30 Days Already!

Hard to believe I left New York 30 days ago. Wow, did that go fast! I'm telling you the days fly here. Now I know why they have you make a 2 year commitment. It is way to much work for them to get everything into place for just one school year.

So in all my travels the longest I've been away from home was 3 weeks. Nope I never went away to college. In some ways I regretted that. And in some ways I sorta feel like this is what it would be like. You are assigned a place to live with furniture that isn't the greatest but livable. You are in a building with people from all the US and in this case the world, with different personalities that collide. (Yup, lil drama here too.) You have to find foods you like, call home on occasion or in times today Skype, get your backpack on and get to classes everyday at the same time, have nights on the town where you are walking home in a 'lighter mood' than when you got there, meeting new people constantly, and probably a bunch more comparisons.....you get the idea. 

Except in this case, we all get our own apartment, we all have jobs in the same field we did go to college for, everything is paid for, and we get paid a salary. 

I think I like this better. I'm glad I waited. :)

So how do I feel living abroad?  First, I can honestly say working abroad has been easier than living. The school is great. I absolutely love my students and its very similar to teaching in NY. I teach all the same subjects except SS is history of Morocco. While I'm not even close to an expert in this, I am excited about learning more about the culture as well. They use ubd planning, administer DRAs to form guided reading groups, have a little book room, science is the FOSS series, and math is another Harcourt book similar to one I've used before.

So the living part. It's really learning to live 'without' and changing your way of thinking. Yes, they have stuff but it's not the same. Yes, I know it wasn't going to be...but after a while you just miss things----or I should say---"I" miss getting into My car and Driving to a Starbucks or getting a nice salad at Whole Foods. Ah...I can't wait. 3 more months!

The language barrier is a Whole different level....definitely makes things harder for sure!!! I'm starting up my French lessons via computer this week! Arabic is incredibly difficult but I make small attempts. The woman who comes to clean my room at school everyday insists I speak to her in Arabic. She says the Same thing to me everyday. It's taken me a week to pronounce it, and she giggles when I repeat her...good lord, I must sound like a fool. She smiles because I try. :)

Part of the reason I did this was to experience living 'without all the comfort'. I am by no means rich, but have traveled enough to know I had a comfortable life.
Are the 'things' we have what help define us?
Of course not we all say.....but when you are living in Africa.....and your WHOLE way of life changes....your prospective changes as well. You feel like a fish out of water. Where is Cedar, Jones, Smiths beach? I miss you!!!!

An example comes to mind: Somehow ALL my earrings did not make it into the suitcases. (don't know how) It's just earrings right? Well not to me. I happen to be an accessory queen. I LOVE earrings. Even though my 2nd holes still had studs, my upper lobe ring was still there, and nose ring also in, I didn't have MY earrings to match my outfits. Sounds silly right? Well, I definitely felt uncomfortable the first few weeks. I tried to not think about it with so much else to worry about. It's JUST stupid earrings. Why did it bother me so much? Why did I feel naked? After 3 weeks I caved. I bought the biggest ones I could find and slipped those babies on right in the market. Ahhhh....I was Me again. Sorta.

There are a Lot of things these past 30 days that are different and will take some time to get adjusted to.
But these 30 days went fast!!!

And just as I knew back at age 30 that I wanted my degree because I did Not want to be 40 without it.
I Know that I did Not want to pass up the opportunity to teacher abroad because it will be 'different'.

I read or heard somewhere we do most of our spiritual growth when pushed outside our comfort zone.
I'm uncomfortable for sure. Did I grow yet? lol

Missing my nephews Luke and Brett like Crazy!!!! Missing all my friends too! And the comforts of working in an amazing school district back home....Yeah, Comsewogue!

But for now.....30 days will turn to 60.....then 90.....and I'm quite sure I will shift my mindset and hopefully fall into a groove with more ease. It has finally hit that this is Not a vacation.
Got a little teary these last few days......lots of reasons. Knew it would happen sooner or later. Surprised not sooner to be honest.

Marrakech is for sure a Very cool place! I still have so much to see and Very excited about it. So in a way, I'm glad I have the time to explore, to learn, to grow, and to be -Mindful in Morocco.

~Essauoira Beach

Solo Saturday-1st Hammam, Massage, and then an Angel came.

Yeah! Started my day with a stroll to Paul's for breakfast (the French restaurant). Determined to order all in French by mid October. (really afraid of sounding like an idiot)
During the week I booked my appointment for my hammam and massage at the place where my student's mother owns. Some of the girls here had already had one in a different place and told me sorta what to expect. After the week I had, I was ready.....scrub me! Cleanse me! Refresh me!
This place is not a 'public one'.....its more private and also combined with a gym so I already felt more comfortable.

 I didn't take pics inside because before I knew it I was told to put on a paper thong and whisked into a marble steam chamber. Woweeeee.....hoootttt.....ahhhhh....felt like the hot yoga room I so yearn for.
I entered into a small room with a beautiful colored lantern in the corner that gave off the familiar warm golden glow of Marrakech. Small steps lead up to a marble table with a wet towel on it and a big golden bucket filled with steaming water. A small framed woman with a white do-rag on her head told me to get on the table in Arabic. .....and then it begins.....
I was washed from Head to Toe.....not an inch of my body missed. Dear Lord, I would pay 500 Dirham to hear her thoughts as she washed my big bottom. Good God......lol
I tried not to think about it....."just relax Catalina".....
After the wash came the scrubbing....at first it was ok....felt like a loofah...then round 2 came. She was a bit more aggressive....I squinted to see what she was using. It was like a giant brillo pad!
Better off to keep my eyes closed.
Then the OCD started.....how many bodies were scrubbed with that brush??

"Just RELAX Catalina".....ugggg....ok, no more thoughts of dead skin from around the world all combined in the wire of the brush.

Just when I thought it was over she flipped me around and started washing my hair followed by conditioning!!!
This woman knows how to get a girl squeaky clean!
After almost an hour I was given a fluffy robe and slippers and brought to the massage room upstairs.
When I walked in, it looked like a typical massage place in NY. Except....I was given another pair of paper thongs and soon found out they massage everywhere as well.
Hey, when in Morocco, do as the Moroccans do, right?

I finally started to relax and realized Ave Maria was playing, followed by a slue of Kenny G music; Titanic theme song, and then a Xmas song thrown in the mix. Well that about sums up Morocco so far....expect the unexpected. A minute ago I was downstairs participating in an old Islamic tradition and now I'm upstairs listening to Kenny G in a typical massage room. I kinda like it though...keeps things fresh and different.

After about 2 hours my time had come to an end. AAHHHhhhhhh.....is all I can say. Simply Amazing!
I think I was glowing...even though I looked more sleepy than refreshed, lol.
This will become a routine of mine, no doubt. I negotiated with cab drivers both ways in the Very lil French and Arabic I have learned and got myself a good price, and home without a hassle.

Tea afterward....love the magazines

So I figured it out and for a hammam, massage, cabs both ways and a nice tip for both women it will cost me $70, or 580 Dirham. Totally worth it!!!!

My student was there helping her mom today and greeted me on the steps with a big smile....kisses on both cheeks.
(I remembered this time) Sometimes woman do a 3rd kiss. Lots to remember with greetings.

Looking out from the front of the Twister Center. They have a pool and gym with stationary bikes upstairs.....hmmmmm....it may not be spin....but I can start spinning my legs again. :)

Yesterday
Yesterday was another horror show at PT....too much to even get into...and would rather just forget about it at this point. Bottom line was I left without being seen and walked away in Tears!

Got home and emailed my surgeon in NY...."Can I video my range of motion to you and tell me if I'm ok?" I'm getting scared at this point. It's 6 weeks post surgery and don't know how weak my ankle really is. I NEED someone to work on me! I need mobilization from another human who knows what they are doing....I need help STAT. I love Morocco, but not the healthcare I've seen so far.

It was time for the Expat party at Cafe Du Livre (the place with the yummy food). I didn't even feel like going. My colleagues let me vent my frustration and tears and said "don't worry....we ARE going to find you an American PT" or at least connections to one. I put my big girl panties on and headed out. My mind was in a fog, but thought I should push forward. Maybe an Earl Grey Martini would help?...it did.

This is the book side of the cafe...lots of laughs, wine, and story exchanges

In less than 60 minutes the place was packed with expats from all over the world AND a connection!!!!!
Amazing Liz and Annie came up to me "I found you a sports PT from Seattle, how does that sound?"

I could hardly believe it. Still too emotional to talk about it just yet but was Thrilled! And sorta shocked. Could the universe have answered me so quickly? Usually I have to wait. Could it know how desperate and sad I really was? Maybe so. Lil while later, I sucked down the rest of the drink and walked over. "Let's have a look,"  "right here?" "why not?" So I took off my flip flop, compression sock, rolled up my jeans and placed my foot up on his knee. "Yup, you got some stuff going on".....I knew it, but all I wanted to hear is if he could treat me even once.
"I'll be in Marrakech a few days...I will come over tomorrow"Really??? OMG, Yes!!!

Today
On my way home from the massage my foggy head began to clear...I thought...is this guy legit? He is in his 5th out of 8 months that he took off to travel the world. Who is he really?
Am I really having a strange man in my apartment to massage me? Talk about being vulnerable.
Would he start to massage me and then push me down, flip a knife and demand money?
We all got paid this week in cash. No bank accounts set up yet. Without too much furniture in here if wanted to find money he would find my stack of cash in a minute. Maybe even my passport!

Ok, maybe I've seen too many Lifetime movies. But hey, you never know! No need to give examples of the crazys we all know who exist. Another teacher, Annie A. lives right under me. I told her if you hear a struggle its me, fighting for my life and to come up with a broom. lol

So 4:30pm comes. I told him we have 24hr security guards and that he will probably not be able to enter unless I go downstairs to get him. Sure enough, he is there at 4:30. Ok, thats a good start. He remembered the directions I gave him. Come on up.....here goes nothing.

Awkward start to say the least. Ummm....do you want oil? Lotion? Vitamin E?
"Get some pillows so you could lay down, and more to prop your leg."  Here it goes...I'm laying down and then he's gonna......
Well, it was FAR from that. He was SO professional and Amazing! A total stranger helping a total stranger in need. He worked on me for well over an hour. Talking to me about my muscles, how they repair, muscle weaknesses, and how things will get better in time....and not next week kinda time. This I know...I just hate hearing. While it was not a comfortable massage (as I had in the afternoon)....he needed to work out some built up fluid and get the blood flowing properly it was worth it! He told me to take some deep breaths and deep tissue work was done. I didn't care. I knew I was being healed.

He talked about all the countries he has been to and where he is headed. After a little while he said that it turns out he will be in Marrakech a couple of Weeks not a couple of days. What???!!! Omg! Can I hire you?
By the time the session was over I felt spiritual lifted and my ankle looked better than ever! He said he wouldn't charge me and that was def not an option. I paid him more than he ever expected and we booked a session for Tues.

In the lowest of my moments here so far.....thousands of miles away from home and from the familiar....an Angel healer came to me. Trained in Exactly what I needed.

My sister Julie was a PT....I'm not saying anything But....my sister who's now my angel watching over me either came to me has a young handsome man with soft blue eyes and a warm heart or she did some work up there and aligned us to be in the same place at the same time.

Whatever the case...I am Grateful! I am Grateful!!!!!  <3

Celebrating My Birthday Moroccan Style!

 ~Round 2 Weekend at Essauoira Beach. The boys we met wanted to throw me a birthday party.
“You want a big riad with a pool?” ….”Uh, yeah sure!”…..”You want a Moroccan style cake made from the bakery?”….”Who doesn’t!?”

So we packed our bags Thursday night and Friday after school we jumped on the 5pm bus to the beach! These buses are nice, tour, air conditioned buses. While it doesn’t have a bathroom it’s a pretty comfy ride. During the 2 hour commute, which seems to go by quickly, I slept and took pictures of the vast, flat land ahead, still strange to see. Not even one hill. You can see for at least a mile. And there really isn’t anything to see. Just dirt, donkeys, and some buildings and stores every now and then. Here are some shots along the way. I asked for the front seat to elevate my leg. 

This 2 hour rest allowed me to dance later on that evening ;) Worth it!

 Again, still pleasantly surprised how clean some parts of Morocco are. There are some dirty patches too, but have not photographed them.

A Mosque
Did I mention I have finally heard the call to prayer? So once the siren and chanting starts, on this Huge mega phone, it's not like people drop everything in a trans and go running. People still carry on, however there are people making their way to the mosque for prayer I'm sure. For some strange reason I thought the sound would be either frightening or bothersome to me.....well that's ignorance for you. It was neither. I actually liked it. Of course I haven't the slightest clue what they are saying but the rolling on the tongue with all of the sounds of the Arabic language are kinda cool.

I learned that Marrakech is also known as the "Red City" because of the red sandstone used to construct the buildings back in 1122 by Ali Ibn Yusuf.

Sights on the way ....taken from bus

And there's that beautiful sunset again! One of my favorite things here in Morocco.

The French teacher Ludivine. She is from Paris. She invited me to go sometime...Sure!
And Lexi, from PA.....she teaches 3rd.

I love opening the door to the bathrooms we stay in....never know what to expect.

Love the sink and mirror.

We were each given a room to share with one of the girls and given the most unusual key. Fancy, Smancy.

So we got off the bus to meet the guys. They had a car waiting for us. We traveled along a DARK road that looked more than deserted. It looked as though it was a graveyard! There were trees that when lit up from the car lights looked white.....scary white! And then there were white huge rocks just scattered everywhere. Five of us were squished into this cab and Everyone starting yelling and screaming at me! "Catalina, I'm too young to be taken for a Moroccan sex slave"... lmao.....after I assured the girls we would all be fine (I really didn't know where this road was leading to either) we arrived to this!
Not too shabby! lol
We all had a good laugh and were ready to enjoy the evening. Even had an in ground pool!

Awesome  Night Sky

Night cannon ball contest....

Even though the toilet paper was scarce.....we had a pretty sink. 

View of our riad during the day

I decided to make it a solo shopping day....no shoes bought just yet

Loved walking around and turning different corners whenever something struck my eye.

I love these kinda rings.....didn't buy yet. Honestly, too many to choose.

Lunch back at the beach club.....this was yummy! They also had super cool live music but the videos on Blogger don't load! :(   AHH!!!

I've always had a thing for photographing bicycles.

Wandered into an art gallery and bought a piece....going back for more.

thought this was funny

I'm not a big fan of the tea that is served all the time....it's Very sweet. A lot of the teachers seem to enjoy it, and I love the glasses they are always served in. I will learn to make it without the sugar.

So many twists and turns and then landed here! Yeah! A Buddha! Hmmmm.....what is this place?
I went inside and found a really cool shaggy rug. Bought it. Pics to follow. She said they serve sushi here in one part of the store and then items in the other. Looked interesting.

Inside another shop/restaurant I stumbled upon.

Did I mention the riad we stayed at was next to a farm? We didn't know that and heard animal noises in the middle of the night. 5am the rooster did its wake up call. And somewhere between 3 & 5 there were weird donkey noises.....
Come morning, I peered through the wall and found our little farm friends. 

I wish......sometimes.

I am. 

Did he wear an American shirt on purpose? lol

I spy an man cooking in the kitchen. Actually we tried to help and they kicked us out. That's a switch.

The birthday dinner was done. Chicken, with potatoes, onion, olives, and Moroccan spices.

Oh yeah, and bread. It's always the same kinda bread. I don't even know what it's called or made of but it appears at all meals. You rip a piece off and sorta use it as a fork.

What I have noticed is that everyone eats from the same plate. You just reach with your hands and grab. Dear Lord! A germ nightmare for me! I couldn't help myself....I realized this the last weekend so this time I packed plates, forks and napkins. Didn't seem to insult anyone and we all used them. (and still grabbed meat off with our hands) Oh Well.....lol

So sweet! A HUGE birthday cake with my name on it! They all sang in Arabic and if the video loaded you could see it. :( The cake was so big it didn't fit in the fridge so the door was open all night.

Don't even know how it got started.....

Cake was flying everywhere....

And being smashed in people's faces :)

And then it was my turn....

Thankful for the friends we made and for the laughs we had, Especially when they didn't understand our slang. There were times they tried to use American slang, and or different phrases and it came at all wrong and meant something Totally different. Clarifications needed to be made. Learning about people and culture is Def fascinating to me. Even though we all are brought up differently, and from different cultures, religions, and economic backgrounds, one thing remains the same.
EVERYONE wants to be loved and accepted.
Bottom line. 

artwork I bought

The spiritual path - is simply the journey of living our lives. Everyone is on a spiritual path; most people just don't know it.

Marianne Williamson