a month in

It's been only a month in and it seems as though I have been in Morocco forever. Days go by so slow but the week are flying by. I am still in language training. This are going well I actually know more than I think I know. I still cannot successfully hold a conversation, but I can understand the basics of the conversation.

So far I have moved familes, had a few disagreements with some people and just been trying to deal with certain things. At one point I was feeling as though I was an outcast and no one could relate to me as a person and it was difficult accepting things without losing who I am as a person. I don't believe I have lived what most believe is the standard "American" life. My upbringing was different, my hair is different, many of my actions are different and some don't understand the fact that my parents were not married, I have two sisters and I don't share both my mother and father with the both of them, I was the first person to go away to college, I was raised in the projects, I didn't grow up with a vehicle in the car, I don't like the Beatles, and yes I went to public school. Feeling though I have to define my identity to everyone was irritating to me. Moroccans think I am African.

I had to move host families because my previous host family lied on their forms and did not document that they had sons. Peace Corps has a policy that female volunteers are not allowed to sleep in the house with a family that has sons over the age of 15 years. My host family had 3 sons over the age of 15 years. When the PC made a visit to the families they met my host brothers and the family introduced them as their brothers. The twins are 26 years old and the other brother is 23 years. So they moved me immediately disregarding how I felt about it. It was a bit annoying because the communities are so small and I was of course the talk of the town because everyone knows the business and were asking the reasons behind my move. What was even more annoying is that when coming to Ouarzazette everyone was asking me questions regarding the move as though the PC publicized it, but news travel fast around here.

My new host family is cool. It's a different environment. I now have three host sisters ages 14, 11, and 6 years. It's a different environment. It's more busy where I am living now because my host mother is the "TaHanut" store owner so there are people coming in and out all day, but it's more practice with language because everyone wants to talk to me and I am exposed to more words. I use to have a big full size bed and a room. I don't have a room anymore or a bed. I am sleeping in the Salon which is the host room with the nice furniture and I am sleeping on the couch which is so hard that I prefer the floor. Although I have an amazing tradeoff. I now have Hot running water and a WASHING MACHINE!!!!!!!!!! That damn hand washing was a job. Although I still do my laundry by hand I don't have to struggle with all these damn jeans and such.

I had some disagreements with some people here because of course many will not understand Monica directness. I speak my mind and most time I just say what is on my mind and I tell it like it is, but I am trying to hold it back becasue it's offendig people lol...

Well I am going to end this for now. I have my interview next week and this month I should be finding out exactly where I will be place and what community I will be working in!! I am excited for that!!