Ouverture Prochaine!

For those of you who don't speak French:
COMING SOON TGI Friday's!

In our neighborhood (at the top of the main street on the other side of the round-point, in case you were wondering) we are getting a TGI Friday's. It just says "coming soon" but no opening date. I am hoping it won't take too long since they are just renovating a building instead of building a new one (which takes FOREVER here). This is our first non-fast food chain. (we have McDonald's and Pizza Hut). Oh the things we get excited about living in the 3rd world.



In other news, we were able to break the fast a few times with people this week and here is spread from one of my friend's house. We have here starting in the far left corner: turkey balls and pizza sauce, olive pizza, hard boiled eggs, traditional sweet named shabakea served at Ramadan, sfoof (think dried out peanut butter), banana milk, dates, traditional bread named msimen, and turkey sandwiches with lettuce and tomato.
We all just sat around the table and as soon as the call to prayer went off everyone dug right in!

Now for a viewer question. Jana writes:
What do you and Cody do during this time? Do you eat during the day as usual, or do you partake in the daily fasting?

Great question Jana! We sort of have to adjust our schedules a little bit. Instead of meeting with friends during the day we go out at night (too grumpy during the day and people want to sleep). Everyone shuts down about 1-2 hours before sunset to make sure to get home on time and then after they break the fast and watch a little TV. All the shops and the market open back up from about 9pm to midnight and people are out late into the night. So we go to school in the morning and study or run errands and then go out at night. We NEVER eat or drink in the streets but don't fast with them. We just eat and drink in our house.

Ramadan Mubarak

Well, it's that time of year again, you know...Ramadan! I always like to do a post explaining what Ramadan is about here. First of all it is a 30 day fast for Muslims and is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. Everyone fasts from sun-up to sun-down, which right now is around 6:30 in the evening. They must abstain from food, drink, cigarettes, sex, chewing gum, brushing their teeth, wearing gel, perfume or makeup, and talking bad about people. I was surprised the first day when I came home and my concierge was missing a bunch of teeth. I guess dentures fall in this category too!
It is forbidden to eat in the streets and if foreigners want to eat out during daylight hours our choices are basically McDonald's and Pizza Hut. After people break the fast with a traditional soup, dates and some super sugary sweets they wait a few hours and then gorge themselves late at night. Some even get up before sunset to eat one last time. The ironic thing about the month of fasting is people actually gain more weight this month and consume more food than other time!


First of all, you will see a lot of this in the streets during daylight. Workers open up their shops mid-day so they can sleep in and do as little work as possible. Yesterday I saw two men laying side by side in the grass, kinda cuddling in fact.

If you do happen to find some open stores this is most likely what you'll see, lounging and relaxing. A few hours before sunset the young guys will play some intense soccer games to get their mind of food and work up a good appetite to break the fast. Luckily, we have a soccer field right across the street so we get to hear the chants all the time.

After sunset, all the families stroll the streets until late in the night. There are always Ramadan fairs, sales, and little carnivals set up. At about 6:15 the streets completely clear out and it's actually a dangerous time to be out. There is crime that goes on because criminals know everyone is busy eating, even the police. I cannot take credit for these photos. A friend visiting last month actually took these and I like them.

Here is an example of the sweets they consume to break the fast and raise the blood sugar really quickly. They are mostly honey coated and really delicious hot.

Here is some commercialism at its best. The burger is shaped like a moon because the sliver of the moon is the symbol that Ramadan is starting. To break the fast is called Fitr. So McDonald's even has McFitr where you can get soup and dates at sunset. By the way, don't feel special about Coca Cola wishing you a "Merry Christmas," they also wish us a "Ramadan Mubarak"

P.S. Feel free to write any questions in the comments box or if there is anything in particular you would like to see a picture of, thanks!

Changes in the Dar (house)

I just really like this picture I took from our window. We live on a really busy street so there is constant honking and noise (that we have grown accustomed to) but if you go on the roof can you see the ocean and the most beautiful sunsets.

So we have been doing some remodeling in our apartment, actually I take that back I don't think we actually "remodeled" anything per-say but we did get some new stuff. A friend of ours recently moved back to America and we got some of his old furniture. I got rid of our huge dining room table, that we never used and just threw junk on and put this farache (couch like thing) and his rug, end table and smaller table.

I recovered the ferache and put a smaller table to the right of it. Now we have two sitting rooms, which is very common here. Often times homes will have several sitting rooms and one really nice one for guests. It's rare to have only on salon (living room) in a house.

These are some paintings I got framed. These were made down south by artists who use saffron, coffee, and indigo and then put fire under the paper and it turns like this.

Here is Cody cooking some dinner. I love when he wears this pink apron from his Mom. It says "I cook for my Mom" and it is from the Susan G Komen breast cancer foundation. He looks really tough huh?

These pictures were taken when some friends were visiting us this month. This is me and my friend strolling through the Medina.

Girls here like to hold hands or interlock arms when walking, I'll tell you it gets kinda hot in the summer! You always greet with kisses which is also better in the colder days when we are less sweaty!