Exchanging Language and Christopher Nolan Films

The first thing I heard when I woke up was Minnie Riperton I had fell asleep listening to. Janelly and I were pressed on time and once we learned our family wouldn’t allow us to walk to class, we spent the morning checking the time and exchanging worried glances. Due to us being two young people who are not natives, they feel it is unsafe to walk without a Moroccan. I was relieved. I certainly would not mind the walk, but I am not familiar with the route or the people we may pass on the way to our destination. To make matters a bit more worrisome (on their end), they’d also rather not see us off without sitting down for a proper breakfast. Although it may seem exaggerated, I see all these precautions as an extension of their care towards us. It seemed like a hit to our timing at the moment, but one bite into a Ghriba almost made time stand still. Ghriba is a soft, almost puffy cookie that is dusted with white powder. I only wish those reading could eat it, because it is a struggle for me to describe. It just taste…good. There might be cinnamon? 

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Abdo eating CousCous

On Friday afternoons it is common for the family to gather for lunch to eat CousCous, so we returned home for lunch. CousCous is a traditional dish that is a beautiful blend of flavors made with a base of Semolina; this time I won’t leave you hanging. The closest comparison to the Semolina consistency would probably be a more solid form of grits. It is a milled (meaning blended and ground) variety of wheat with a beef stew on top. The vegetables are soft, yet not squishy. It has the sweetest savory browned sauce on top with raisins. Sadly, just another thing I wish you the opportunity to taste. Le déjeuner était très bon! 

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Janelly, HaJar, and Daisha at the Cafe

After lunch, we got dropped off at Huitième Jour: a local cafe in Meknes nestled by the Atlas mountains that serves food along with various beverages. It is large with marble, flat screens, music, velvet loveseats, faux leather placemats, and multiple floors (including a rooftop). I ordered a citrus juice and spent time with two Moroccan grad students. Hajar taught me different words to better communicate with my family and in exchange we gave tv recommendations and taught her basic ASL. Walid shared his profession as a music producer and allowed us a snippet of unreleased tracks. Walid and I had much in common! Comfortability isn’t an emotion I get the luxury of feeling very often, but I felt it the first time since the trip began. It was nice to have a genuine conversation with someone about a shared interest. From movie recommendations, favorite filmmakers, film studios in Morocco, and anime watchlist. I enjoyed both myself and the language exchange. 

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My exhaustion after the day prevented me from joining my Horizon friends in exploring the Medina. After a brisk walk home with Walid, I ended my day on a call with my sister. In a short time, it will be her sweet sixteen. For the first time, I cannot celebrate her birthday with her, so I showered her with virtual love.

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awkward picture of me doing a thumbs up

Thank you for spending a couple of minutes with me,

Me’Andre

مع السلامة

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