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Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 Hi, I had some problems trying to send this off yesterday, so I hope it works today! Salaam Alykoom, I guess it's been awhile since I wrote, and my last email was not very positive. Hope I didn't worry everyone too much. I've found a few projects to take up my time and energy. I will be volunteering at a daycare center here in Agadir that takes care of children for unwed mothers who are getting training, or going to work. It's a new program and it's pretty exciting to be helping a part of the population here that traditionally has been left to fend for themselves, mostly by begging I'm also going to teach a class to the professors here at my university, 10 or so, who really need some advanced English courses. I'll be working with another volunteer (N'Sha'ala, SEK) and we'll do dialogues and debates. I am also going to be working in conjunction with some other volunteers in my area, in an attempt to revitalize the Argon oil production here. Argon oil is this amazing stuff that tastes phenomenal, it is used to make amlou, where they mix it with crushed almonds and honey, or just used plain for cooking. It's also used in cosmetics, perfume, for all I know it can be used to power cars and trucks as well. It's great stuff. It comes from these trees that are here in the south. They were all through Morocco, but the changing atmosphere, unchecked grazing and deforestation has pushed them south. The women in the villages collect the 500 Kilos of the argon nuts neccessary to make 1 liter (yes that's right) Then they take 3 days to crush the nuts and squeeze out the oil. Then they sell the liter for about 50 Dh. Then the men, who sit around all day smoking while the women work, take that money and buy satellite dishes for their houses with no electricity and no running water (they use car batteries to run the dish and TV). We have a few ideas in the works: A Co-Op for the women, so they can learn to read and write and not depend on the men. As well as setting up a business that will handle issues in the future as far as grazing rights, rights to the trees, price setting, better working conditions, better techniques, etc. Also, so they can sell the Argon oil at a more profitable margin (they sell liters for up to 100 Dh in Marrakesh. There are business classes here at the university who we will ask to make up some marketing strategies as their term projects. Bringing in equipment and machines that will assist in production. Possibly in conjunction with a German Co-Op here in Agadir with many of the same goals. Educating people in the villages, as well as here at the university and in the Dar Chebabs about the need to preserve the argon trees, and the benefits of replanting which has been slowgoing over the last 10 years. Because people are letting the goats eat away at them and chopping them down for firewood, the trees are becoming scarce and unhealthy. There are problems with environmental issues, like the fact that the women tend to use Tide (they pronounce it "teed" in the streams to wash their clothes and it soaks into the ground and poisons the roots of all the plants in the surrounding areas, including the argon trees. The argon is the only source of livlihood for many of the surrounding villages and this is a pressing problem. We talked about all this in a regional meeting held in Rabat. All the first year volunteers went to Rabat over Thanksgiving weekend and we had a one day conference to discuss issues, get our bicycles, and eat a Thanksgiving meal. It was all pretty cool, and talking with others really improved my outlook on what I'm doing here. But there was NO FOOTBALL!!!!!AAARRRGH!!!!!! We did eat turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, all the right stuff, but it was on the 27th, not exactly Thanksgiving, and none of my family was around. It would be great to talk to some of you on days like that. I hope to have that telephone soon, so keep your fingers crossed! m'a ssalama (with
peace) thella frahsek (take care of yourself), |