This morning, this email was sent to those who donated to the glasses project and included their email address: “Dear Friends, If you’re receiving this email, it’s because you recently gave to the United States Peace Corps Partnership Program Grant to support my “glasses project,” titled “Eyewear for Moroccan Youth,” and I wanted to write […]
The Problem of the Prophets
On multiple occasions now, I’ve had volunteers say to me that they are amazed as they come to the end of their Peace Corps service at how good they are at reading people. Or, I’ll be standing around with a female volunteer, and some guy starts talking to us, and she just gives me this […]
Reverse, Reverse Culture Shock, or Just Another January in the Desert
My life has been turned upside down lately trying to figure out where I’m going to live. I’ve never liked house-hunting or the stress that comes with knowing you have an eviction date. But if that’s bad in America, it’s ten times the stress in Morocco, navigating everything in a different language and never guaranteed […]
Dynamite Faith
oh pastor man and all your lies about the grace you gave, we saw through the thick, black book you held, all those shouts about the Lord who saves; we saw every god-damned mountain moved, and all your lies about the dynamite and as you climbed up on the hanging rood and jabbed the spear […]
Prophets & Angels
prophets and angels may seem to speak of different gods between their voices shouting truths or their songs, a quiet grace – and though their love has left us here beneath the battle’s wake, a peace lies as the angel nears what the prophet came to take.
Culture Shock Delight
(Reverse) culture shock is a whole different animal from what you might expect. It can actually be really funny. I mean, for me, it was most apparent looking for a lighter to light the stove. Or how I just exclaimed, “America” over and over after using Glad Press’n Seal Multi-Purpose wrap. Isn’t that stuff wonderful? […]
Worrying and Stuff, or the Glasses Project is Back!
If it hasn’t been obvious, life in Morocco has been somewhat worrisome lately. I’ve had a few days where I thought to myself that vacation in America couldn’t get here soon enough and a few other days where the idea of going home to America scared me to death, too. Some worries I’ve shared. […]
Everything is Perception (except what’s not)
I know a lot of Americans (family members included) who sometimes say that if you’re not from America, you don’t really have a right to criticize or speak badly of America. Of immigrants who aren’t American citizens, I hear it said, “If you don’t like it here, then go home, but don’t stay here and […]
On Thanksgiving
In one of my English classes this week, I took some time before beginning the lesson to describe Thanksgiving. I talked about the pilgrimage from Europe and the struggle to yield enough food for the winter; I talked about the friendships made with the local natives and how sharing was essentially what kept everyone alive. […]
The so-called ‘mid-service crisis’
The Mid-service crisis is far from over. My landlord came by, and I showed him my broken faucet and asked if it was possible to get it fixed. He then told me, or I thought he told me, that he’d come by later, and I could pay him for rent then. That’s what I heard, […]
