Last Sunday I finally got to sleep in!!! It was the best thing ever. It was the first time that I didn’t have to wake up to an alarm. That hasn’t happened since I left the states!! I slept in till about 9:30 and then laid in bed and watch a movie on my computer. I didn’t want to get up. I figured that once I got up I would have to do stuff around the house and really all I wanted to do was be lazy! Finally, around 11:00, Muhammed (my 10 year old host brother) popped his head in the room and found me awake. A few minutes later, Soukana (my 16 year old host sister) stuck her head in the room and asked if I wanted to eat. I answered,”Swiya”, a little. So about 20 minutes later I finally got up and went to the kitchen to eat. That afternoon we were going to Fez and everyone one was getting ready. My sisters had showered, bucket bathed, and were getting ready to go get their hair straightened at the hair dressers and my mom was in the bathroom. Muhammed and I ate bread and marmalade and sat in the kitchen. My sisters left and I helped my mom to make lunch. I was in charge of cooking the salad. She gave me lettuce, tomatoes, cooked beets, and an onion. I made a pretty nice salad with all of that, I must say. They don’t put dressing on their salads. Then I went to my room and just laid around.

I had tried to hang my laundry on the line outside, but they are doing construction on the roof and I couldn’t leave my laundry out with all the dust. So, back into the basket it went. And that is where it sat until today. Its all dry now, but a little musky smelling. Yet, luckily, my mother had me prepare for everything. I put some bounce dryer sheets that she had me pack in between them and now they smell very nice!!

So after putting my laundry back in the basket I went to my room and organized everything and packed for the night in Fez. I would be wearing a traditional outfit at the party so all I needed was pjs and a clothes to wear to school the next day. At 1:30, we ate lunch and waited on their uncle to come from Fez and get us. I never know the time schedule of anything here. I ask what time we are doing things and the time they tell me is never the time things actually get done. I have learned to take what they say and add an hour or so!! Cynthia came over at 2 and around 3 my host mom's brother and his wife and uncle arrived to pick us up and drive us to Fez. All together there was my mom Buchara, her brother, his wife, Cynthia, Soukana, 10 year old Muhammed, 12 year old Rania, and I. That makes 8 people. The car her uncle drives is a small four door, hatch back Ford. The car is made to hold 6 people at the max. Cynthia and I just stood there looking at the car and wondering how we were all going to fit!! Yet, we did. It was not the most comfortable ride and it does make me miss mini vans and my familys 15 passenger van. Cars in Morocco are more on the smaller side.

We got to Fez and drove to the house of the party. There we went up the narrow twisting stairs of the apartment building and into the 5 room apartment that the party was being held in. There were already many people there, all just sitting on the couches around the two main rooms. Some people were talking, but the majority was just sitting and staring. There was a dj there and there was very loud music coming out of the speakers meant to be used at a larger function, like a school dance or something. We sat down for a while. Said hello to numerous people. Then after about 30 to 45 minutes we all went outside. The party we were at was in celebration of a circumsician. The boy who was to undergo such an exciting experience the next day was about 6 years old and dressed in traditional clothing. He was then placed on a white horse that was followed by a band and paraded through the streets of the neighborhood. Women sang and men clapped as they surrounded and followed the horse back to the house. It is quite the parade to witness. The little boy was a little frightened so his uncle rode with him. The parade took about 15 minutes through the streets of the neighborhood.

Back at the apartment, Soukana, Cynthia, Rania, and I changed into our party outfits. I wore a silver Kaftan and black and silver jacket with it. I was very nice looking. The party started with everyone just sitting on the couches looking at eachother. There were tons of people packed into this small apartment. Then the dancing started. Slowly more and more people joined and quickly Cynthia and I were part of the celebration. As the Americans we definetly stood out and that made us easy targets as dance partners. We couldn’t sit down. We spent the whole night dancing and laughing. Have way through the evening I noticed my cheeks were hurting for all the laughing and smiling!! Some of the girl cousins were belly dancing. They would tie scarves around their hips of belly dancing chimes and would move their hips to the music. They were fun to watch and some of them were really good. We had a blast dancing. My mom, aunts, and even my grandma danced the night away. Then towards the one of the cousins came over and he tied the belly dancing chimes around me. Thats when I got scared. Then his sister came and pulled my into the middle of the two rooms and everyone stopped and watched me. It was awful. I was stunned and mortified. I had to dance by myself, with everyone watching. Cynthia said I had a look of “when is this going to end” on my face. The song they were playing lasted forever, atleast I thought. Everyone loved it though. Everyone was clapping and laughing and finally the cousins started dancing around me. I was then able to say “safi” done and they took the chimes off of me.

The dancing all ended about 30 minutes later and then it was time to eat. Quickly, the room was transformed from a dance floor to a dinning room. The audio aquipment was broken down and carried out and the dinning tables appeared out of nowhere, covered in white linens and clear plastic coverings. The chairs were all moved around and the tables were pushed up to the couches. Everyone had a seat. Then out came the soda classes, the napkins, the clothe linens for your lap, and the bread. Lots of bread. Next came the glass little bottles of soda, our table had cocacola and a pinapple and cocunnut soda. Then the first dish was brought out. Each table had their own large tangine. The first dish was beef with almonds and a type of gravy. It was very good. I ate so much and was full just a few minutes after we started. Yet, my mom kept telling me to eat. Cynthia and I were full, but decided to eat a little more, but slowly!! Then that plate was cleared and I thought were were done. But, I should have known bettter, there is never only one plate at a Moroccan celebration. Right after that plate was cleared, the next one came out. This one had three large chickens on it. The chickens were cooked with almonds and onions and a type of gravy different from the first. Cynthia and I just laughed. We were both so full already. There was no way I had room in my stomach for anymore food. So we went with the pretend to eat and eat slowly plan. Finally, after about 10 minutes of faking eating, we said we were done and no one told us to eat more. Once everyone was finished the tables were cleared and everyone went back to sitting around staring at each other. By this time Cynthia and I just wanted to go to sleep. While everyone was just sitting around or cleaning up, Soukana, Rania, Cynthia and I went and changed out of our party outfits and back into our normal clothes.

We finally left the party at around 11:15 and headed to my host grandma's apartment that was about 15 minutes away. Once we got back, Cynthia and went and changed into our pjs right away. We finally laid down on the couches at about 12:30 and my host uncle brought us other pillows and blankets to sleep with. We tried to sleep, but the rest of the family was sill up and talking in the same room that we were sleeping in. Finally, at about 1 they all started to lay down and started to quiet down. We all slept in the same room. In Morocco you sleep on the same couches that you sit on during the day. Everyone sleeps in the same room and you just find your own spot on the couches.

The trip and the party was a fun, crazy experience and we had a blast!!!