Celebration!

Friday night into Saturday was all about celebrating my friend and her birthday. Often getting older can feel like a surprise that creeps up on you. Imagine your new age as an estranged relative you know is coming to visit but it still somehow feels like they’ve crept up unexpectedly. You’re happy to see them because it means they're doing ok and still alive… but you don’t exactly want them around. Warm welcome… or nah? 🤷🏾‍♀️ I think this new age received the warm welcome! Firstly, all the friends wanted to see her happy and having fun! So despite the hiccups of the trip, and there were a few, we did just that. Secondly, she got happy birthday songs sung at least 5 times in two days! Half of the time from strangers or staff, mostly catching the celebrant by surprise, and stirring up emotion which was lovely to see! 

We also had several photo shoots, most impromptu but one planned. I joked with my friend that when I saw the requirement in the group chat two days before leaving the US that she wanted a photo shoot in earth tones of us looking great/stylish… I knew I had to buy an outfit. 

My secret reaction was 😮… I was good until “/stylish” 🤦🏾‍♀️. I had stuff in the color scheme but could not risk not meeting the “stylish” bar and messing up those pics! 😅  I think I turned out alright, ok great and stylish too lol

Besides the photo shoots we had a few memorable excursions. 

Unforgettable 

When we arrived at Maison De Arabe we had no idea that we’d be having a full on cooking class in a Chef Ramsey style kitchen cooking show setting! I was expecting to learn about ingredients maybe stir a bit. But the hands-on nature of everything made the experience top notch from the start.

The actual cooking was led by our singing Dada (I think that means something like granny in Darija). She had a jingle for smashing & chopping garlic, encouraged us to smile while we cook for a tastier tagline made with love,  and suddenly she burst into Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”. And she hit those notes too!!! “Somebody whoooo” in a perfect pitch with a mild vibrato! What?! That’s another friend of mine’s go to karaoke song so I’ve heard her unapologetically broke down, off key, but funny rendition a million times! I was not ready when I heard this voice sounding like a bell belting out the tune out of nowhere. After the initial surprise we cheered, sang along and continued to stir our chicken tagines with love. Later she began singing a song in Arabic. The translation was about a man (presumably Arabic) in love with a black woman and not caring what others thought. She said it was for us… so sweet ❤️. 

When our tagines, salads and eggplant dish were all done we were all ready to eat! Then came “you get a car” Oprah moment! Except it was “you get a tagine, you get a tagine, you get a tagine!” And not the meal we’d just prepared — we already knew that but the actual dish that gives the food its name that tagines are prepared in! We all got a single serve sized one to take home and keep forever! What a memory… but wait there’s more!

We dined and thoroughly enjoyed the meal and conversation. Then out of nowhere a cake is presented! We didn’t bake that?! It turned out to be one of the tastiest cakes I’ve had and I’m not really much of a cake person. Not too sweet but perfect with the coffee we enjoyed it with. I’d describe it as a Moroccan tiramisu. I should really find out what kind of cake that was. 

Anticlimactic, but Sobering 

Next we were off to a remote region going toward the Atlas Mountains to donate supplies and volunteer with the organization Atlas Kinder. Many of us were looking forward to interacting with a real community of natives especially Catherine children. Though we had no real expectations we all assumed we’d be playing games or doing some form of teaching. We met the main caretaker on the premises that day and she explained that this community was essentially an orphanage with several smaller homes run by nannies. These nannies would alternate each week and care for about 10 children per home about 185 children ranging from 6 months to 15 years. 70% of children dropped off by single mothers are boys. Our guide explained this may be due to the perception in Moroccan culture that girls are easier to raise. The site included stables for raising horses, a mosque, a school building, supply room for clothes and toys, several tents, playgrounds, a field, etc. it was peaceful, serene and well kept. Looked like a great place to grow up as an orphan… definitely not giving Oliver Twist or Annie vibes. (I love Annie, but you know what I mean…)

After seeing all of this, we found out that we could only have a high level tour of the facility and drop off our donations. There would be no interaction. Given that we did not complete background checks this did not surprise me but it was still disappointing since many in the group were really looking forward to meeting the children. 

Peaceful

Sidenote: There are lots of gardens in Marrakech… or maybe it’s just that we visited lots of aesthetically pleasing places which included gardens. Nevertheless on Sunday we began our day with a walk around Anime garden and an excursion out into the Ourika valley to visit an herb farm that specializes in growing saffron, a delicacy and rare find that is only produced in a few countries around the world including Iran, India, Spain, Greece & Morocco. After walking side foot through a trail and washing our feet in herb infused water baths, we enjoyed a true farm to table 4 course meal. It was prepared on the spot by a staff of women. It was super relaxing and luxurious! 

Another highlight were the peacocks; there were several, male, female, and little chicks roaming around the garden. We even got to see the males wiggle and fan out their plumes a few times and there was no shortage of commentary about peacock love affairs: male competition, wooing rituals, and unrequited love. 

By Sunday night we were all more tired. But after our final photo shoot, we made our way to Dar Essalam for more dinner and light dancing.

We had so much fun this week celebrating my friend while meeting new ones. Twelve people is a lot to coordinate, but we made it work. Shout out to Splitwise for making paying bills and splitting the costs easier. Sunday night we’d head back to the Riad to pack and prep for the next leg of our journeys either back home or off to the desert. And I think if I don’t have another tagine in the next week or two, I’ll be alright. 😁