Day SIX in Morocco- Nov. 13, 2009

6th day of delegations- Friday 11/13/2009

 Last day of Delegations.  Today is the day to visit the cooperatives.  I am assigned to the 1^st group that would be going to Buttons- cooperative artisanale Feminine de Boutons en soie “Cerises” –Sefrou, with button class and home lunch.  This sounded so interesting to explore but I wanted to go to the 2^nd group “Adwal Weavers Cooperative”- Ribat El Kheir .  It is located in the Eastern Middle Atlas Mountains at 3500 feet, and is 50km from both Fes and Sefrou.  (Of course me and Megan were able to change our assignments…no comment there :)) This village is a mix of both traditional and modern views.  You can find girls optioned not to finish their school and went to learn a skill in one of these cooperatives while others pursued further their education, finshed high school or better yet, they got a PHD.   We talked to the supervisor and manager of the “Rabat Al-kheir” business to have an idea about the work of the women there.  Everyone bought shawls and rugs, very well made.   After we visited the cooperative, 4 girls were all around me speaking with me in Arabic and inviting me to their homes.  

People in the area are very respectful and have  a great hospitality.  One family invited the group of 14 women from the CWD to have lunch at their humble home.   All the delegates rode the bus heading to the house where the lunch is being prepared  which was 2 blocks away but these 4 girls won’t let me go.   They were between the ages of 16 – 18 years old.  They were asking me questions about the education in the States and trying to compare it to the education in their town.   I thought that was very helpful to them so I walked with them where they were giggling, laughing and holding my hand all the way to the house.  I was the only person left walking with them.  It was really fun.   We arrived to the home of this humble lady with her husband, 4 kids and the grandmother.  We sat in a rectangle room where everyone sat together shoulder to shoulder.   The room was small compared to the number of people in it.  It seemed that the whole village came with us and joined us for lunch.  They served home made couscous as the first meal with chicken, special olives, Moroccan bread and ending it with fruit and Moroccan tea.

The Mayor of the town and other officials joined us and treated us like royalty.  We took pictures and as we were ready to leave, the grandmother came in say hello to everyone.  It was a very touchy moment where you see infront of you generations together share the same humble life style.  The grandmother was an adorable old lady who seemed very healthy.  Actually, she helped prepare the meal for us.  I don’t know what happened to me but as she was speaking  my eyes were teary, it was a  “ WOW” moment for me.  I am not sure how to explain that, but she was a full of history, wealth, vulnerability that really threw me off.   (see picture below)

We went back on the bus saying our goodbyes to our hosts.  It was a long departure.  Everyone started side conversations where then Autumn (the coordinator for that trip) started herding us to the bus so we will be on time for other activities.  We had to leave as we were scheduled with other appointments for that night.    After we arrived to the hotel, I went to the Souk (market) with some of the delegates.  The Souk was closed on Fridays but some of the stores that Saeed (our tour guide ) knew arranged to have them open for us.  I got a lot of spices and products that are known to be great for hair, asthma, skin and wrinkles – no not for me :).  Other delegates bought beautiful rugs and antiques.  Morocco is known of it’s distinguished rugs as they have the Berber, traditional and other kinds of designs that was really hard to keep track off. 

We returned to the hotel at 8pm to have fun at the henna session.  The lady who did the henna for us was very artistic. She drew pictures on some of the women’s hand while music played and other danced to the lovely “Andaluseya” songs.   

The next day we went back to Rabat and checked in back at our hotel.  It was the last day to say our Goodbyes to the beautiful Morocco.  We said goodbyes to each other, took pictures with Saeed (our tour guide) before each delegate left to their different flights leaving to Casablanca and back to the States.

Adwal Weaver at Rabat Al-Kheir Cooperative- Lubna with Girl workers

Women working at the Cooperative making shawls and rugs

A group picture with Women workers at the co-op

Rabat Al-Kheir -Group Picture

Senator Lisa Brown presenting gifts to the Mayor

Mayor of Fes with Megan McCloskey and Lubna Mahadeen

Lunch in Fes with Ribat El Kheir co-op- from left, Lubna Mahadeen, Lynn Dines, Gradmother and Senator Lisa Brown

Shawna Woods and Grandmother speaking at the Lunch in Fes with translater

Famous couscous with vegetables

Chicken with special olives

Tour at Fes Souk- everyone to the wall otherwise you get a “Kiss” from the mule.

Tour at Fes Souk-

Henna night and dancing at Hotel Les Merinides

Henna design

Henna necklace

Henna necklace

Henna Desigm- mine

Group picture with Saeed before leaving to the airport.

Another picture with Saeed and the group

Artistic design at henna night- gorgeous

 

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