This is a rarity... Usually I have tons to say and no time to say it. Right now, I'm sitting at the Forest Cafe (which is as Americanized as anyplace in New York), with wifi (pronounced "wee-fee" here), with not much to say, but have time to kill so here I am..
I'm supposed to be studying for the language proficiency test with the two sitemates (Nikki and Martha) that I came here with, but no one feels like studying and we're all playing on the computer, so no one is studying. It is such an awesome day today. I've lived in San Diego for 25 years and soooo took the weather for granted, but not here!!! A beautiful day is sooooo appreciated. My host family was complaining about the heat all day at the suk (swap meet/farmers market), moving from shaded seller to shaded seller, fanning themselves, etc. I said to them: " You live in Africa for crying out loud; its 80 degrees and you think you're melting. Your'e crazy! Its awesome weather"!
...well actually I said: "weather good!" or something like that, but they were supposed to interpret it the other way... ...okay... to give you an idea of my language proficiency, I actually was able to say (I think): "You live in Africa and you say its hot." I love this weather"! which is "kayskunu f Africa u kaygulu sxun, sxun. Kayajbini lshums"! They looked at me like I was crazy! I want to think it was because they have a hard time believing that I could like the hot weather rather than the fact that what I really said was "your mother eats pig intestines."
I bought my host family a going away gift today at the suk. They had looked at this silver teapot the last couple of times we've gone, and so I told my host sister (with whom I went to the suk) that I wanted to get it for the family if it wasn't too expensive. She said "gali bizef" (very expensive). Then, not long after, the rest of my host family showed up at the suk (I didn't expect that) and my host sister immediately told them about my gift idea so, so much for the surprise.
Anyway, they said it was too expensive, which got me worried. I asked how much and they said it was negotiable but that it could be as much as 150 dirham. Several minutes later, I came to the conclusion that it could be as much as $18. I had to do the math a couple of times, because their faces suggested that I was going to have to take out a second mortgage in order to finance the teapot.
...so anyway... I convinced them that I could actually afford to get it for them, but they said they needed to negotiate for it, because they wanted the "Moroccan" price rather than the "American" price. Tourists pay probably 2-3 times as much for goods at many places, and convincing a mul hanoot (store owner) that you aren't a tourist and deserve the "local" price is one of the major accomplishments of language learning. I might have been able to do that, but my host family was loathe to have me pay a penny more than necessary, so my host mother negotiated the price (which includes yelling, walking away in disgust, allowing the mul hannot to convince you to reluctantly come back to resume negotiations, looking at a cheaper version, etc. After about 15 minutes of intense negotiations, the teapot was had for 120 dirham, and everybody was happy.
My family was completely appreciative, with all the requisite gawking and fawning (but genuine), and even another host sister (who doesn't live there) thanked me profusely! Moroccans are such wonderful people!
okay... that's it for now. I might actually study if Lex doesn't get her butt out of bed and Skype with me (it 11:15am in Oregon). Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers!!!
I'm supposed to be studying for the language proficiency test with the two sitemates (Nikki and Martha) that I came here with, but no one feels like studying and we're all playing on the computer, so no one is studying. It is such an awesome day today. I've lived in San Diego for 25 years and soooo took the weather for granted, but not here!!! A beautiful day is sooooo appreciated. My host family was complaining about the heat all day at the suk (swap meet/farmers market), moving from shaded seller to shaded seller, fanning themselves, etc. I said to them: " You live in Africa for crying out loud; its 80 degrees and you think you're melting. Your'e crazy! Its awesome weather"!
...well actually I said: "weather good!" or something like that, but they were supposed to interpret it the other way... ...okay... to give you an idea of my language proficiency, I actually was able to say (I think): "You live in Africa and you say its hot." I love this weather"! which is "kayskunu f Africa u kaygulu sxun, sxun. Kayajbini lshums"! They looked at me like I was crazy! I want to think it was because they have a hard time believing that I could like the hot weather rather than the fact that what I really said was "your mother eats pig intestines."
I bought my host family a going away gift today at the suk. They had looked at this silver teapot the last couple of times we've gone, and so I told my host sister (with whom I went to the suk) that I wanted to get it for the family if it wasn't too expensive. She said "gali bizef" (very expensive). Then, not long after, the rest of my host family showed up at the suk (I didn't expect that) and my host sister immediately told them about my gift idea so, so much for the surprise.
Anyway, they said it was too expensive, which got me worried. I asked how much and they said it was negotiable but that it could be as much as 150 dirham. Several minutes later, I came to the conclusion that it could be as much as $18. I had to do the math a couple of times, because their faces suggested that I was going to have to take out a second mortgage in order to finance the teapot.
...so anyway... I convinced them that I could actually afford to get it for them, but they said they needed to negotiate for it, because they wanted the "Moroccan" price rather than the "American" price. Tourists pay probably 2-3 times as much for goods at many places, and convincing a mul hanoot (store owner) that you aren't a tourist and deserve the "local" price is one of the major accomplishments of language learning. I might have been able to do that, but my host family was loathe to have me pay a penny more than necessary, so my host mother negotiated the price (which includes yelling, walking away in disgust, allowing the mul hannot to convince you to reluctantly come back to resume negotiations, looking at a cheaper version, etc. After about 15 minutes of intense negotiations, the teapot was had for 120 dirham, and everybody was happy.
My family was completely appreciative, with all the requisite gawking and fawning (but genuine), and even another host sister (who doesn't live there) thanked me profusely! Moroccans are such wonderful people!
okay... that's it for now. I might actually study if Lex doesn't get her butt out of bed and Skype with me (it 11:15am in Oregon). Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers!!!
The teapot is a good story. What was the final price like $12? They must not know how much things cost in the USA. Happy to hear the weather is getting better, i cant believe they think 80 is hot, whats the temp in the summer? Your pictures were great the other day you look really good, your hair is a good length, I also thought they only use henna tattoos on wedding days or is it for any Big occasion ? Well I'm laying in the sun so it's time to flip over. Hugs Mia
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