We’re Similar

Yesterday and today have been great days.

I’m finally starting to feel healthy again. Thank goodness.  There’s nothing worse than taking care of screaming babies when you feel like your head is going to explode.

I taught a conversational English class at the University on Tuesday and Wednesday.  It was such a treat being at a University (where I feel at home) and being around students my age.  The first class we taught (another volunteer and myself) was for second year Chemistry Masters students.

They were really eager to learn actual grammatical rules. It was hard to break the news to them that in America, home of the free and land of the brave, many of us are never taught what a compound subject is or how to use nonrestrictive modifiers.

We did our best though and covered when to use “in,” “and,” or “on.”  We discussed the difference between “Shut-up” “Shutdown” “Shutoff,”  and had a good laugh when someone asked when you use the phrase “no shit Sherlock.”

The second day was even better.  The students in this class were first years of the same Chemistry Masters program.  This class was much more structured, which I liked.

We went around the room and each student had prepared a short blurb about themselves.  After everyone had finished and I asked some folks how old they were, just for practice.   We talked about hobbies, sports and movies in the beginning and moved on to verbs, adjectives, and nouns.  Then we did an awesome mad-lib that I prepared a few minutes before class. That was a hit- but mad-libs are always sure to please.

Next we discussed the similarities and difference between the American and Moroccan education systems.  The Moroccan system is modeled after the french system and both American and French systems are quiet similar.

The students were very interested to know about prom, and if it is really like it is portrayed in all the movies.  I said it was not. Well not for me anyway. I had a great prom with zero drama.  We discussed holidays and I tried to explain the history behind Thanksgiving which was kind of difficult.

At the end, I asked them what they would want Americans to know about them and their culture.

We came up with a list.

1. We’re good people. Friendly and kind.
2. Islam is more than praying.  It means being kind to others.  Forgiving others. Helping others when they’re in need.
3. We’re similar to Americans- we like the same things other young people like.
4. Our culture is different- we wear different clothes and eat different food.
5. We may be a third world country but we’re much farther along than many other third world countries.
6. We have many, many traditions involving food. We love food!
7. We are very honored to have you in our country.

I’ll be going back to the University Oct 26th.  I’m very excited!

It was back to reality today though at the orphanage.   It was a cloudy morning but cool which was nice.  I helped one nurse today change diapers and clothes.  She can bathe, change a diaper and put 3 layers of clothing on faster than I can dress one child.  I do like to take my time though and talk to them…

I spent a long time after changing babies, changing beds in the yellow room.   There were no other volunteers in that room today which is probably why it took me so long.  I kind of liked it though.  It gave me some quiet time to think. That didn’t last long though because eventually all the kids were rolling around in the play pen.

The nurse motioned for me to sit with them- which I was going to do anyway.   It’s uncomfortable hearing a baby cry.  You want to hold them and comfort them until they stop crying.  Multiply that cute baby by 14.  Sitting on the floor of the play pen caused this eruption of baby sadness.  14 sad babies all wanting to be held at the same time.  That is difficult.  I can manage three at a time, maybe. Two on each hip and then one in my lap.

That’s probably the most difficult part for me- not being able to give them all the attention that they crave.

The day went by pretty smoothly after that though.  I was one of the few volunteers outside with the toddlers today- the others took some kids to the hospital to get shots.

I was also in the company of many prospective parents looking to adopt. This part is still weird for me.  I just think back to the hundreds of times I went to the Humane Society when I was little.  I would pick out a dog that I liked and then come back day after day hoping to adopt it.

This is what these parents do.  They pick out a child, and in their minds, that child is their own while they wait for paper work and trial dates.  It’s nice to have them there though.  They treat the children much kinder than the nurses do.  And it’s really awesome to see a child get adopted!

The day ended with feeding time which also went smoothly.  I felt like I won a hundred mile marathon because they kid I was feeding ate EVERYTHING in his bowl, including his yogurt and still had a smile on his face.

I’m convinced that women should probably get way more credit then they do for what they go through when it comes to giving birth and raising children.   In what other job must you grow something inside of you, give birth to it, and once having given birth to it, use the right combination of love and discipline to create a little person that will become a functional member of society  (and those are just the basics ).  Obviously men can do this job very well minus the giving birth part but I think I’m thinking about the women in this orphanage when I write this.

There are only women nurses and doctors in the orphanage, and it seems like they should be given the medal of honor for having to fight on the front lines every single day.