There is no end if there is a connection

                There is a commonly asked question: if you had 24 hours left to live what would you do? While I would love to take a hot air balloon ride, nothing can ever fulfill a life more than human connection. Nothing can ever replace the lifelong connection I share with my family, but in the past two week I also formed an unforgettable, everlasting connection with all of the students that I taught. When I leave the school knowing that my lesson went well and everyone learned something while also having a little fun, there is no other feeling like it. You feel as if your smile could never leave your face, you have an extra little pep in your step, and you feel as if you have at least made a small, but important, change in the world. However, truthfully I feel that the people of Morocco have taught me more in these past two weeks than I have taught them. They showed me determination in their school work, learning their fourth or fifth language trying to beat a system that is stacked against them (In Morocco it does not matter what level of education you receive it is very hard to get a decent job without connections to someone who could pull some strings for you). Their determination goes beyond choosing to come to school during their summer break, they would always come to class prepared and yearning to learn something new, and as I mentioned last time, they are always going the extra mile. One day Piper and I had asked the class to choose a topic for a discussion that was going to happen on the following day, Ibtihal suggested “the effect of technology on our lives” however, the class voted to do the discussion on climate change. None the less, Ibtihal came to class the next day with a research paper on “the effect of technology on our lives” and she asked us if we could read over it to make sure that it was grammatically correct. Not only did she spend her free time to write a research paper, she also wanted to improve and wanted us to help her to correct it. Additionally, they have showed me kindness. On the final day we chose to play trashketball ( a game where if you answer the question correctly you can shoot a crumpled up paper ball in to the bin for extra points), and while there could only be two winners, every time someone answered the question correctly, or make a basket everyone would cheer and clap.  Not only did I see kindness in the classroom, I also saw say kindness in our home visits, as Lisa Marie says, “Moroccan hospitality is like no other”. As you walk into their home, they welcome you with open arms and instantly it feels as if you are walking into the house of your long lost friend. They greet you and always apologize for not preparing enough, which seems crazy, because in America we offer a drink and maybe something to eat, but here that bring out as much as they can, such as pastries and tea. In addition to this, on the home visit to Hiba’s house we asked them what they would like to let Americans know about Islam, and the parents explained to us that there are five families living in one house and they all share one bathroom. Islam had taught them how to be kind and how to treat their neighbor, explaining how they are all close like family, thus helping them to live peacefully with one another and they wish that the same peace could exist in the world as well.

                Yesterday was the last day, they day of goodbyes. At the party, we all danced to the blaring music, and all the friends I had made over these past weeks tried to teach me how to properly dance to Moroccan music. Later in the night the music stopped and it was time to say goodbye. There is a quote that has been running through my mind a lot this trip, “You do not cry because you are weak, you cry because you have been strong for too long.” – Johnny Deep. At first, sadness filled my heart, but I did not cry. Then I looked around to all of my students, who were hugging and saying good bye while silent tears trickled down their faces. It hit me like a wave crashing onto the beach, I will never them again, and then the tears started to well up in my eyes as well. Kawtar came over and as she fanned my face to dry my tears, she told me, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.” However, as we said our final goodbyes and they walked out the door I saw the tears running down Kawtar’s face as well, and it made me start to cry all over again. I will never forget my students, how they came determined to every class and how their kindness has inspired me to be more kind. It is always sad to say goodbye, but I am glad I had the wonderful opportunity to spend these last two weeks with them.

A small spark can start it all

“Go the extra mile it is never crowded”

                In my class most of the students have been with the program for four years. In other words their English is very good and conversational, yet they keep coming back for more with such a strong desire to learn. In our class we have Miriam as our translator, and her sister Soukaina is one of our students. During our break I was talking with Soukaina and just out of curiosity I asked her how she learned to speak English so well. To my surprise she told me she was mostly self-taught, and that she taught herself through English movies and books, but mostly though English vlogs. She explained that through those vlogs she was able to pick up accents and slang words which I found was a really intuitive way to use pop culture to help one learn. I have heard this before (about using English movies to learn English) and each time I am struck by awe. One can watch anything in another language, but it takes another level of determination to be able to learn and translate from a movie or a show. Especially for being self-taught, I would feel overwhelmed, and would have no idea where to begin, yet with determination and an overarching goal to work towards, Soukaina taught herself from English vlogs. She has such a high level of English that I can have conversations with her during our breaks, and she can translate what I am saying during class if other students are confused. I am inspired by her determination and it inspires me to want to learn more languages so that I can communicate with others. I have always seen language as such an interesting and intricate topic, we speak and understand through our own language yet once the sounds change the words stop making sense and that is all it becomes, sounds. Yet with determination and a little practice these sounds become a language and that language becomes a key for connection, a bridge form one person to another. While I only know English and a little Spanish my experiences with CGA have shown me how languages can bridge cultural divides. On my second CGA trip, while in the market in Cambodia, Gaby and I were walking around when all of a sudden her face lit up upon hearing Spanish and she spun around to ask De Donde Estas (Where are you from)? All it took was for her and the stranger to share the same language and a connection was sparked between them. However in America we are given several opportunities to learn different languages, like Spanish, and yet we whine and complain about having to do it. Yet in other countries others yearn to learn more. For example, here in Morocco they start off learning Darija and French, and as they enter high school they start learning English. On top of all that, they also know some Spanish and can choose to learn German. These kids go the extra mile everyday to work towards a better future.

                This weekend we took a hike in Chefchaouen, The Blue City, while we were walking past the river we crossed paths with people lugging up water jugs, and it got me thinking about how grateful I am. I am grateful for how I have the opportunity to go on a hike with the ease of being able to fill up my water bottle with water from a jug that was given to me. As the hike got hot and treacherous, I kept thinking to myself that I am able to do this for fun to go see a stunning waterfall, but somewhere in the world there is someone making a hot a treacherous hike out of necessity either for water or for supplies. It tugs at my heart to know there are things that can be done to help but instead people choose to turn a blind eye or feel that they are powerless to help, and honestly I feel the same way sometimes. I mentioned this at dinner last night; I said I hope that even though I will not be able to do CGA forever I hope to keep the part of me that wants to do good for others. In response Karlie told me that you do not need to take 2 months off of work or donate millions of dollars in order to help, instead all you need to do is volunteer for a day, or just strive to make those small personal connections that can last for a lifetime. On that note I am also so grateful for the opportunity to be able to come here and teach all of these determined students. Their determination to learn English has filled my heart and will motivate me to help them to go the extra mile, while also inspiring me to go the extra mile in my day-to-day life.

One in the same

                A book, a pencil, a lesson, step by step , all bring someone just a little closer to an overarching goal. Yesterday on a home visit, we met Kaoutar, a single mother, who puts every last ounce of herself into caring for her five children, saving nothing for herself. Being a single mother in Morocco is a huge taboo and is viewed the same as being a prostitute. None the less, Kaoutar was proud to be who she was. She was proud that she was able to get away from her abusive ex; proud that she could give her children dinner at night; and proud that she had a roof over their heads. Through a heart wrenching discussion, and as a pit knotted in my stomach, the mood lightened as she explained this. Through the eyes of an American, one could say that she had not much and would only want more, but Kaoutar was full of gratitude, and she kept reiterating how she was better off that some and she was so grateful for that. With only a Windows 98’ book, she was able to teach herself how to use computers. She read this book, written in French, cover to cover; taking notes and annotating each page along the way. She showed me how just one book could bring someone one step closer to their goal. For Kaoutar, that was to provide and make a better life for her kids. Even to this day she brought out this book, most likely one of the only books in the house. At first glance, one might not think much of it but there is a story so inspirational surrounding that book that is quite impossible to explain in words.

                This year I am teaching the advanced class. Bursting with nerves, I walked into the class with a big smile and sweaty hands. Last year I taught class 1 which consisted of 7-8 year olds, so going from that to teaching 13-16 year olds terrifies me. However, through my experience in these trips I have learned that if you are not willing to try, and possibly fail, then you will not find personal growth. With this in mind, I took a deep breath and started the class. Instantly I was surprised by how well they spoke English. I learned they wanted to be English teachers, translators, astronauts, photographers, and pilots. They have all been in the program for 2-4 years and they all had such a strong desire to learn English, in turn giving me such a strong desire to teach. Each year I travel with CGA, a feeling fills my heart and courses through my veins and all I want to do is to give these kids my all. I want to make teaching fun, while at the same time teaching content that will help them grow. Unfortunately, today when I taught I felt as if my mouth grew dry and thoughts became jumbled. Piper and I had a plan, which I stuck to, and it was not the plan that was the problem, but my inability to think on my feet. I have seen this in my self before, when I get nervous I tend to overthink everything. During hockey, I am always nervous for the first shift, I start to get in my head and have made simple mistakes that could have been avoided if I was more focused on the game and not my nerves. I feel that this is what happened to me today. I got too nervous and stuck in my head and became tongue tied. To improve, tomorrow I will take a deep breath and remember what I am here for, the kids. I know I am prepared and I need to trust and be confident in the work I am teaching. I will learn from my mistakes and grow, thus giving them my best each day.

                Ali, the director of the program, said something that really struck me “just remember that we are all the same.” I believe this to be true. The students in my class have similar dreams to mine, such as being a pilot, they all want to have the right answer, and they all enjoy spending weekends with their friends, just like everyone in America. While there are some cultural differences, we are all still human no matter who says otherwise. I believe in today’s world that this fact is also often forgotten, and I hope through my experiences here in Morocco, through the stories that I will share I hope to break this barrier.

A House is Built of Walls and Beams, A Home is Built of Hopes and Dreams

I have grown up in a beautiful valley and in a wonderful town. Throughout the year when I walk outside I love to experience that sweet earthy smell of rain, the rich greens of vegetation turn vibrant against the cloudy grey sky, in the spring. The crunching of the yellow and orange autumn leaves under my feet, during the fall. The warm sun beating upon my face as I take a breath of the hot summer air. Then as the winter continues the snow crunches beneath me, step after step, as the cold air stings my nose, and through it all the sun is still radiates in the bright blue sky 300 days a year. Growing up in the Vail Valley I have found appreciation for beauty, no matter dead or alive, large or small, colorful or not, every single thing on this earth possesses a beauty, and it is our job to find it, but no need to prove it. Just as there is a unique beauty in everything we also see beauty in unique ways creating a connection in all, as everyone holds the desire to share what they view as beautiful. By viewing what others think of as beautiful your perspective can be changed, enriching how you view the world. I believe that is one of the great parts of traveling you are exposed to the views of others, you create connections that will last for a lifetime, and even if it is just for a second, when they tell you a story it seems as if you can see the world through their eyes.

When I was younger I had always heard that we lived in a bubble. As I was young I took this quite literally and wondered why I had never seen this “bubble” when driving around town. The thought of an actual bubble around our town now makes me laugh, as I realize now that this “bubble” referred to how our valley was protected from the world. While we still get bad news, and a bank robbery even happened just last week, it is nothing compared to big cities or other countries, where some people can’t even leave their own house without fear pricking at the corner of their minds. Due to this “bubble” one could say I have lived a sheltered life, and to that I would agree with, but through travel I have seen the world through my own eyes and not the media's eyes. The eyes of the media are blinded by breaking news and biases leaving the peace and the beauty of the world to be unseen. By living in our sheltered valley I believe that I may be considered “soft” sometimes by believing too much or by putting too much faith into something, or someone. However, without faith or trust you loose what makes you human, you lose your heart. Your brain can guide you logically, but it is your heart, filled with emotion, that will drive your determination and you perseverance, towards the goals you believe you will achieve. So, yes I could be considered “soft” but there is also a part of me that wants to see the best in everyone.

Finally, I live in a very supportive community. This support has lead me to believe that I can aspire to do anything I want. I see the stories of my classmates going to nationals for athletics, or academics and all doing very well. With there success there is also the support of our community behind them celebrating their accomplishments with them. Just by seeing this support it proves to me that no matter what one thinks they are never alone. However a dream, is just that unless you put in the work to achieve it. In this case it is not the town so much that has shaped my view but more so my parents. They have taught me that with work comes reward, though it may not be instant. They have told me that they admire my determination, but truly one learns from example and I am so fortunate to have such great examples teaching me through life, but letting me learn from personal failures as well. Since without failure there is no growth, and without growth there is little to no success.

Good Songs, Good Memories

“Sometimes it only takes one good song to bring back thousands of good, old memories.”

Music seems to have a special power, a power which can bring people together, a power that can change any mood, and a power that can bring back memories. While in Nicaragua I heard Ariana Grande playing over the restaurant's speakers, now even to this day no matter the song, when I hear her music a thousand good old memories flood back into my mind. From Jesus showing me his amazing dancing, to playing ball with Miguel. Not only do I associate my emotions and memories with the music but with the artist as well, making it as if each song conveys a story. For those three minutes that song has the power to transport someone, it traps them in the beat and the stories fill your head. In Cambodia, the kids would play their music on the speakers and just let go and dance. Personally I am not a huge fan of dancing but in Cambodia the world melted away and all that was left was the laughs of the kids as we tried to dance with them. In Tanzania, we danced at the Maasai village and while although it was not like the dancing we do in America, it was more jumping, I will never forget how high they could jump, nor how fun it was to be apart of it.

Now as I am going to Morocco I can’t wait to be immersed in their culture and to listen to their music. However just like the lyrics to the songs Morocco has its own unique story. In the early 20th century there was a struggle for power over who would control Morocco, Spain was given the Spanish Sahara and France was given majority of Morocco, this lead to the French protectorate in 1912. It was not until 1956, that Morocco gained full independence. Thus their song took on a new tone, it was more up-beat and free. Since then Morocco has been rapidly modernizing by improving their renewable energy, and their economy. Thus the standard of living is improving as well. However, in the present they are facing difficulties from climate change, they are going through a water crisis and did not have enough rain for their crops last year. This lead to a drop in the income as many farmers were not able to create as high as a yield as they had years previous. Not only is the climate change causing a water shortage, but some of their drinkable water is being poisoned by waste from mines. The mines are a great benefit to Morocco as they are a very mineral rich country, specifically mining phosphate, but the waste is hurting the water of those who need it. There have been many protests against the current government to fix the pollution but so far not much has been done about it. These climate changes and shortages mostly affect those who are poor as they are not able to afford better irrigation systems for their crops or better filtration systems for their water. Thus this difference is how the gap between the poor and the wealthier is getting wider. Looking into the future there is hope, as the government wants to create renewable sources of energy to fuel their country that means that they are environmentally conscious and hopefully, will help out their people to get them through this water crisis. Thus their song can be joyful and full of hope as they persevere through the present and into the hope that the future holds.