Frogger

             If I die in Morocco, it will be because I will have been hit by a car.  I could be in a car or just walking across the street.  Either way, each time I get into a taxi or want to go to the other side of the road, I pray.  But actually.  The amount of times that I have almost been hit by cars, bikes, motorcycles, taxis, large dump trucks and donkeys is a little ridiculous.

            Driving is no easy task.  It takes practice and some skill to be able to maneuver the car and avoid crashing.  One part of driving that I think is essential and should be one of the first skills to develop is staying in your own lane.  Apparently, however, Morocco does not believe in that.  The dash lines are not merely suggestions, they simply mean nothing.  People swerve back and forth between lanes, while others simply avoid swerving by driving in the middle of the road, right over the dash marks.  Maybe they think it is a trail that they should follow.  It isn’t.  And it is terrifying.

            Morocco is also really into roundabouts.  The rules of who has the right-of-way in the roundabout still confuse me, even after being here for almost two months.  That fact that I have not seen an accident in a roundabout yet is actually shocking.  All I know is, I will never drive here because I could cause some serious damage and receive a lot of angry honking of horns.

            It makes me laugh when people honk their horns here because it is constant and they all sound so wimpy because the cars are so small.  It is like another language.  Sometimes people honk as if to say, “Hey, I’m here.  Don’t run into me please.”  At other times it is complete road rage where the taxi driver throws his hands up in anger causing me to panic even more because not only is he upset, but his hands are no longer on the steering wheel.  I think I have a mini heart attack most days.  At least my heart is getting a good workout though, right?

            The taxi drivers are very nice people though.  They always ask me where I am from and I say, “Chicago.”  They stare blankly for a second and then yell, “Ohhhh, Shee-cago!  Shee-cago Bulls!!  Michael Jordan!!”  It makes me laugh every time, which is quite often.

            In other news, teaching first grade is an adventure.  I know that each day I will be able to leave school with an interesting story.  I have to do things I never thought I would have to.  Here are some things that entertain me/surprise me:

1. We have been in school for 5 weeks and one kid still calls me Mr. John for some reason.  That’s not my name.

2. I have to teach the calendar.

3. The letter d and b are very confusing and oftentimes switched.

4. I have started giving high fives to kids who are doing well.  There are a couple of reactions.  The first is that they get really excited and you would think I was handing out free candy.  The other reaction I get is confusion.   The kid stares at me, wondering why I am holding my hand in the air.  Then I have to awkwardly put my hand down and lurk away.

5. I have to say things I didn’t think I would ever have to say in my life such as, “Please take the pencil out of your nose.”

            I am having so many adventures and it is great.  Hopefully I will post again soon.  Sorry for the long hiatus!