OBAMA!

I left my house this morning and was greeted by the first passerby with "OBAMA!" I made it to school just before the downpour began. Most upstairs in Rabat have a skylight, such as the one here at the center, and I actually cannot hear the girl next ot me for the rain is so loud. Buckets are being thrown at every angle. It comes in waves not unlike those of the ocean. Everything is damp and cold and unfun right now.

We'll be in the middle of Arabic class today when Obama is to be sworn in but I think that there are some arrangements being made so that we can watch it. Hell, I'll walk out of class and to the nearest café to watch if I must.

I've done tons of writing since I've been here as it seems one of the few decent ways to pass the time. I have eight letters waiting to be sent off and almost fifteen typed pages of personal journal. Last night I started on my Arabic homework, and Maha came over and started telling me how funny my handwriting was. She's a little smarty pants sometimes. Fayçal is hardly any better. He's a classic Arab son, full of self-entitlement, arrogance, disrespect, and other things. I do not think I have ever disliked a child so very much. When he told me yesterday that I have big feet and wear clown shoes, I told him that at least my face and teeth don't look like those of a clown. He shut up. It was not good of me, but the boy needs a verbal whipping or summat. I will not tolerate his behavior around me.

I think Maha adores me though. I am the big, protective sister that she never had. I get Fayçal to leave here alone, help her with homework, and sat for an hour yesterday playing American pop music for her and going through lots of photos of me and my friends. I spent fifteen minutes trying to explain to her what camp is and how I worked there, but I think not that she understood fully.

Until today, Fayçal, my homestay father, and Maha had not changed their clothes. Pajamas are not really known here, so I get funny faces from Maha whenever she sees that I have changed for bedtime. Everyone gets really nice and dolled up for school and work but they take the art of relaxation and comfortable clothing to a level that Americans can hardly rival. It really creeped me out. My blanket last night had some loose fibers that attacked my poor left eyeball, and I thought I was blind in it when I first woke up this morning. I'm not though. I can see perfectly fine. Contact lenses are considered a luxury over here, so I know that my family thinks that I am rich beyond all belief, especially because I take a shower every other day in the hot water. I must be rolling in dough. :/

There is a machine downstairs that gives you 4oz of coffee for 4dhm (50¢). There's espresso, regular, latte, cappucino, tea, milk, and plain hot water. Some things here are just awesome. Though In the vendor avenues there are rows of places that sell name brand clothing for incredibly cheap. I think the single most expensive thing was 100dhm ($12.50) and it was for a knee-length leather jacket. I by no means need to or intend to do any shopping here apart from a few necessities, like my soft pillow. I have asked and searched and I cannot find anything of the sort. Maybe I'll have to order one.

There has been some serious complication with the readings for our elective classes. Our books are supposed to be covered by our program fees but that didn't happen. We were told the Wednesday before we left that we needed three novels for our culture class. So, two people ordered them because they could actually find them (on Amazon France) and afford them (about 85 Euro plus shipping). The rest of us are going to have to borrow from the people who bought them or else make photocopies of them. Apparently books are a rare commodity in Morocco because they're too expensive. Instead, everybody has photocopies. Also, they're very fond of using ancient texts that have been out of print since the Depression (e.g. one of our culture novels).

Arabic yesterday went well enough. It was a simple review day but it lasted for more than three hours. Classes are as such:
Arabic: Mon-Thurs 2.30-4.30pm or 5.45pm depending on the day
Post-Colonial Aesthetics and Culture: Mon and Wed 8.30-10am
Women in Islam: Tues and Thurs 10.30am-12 noon

There is also a history class on Fridays from 9am-12 noon, and surprisingly it has almost ten people in it. I will enjoy having free Fridays.