After recovering from my hike and walking mostly backward because it was easier then walking forward, it soon became time for Eid El-Adha (or Eid El- Kebir or Eid El Qorban). I have never actually celebrated this Eid, because in Iran it is customary for people who have made the pilgrimage to sacrifice a sheep. In Morocco, however, every family's goal is to save enough money to buy and sacrifice a sheep. A sheep costs around 2500 Durhams, around 270 or so Dollars.
Buying a sheep is no small task. Families often save for months, so that they can have enough money for their sheep. When I visited my host family in Rabat the weekend before Eid they had already purchased there sheep and were feeding it carrots and grass. My host sister seemed attached to the sheep as she would pet it and often talk to it. She told me she loved eating sheep, but she hated that the sheep had to be killed.
The American host student living with my family, had very strong emotions towards the sheep being sacrificed. She told me she had been a life long vegetarian until Morocco, because she thought it would be too hard to keep her vegetarian diet abroad. Having the sheep in the house and knowing it was to be killed was too much for her. She had requested to move out for those two nights to a hotel. How could I tell her that she would be disrespecting the family by leaving...In my opinion, it's a very American notion to think, I must take care of myself first and not worry about the repercussions.
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I returned to Casablanca ready to go back to school, having forgot about the sheep. On Wednesday my school celebrated Halloween. The students had the cutest costumes and to my surprise there are costume shops in Casablanca. So some of my students were superman, batman, and ladybugs. Right after we celebrated Halloween, I rode the train to Rabat where I was again reminded of the sheep and the impending holiday.
Due to the Eid our school gave us Thursday, Friday and Monday off. Most of my coworkers and friends were heading off to Italy and I was planning on going to Rabat for two days and then returning to Casa with my grandma to spend time relaxing and exploring Casa. Wednesday night was uneventful, but thursday I woke up did some reading, went shopping for some things my friends from Casa wanted (i've become the personal shopper for buying things from the old medina where you can buy things at great prices! A scarf was 20 durhams or 3 dollars! And pants for 80 durhams or 10 dollars!), and then I went to visit my friend's house in the Ouidaya. He is currently researching for a Fullbright.
Friday, I woke up to the sound of blasting Islamic music and my host sister calling my name at 9 AM. I was hoping to sleep in, but with the radio on right outside my room, I got up, changed my clothes and went downstairs. I said hello to my host dad and he told me (in Arabic): "It's not good to sleep on the day of the holiday." It was then, amongst other things, that I realized I have truly become part of the family. While the host student was allowed to do her own thing, I was not allowed to sleep in. I had to be awake like the rest of the family.
I had breakfast and then a man came to the house to kill the sheep. At that time, my host dad and brother took the sheep to the roof in order for it to be killed. The sheep had never made a noise before it was moved to the roof. Maybe the sheep sensed the impending doom. At that moment I conveniently went to visit my friends house again in the Ouidaya. On my way, I saw all the blood on the streets. It looked like there had been some sort of violent incident. Almost like a movie. There was no one on the streets minus a few men and there was a lot of blood. While I was at my friends house, some neighborhood boy's asked my friend if he had a sheep head and other things that they could cook on the street for him and bring back to him for a price. I returned back to my host family's house and had some sheep as a snack that were cooked on skewers like Kabobs.
Having eaten the sheep and ready to go pick up my grandmother I went to the train station and to the airport. Long story short, train times had changed and with God's help I made it to the airport just in time.
Sheep Skin Drying on a Rooftop in Casablanca
On Sunday, my grandma and I went to the Hassan II Mosque. It is a beautiful Mosque that is open for tours. The ceiling opens for Ramadan when the Mosque is really crowded. The opening of the ceiling helps to keep the place ventilated since there is no air-conditioning. We had a tour guide that spoke to us in English. After the tour, my grandma asked her how to get to a restaurant and she offered to drive us. On the way, she showed us where she grew up in the Old Medina. I asked her if she knew someone that could help me improve my Darija and she said no, and asked me if I knew someone who could help her daughter learn English. So I offered to teach her daughter English in exchange for her teaching me Darija. Its a great trade off. Hopefully she will call and I can improve my language abilities. Additionally it's great to know another Moroccan woman living in Casablanca. It's crazy how you meet people.
Hassan II Mosque- Largest in Morocco & 7th Largest in the world
My goal for this upcoming month of November is to grow out of my shell and the English speaking bubble by interacting with more people in Darija.
Buying a sheep is no small task. Families often save for months, so that they can have enough money for their sheep. When I visited my host family in Rabat the weekend before Eid they had already purchased there sheep and were feeding it carrots and grass. My host sister seemed attached to the sheep as she would pet it and often talk to it. She told me she loved eating sheep, but she hated that the sheep had to be killed.
The American host student living with my family, had very strong emotions towards the sheep being sacrificed. She told me she had been a life long vegetarian until Morocco, because she thought it would be too hard to keep her vegetarian diet abroad. Having the sheep in the house and knowing it was to be killed was too much for her. She had requested to move out for those two nights to a hotel. How could I tell her that she would be disrespecting the family by leaving...In my opinion, it's a very American notion to think, I must take care of myself first and not worry about the repercussions.
----
I returned to Casablanca ready to go back to school, having forgot about the sheep. On Wednesday my school celebrated Halloween. The students had the cutest costumes and to my surprise there are costume shops in Casablanca. So some of my students were superman, batman, and ladybugs. Right after we celebrated Halloween, I rode the train to Rabat where I was again reminded of the sheep and the impending holiday.
Third Grade Teachers Halloween Costume!
Due to the Eid our school gave us Thursday, Friday and Monday off. Most of my coworkers and friends were heading off to Italy and I was planning on going to Rabat for two days and then returning to Casa with my grandma to spend time relaxing and exploring Casa. Wednesday night was uneventful, but thursday I woke up did some reading, went shopping for some things my friends from Casa wanted (i've become the personal shopper for buying things from the old medina where you can buy things at great prices! A scarf was 20 durhams or 3 dollars! And pants for 80 durhams or 10 dollars!), and then I went to visit my friend's house in the Ouidaya. He is currently researching for a Fullbright.
Friday, I woke up to the sound of blasting Islamic music and my host sister calling my name at 9 AM. I was hoping to sleep in, but with the radio on right outside my room, I got up, changed my clothes and went downstairs. I said hello to my host dad and he told me (in Arabic): "It's not good to sleep on the day of the holiday." It was then, amongst other things, that I realized I have truly become part of the family. While the host student was allowed to do her own thing, I was not allowed to sleep in. I had to be awake like the rest of the family.
I had breakfast and then a man came to the house to kill the sheep. At that time, my host dad and brother took the sheep to the roof in order for it to be killed. The sheep had never made a noise before it was moved to the roof. Maybe the sheep sensed the impending doom. At that moment I conveniently went to visit my friends house again in the Ouidaya. On my way, I saw all the blood on the streets. It looked like there had been some sort of violent incident. Almost like a movie. There was no one on the streets minus a few men and there was a lot of blood. While I was at my friends house, some neighborhood boy's asked my friend if he had a sheep head and other things that they could cook on the street for him and bring back to him for a price. I returned back to my host family's house and had some sheep as a snack that were cooked on skewers like Kabobs.
Having eaten the sheep and ready to go pick up my grandmother I went to the train station and to the airport. Long story short, train times had changed and with God's help I made it to the airport just in time.
Sheep Skin Drying on a Rooftop in Casablanca
On Sunday, my grandma and I went to the Hassan II Mosque. It is a beautiful Mosque that is open for tours. The ceiling opens for Ramadan when the Mosque is really crowded. The opening of the ceiling helps to keep the place ventilated since there is no air-conditioning. We had a tour guide that spoke to us in English. After the tour, my grandma asked her how to get to a restaurant and she offered to drive us. On the way, she showed us where she grew up in the Old Medina. I asked her if she knew someone that could help me improve my Darija and she said no, and asked me if I knew someone who could help her daughter learn English. So I offered to teach her daughter English in exchange for her teaching me Darija. Its a great trade off. Hopefully she will call and I can improve my language abilities. Additionally it's great to know another Moroccan woman living in Casablanca. It's crazy how you meet people.
Hassan II Mosque- Largest in Morocco & 7th Largest in the world
My goal for this upcoming month of November is to grow out of my shell and the English speaking bubble by interacting with more people in Darija.
Olivia and Gramma Judy, I think you both had a wonderful weekend adventure . . . sheep and mosques and trading English lessons. We were in New York City for Eid, and a taxi driver told us we were lucky to get a cab, because it was a holiday and many drivers were with their families celebrating together and not coming into the city to drive cabs!! So wherever people are, Eid was celebrated . . . sheep or no cabs, but still celebrated. Keep enjoying yourselves! Love, Phyllis
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