Viewpoint

It's been 35 years since my parents left their native California and set sail for the unknown shores of Africa. Morocco is where they landed, and it has been their adopted home ever since. Their intention was to live amongst Muslims, whose faith they had discovered and now practiced. Moroccan, American, Muslim, second generation immigrant (yes, why call some "expats" and others Laugh, cry or roll your eyes as we explore the beautiful, painful and mundane sides of Life in Marrakech.

Morocco: Remember This Child?

: NORA FITZGERALD; 11/12/12

Marrakech / Morocco News Board - He came into life under difficult circumstances. He is Saeeda’s son (name changed for privacy). Such a curious, funny, quick child. Since his birth, his mother, who is unmarried, drew the veil of secrecy around herself and her child in order to protect them both from scrutiny. With time however, she introduced him to her family as “the son of a woman who can’t take care of him”.

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Starting Women Cooperative Project in Morocco

: NORA FITZGERALD; 10/28/12

We applied for Cooperative status back in May, and now, five months later, I can confidently say that I’ve been initiated into the high realm of Moroccan bureaucracy. It’s everything they promised it would be, long, unclear and unexplained, and hopelessly rooted in the ’50s.

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Marrakech: Ramadan In the 45 Degree Heat

: NORA FITZGERALD; 08/26/12

Marrakech / Morocco News Board--- Ramadan has left us for another year…so sad to see it go, although it was a tough one. For all of us in Marrakech, having day upon day of intense heat, hardly ever dipping under 45 degrees, well let’s just say it was a Ramadan to separate the men from the boys. When we go outside in that heat, simply breathing becomes a laborious task, struggling to draw a breath like one struggles to draw water from a well. It made most of us do as little as possible.

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Traveling to Morocco during Ramadan: do’s and don’ts

: NORA FITZGERALD; 08/04/12

This year Ramadan runs from about July 20th to August 19th, so right in the middle of summer holidays. Marrakesh is usually bursting with tourists at this time of year, despite the scorching heat. I have seen groups of sunburned, dazed and confused looking tourists walking around, probably not too sure about what’s going on, except that Macdonalds seems to be the only restaurant open for lunch.

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Women: Going The Extra Mile In Ramadan

: NORA FITZGERALD; 07/28/12

Marrakech / Morocco News Board--- Ramadan is already a quarter over. In Morocco, Ramadan is known as a time for, among other things, putting extra care into food preparation. This post is an ode to the women who work in the kitchen all year around and go the extra mile in Ramadan, the hadga’s.

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journeys into traditional Morocco

: NORA FITZGERALD; 03/29/12

Marrakech/ Morocco Board News --- I write a lot of things…in my head. They are perfect little morsels, full of wit and truth, that seem to disintegrate by the time I am sitting at the computer. I get bloggers block often. Blogger’s blahs. Since I write with my real name and make only very weak attempts at veiling my identity, blogging makes me vulnerable.

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Morocco: The season For Olive

: NORA FITZGERALD; 01/30/12

Marakkech / Morocco Board News-- Olive season has just come to and end…and by olive season I mean that the olives ripened, were harvested, and either pressed for oil or cured to turn them edible. Did you know that both black olives and green olives come from the same tree? Here is a very ripe olive from our family farm.

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Morocco: Road Trip

: NORA FITZGERALD; 01/23/12

Marakkech / Morocco Board News-- Road trip in Morocco means roadside cafe tajines. The best ones are prepared in the morning and slow cooked on charcoal for a good 3 or 4 hours.

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Morocco: The "baraka" and Other Blessings

: NORA FITZGERALD; 01/22/12

Marakkech / Morocco Board News-- I feel blessed to speak darija (Moroccan dialect of Arabic) because that means that I can participate in the daily Moroccan baraka (blessing in Arabic) exchange.
Each and every thing or action can either have baraka or not. For example, food that is purchased on an honest income, prepared with love and prayers, shared among as many people as possible is said to have baraka.

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How do you say “help” in Spanish?

: NORA FITZGERALD; 11/02/11

Madrid / Morocco Board News-- My inlaws are spending some time in Spain and invited the children and me to visit them for a week. I haven’t been to Spain since I was 19 and studying Spanish in Salamanca. The kids have never been, and we did not travel this summer due to Ramadan and work, so needless to say we were all excited and ready for some adventures. And you know what they say, be careful what you wish for, because you may get it.

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Moroccan Chicken Bastila: Step-by-Step Recipe

: NORA FITZGERALD; 07/05/11

Marrakech / Morocco Board News--Bastila is a Moroccan dish made from chicken, eggs and almonds, layered and wrapped in phylo dough. The word comes from Spanish “pastilla” which I am assuming refers to the thin crispy layers of dough. Who knows if this dish still exists in Spain, but “history” (i.e. wikipedia) tells us that the Moors brought this dish with them when they were driven out of Spain in the late 1400′s. Today it is served ubiquitously at special occasions, usually as an appetizer ahead of a meat dish.

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Morocco: A day Of Joy!

: NORA FITZGERALD; 04/14/11

Morocco's king pardons 190 prisoners

Rabat - King Mohammed VI on Thursday pardoned or cut the sentences of 190 detainees, including Islamist political prisoners, on the advice of a rights council set up a month ago as Morocco undertakes reforms.

Marrakech / Morocco Board News--- Today is a day of joy! My sister’s brother in-law has been released from prison after serving 3 years as a political detainee. He had been sentenced to 20 years, then 10 years after appealing. Words can’t describe the immense waves of joy that are washing over his family and loved ones.

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Essaouira: Fish Jumps From Ocean to Grill

: NORA FITZGERALD; 04/13/11

Essaouira / Morocco Board News--- Marrakesh is a bustling, energetic, beautiful city, no doubt. A mere 3 hours southeast lies a sweet fishing town by the name of Essaouira. It’s as charming as the guide books say, because in Essaouira you can:
Eat fish so fresh it basically jumped out of the ocean and onto the grill.Walk fearlessly in the traffic-free zone of the old city and markets, so liberating when you have precious young ones with you...

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Marrakech: Spring renewal

: NORA FITZGERALD; 03/26/11

Marraech / Morocco Board News- Spring is here and I had the chance to go on a three day retreat in the countryside. I marveled at my own ability to do nothing but watch the clouds, mountains, stars, sunlight and full moon for hours.

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Morocco: Having A Baby When Single

: NORA FITZGERALD; 02/27/11

Marrakech / Morocco Board News -- Sa’eeda had her baby! Those words were not uttered in celebration. No, it was a frantic phone call, tinged with panic, defeat and heaviness. This was not a joyous occasion. There would be no forty days of pampering for the new mother, no naming party for the baby. You see, Sa’eeda was not married and no one in her family knew of the baby.

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Marrakech Karma

: NORA FITZGERALD; 01/27/11

I had a chance to go on a great tour of Marrakesh a few days ago. It was an enriching and beautiful experience. It renewed my connection with this city that I’ve called home for so long.These places are beautiful in and of themselves. And if you can find a great guide to connect you with the richness of Moroccan history, so much the better.

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