School’s out for.... Ramadan!

So I have officially graduated from Colloquial Moroccan Arabic 100. Well actually I haven’t got my results back from the final test but I know I passed, and whats more, I came top of the class! Its handy being the only student sometimes! So this is the first Monday in 6 weeks that I don’t have to go to school – and as much as I loved the class, it’s nice to have a break! 

So after class on Friday we celebrated with couscous, this time at Karim's sister Fatima’s house. She made a really nice one – with roasted nuts and sultanas and chicken, maybe one day I will get her to give me a lesson, although I’m not sure I have the patience for the 3 hours it takes to cook. It’s a far cry from the instant couscous I used to cook at home!

The weekend was spent swimming as usual. On Saturday Karim took me to one of his favourite places in Morocco; a river about 30mins outside of Fes. Despite the gum trees along the side, this definitely was not the Murray river – the water was a beautiful shade of turquoise and it was freezing! The boys had bought a bunch of ingredients with them and proceeded to make a small fire on which they cooked 2 delicious tagines, followed of course by the obligatory watermelon! Then yesterday Karim and I went to a five-star hotel where for a price we got to laze about by the pool all afternoon! The hotel (les merinides) is perched on a hill and has an amazing view of the old medina. And no matter how many times I see a view like this, it still takes my breath away. What can I say, I love my adopted city!

After a quick rest at home (spending all day in the sun really takes it out on you), we then had to prepare for the supermarket. Normally this is a very easy task, but not in the lead up to Ramadan. I had never seen it so packed! The medina as well has been bustling this last week. Lots of stalls have sprung up selling sweet things called shebbakeeya – I’m not exactly sure how they are made but I’m pretty sure sugar and honey are the 2 main ingredients! These, as well as harira (soup), dates and juices are just some of the main things you break the fast with. So after returning from the supermarket we anxiously watched the news to see whether the new moon had been sighted thus signalling the start of Ramadan. You would think being a pretty major event that it would be the first news story either way but no, about 15mins into the bulletin we got the news – the new moon had not been sighted in Morocco, so Ramadan would be starting on Tuesday. 

Though I’m still confused, most other muslim countries have started their fast today and surely it is the same moon all around the world? But Karim explained that Moroccans want the moon sighted in Morocco before they start. It’s fine with me, I’m quite nervous about Ramadan, so delaying it by one day gives me one extra day to prepare! I have decided to try and fast, and I’m not really sure how I will go. Last time my friends and I tried to do the 40hr famine, we lasted all of about 8 hours before proceeding to stuff our faces with both McDonalds and KFC! Hopefully I will do better this time. I’m not so worried about the food aspect – but its so hot, I’m not sure how I will survive without water! I guess I will see tomorrow – the first day of Ramadan!

The river

Doing what I do best

Relaxing by the pool

Posing by the pool

The view over Fes

Fes

Fes

The merinides tombs above Fes