Sunday, my roommate (Sarah) and I decided we needed to be walking more as a result of our excellent food... So we explored the medina for two hours in the morning with our host sister and then ate a delicious lunch of seasoned turkey and salad followed by exploring for 4 hours in the afternoon with some other girls from the program. The medina really has something of everything.
It is impolite to barter with someone if you have no intention of buying the item, however, we accidently got into a situation with a berber who owned a silver shop. He insisted we came into his store, something about good luck. We went in = first mistake.
Second, he told us about the berbers a bit, and where he came from, concluding with offering us tea, sugar or no sugar? We, not sure what to do, looked to our host sister, who said uhh, ok. We each responded with sugar please. This acceptance of tea would be our second mistake.
Next, he pointed to the silver jewelry and told us that by not touching the objects, we are giving him bad luck. Sketchy? Yes. He then brought out the rings we were looking at, I am looking for a good deal on a silver ring... He gave us a price of 300 Deerham, which is way too much. I probably had 20 D with me, which, in American dollars equals about $3.00. Definitely not enough for what he was getting at. We then set about getting out of there, insisting that we wanted to look around more first. Once he got the picture that we weren't going to barter and weren't going to buy anything, he got very mad. He angrily turned the lights off in the store and then we got OUT OF THERE. My roommate later told me she thought we were going to die. lol. I don't know if I'd go that far, but I wouldn't bet on it by going back... Live and learn.
Another update? I am now sick. :( I thought it was only eggs at first, since we had oil doused omelets Sunday night for dinner. Which were delicious, I must say.. Monday was spent in nauseous silence, until finally concluding with my evening spent in the bathroom. Which, although not as eventful as my trash can experiences in spain... ask me later about that. :) It was still a public sickness where my whole study abroad group was a room over from me. I survived the slight embarrassment and took the next day off (today) to stay at my host house, alternating between the bedroom and the bathroom. Fear not, I will give no more details.
I am not worried about my bout with an upset stomach. No matter how careful we Americans are with the water and food, we are bound to fall ill from the newness of it all and the contents of the water. I am sure I will not be alone in my ailment, unfortunately. I am getting plenty of rest and liquids (bottled water), in case anyone becomes concerned. This was a nice opportunity to catch up on some reading for me too. I have been reading Pilgrim's Progress (Christian and Faithful just met with Talkative), combined with 1st Samuel and Philippians. This was a good resting and re-focusing morning for me.
A couple things I thought I would describe. Maybe I am starting to feel better since I am thinking first about food...
Moroccan Mint Tea = The moroccans love the sugary hot drinks. I ordered plain black tea at a cafe, and was given 6 sugar cubes on the side. I used none of them. Atea, (Not sure the spelling, sounds like A Tay) the moroccan mint tea, is made with mint tea leaves and indecent amounts of sugar. It has the consistency of a hot syrup more than tea. It warms you up and the Moroccans are very proud of it, offering it with cookies to visitors and to us any time of the day.
Bread at every meal = Freshly baked loaves of bread at every meal. These are excellent. Each morning my host family sets out a couple loaves of round flat bread. They are usually still warm from baking it themselves each day. This is combined with topping choices of cheese, a type of honey jam, and a hazelnut spread. I take mine plane, which is still excellent. Each meal following that is combined with this bread as well. If the food served is ever questionable, I have loads of bread to supplement.
Being a woman here. Correction, a white, American woman. I have learned to not make eye contact with anyone passing me, especially men. I have heard every call I can think of, from hello beautiful, my flower, you are spice girls, to other things in different languages. The insistent ones will try greetings in multiple languages, french, english, even spanish. I ignore them all. I don't go anywhere alone, even if daytime. I have heard that one reason that we are so attractive is that America is associated with money. We are these white superstars. The models in the stores are white and blonde. It is strange. I am taking a gender in Morocco class while here and will definitely report more from that.
Love you all!
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