Pants

Today, as I washed my pants I thought about the meaning in them. The clothes I wear here in Morocco will most likely stay here after I leave, given to friends or family as a gift, being that clothes are a luxury that many cannot afford to purchase new in this subsistence-level community. I brought clothes with which I was willing to part, knowing that I could only bring a limited supply and would not spend much of my modest monthly Peace Corps living allowance on them.

My cargo pants, that I was hand washing in a small basin in my red rock, Berber-built house, have now become a pair I wear almost exclusively here in the village. I leave my blue jeans, which were purchased here in Morocco, for use when I am in Ouarzazate and cities beyond. My clothes, in a way, have become a means to mentally place myself in my environment. When in the village I dress and act conservatively, attempting to play my role as a Peace Corps Volunteer. When out and about in a larger city for work or travel, I often wear my cleaner, newer clothes when I can act more western and try to blend in with the tourists.

These olive-oil-stained pair of pants are beginning to thin from the frequent hand washing. But it is this that reminds me of my home here, the frequent sugary-mint tea breaks served with homemade bread and olive oil, the daily hard labor of men and particularly, women--washing, cleaning, preparing the fields, collecting wood for cooking and fodder for livestock, taking care of children, and the list goes on.

These pants, fraying at the ends, remind me that I do still seperate myself when in a larger city, avoiding the instantaneous judgement if I were to wear my worn-out, stained pair of pants. What would I be viewed as? It is crazy to think that after almost two years here I still think in terms of my outer appearance. I have gained a greater love for the inner, but my western influence is so ingrained, 21 years of it, that I still resort back to the superficial. But, I can see that a difference or change has allowed me to recognize more readily that outside appearance is such a small part of a person. I have come to realize that what we carry inside is what will connect me to my hopeful love, one day.

These pants, with buttons that have been sewed back on several times, also help me to remember how much I do enjoy being able to wear clean clothes and experience a little western culture from time to time, something that is a large part of who I am. I enjoy being able to look and feel beautiful.

Additionally, these pants remind me of the book, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and how I read it--a book genearlly intended for young girls. A thought that reminds me that as a Volunteer I have had much time to read and reflect. This has lead the way to a library list that I may not normally acquire back home.

Most importantly, these pants, with a zipper that no longer fully zips, help me remember how grateful I am for this experience, for all that I have at home and here in my second home, and for family and friends.

It seems as though daily routines often prove to be great chances for reflection and I am grateful for this life in order to help me to be more understanding, sensitive, caring, and honest. It amazes me that this pair of pants opens up such a torrent of words, but it is a mere reflection of the thoughts gained in the last 20 months.


November 6, 2006

Environmental reading

If you are interested in learning more about the importance of wetlands (as recent flood events can attest to), or learning why local and state policy can be instrumental in stimulating national and international environmental policy, visit http://www.campusprogress.org/, to find out more.

Search for:

Valuable Wasteland

and

Laboratories of Environmentalism

These are just two of several articles related to current environmental issues we face as a human population. Solutions are sought.

Au revoir

After 7 months of teaching in St. Dizier, my contract came to an end, as planned, at the end of April. My final days in France included travels outside the borders to visit some famous and off-the-beaten path European destinations.

Traveling with my Mom around various parts of western Europe helped to reinforce many of the lessons learned over the last few months. From walking across the Rhine River into Germany by foot-bridge to taking a tour of an historic chocolate factory in Brugge, Belgium, we enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people.

Perhaps what continues to be strikingly obvious, upon returning to the U.S., is the incredible size of everything. Whether it is the size of our cars or buildings or the size of our meal portions, I am reminded that our culture has seemed to embrace the idea that bigger is better. While this is not always true, it is acutely apparent after time abroad.

Another striking difference is the pace of life. French people, especially in areas outside Paris, continue their long lunch breaks, meaning most shops and offices are closed from noon to 2pm. Additionally, life in general is a bit slower paced. A return to the U.S., almost as soon as you set foot in the airport, reminds you that we are a country accustomed to hustle and bustle, clock watching and punctuality.

I do not mean to imply that one culture is better than another; but, rather, to identify and raise awareness of some distinct differences. The value of living, traveling and/or working abroad is that you begin to appreciate these subtleties. To rethink our way of living -- whether it is learning to drive smaller, more efficient vehicles, or spending more time with family and friends, or eating or cooking foods with less sugar and fewer preservatives, there is often much to be learned from cultural interactions.

While I was sad to leave France and a more relaxed way of life, I found solace in visiting with Claire — a French woman who we ran into at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport while awaiting our ride home. Ironically, Claire lives in the same neighborhood in Paris as my friend Anne, where my Mom and I had stayed while visiting the city. She had come to the states to visit an old friend in Phoenix.

I continue to find inspiration in the interactions with people around the world, knowing that we are all learning and hopefully, working towards a brighter tomorrow; and that we actually share many commonalities. We must be open to broadening our minds through new experiences and interactions. These past seven months in France and previous two years in Morocco are proof to me that cultural exploration and interaction is invaluable.

Tunisia

Wow!

This one word describes my experience in Tunisia--my vacation destination during the recent spring break. From the unique people I met to the beautiful places visited and sights seen, the trip was simply amazing. Returning to France was not easy. I wish I could have extended my stay, but for the moment it appears I will simply have to return another time--to reconnect with friends and hopefully, make new ones.

The best part of the trip was the interactions I shared with my new Tunisian friends. I was able to see Tunisia not only through the eyes of a tourist--visiting the popular historic sites, but also, from the eyes of Tunisians. From visiting the Roman ruins of Carthage to the blue city of Sidi Bou Said, to sitting at a cafe with friends, chatting about religion, politics, the role of the media in our current views of the world, and many other topics, I gained an incredible perspective into the country and culture in a short amount of time.

The truly extraordinary people I have met over the past few years, and especially during my time in Tunisia, give me a total sense of happiness and optimism.

Most recently, I cannot stop smiling when I think of the friends I made during my trip. I met teachers, students, fathers, mothers, conservative Muslims, homosexuals, hard-metal music lovers, and shop-keepers. All were eager to show me their country. All are proud of their culture.

Whether receiving a fresh bouquet of flowers picked from the family garden--and with fragrances that I've never before smelled, then returning to my room to find the whole room filled with its truly delightful scents, or sharing stories and laughs on the Mediterranean coast, watching the waves roll in and out, while the sun sets and the stars brighten in the night sky, these memories all bring shivers up my spine.

Of course there were times when I was frustrated--feeling used because of the color of my skin and the inherent thought that I must be wealthy. Then I am reminded of how often I hear stories of friends who have been treated the same way here in France (Arab friends who are questioned by security as they enter a bank where they have an account), and numerous stories from the U.S. and I realize that I must think about how I have prejudged people based on their appearance.

In a way, I think I enjoyed Tunisia because it reminds me so much of Morocco--the food, the religious rituals, the pace of life. The country was unique in its vibrancy and modernity. Taking the metro system in Tunis was fascinating in that it was quite possibly more extensive than what exists in many American metropolitan areas of its size. Similar to Morocco, the ability to travel from the northern coast--a relatively green landscape, and arriving at the eastern coast line and sitting on the beach, one that stretches as far as the eye could see, provides an incredible opportunity for reflection and relaxation as you listen to the waves roll in and out.

It was difficult to leave the new friends I made. But all have been invited to visit me in the United States, and I hope some of them have the chance to do so. I look forward to being able to provide them with a unique perspective of the American culture. Hopefully I will be able to return one day to work or for vacation to reunite with friends and continue the cultural exchange.

Pavement as a panacea

Learning to live day-to-day without access to a car, means I am becoming accustomed to daily walks to and from the supermarket, bakery, or various other frequent stops. The city of Saint Dizier does have a public bus system, but due to its relative infrequency and the fact that it ceases operation at approximately 7pm each day, I find it is often easier to walk to my destinations. And while this may not seem all that unusual, when I think about it, for many of us from the U.S., it is actually quite bizarre.

When I drove to and from work or school, or to run errands, I often took out my emotions on other drivers around me--allowing someone to cut in if I was in a good mood, or flicking someone off and honking my horn a little too excessively if I was in a bit of a hurry or a bit angry (luckily the latter was a rare occurence, allowing me to avoid potentially escalating situations).

I have noticed that when I am walking, I feel I internalize these feelings and my stride seems to express my emotion. I find myself listening to my iPod if I am in a good mood and want to have a sort of one-man dance party as I walk down the street (and I often find myself walking in step to the beat, if possible). Other days I am in more of a reflective mood so I go without the music, walking a bit slower and taking in the fresh air and noticing the details of my surroundings, for example ducks floating in the canal which I often cross on my way to my favorite bakery. Or noticing the canal being completely iced-over on cold winter mornings, but cracks and splits in the former continuous cover, brought about by warming afternoon temperatures and direct sunlight, as I cross later in the day.

This walking is not equivalent to walking from my car to the supermarket, though it may express itself here as well. And while it may be expressed in your walking as exercise, there is something a bit different when you are walking as your means of transport rather than for entertainment or health.

I am grateful to have experienced this difference in transportation. Not only do I interact with a whole different set of people, but in a sense, I am actually interacting with people instead of just looking at someone else through a plate glass window. Often I meet students on the street and am able to ask how they are doing. Or I see a teacher or friend, and am able to stop and have a short conversation, which usually brightens my day, something I would have most likely foregone had I been driving to and from my destination.

And perhaps the greatest benefit from walking is that I am learning to control my stride and emotions. The walk usually helps me to get anger out of my system, the pavement or cement becoming my means of diffusing tense situations. And the air becoming my means of refreshing elixir.

While I realize walking may be difficult for many people due to physical circumstances limiting their time, I encourage you to try it more often. Just maybe you will find it to be as relieving and exhilerating as I. There is no cleaner way to travel, and for this, future generations will thank you.