Pre Service Training Pt 1

After an eight hour flight and traveling across five different time zones I landed in Morocco.  Sleep deprived due to the extreme heat and lack of dark during the flight – yes the flight attendant’s left the overhead lights on for a good two hours after dinner then cranked up the heat.

Stepping off the plane I got slapped with the 7 or 8 am heat of Morocco.  Its like a living thing by the time I made it to baggage claim I had sweated through my clothing and had sweat streaming down my face.  Anyone who says you can have a “Southern Glow,” is totally BSing you.

(Bus Ride to Fez)

Getting to Pre Service Training in Fez involved a 5 hour bus ride from our point of entry – Casablanca.  Although Morocco is small enough to fit in my home state of California – the roads aren’t always direct as one would like to get from point A to point B.

During the drive I snapped photos and then finally passed out after about 24 hours without sleep give or take with time zone differences.

The lovely Peace Corps Training staff gave each of us a bag with fruit, drinkable yogurt, cookies and water.  It was perfect for the trip to Fez.

We had a pit stop around 3 -4 hours into the journey at a gas station.. and thank you Allah – a Western Toilet !!!

I don’t think I could have handled a Turkish toilet on amount of sleep I actually had.

Finally we arrived on the outskirts of Fez and with our arrival we gain a security escort.  From what I was able to gather – having a large group of 1. Americans 2. Peace Corps Volunteer = high security.   This of course doesn’t mean anyone in Morocco has bad intentions – just that from a security stand point its better safe than sorry.

I actually thought it was pretty cool although it made our arrival a spectacle.

Once we pulled up at the center we unloaded and picked our rooms.  This is where packing a hefty load of luggage becomes a pain in the ass – there is NO elevator – stairs all the way.

Did I mention no A/C?  Yep.. I sweated off a couple of pounds humping my gear to the third floor although a lovely LCF helped haul the other bag upstairs.

I finally made it to my room and collapsed on the bed.  Oh but wait.. more programming!!

I have to say I am not sure how I stayed awake… only that by some miracle I did.

Some time during the programming of the first day.. I realized – it might have been after lunch when I got locked into my room that half the door handle was missing.

(Our Pre Service Training Schedule)

Thank goodness we shared a balcony with another room and the ladies happened to be in the room so that when I pounded on the door.. they opened it and sprung me from my impromptu prison.

(Breakfast)

So then myself and my roomies got moved to the fourth floor which although it being a hike.. for two days was awesome because it was a women’s only floor!!

So I didn’t have to get crazy with figuring out how to shower and not be seen without hijab or running to the bathroom in the middle of the night.  Well until a few days later.. but thats another story!!!

InshaAllah I will catch up soon on the blog.. so bear with me as I balance writing for the blog and training at the same time!