Water, Agua, al-ma....

After a cold snap this weekend we're back to being warm. It's 26 degrees c today (79F) and so I took a celebratory 20km bike ride. I am so thankful the weather is warm and will be excited when I turn on the (solar powered short-wave)radio (Thanks Dad!) and hear that we're up to 32C (90F!). I don't know how I'm going to feel when that radio tells me it's 45C (113F...). I really don't think I'll mind.

With warm weather comes good moods and me feeling very productive. It also helps me feel very "Peace Corps"-y because my hours-per-day of running water is dwindling. In the last 48 hours, I've probably had about 2 hours of running water. It's not that there isn't any water, it's that there isn't enough to go 'round. I live "foq" which means "high" like, on an incline, and other households who are more "tHt" (low) use the water and there isn't enough pressure to get the water up to me-- it just can't quite make it to my tap.

On days where I decide to take 20km bike rides, it would be really nice to have some running water for a shower. But, this is not all negative. I have learned to be resourceful in a way that would make my mother proud-- when I have water, I make sure I get all the household-water oriented tasks down, like dishes and vegetable washing. I had a trickle of water last night and got all the dishes done. I have a number of buckets and a 20-liter barrel that I keep full for toilet flushing and, if necessary, cooking. I have 11 liters worth of water bottles full under the sink for drinking. I was warned that once summer hits, my running water becomes very unreliable, though I don't know what the seasons have to do with it. I may invest in another 20liter barrel.

I could go to the Hammam (public baths) to bathe but it's a very social event and well, being social is probably the last thing I want to do while bathing.

This past weekend was Earth Day and Erika (the volunteer 70km north of me) and I held a two day conference with about 30 kids from all over the country. They slept at the auberge, or dormitory, that's next to the Dar Chebab. We went hiking and we talked about the flora and fauna and all kinds of environmental problems in the region. The main "youth development" aspect of it was that on the second day they learned "project design and management" and planned environmental projects that they will then implement in their home cities. And these projects will be led by the youth (youth empowerment!) and involve other youth (volunteerism!). Despite how easy this project might sound it's actually very complicated and time consuming to get something like this going. Moroccan counterparts must be found, and Erika wrote a grant for $500 to pay for food and transportation. Grant writing in itself is time consuming. Plus, government approval is needed for everything, which takes time. (I think the level of importance of people is judged by how many rubber stamps they have on their desk- literally. And they will by stingy with their stamps just because they can!) Also, as much time as these things take, people don't tend to commit to things too far in advance because they have no idea what life will throw at them before that. So it's a big juggling act and this act was a success, lHamdullah.

Sunday I'm going to travel an hour and a half for an environmental-themed theater competition- just to watch and act as a supporter. This competition was started last year by the PCV I replaced. So this year the kids organized it by themselves with the help of a French teacher. That's sustainability!

Homesickness

I have been here for about seven months and have about 19 more months to go and have officially felt my first pangs of homesickness. The fact that it took seven months is probably pretty good.

Officially, my record of being away from home is 8 months, from December to August, two years in a row. By "home" I mean Miami.

According to the Peace Corps emotional chart they give us, there is a "sixth month crisis." 1) I've been here longer than six months and 2) this is FAR from crisis! (The next major dip on the chart is at the one year mark.)

What sparked this? Last week I went and visited another volunteer, Xavier, at his site. Whenever I spend significant time around other Americans I sort of get this way because we speak in comfortable English, using terms like "chill" and "brosky" and reminisce about things from back home. I've also been listening to country music which could make someone in America homesick for America. Being around a male volunteer is even more homesickness-inducing than a female volunteer because it causes me to remember how in Dallas/Miami I had lots of guy friends and that was normal. I also thoroughly enjoy hanging out with guy volunteers in public because the number of youth or men who yell at me drops to almost nothing. Only the most bold will say something when I'm walking with Xavier or any other American guy.

What exactly do I miss?
It wouldn't be what you would think, necessarily.
People? Not really. I could count the number of people I truly miss on one hand...maybe half a hand.
"Basic" amenities? Not much. I don't miss having a refrigerator.
Unpredictable running water can be annoying but not something to write home about.
A/C? I missed heat during winter but it's hot now and I have no problem with no A/C.
Washer/Dryer? whatever.

I miss:
The Bar Scene: The freedom to go to a bar and play some pool and hang with friends and not be judged for it. This includes dancing to bad pop music on a crowded dance floor.
Mixed gender company
Being able to wear tank tops and shorts.
Being able to go running in the middle of the day (or whenever I want)
Being able to go to a cafe without being self conscience (not the woman's realm here.)
I admit that I do miss cereal and skim milk. If I get a fridge I can make this happen.

Snap out of it
When I get a little down on my "situation." I just try to remind myself of the reasons that I was attracted to Peace Corps and why I'm here: I knew there would be "sacrifices." I don't actually WANT my normal life back-- I'm on an adventure! InchAllah, I will have about 75 more years to dance to bad pop music in bars beginning around Christmas season 2012. I'm reminded of how especially lucky I am to be here every time I'm on the trek from Errachidia to my town in the desert and I pass nomads herding hundreds of camels and sand blowing around from every direction. And to be honest, I would probably feel the same way in small-town America since the big city brings more of the freedoms that I miss.

Remedies:
- Keeping my socializing with other volunteers to a minimum
- Remind myself that I'm not a wimp. period.