Tea and Conversation

Yesterday we visited the souk (weekly market) in the morning and saw all the local vendors and farmers bring their livestock produce and more. They sell household products, tools, and even have simple repair booths. It was a lot to see and fascinating how everyone and everything is there. In the afternoon, we visited the Assanad Coop, the language school where we will be volunteering, and sat in on some French language lessons. There are students there of all ages, from early elementary to adult. 
Aicha served traditional Moroccan tea and we talked about health care issues with one of the parents there who is a hospital administrator. Just like in the U.S., they have a shortage of health care workers and while medical care is much more affordable, the wait time for a specialist can be long. 

On Wednesday morning we visited two women’s cooperatives in a nearby village. In these smaller villages, women are often coming together to develop economic opportunities for each other. One coop produces couscous, herbs and essential oils. They were very proud to have received government licensure (much like the FDA in the US) so they can sell their products at expeditions and outside of Morocco. Another coop is newer and they teach sewing, weaving, pastry, and barbering skills in the village. These cooperatives become community centers for all to work on improving their skills and providing extra income for the women and their families. 

In the afternoon, we drove up into the mountains to hike in the cedar forest and see some of the Barbary macaques monkeys. Dinner again with Khadiga and then walking in the evening when everyone is out in the cooler weather. We are finally adapting the heat - it’s been 100 degrees these last few days - with more water and hydration. Our conversations are rich and vibrant as we learn more about Morocco and the communities in and around Azrou.