been incredibly welcoming and kind ensuring we are comfortable and taken care of.
After today, I walked off the bus back at our apartment complex the most relaxed I have ever felt going back to work. I will be teaching first grade, with AERO standards, 15 students and a full time assistant. My assistant will be able to make copies, grade, teach, help students, and is responsible for walking my students to and from specials. My students will receive instruction in music, physical education, Arabic, and art. There are teachers provided to instruct my students in each of these areas. I am solely responsible for core curriculum areas. I am happy I have decided to bring Chad and Claire to Marrakech to experience and gain world perspective as well as receive instruction that the economy in The States is unable to provide at this time. Not a stress exists at this point. Chad is happy and was asking at lunch time when he could leave to go play with his new friends again.
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| Chad Outside the School |
With all of the work conditions changing from what I am used to, I find myself at ease. Life here in Marrakech is much different than life in The States. The driving is awful here, filled with mopeds, taxis, cars, buses, horses pulling carriages, and donkeys pulling trailers. They stop at red lights, but that is about it. The honk to warn each other they are near, but anything else goes. Chad asked "why do they drive like this?" We walk around when we can, but at times need to get a petite taxi to travel further. I am learning the phrase "Ana mashi tourist" which means "I am not a tourist" so they don't try to over charge when they refuse to start the meter. The people here work at a much more relaxed state than the hustle and bustle in The States. It is rather refreshing at times. The business open in the morning, close for a while for tea, then re-open in the evening. I noticed at school today that the construction workers brought their tea kettles, propane, tea and tea cups. It is a huge part of the culture here. They drink tea 7-10 times a day.
Last night I was able to talk with Claire on FaceTime and she had a lot to say to me. We enjoyed our time, but it makes it incredibly difficult to hang up and find sleep. My excitement for their arrival is intense. Counting down the days...
I will post more pictures of the school where I am able to take more photos showing the detail. I will also take pictures of some of the other cultural differences that I find amusing here-- that fun post will be up soon. Love you all.
xo
Lexie
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Oasiria Relaxation
Today, the day before we start teacher orientation, we decided to rent and load up a 17 person van and spend the day at Oasiria a water park in Marrakech. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but our adventure was the most relaxing we have had yet! Oasiria was filled with different activities fit with a lazy river, taboggan run, plenty of slides, a pirate boat, kid play area, wave pool, swim up cafe, and a quiet pool.
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| Chad and Annie |
One of the other expats convinced me to make the big slide down this sucker... I ended up down just fine, but my stomach did turn a bit.
We have a great sense of community around here. I could have not asked for a more welcoming bunch of people from all around the world. We have quickly formed friendships and are always willing to help one another at anytime that is needed. Chad has taken a liking to many of the teachers because they are incredibly sweet to him. He has been a trooper tagging along and learning the culture. Moroccan love children, so chad has been talked to in French by adults and children and they often pat him on the head. At first, this was new to me and a little uncomfortable, but I have come to understand that this is apart of embracing Morocco and understanding how they welcome you into their world.
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| Most of us Expats from ASM |
I apologize for the short update, but I wanted to share our Oasiria experience with you before the school craziness begins. I was able to spend a lot of time talking with my Happy and making faces at her. I miss my family but I am excited for Joe and Claire to arrive so we can return to my favorite places.xo
Lexie
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Experiencing All of Marrakech
Today happened to be one of those days where I find myself finally sitting down to rest at 10:30pm. It was eventful and full of experiences I truly hope will never leave my memories. There was an incredible amount of history that ended up leaving me in awe and incredibly excited to have taken this journey. Not only have I met a community of expats that have welcomed my family into open arms, been blessed with a job that allows me to see the world and ensured my family is comfortable, but I feel like this opportunity has really made me rich in just living.
The beginning of my day started when I was awoken by my "Moroccan Phone" which happens to be a pay as you go Nokia "old school" phone. No smart capabilities, no touch screen, no email... just good old phone calls and text messages (that may take 5 minutes to type). I am not going to lie... I LOVE it! My time is not consumed by a small machine, but rather I tend to call my friends to meet in the courtyard and walk to cafes. Human connection! After I awoke, I gathered my things and woke up Mr. Chadman. We met all of the expats in the courtyard and climbed on a tour bus. The Head of the School, Jean, took us on a guided tour of Marrakech. Today, I fell in love with Marrakech.
We first visited the tombs which are absolutely beautiful and so much thought and architecture and beliefs created this place for people to lay peacefully.
The craftsmanship and tile work was amazing. The flat tombs were women and the tombs with the raised tiles are men. In Morocco, they bury those who have passed on their side so there is more room for their loved ones to be buried beside them. They also put limestone on top of the body so earth doesn't touch the body, due to their beliefs. As Chad may tell you, off behind the trees, we discovered a pink cat. He has now been on the search for stray cats and has begun to keep count:)
After the tombs, we went to the Bahir Palace. The Bahir Palace captured so much beauty and craftsmanship as well. While at the Palace, I learned a lot about the Moroccan culture and the ways they build and decorate their houses to protect from the heat as well as the spirits. In the palace through every doorway were carvings to Arabic prayers and geometric tiles and paintings because it is believed the spirits will not pass through geometric design. I was left in awe hearing about the thought and purpose that has gone into building Marrakech.
At the Bahir Palace, there was a garden that was filled with fruit trees and herbs that are used for medicinal purposes. Those who lived at the palace didn't need to go to the pharmacy. Rather, they chose herbs and fruit from the garden to heal ailments.
After the Bahir Palace, we walked over to the Souk in the Medina (old city). The old city was beautiful. There was an odd beauty in the mixture of architecture, color and the poverty that strewed the Medina. The Souk felt like a maze, but oddly, I felt at home. The shops lined the corridors with works of beauty in every doorway. Mostly men housed the shops selling their goods to people passing through. The selection of textiles, spices, fruit, metal work was absolutely amazing. What made these items incredibly special is being able to experience watching the craftsmen make their product by etching, carving, pounding, welding, and sewing right in front of you and then seeing their finished products for barter. The appreciation for the item became decommercialized and was replaced by pure appreciation for how beautiful it truly is. As we navigated through the Souk, I kept my eyes out for blankets for the kids, gifts for my nieces, and a rug. I might come home with a ton of amazing Moroccan decor. Chad- he counted cats. In the souk, he ended at 34 cats. I received numerous compliments about Chad and how well he behaved and what a trooper he was, even by Jean, the Head of School. Proud Mama here:) This may lead to my next story (which at times you may sense some sarcasm).
We jumped back into the van and returned back home at Nakhil III Apartments. Chad and I quickly ate and waited for Annie to call so we could head back to Marjane and I could buy Chad school supplies, tupperware, etc... The other day at Marjane, Chad spotted a red scooter he wanted to buy, but it was our second day and we were overwhelmed and decided to just head home and settle in. Today, after our trek through Marrakech, I decided Chad deserved a scooter. (This may also be because this Awesome Mom, didn't bring ANY toys for him). We went to Marjane and he literally RAN over to where we saw the scooter. It. Wasn't. There. Dang. He was disappointed but sucked it up and decided a bicycle would do... hmm.... not quite what this mom bargained for. We decided to wait and see what we could find elsewhere. Well lucky me! I ended up finding a scooter at Marjane in an isle for 69 dirhams. Now, all you moms out there... get ready to be amazed. 69 dirhams divided by 8. That is the amount I paid for this orange metal scooter in U.S. dollars for Chad. So, when he asked if he could have it, what did I say? Yep. (With a crazy person's smile like I was getting away with something awful-- he'd never know it was that cheap right?) Because I was feeling so awesome, I decided I would buy him an Iron Man kickball. The price... 2 dirhms. 2 divided by 8... 0.25 cents!! I have officially spent $8.25 on toys for my child. We set up Chad's scooter, went down to the courtyard and met some friends to talk and play. In the midst of scooter riding, we discovered Chad's scooter had light up wheels. Dang that was worth $8 in it's self.
Annie, Jill, Erin, Duncan, Adam, Katie, Lexi and I all sat outside and talked for a while and I enjoyed my first Moroccan Beer, a Lager. It wasn't bad. If anything, enjoyable on a hot night.
The beginning of my day started when I was awoken by my "Moroccan Phone" which happens to be a pay as you go Nokia "old school" phone. No smart capabilities, no touch screen, no email... just good old phone calls and text messages (that may take 5 minutes to type). I am not going to lie... I LOVE it! My time is not consumed by a small machine, but rather I tend to call my friends to meet in the courtyard and walk to cafes. Human connection! After I awoke, I gathered my things and woke up Mr. Chadman. We met all of the expats in the courtyard and climbed on a tour bus. The Head of the School, Jean, took us on a guided tour of Marrakech. Today, I fell in love with Marrakech.
We first visited the tombs which are absolutely beautiful and so much thought and architecture and beliefs created this place for people to lay peacefully.
 |
| Moroccan Tombs |
After the tombs, we went to the Bahir Palace. The Bahir Palace captured so much beauty and craftsmanship as well. While at the Palace, I learned a lot about the Moroccan culture and the ways they build and decorate their houses to protect from the heat as well as the spirits. In the palace through every doorway were carvings to Arabic prayers and geometric tiles and paintings because it is believed the spirits will not pass through geometric design. I was left in awe hearing about the thought and purpose that has gone into building Marrakech.
 |
| Chad and I at the Bahir Palace |
After the Bahir Palace, we walked over to the Souk in the Medina (old city). The old city was beautiful. There was an odd beauty in the mixture of architecture, color and the poverty that strewed the Medina. The Souk felt like a maze, but oddly, I felt at home. The shops lined the corridors with works of beauty in every doorway. Mostly men housed the shops selling their goods to people passing through. The selection of textiles, spices, fruit, metal work was absolutely amazing. What made these items incredibly special is being able to experience watching the craftsmen make their product by etching, carving, pounding, welding, and sewing right in front of you and then seeing their finished products for barter. The appreciation for the item became decommercialized and was replaced by pure appreciation for how beautiful it truly is. As we navigated through the Souk, I kept my eyes out for blankets for the kids, gifts for my nieces, and a rug. I might come home with a ton of amazing Moroccan decor. Chad- he counted cats. In the souk, he ended at 34 cats. I received numerous compliments about Chad and how well he behaved and what a trooper he was, even by Jean, the Head of School. Proud Mama here:) This may lead to my next story (which at times you may sense some sarcasm).
We jumped back into the van and returned back home at Nakhil III Apartments. Chad and I quickly ate and waited for Annie to call so we could head back to Marjane and I could buy Chad school supplies, tupperware, etc... The other day at Marjane, Chad spotted a red scooter he wanted to buy, but it was our second day and we were overwhelmed and decided to just head home and settle in. Today, after our trek through Marrakech, I decided Chad deserved a scooter. (This may also be because this Awesome Mom, didn't bring ANY toys for him). We went to Marjane and he literally RAN over to where we saw the scooter. It. Wasn't. There. Dang. He was disappointed but sucked it up and decided a bicycle would do... hmm.... not quite what this mom bargained for. We decided to wait and see what we could find elsewhere. Well lucky me! I ended up finding a scooter at Marjane in an isle for 69 dirhams. Now, all you moms out there... get ready to be amazed. 69 dirhams divided by 8. That is the amount I paid for this orange metal scooter in U.S. dollars for Chad. So, when he asked if he could have it, what did I say? Yep. (With a crazy person's smile like I was getting away with something awful-- he'd never know it was that cheap right?) Because I was feeling so awesome, I decided I would buy him an Iron Man kickball. The price... 2 dirhms. 2 divided by 8... 0.25 cents!! I have officially spent $8.25 on toys for my child. We set up Chad's scooter, went down to the courtyard and met some friends to talk and play. In the midst of scooter riding, we discovered Chad's scooter had light up wheels. Dang that was worth $8 in it's self.
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| Chad's light up scooter wheels |
Annie, Jill, Erin, Duncan, Adam, Katie, Lexi and I all sat outside and talked for a while and I enjoyed my first Moroccan Beer, a Lager. It wasn't bad. If anything, enjoyable on a hot night.
We have had an eventful start and we are continuing to enjoy this adventure. We hope you are all well at home.
xo
Lexie
Thursday, August 22, 2013
We have Arrived!
After some very tough goodbyes and 36 hours of airplanes, lay overs, customs and baggage, we showered and then threw ourselves into bed at midnight Moroccan time! We have officially arrived. Our journey tooks us through some amazing sights and lessons learned. Traveling from Seattle to New York, Chad and I had the opportunity to fly over the great lakes and watch from the window. Amazing what you can see from over 10,000 feet. On that same flight, Chad proudly earned his Delta Wings.
Not only was the New York flight smooth, we enjoyed Airplane Seat Guy in 38A was a no show, thus chad and I had 'luxury' treament or aka an entire extra seat to stretch about.
In the airports, we both learned a few things about each other, the world, and navigating ourselves around. Unaware, I discovered Chad is new to escalators... while we were in the Seattle Airport, he had to conquer his fear on moving stairs. So, nonetheless, we decided to take normal stairs for a while, so I don't accidentally leave him behind (again). I discovered that I am not fond of trams aka "creepy trains" that cause your legs to wobble about and are surrounded by cement walls. However, I am glad that I was not one of the travelers who got stuck while in transit only a mere half of hour after Chad and I got off. Our flight to Casablanca was delayed from New York and we missed our connecting flight from Casablanca to Marrakech. Unfortunately, we had to wait in the Casablanca airport for 6 hours for the next flight. Needless to say, the Casablanca airport is bare. We had access to one cafe and were unable to really walk around and enjoy the beauty of what Casablanca has to offer with architecture. On the upside, in Casablanca, we were fortunate enought to connect with seven teachers from ASM, so we had a lot of talking and ice breaking accomplished before arrival at the Marrakech airport.
Once we arrived in Marrakech, we were greeted by the Head Secretary, Atika. A sweet lady who seems to be incredibly organized (we might be new best friends). We gathered our baggage and off we went in a van to our apartments. We arrived in our apartments around 10:00pm, and toured our new apartment. Walking into our apartment, I immediately felt at home and comfortable. Furniture is sparce, but that is perfect for our family! We have fallen in love with the simplicity of life. It is spacious, air conditioned and of course has the Moroccan arcitectual touches. After we toured our apartment, the school ordered us pizza, which happened to be from Pizza Hut... our first meal in Morocco in the comfort of our new apartment!
Today, we tackled Marjane,essentially, the Moroccan Walmart. We gathered a few things we needed, groceries and navigated ourselves back in the taxi and hauled our bags up to be unpacked. Tomorrow, we are hoping to experience a little bit of Morocco. I want to take Chad to the Waterpack that has slides and a swimming pool, so it sounds like a bunch of us will head that way.
Since Chad and I have arrived, we have been lucky enough to FaceTime with Joe and Claire a lot. I was able to sing 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' to claire today several times and watch her wake up this morning. The distance make my heart ache because I can't kiss and hold her, but in the long run, I know that this experience will provide an irreplaceable experience for my family. I am beyond excited and ready to have her arrive!
Until next time!
xo
Lex
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| Chaddy with His Delta Wings |
Not only was the New York flight smooth, we enjoyed Airplane Seat Guy in 38A was a no show, thus chad and I had 'luxury' treament or aka an entire extra seat to stretch about.
In the airports, we both learned a few things about each other, the world, and navigating ourselves around. Unaware, I discovered Chad is new to escalators... while we were in the Seattle Airport, he had to conquer his fear on moving stairs. So, nonetheless, we decided to take normal stairs for a while, so I don't accidentally leave him behind (again). I discovered that I am not fond of trams aka "creepy trains" that cause your legs to wobble about and are surrounded by cement walls. However, I am glad that I was not one of the travelers who got stuck while in transit only a mere half of hour after Chad and I got off. Our flight to Casablanca was delayed from New York and we missed our connecting flight from Casablanca to Marrakech. Unfortunately, we had to wait in the Casablanca airport for 6 hours for the next flight. Needless to say, the Casablanca airport is bare. We had access to one cafe and were unable to really walk around and enjoy the beauty of what Casablanca has to offer with architecture. On the upside, in Casablanca, we were fortunate enought to connect with seven teachers from ASM, so we had a lot of talking and ice breaking accomplished before arrival at the Marrakech airport.
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| Chaddy and I in the Marrakech Airport! |
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| Chaddy in his new room! |
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| Living room |
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| Living Room |
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| Kitchen |
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| Kitchen |
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| Bathroom 1 |
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| Entry Way/Front Door |
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| Bathroom 2 |
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| Claire's Room (notice the garage door! It opens and closes with the push of a button!) |
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| Our Room! |
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| Our Bathroom! |
Today, we tackled Marjane,essentially, the Moroccan Walmart. We gathered a few things we needed, groceries and navigated ourselves back in the taxi and hauled our bags up to be unpacked. Tomorrow, we are hoping to experience a little bit of Morocco. I want to take Chad to the Waterpack that has slides and a swimming pool, so it sounds like a bunch of us will head that way.
Since Chad and I have arrived, we have been lucky enough to FaceTime with Joe and Claire a lot. I was able to sing 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' to claire today several times and watch her wake up this morning. The distance make my heart ache because I can't kiss and hold her, but in the long run, I know that this experience will provide an irreplaceable experience for my family. I am beyond excited and ready to have her arrive!
Until next time!
xo
Lex
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