It's the perspective.

Everyone is born, everyone dies, that is the universal. It is how we fill the middle of that life sandwich that makes it worthwhile. Every new action and every new thought, whether positive or negative, that we bring into existence is so unique in that it has never been done or thought quite like we have done it. This is the way you can choose to view your life; as an infinite amount of unique moments that when it comes to the end of your life you realize you are leaving these with the world and also as a mark on the people you have touched, both in a constructive and possibly destructive way. One profound way I have seen this put was by the author and Holocaust survivor, Viktor Frankl. He explained the difference between optimists and pessimists in life as such; pessimists are those who look dishearteningly at the decreasing days on their life's calender and are sad about the remaining days. On the other hand the optimist looks both at the blank calender day in front of them as a blank slate for truly living life, but also they look upon all the past days of the calender they have cast aside. They look at this pile from their life with thoughts of happiness and fulfillment, of lives they have touched and the richness that has filled their days. This is why the person growing old has no reason to be jealous of the youth they see, "Instead of possibilities, I have realities in my past, not only the reality of work done and of love loved, but of sufferings bravely suffered. These sufferings are even the things of which I am most proud, though these are things which cannot inspire envy."
Life is meant to be lived. When people talk about their televisions being awesome and in HD, saying it's like what they're watching is almost real, I always think to myself: Go outside, look at the world, look at real people, Life is in HD!

First English Class

Apparently teachers need something called a "lesson plan?" That was one of my main takeaways from today's english class which ultimately was a shmorgus board of lessons for me. In the beginning it appeared that only five or six students would be in the classroom as Sarah and I prepared to teach, and then slowly but surely student after student made their way into the class until about thirty or more students crowded the long benches. They were basically sitting ascots to ankles but their eager faces told me they were ready to learn. And learn they did, (well they at least now now the word for "window" which is a win in my book.) It was about an hour and a half of teaching as the two of us improvised our way through our basic lesson plan. We scrapped about half of our intended lesson and made it up slightly as we went along. However ultimately the experience was very rich and rewarding. The children are very open to learning and are hungering to know some english, especially from a native speaker. I enjoyed teaching today so much I can see why so many people may choose this for their career (though now I have an even deeper appreciation for all my past teachers, all you miracle workers that deliver knowledge to all those minds.)

This is our cozy study room where many hours are spent trying to master this language.

Just some thoughts.

Things are going great here, just more language training and this week we will start teaching english in the the Dar Chabab (youth center.) I will be finding out now in just a couple weeks where my final placement site will be and where I will be living for the next two years here in Morocco.
Just a couple observations that I was thinking about today and how I really know I'm in a different country:
1. My 18 year old host brother has never heard of Lady Gaga
2. My 26 year old language trainer has never heard of Wal-Mart
3. I am noticed wherever I go and people immediately know I am from another country, usually they think I'm French but then I tell them I am not and they answer with something funny, but the best are the calls of "Obama!" when they see us Americans.

Sean Connery's welcome.

Sunday hike

Here I am high atop Immouzare!

First two weeks at my host family's

  I would like to apologize for taking so long to write another blog entry, but this has been my first day back from my host family to the city of Fez so I am back reunited with my laptop and have some time now to let you know how things have been. Starting two weeks ago I began a two month stage of the Peace Corps called CBT, or Community Based Training. I am living in a town about forty five minutes from Fez in a town called Immouzare. It's a town of about 12,000 people and it's situated like a bowl within some beautiful hills and smaller mountains. Living with my family has been extremely rewarding and there's never a dull moment. My mother and father only speak Derija (Moroccan Arabic) and French. Beyond being able to say "WI!" for yes I know zero French and currently I have a pre-schooler's language ability with Derija so it's like being a child all over again. I have an 18 year old brother who loves to hang out with me and talk in his limited english and so we meet each other half way. I teach him English lessons in the evenings while he helps me with new words and phrases in Derija. The kid has a great sense of humor and loves american hip hop and so we connect on several levels. My host sister is twenty six and teaches at a grade school and has been an immense help for learning this new language. She has a slightly better understanding of english than I have of Derija and so I converse with her more than I do with any of the other members of the family.
  I can't believe the amount of food I am eating here. It feels weird to be in my family's house for more than an hour without a basket of fruit or freshly made bread being presented to me. After eating non stop imagine my surprise when I found out today that I have actually lost about six pounds in the last two weeks. The non sedentary life style here of the constant walks and the fresh foods and non processed meats and foods really help to come together to create a good lifestyle I feel. Plus getting good sleep and keeping a good sense of humor ;)
  It has been great feeling more integrated into my family here and getting to know the culture and language and the people. There is a great need here for helping with the youth among other issues and I am so excited to be able to do what I can here.