Merry Christmas People!!!

He, He, He!

We will be in Paris, London, and Spain for two weeks so we aren't sure if we will be able to post during that time. If not, look for our vacation pics when we return!!!

Anniversary Trip and Random Pic

Cody took me to a gorgeous mountain city this weekend for our anniversary. It was so amazing our room had a fireplace that we kept burning all night. Check out the slideshow below and this one is only 17 pictures instead of 70 like the last one! We bought a gorgeous silk cloth that we want to make a comforter out of and tons of handmade wool stuff that they are known for making. It was such a relaxing, fun, getaway!

I took this while I was out at last week and at first glance this might like good ol’ Papa Noel (Santa Clause) pulling his sleigh with his reindeer. But alas’ it’s the North African Version. It’s an Arab man (who also happens to have a white beard, big belly, and jolly smile) riding a sleigh full of LG appliances being pulled by sheep that are about to be sacrificed to atone for the sins of the people in a couple of weeks. This is definitely an attempt to appeal to all audiences! (click to enlarge :)

3 Year Anniversary

On Wednesday we celebrate our 3 year anniversary. Here is a slideshow of a look back at the past 6 years together. If you want the slide show to go faster, press the "+" sign. We didn't have a digital camera so we only have a few scanned pics from when we first started dating (look how young we look!) Cody is taking me somewhere for the weekend (it's a surprise :) Thanks to all of our families and friends who have supported us so much in our marriage. We are truly blessed!

Desert Wanderer

We took the train down south to take my sick friend home. We went up and came back on the same day but since we were already were on the train for almost 5 hours we decided to go shopping before we headed back. Here is my man dressed as a desert wanderer. Aint' his eyes so purdy. Here is a fun language fact. The word for "husband" is the same word as "man" you just make it possessive and say "my man" or "my woman." If you are asking how someone else's husband is doing you say "How is your man?"

We left at sunset and here is a well known mosque in the background.

This is a random picture from the summer that one of our good pals sent us that I like. Cody is singing some musica at one of our group meetings at the end of our group's stay. You could see the beach from where we were sitting on this roof.

Let the Festivities Begin

As you know from the previous posts that Friday is the official day to decorate the house. Here is our little tree we are putting up. I love when the house is decorated Christmasy, especially living here since they don't celebrate Christmas, it's the only place that feels like its the holidays.

Our window treatment. Those are little chili's to match our tree stand cover.

You can call me "Betty Crocker," don't worry I'll answer! Here are some pies we (with the help of some friends) made for a party.

Cody, carving into our delicious turkey.

Thanksgiving meal, I promise we weren't alone!!

TURKEY DAY

HAPPY THANKSGIVING PEOPLE!!!

Visa Run

We went on a visa run to Europe this weekend and yes, we did buy tons of bacon, Dr Pepper, tortillas, and hot dog's. We were also able to catch an English movie. It was an old, tiny, one screen theater so all that was playing was The Ant Bully. It wasn't the greatest movie but we were desperate after not being in a movie theater in over a year!


In Europe they obviously don't celebrate Thanksgiving so everyone had already decorated for Christmas because they are unaware that you can't put up your decorations until the Friday after Thanksgiving. Someone should really tell them the rules.


Beautiful coastal countryside. And I didn't even get seasick this time!


Here is what Cody ate for dinner on Saturday. It's the heart attack on bread. This burger contains bacon, sausage, cheese, onions, mushrooms, all topped with a fried egg and side of french fries. That's three different types of meat! It came with a side of grease to dip it in.

Halloween Party, North African Style!

This week we had our Halloween party and invited our national friends. We had to explain to them what Halloween tradition's in America are and then had all sorts of games and stuff. When you read about them it will sound like we had a party for 9 year old's but they loved it because it was the first time they had every heard of these things. We started with passing around a bowl reading Halloween quotes and jokes and asking questions like "What makes you scared?" and "Do you have an scary stories to tell?" We were translating between things so jokes like "What do sea monster eat for dinner? " "Fish and Ships," don't go over to well.

The pumpkins here are ginormous so we couldn't exactly all carve pumpkins so instead we used bell peppers that looked liked pumpkins.

We carved them out and put tea light candles in them and lined them all up and turned off the lights.

Then we had the traditional bobbing for apples. Our tub wasn't very big but they still managed to get two heads in there!

We had masks and sparkle tattoos (see below) for them to wear. The Americans stood behind each door in my house and we taught them how to "trick or treat." They had to knock on the door and say it in order to get candy. They thought it was hilarious! We had been sent a bunch of Halloween candy from America. I also made ghosts using a paper towel and blow pop suckers. We had caramel apples, Red Hot apples, kettle corn, and pumpkins rolls.

Here is Cody and Simba. Everyone was such a good sport. Cody and our other American friend were beat up Euro-trash soccer players. I put some various eyeshadows and lipsticks on them. Looks pretty good huh?

And I was cat. I colored some notecards and taped them to a headband. For my tail I had my black scarf tied around my waist and wore fake eyelashes (woah, though things hurt!) and painted a nose. Hey we didn't have much to work with here! So all in all we had a great time and a very memorable North African Halloween!

One Year and My Meeting with the King

On Tuesday we celebrated on our one year anniversary in North Africa. To celebrate our group went out to dinner and played a game to reminisce on our past year here. Ahh...seems like only yesterday we were packing up our eight ginormous bags and heading over here.

I had an important meeting with the King this week. As you can see he is a large man and he stood very still for our photo. I have been wondering when he was finally gonna ask me over!

Here is my feeble attempt at sugar cookies, and I use the term "cookies" loosely. I think I mixed up the baking powder and baking soda. The label is in French and I can never remember when to use which one. I was too embarrassed to take them to my neighbors, which would have been impossible anyway seeing as how I when I tried to lift them off the pan they crumbled into pieces. You see, it's not only that I CAN'T cook, I really SHOULDN'T cook!

City Scenes and New Hairdo's

This video was taking last Friday at the call to prayer and the biggest mosque in the city was overflowing with people. Watch to see the different postures Muslims use to pray.



Here is the market where I do my shopping. You see the scarves on the left hand side? You can't get those for as cheap as $3!



In other news we both changed our hair the same day. Cody got an expensive haircut at a French salon. Normally he pays $3 to go to the barber shop but this day we paid $13! And then Cody dyed my hair because it's fall and it's time to go dark again. You know he's the perfect type of person to dye hair. He's very meticulous in reading directions and making sure to get all the roots. The first night we tried to do it we were unsuccessful because the plastic gloves that came in the box were too small for his hands (somehow I don't think they were designed for men). So I had to buy rubber kitchen gloves in size "grande."

I'm Shocked!!

No, literally today I shocked the heck out of myself with 220 volts of electricity. I had wet hair and was standing barefoot when I grabbed a cord that goes to our transformer (it's a blow-dryer brush from America) from the wall. Well I grabbed it and it shocked me and threw me flying backwards on the ground and I was SCREAMING and CRYING like a mad lady!

Here are the burn marks from the prongs. (See the two holes below the thumb) Now I have been zapped many a times before here, but never where it burned my flesh!

The rest of day I have been apprehensive to unplug or touch anything electrical. Hey, I have been traumatized!


On a good note, we just a got a microwave from some friends who just left! The microwave is also from America, notice the large transformer on top. We used it for the first time this morning to heat up some old cinnamon roles for breakfast. It's been a year since we last used a microwave...oh the possibilities are endless!

I am not promising you anything!

Not too much was happening this week so here is some photos taken throughout the week. Now I never said ALL my posts had to be winners...cut me some slack!

This is what traditional Ramadan sweets look like. They sells these EVERYWHERE! Even places that were not in the sweets business before are selling this stuff now.

Obviously I don't know how to make these highly involved delectable goodies, so here's what I made for Ramadan...oatmeal balls!!! No baking required. I took them to a few of my neighbors, and yes I got some weird looks, but they hadn't tried them yet. I am sure pretty soon they will be banging down my door for more!


We got a new fountain in front of the old city walls where the market is. The old city is where I do most of my shopping and language practice. It's about 10 minutes from my house.


Cody and I had parties for friends on Friday and Saturday night that were both in a nearby city. Both nights we took the last train home and we were exhausted! Good times, and no this photo is SO not posed!


And finally I would like to present my new kaftan I had made. Remember seeing pictures from previous parties where I had to borrow my friends clothes that were way too big? Well now I have my own! The material costs about $8 for three meters (I had a matching scarf and head band made too). Then I took it to a tailor (who is man who specializes in these things) and told him how I wanted it and he made it for $30! I could never find one in the market that fits me so I asked my friends was the style was right now. Notices the flared sleeves and then it comes in at the waist an flares back out. (click on the photo to see it bigger) I am a fashionable North African! Oh, and I did get my haircut, thanks for noticing :)

Do's and Don't You Dares of Ramadan

The above sign says Ramadan Kareem, which literally means "generous Ramadan," which also happens to be my Arabic name which is Karima (Carrie). The photo is in Mecca, the place where Muslims are required (if they have money) to make a pilgrimage to once in their life. This is located in Saudi Arabia and the entire city is closed to non-Muslims.


Sunday started the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in our country. Since many of you may not be familiar with what all that entails I will make a list do's of don'ts. First of all you should know that Ramadan is a month of fasting and prayer for Muslims. It is during this month they atone for their sins and attempt to get close to God. They give extra money to poor people and hope that by fasting all day they will be able to have compassion for those who are hungry every day.
Fasting starts at day break and lasts until sun down when the call to prayer is heard around the city. Let's start with a list of the things Muslims don't do during the day:

DON'TS
Eat or drink anything
Chew gum
Wear make-up or perfume
Smoke
Have sexual relations
Talk bad about people
Use gel or hair products
Brush teeth

DO'S
Give extra money to poor people
Pray more
Eat TONS of food after sundown and stay up really late
Buy new outfits for the end of the holiday
Go to the public bathhouse late at night
Burn special incense
Work shorter hours
Close all restaurants and coffee shops during fasting hours

Don't you dare get caught eating or drinking in public! People can be arrested in the streets for doing forbidden things in the daylight hours. As a foreigner (and since we are not Muslim), in order to respect them we also do not eat or drink in public.

(I found this picture on the Net of a girl on a prayer rug holding the Koran with her little head covered)

The schedule for an average Muslim around here during Ramadan is that they wake up somewhere between 8-9am, work from 9-3pm straight thru lunch, go home and rest and wait for the sun to set. At sunset, when the call to prayer goes off, they eat something light (soup and candies), drink some juices, and smoke cigarettes. Then they do one of their prayers around 8 pm and then head out on the town or back to the house to have coffee and play cards. At about midnight or 1am they have a hearty meal that would include meats and breads. Many will go to bed around 2am, but many of the younger crowd will stay up until about 5am and eat right before the sun comes up. That younger crowd will sleep most of the day until sunset.