Return to Challah

This weekend has been full of interesting events.  To begin with yesterday I returned to Challah with Alaina and we took two of our new friends who arrived from Cairo two weeks ago.  Even though the sun was not shining on the ruins with the same brilliance as the first trip during orientation, I took many pictures because my camera was dead the last time I was at Challah.  Here are some pictures of our magical "Alice in Wonderland" afternoon:

Alaina in Wonderland

Catherine and Cats

Pool of Fertility

A Catherine sized hole in the wall.

Storks: the symbol of monogamy

Catherine leaping for joy

Macarena searching.

Alaina peering

Storks in a row

A glimpse of the other side

Self portrait

Macarena's favorite place

Alaina as a statue.

After Challah I went home, but was met by a large group of men running down my street being chased by police.  There were at least 50 of them and my friend pushed me behind a car as they whizzed past.  At first this had me concerned, as we all knew that a large protest was planned for Sunday morning.  I worried only because there is a difference between a protest in the square and men running madly down my street.  While talking with my host mom in the morning we determined that these were just men supporting a soccer team who were riled up.  She still thinks there is reason for concern because even though the protest isn't that disturbing angry youth can make it worse by using the protest as an excuse to break windows and break into cars and stores.

The protest planned for Sunday morning was technically cancelled, but from our apartment two blocks away we can hear a megaphone and chanting from the square.  We discussed over breakfast this morning (I made pancakes for the first time and we used leftover syrup from her former students and nutella to decorate them) what motivates these protests.  Siham and Said explained that no one wants to kick out King Muhammed VI, but they do want to change the parliament and his advisors because there is a serious economic gap.  Siham explained that the price of vegetables has tripled and many families cannot afford meat.  There also is an issue with public education and support for children.

The issue with all of this is that there is no Moroccan news station.  The only news we will get is from AlJazzera of the middle east or Canal5 in France.  It is frustrating to be so disconnected from the politics in the country you live in.  Monday afternoon, however, I have a school field trip to Parliament.  That is, if there is a parliament on Monday...