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!
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