The Evil Eye

Yesterday I commented to a friend how it was odd that I haven't been anywhere near as sick as most people in the program.  She desperately tried to find some wood to knock on for my "bad mojo" behavior.  She claims the superstition of Morocco has been wearing off on her.  Friends left and right are jumping out of the way of black cats and knocking on wood.  I usually hate this kind of behavior, but lately I wonder if they are right.

While I know that the spread of the Islamic Revolution has taken most of the Middle East and North Africa by surprise, I am no longer worried about it coming here.  I am, however, now superstitious and worried about my safety in this country for other reasons.  Bizarre coincidences.  If you are my grandma, dad, or other members of the extended bubble of concern for my safety, stop reading here.

I had planned on not sharing anything worrisome on this blog for the unnecessary fears it might provide my family with.  I've been scared, though, by recent news.  Has anyone ever found out that after leaving some location other people were killed or the place exploded?  Well, now it has happened to me.  Twice.

To begin with two weeks ago a distant Moroccan friend of mine was sitting in a cafe with a few friends, just talking and having a nice afternoon.  This was the same cafe that I took my mom to on our long walk about in Tanger, Cafe Hafa.  However, unlike our experience, this time a mentally unstable man ran in and yelled "God is Great" and stabbed this friend in the back and killed his roommate.  My friend is now doing better, and the family of his friend is recovering.

The infamous view from Cafe Hafa

Today I received similar news.  This weekend I was in Marrakech with school and in the main square I found some incredible ice cream.  Cinnamon ice cream that tasted like Cinnamon Toast Crunch.  So good that I had to go back.  Twice.  And well, I am glad that I came home this week because had I stayed, I might have blown up with the cafe.  This morning, in a freak gas accident, the cafe exploded.  It killed 10 people including many tourists.  

So, are freak accidents following me?  I am not superstitious, but I have started wearing the "hand of Fatima", a symbol that protects me from the "evil eye".  And try not to worry, I will be home in 15 days.