EPISODE I: The South
____On June 25th, 1999, my mother, Becky, left 'The States' to begin a two year stint in the Peace Corps. As a single woman she was a bit ambivalent about going to an Islamic country, but after a few months of learning the culture and the language she seemed to have adjusted very well. Of course we heard all about her adventures from e-mail and letters, but we had no independent confirmation about how she was really doing, or what she was really doing. Her e-mails were filled with strange words like Dar Chabab and Netty. No one could figure out what these foreign terms actually meant. I took it upon my self to undertake a fact-finding mission to Morocco to uncover what my mother was really doing there. It sounded like great fun. How could I resist! Plus the rest of the family wanted independent corroboration that she was indeed alive and well. It took me eight months before I was able to find time to visit. The few days that I was able to spend in Morocco were truly amazing. I was able to see first hand all the culture and charm of Marrakech as well as spend a few days with a Berber family in the High Atlas Mountains and witness their first night of electricity. In addition we trekked to the edge of the Sahara on camels and slept at The Hotel of a Thousand Stars. I also bore witness to the effects of globalization and industrialization on an agrarian economy, as well as the conflicts between Islam and the blitzkrieg western culture. For more details follow the links below. Hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: All of the facts and language tips were taught to me in the space of two weeks so I am sure that at least some of the details (and probably all of the spellings) listed here are probably flat out wrong. Apologies in advance. Some of you may find this a bit long and wordy, but what can I do. I am after all, my father's son (Sorry Dad). So it goes.
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