Up High, Down Low, Too Slow

Up high. Love doesn’t occur in a moment. Some love needs to be developed, but all love lasts eternally. A moment has the power to form this lasting love. Two weeks ago I stepped into a classroom and despite all the preparation for the past 6 months I was mentally unprepared for the events that were about to unfold. Everyday with these kids has been a blessing and I feel privileged to have been their teacher every step of the way. Since the first day their lives have become intertwined in my own. Names that seemed so foreign now roll off of my tongue like that of a sister or brother. And they are family- a family who I chose but love all the same.  Doing this work I am left with treasures- Salsabbil’s smiles, Taha’s laugh, Fadewa’s tender heart, Selma’s diligence, and countless other memories. This is what inspires me and has given me the drive to pour out my soul across the world.  The reward I get seeing their progress is worth each bead of sweat, the late nights, and every ounce of effort. Education is the foundation to opportunity and to help develop this core in my students is an honor. It excites me to see how far CGA has already helped Abdasalam Saya School and how much more it will aid them in the future.

Down low. It started on a roof top. With a band, candy, and music. Then of course there was dancing. With every twirl drawing us closer to the kids another feeling drew my mind away. This was it. There is no tomorrow. Every instant became the last time. And suddenly it was over. They walked down a flight of stairs and out of my life. This new normal that I had grown accustomed to is no longer. Soon the summer cycle will be in full swing and this trip will be nothing but a memory. But this memory is ingrained in me. This journey changed me. Not a change that fades- but one that stays alive. This trip has taught me about the purpose of defiance. No opinion can be trusted until you have formed your own. “The truth” isn’t always true. No version is the same. So trust your own opinion as long as it is educated. A culture isn’t defined by one person, but one person can defy a culture. This person has the power to stigmatize or revolutionize it. My challenge to you is to not follow the common belief about the Muslim culture. The next time you hear a comment don’t help cultivate it. Don’t be the person that wishes to make a change- instead do it. It doesn’t have to be extraordinary it can be a simple act that becomes an ordinary one throughout the culture.

Too slow. I would give anything to relive this trip. It went by in an instant. The first day seems as though it was yesterday, but today we took our last steps in the school. When the 6 hour days of teaching last week seemed to go buy in minutes the 4 hour days this week occurred in a flash. The English the kids know now versus what they used to is incomparable yet it all occurred within 10 days of teaching. Tasks that were milestones now are small bumps in the road after a long journey. From stuttering through introductions to rolling through dialogues the growth is remarkable. Each student was distinct. All of them had their own strengths, weaknesses, and personalities. But all of them were united. They never complained, and were driven by their desire to learn English. English is the key to them; a key to a world of opportunity that puts them ahead. I was handed this key, and it is therefore my responsibility to help hand out as many keys so that they may be given the same opportunities for we are all one. And as one we may fall or rise.

Simply Human

Above me were a million stars and below millions of grains of sands. The vastness of the Sahara displayed my own insignificance. Out of the 7 billion people in the world I am one. So how can I change it? By impacting as many lives as possible. I have touched hearts in Cambodia, Tanzania, and Morocco- but to continue this journey I need to touch more and dig deeper. Continuing to travel- exposing myself to new cultures, challenging my current beliefs, and pushing myself are the first requirements. There have been many bonds formed, but to keep them alive these relationships must be nurtured. I challenge myself to do this throughout the future- to not only expand but to grow. However beautiful the flowers are on a tree it is the roots that give it strength. So I need to travel back to the places where I planted seeds of my heart, and help these bonds grow throughout my life. To rekindle flames into a roaring fire that will never die. I refuse to let these trips just be a memory of what used to be. This however, is only half the battle. The rest has the power to shape the world. As I see new cultures, meet new people a battle can be won at home- not across the world. If I change but no one else does what is the point? Sharing your enlightenment is necessary in order for the world to change. The world can change one person, but how can you change the world? This battle is won by sharing your story- helping alter the perception of a culture rather than just a life.

            It took a 12 year old to change my outlook. Sitting in her living space Ghita taught us about her culture. Ghita is hardworking and a leader in her class putting her ahead and making her one of the most intelligent members in her family. And her family decided to envy this 12 year old girl. Ghita is forced to abide to rules her younger brother is not and encouraged to not attend summer course so her cousins catch up. She is blissfully unaware of her circumstance but her mother sees it all too well. However, despite her family’s indifference and criticism, Ghita aspires to be an agricultural engineer and refuses to let her family prevent her from accomplishing her dreams. Despite these tensions Ghita preserves a strong sense of family. She addresses that no matter how much potential you have you will be held back without your family’s support. This made me think about my own family. How I rarely call my brother and sister and frequently get into spats with my parents. These small acts are what Ghita tries to avoid to preserve her family and it was remarkable to see this unity.

            Unified. This was her message to the world. “We do not have the right to judge others, God alone has this right. It is our job as humans to unify.” Keep in mind this is coming from a 12 year old. Wise beyond her years, Ghita said something every human should be aware of. We are not in charge of others; the only life we have the right to govern is our own. If you are judging look at the mirror, we are not divided because of our cultures- we are unified through humanity. Humans divide themselves but we are all the same. There is no you and I or us and them- simply we. Ghita, Kevin, Katie, and I began to discuss religion. Everything I have seen of Islam is good. The way they express their beliefs mirrors my own. As we intimately discussed our core beliefs a shiver ran down my spine and a clear picture was painted. Whatever religion we follow doesn’t matter- good will be good, bad will be bad. There are far more good people than bad, but it is easy to label an entire culture based off those who negatively represent it. We are all ambassadors to humanity and having the responsibility of this role we must be the good, see the good, and bring good to others. We are all ignorant, but I feel blessed to have insight into this culture and reinforce the idea that we are all the same. 

#bossy

Morocco defies the norm, breaking stereotypes that limit many other countries. Morocco, located in Northern Africa bordering the Sahara Desert appeared to be hot, very hot. I expected to experience scorching heat as soon as we landed, but contrarily a cool ocean breeze whipped through our hair as we took our first steps in Morocco. We entered the maze of the medina, a section of Rabat where we are staying, and I was immediately embraced in their culture. The medina is exquisite- unlike anything I had ever seen. It was a scene from Aladdin with rugs, lanterns, and new smells around every corner. We arrived at the school and entered the office where we met the director of Abdasalam Sayah Middle School, Touria. She was inspirational. Entering a culture where “all women are oppressed” it was enchanting to see her command and authority. It is clear that she is superior and what she says goes. Through Jihane and Ali, our hosts and translators, we were able to hear her story. Raised in a middle class family Touria ended at the top her class and taught history giving her a passion to learn about other cultures. Eventually, she became the director of the school and has held this position for 16 years revolutionizing it to provide the best education for her students. For having only slept for 2 hours since leaving the Denver Airport at 7 am Sunday I was wide awake hearing her inspiring story. This strong display of feminism immediately changed my expectations for the trip. And so far these new expectations have been met. Along with the excited nervousness that accompanies teaching on the first day there was surprise when I walked into a classroom with 8 girls and one boy. And the boy, Taha, despite his exuberant personality he was less advanced in his English than many of the girls. I was expecting there to either be a 1:1 ratio where or more boys in the class than girls. Hearing about the oppression of Middle Eastern girls such as Malala Yousafazi it is easy to stereotype one culture off the isolated single tragedies rather than all the good that happens every day in peaceful countries. Not to say that women aren’t oppressed, but they are not severely oppressed in every nation. There is no doubt that Arab nations are portrayed pessimistically in most American media. This negativity should not be displayed towards Morocco; everything I have seen defies this stigma. It is my responsibility and yours, reading my blog, to help change this perception. Eventually this ripple will spread help to change the misconception about Morocco, as well as other Arab nations. Butterflies every time, occurring with the first steps into the classroom in Tanzania and Cambodia- Morocco is no different. Stepping into the classroom I had no expectations except for the one fact we had been given that the students speak no English; this was proven false. Megan and I expected to walk into a class and be able to teach the ABC’s and other basic, beginner lessons. However, their levels of English were not suitable for the lessons planned- they were higher, much higher. Our first day we were left to do many improvised lessons, however the second day we had suitable lessons outlined which smoothed over yesterday’s cracks. This success made our goals for the rest of the trip seem feasible and encouraged the power of my teaching. We reviewed nouns and verbs throughout the day with activities ranging from acting verbs outside to unscrambling nouns. As the bell rang the class jumped up, I assumed to leave, however they ran up to the board all of them eager to answer one last question. This simple moment I will never forget. This set my class apart from all other classes I have taught. This will inspire me for the duration of the trip, and my own education at home. This is why I continue to these trips: for when the unexpected happens and the norm is broken. I feel fortunate to be able to see this raw talent and eagerness to learn and to be able to help cultivate it changing their future through the strength of being able to speak English. These students are the ones who will be leaders in Moroccan society through their high aspirations and love to learn. There has been considerable progress, but Morocco needs to continue to move forward. Kevin, Katie, Fatimazara, and I went on a home visit to Miriam’s and Btissam’s home. Although they are only a few years apart in age Miriam is Btissam’s aunt. When Miriam was a child Btissam’s mother took her in after the death of her mother and father. We were able to hear how Morocco has changed for the better through Miriam’s sister. She was unable to continue school after her sister got married because of her mother’s fear of wasting money on education for her daughters who would end up as married housewives. As much as Miriam’s sister wishes she could go back to school she is thrilled about Miriam’s and Btissam’s education and their desires to become and doctor and engineer. Five people live in their narrow house in the heart of the medina- four girls and one boy. All the girls share the living room while the 17 year old boy has his own room with 2 beds, a phone, TV, and computer. However, no one seemed to question this system. Despite having more access to knowledge about women’s rights along with a higher percentage of girls entering schools and going to college it is still not questioned when a man who provides limited income has a room and luxuries to himself, while four other women share a living room to sleep in. These slight disparities can be seen throughout the world even in our homes. On average women make 79 cents to the dollar that men make. However, what I observe in Morocco is progress. Whether it is in the classroom learning prepositions, nouns, and verbs with in the span of two hours or the progression of women’s rights in Morocco from the 1980s to where they are today. I hope to continue to see this process and help foster it.

Inhale Confidence

5 months and 20 days later my fundraising for my trip to Morocco is complete. Thank you all so much for your support over the past 3 years to help me meet these goals!

            The times I have been scared in a foreign country have never been because of any “danger” I have felt, the fear expressed by my family and community. The misconception of 3^rd world countries being dangerous is one of the reasons why I continue to travel with CGA to break this stigma strung them. My fear surrounds failure. I fear in Morocco to not be a good enough teacher, leader, friend, or peer; to not be the best that I can be to the kids who deserve it most.  Fear can prevent life. It takes away moments that could be magical but are never experienced. For some it prevents them from doing this; stepping out into the unknown, exploring an unfamiliar world. For me, my fears have taken away the pleasure and simplicity of living in the moment. There is always a certain level of anxiety experienced when you are outside of your comfort zone. In previous years this anxiety has prevented me from coloring outside the lines and enjoy the beauty of being a teacher while learning more than the students. The ability to appreciate these lessons, embrace the unknown, and accept change is one of my goals for this trip.

With that, confidence is what I aim to embody. Throughout the years I have learned that self-confidence is the key to success during these trips. To be able to stand up in front of a class full of students who don’t speak English, don’t have a sense of respect for you, and teach them a lesson without confidence is impossible, but with it everything is possible. Being able to express this trait throughout these trips has allowed me to gain confidence in uncharted territory and present the best version of myself. Not only do I aim to be confident in myself but to have confidence in others. Being a part of the first Morocco trip means that my team will dictate its future. In order for this trip to continue we will all need to trust each other, know that each of us will do our best to maximize the performance of our group. We need to have the ability to face and conquer challenges together. Trust will be the foundation of this trip, and with it we will be able to build an incredible program. Trip to trip, some things have remained the same. The sheer joy that fills the atmosphere when we first meet the kids, the enduring love that grows with every day, and lessons I have learned is what makes these trips extraordinary. I can’t wait to continue this journey with Children’s Global Alliance in Morocco. 

A Moroccan Journey

In the past 3 years almost every dollar I have made has gone into this incredible organization. And there is no part of me that regrets that. The lessons I have learned with Children’s Global Alliance have allowed me to grow into a person that I am proud to be. I have been able to see the world through a unique lens. CGA has taught me to question, to persevere, to discover my passions and to be inspired. I am confident heading into the future with this organization as part of my foundation. I would like to thank all the people who have supported me over the years by reading my blogs, donating supplies, and participating in my fundraisers. I have raised over $1650 of $3300 for my trip to Morocco this summer greatly due to the success of my camps over the Holiday breaks. Nicole Lasater and I are also hosting a Valentine’s Babysitting Night, so please contact us if you’re interested!

The Moroccan Journey:

The sun is hot beating down on your neck, your trudging through the Sahara. A distant city expands upon the horizon. You slowly move forward on the uneven back of a camel trudging through the desert sand. Passing through red sandstone walls you enter the “Red City” of Merrakech. Established in 1062 BC Merrakech is one of Morocco’s four imperial cities. Home of the El Badi Palace and ancient mosques, this ancient city feels like part of a different era. Winding through the tight alleyways you become entranced in the whispers of the snake-charmers and encased in the smells of teas and spices. As the sun drops below the horizon your eyes begin to droop, and you head back to the hotel which possesses the same unique architecture as the city with a modern twist. You awake to a desert sunrise unlike any you have seen before and are off a new journey.

 

 You embark on a train which takes you through the Atlas Mountains on your way to Fez- the cultural capital of Morocco. The mountains are a welcoming contrast from the stark rolling sand dunes. Spanning 1600 miles the Atlas mountain’s possess high peaks like Mount Timzguida (13,415 ft.) allowing for snow to dust the mountains tops. On the descent downward you see the city of Fez coming into focus. Leaving the train station you enter one of its famous souks holding hidden treasures its stands. The market spans in its array of goods with fruits, ceramic bowls, rugs, spices, and art intertwining together to form a vibrant and unforgettable experience engaging all your senses. But Fez still has more to offer- home to renowned tanneries you are more than likely to encounter the stone vessels containing a vast range of dies where workers stand waist deep under the scorching sun soaking the hides. The tanneries have been present for almost a thousand years- a staple in the city’s economy.

Next you enter Rabat. Since gaining independence in 1956, Rabat has been the established political capital of Morocco. Contrary to popular tourist destinations Rabat is far quieter with exquisite colonial architecture. With previous Phoenician, Roman, Almohad and Merenid rulers Rabat has a mix of cultures represented in its stone walls, buildings, and monuments. Located on the edge of the Atlantic and Bouregreg River this city is home to stunning beaches and palm tree lined boardwalks. The medina contains authenticity with its lack of tourists, famous galleries, and picturesque views. 

Your final stop is Chefchaouen. Located in northwest Morocco, Chefchaouen is one of the country’s most unique cities. The reoccurring color of blue located on the buildings throughout the city creates a stunning picture. The name Chefchaouen translates to “watch the horns” referencing the mountain peaks which the town is tucked into creates a storybook setting. Founded in 1471 its remote location allowed for the town to remain untouched and safe from foreigner conquerors. The Spanish Inquisition in the late 15^th century led to influx of Jews and Muslims into Morocco from Spain. Attempting to preserve their culture the Shepardi Jews painted every wall, gate, building, and door blue, which represents divinity. This act transformed the city into one that flocks adventurers for checks off their bucket lists. Together these cities form Morocco. Rolling down sand dunes, trekking up mountain tops, being entranced by architectural beauty, and being enraptured in the intrigue of the souks makes Morocco the most vibrant country in the world.