Getting Settled & Acclimated

After arriving in Rabat after 20 hours of flying: AUS>ATL>CDG>RBA. Everything was on-time, no delays and my luggage made it and landed in Rabat at 2:35pm local time. Met up with other volunteers & we went to our home base in Hay Riad-Rabat, which is the neighborhood in Rabat. Apparently, it's fairly upscale as evidenced in the ornate gates lining the streets. Our home base has a beautiful yard, and is very spacious with 4 large bedrooms where everyone bunks. While it's certainly not 5-star, the modest decor serves offer more function than frills. (Plus, I think if the accommodations were more lavish, I might wonder about the motives of the non-profit running this place.)

We learned a bit about the daily schedules, room assignments, house logistics, etc. But luckily, since it was mostly a travel day for everyone, Saturday was really for rest. Getting settled, sleeping, eating, meeting everyone, etc.

Sunday morning we woke for breakfast which is at 7am every day. Today we had these delicious msemmen crepes with fruit & yogurt. At 9:30am we had our orientation, which consisted of learning more about our individual volunteer assignments (I'll be working with 4-5 yr olds. at the street children center) and got an idea of some of the cultural activities that are planned. Tomorrow afternoon, we'll take a city tour, have time to navigate the bus system, and hit the medina. Always served with pastries it seems to really hit the spot.

Lunch will always be at 1pm and tea time is usually at 4pm with the national beverage, hot mint tea, served with pastries. And it is delicious. Dinner will be at 7pm. The cooks here at the house are amazing. I've taken some pictures of the food simply because they are beautifully presented. Colorful vegetable salads, interesting meat/fruit combinations, and always carnivore/vegetarian options. Delightful. And I am giddy with excitement that I'll have a chance to learn how to make some of this fare on Thursday.

After lunch today, a few of us went to check out a nearby mosque, Lalla Sukaina. Some of the most intricate wood and stone carvings I have ever seen, mosaic tile, and while the non-Muslims are not allowed inside, there was still plenty to see and photograph.

There are 16 volunteers here at the house. Some arrived when I did, some have been here a couple of weeks, and one woman has been here 3 months. Two of the volunteers have done mulitiple volunteer trips in various countries with this Cross Cultural Solutions. So to me, that's a good indicator of consistency, professionalism, and making enough of a difference that people want to do it again & again.