Down to one week...

It's been a little while since my last entry..
So after the desert that week was strategically planned so that we would have something to do each day. Tuesday was the Medina to do some shopping for our families. The difference between the one here and in Fez is that the one here is much more relaxed. No one really hounds you to buy anything and it is not nearly as crowded, so you can take your time and shop. Of course the store owners follow you around, but it's not that bad. Chelsea, Margie, and I went and we had a very nice time. I went with the intentions of just buying a few things, but because everything is so cheap in American money i ended up buying presents for pretty much my whole family. I probably have enough for my second cousins! Well... maybe that is a slight exaggeration.. but i bought a lot. It will be I who suffers at the airport lugging everything around, but I love getting people presents. We spent the afternoon there and then came home for dinner and bed.
Wednesday we went to the Pottery place in Sale (sal-ay) which was very nice. A bunch of us ended up wanting to go, so instead of taking taxis, our driver took the van to make it easier for us. He won't be driving us to the orphanage anymore because he is taking off to get married! So we'll have a new driver... Anyway, the pottery place is basically a little strip mall of hand made pottery and carved boxes. Each store pretty much has the same things, so we did not need to go in all of them but it was very successful. I probably have mentioned this, but it is so much easier to buy for women here than for men. My dad in particular.. Dad i think I will just get you one of the male moroccan dress type things and pointy slippers! ;) Margie and I were cracking up picturing you wearing it! hahaaahah. <3
So we spent a few hours there and once again, home for dinner and bed. Thursday we spent more money and had a day to ourselves at a store called Mango. It's a pretty expensive clothing store but the clothes are really nice. I only bought one outfit, because i would rather buy clothes in the states. But it was still a nice girls day. Chelsea Margie and I always have fun together. Friday Chelsea convinced us to get pedicures at four, before that though just she and I went for massages. I had never gotten one before and rarely treat myself to things like that... actually i can say i have only gotten my nails done for prom, so i did not mind so much spending money on myself. Well... considering i had nothing to compare the massage to.... she could have just done my feet and I would have been satisfied. It was wonderful, i almost fell asleep about twenty times! I highly recommend getting one if you never have. Especially after holding and carrying around babies for three weeks, our backs were unwound and our arms relaxed. Afterward Margie met us and we got our nails done which was also very nice. It was Chelsea's last night, so like we did the previous Fridays, our group went for Gelatos. They once again made me repeat the flavors laughing at the way i say them and shook my hand when i walked in, so we made some friends there. When we came home we all gathered around the t.v to watch Ferris Beulers Day Off, which i know is sad, I have never seen. It was really funny, we were all cracking up. Of course we were laughing until we started crying because it froze halfway through the dvd! so i didnt get to finish it....
Saturday was a day to sleep in, the first in 3 weeks, but my body was still used to getting up at six thirty so i did not sleep very late. Chelsea left that day which made me very sad. We clicked very well and I am so glad we met. Margie and I sat around today just saying that we miss her haha. At least we all have each other's information to stay in contact when we get back, she flew to france and she and her family will stay there for a week together.
So that about sums up this week, we basically just spent a lot of money.. we were all pretty bushed after all of our traveling the previous weeks so it was nice to stay around Rabat which has plenty to do. We got to travel around in the taxis that could make New York City drivers look good. I swear my eyes are closed the whole time, and if i happen to open them breifly, to make sure im still alive, i just cringe the entire time. They use horns like we use brake pedals, just honk and keep driving at 90....This week all we know of is our henna is getting done wednesday which im really excited about! We found out we only have an hour in the airport in france, so we will have to run. Im trying to pack everything important in my carry-ons because were checking our luggage all the way through... the only apprehension to this is that five girls lost their luggage through airfrance, and Chelsea did on her way in... The only good thing is that I will be going home so ill have everything i need there...
This past week at the orphanage, Zizu was still sick. The majority of my time was spent holding him every day. As soon as i was done making all of the beds and changing, feeding the babies, i would hold him. Remember i said he never cried? He was wailing last week- thats how i knew something was terribly wrong. He just kept falling asleep in my arms but wouldn't stay asleep in his bed so i stayed with him. Around Wednesday or Thursday when we went in, there were 6 other babies with Zizu outside their room! All quarantined for being sick! Each had a fever and other various symptoms that resulted in me being covered in baby things.... if you know what i mean. Zizu has good aim, all over my smock and right in the space where there is a button missing onto my clothes. I couldnt be mad at all at the poor little guy, although i swear he got his smug look back after that. Friday he looked a lot better when I went in and smiled the whole time. He still wanted to be held and felt a little warm, so I can't wait to get back there tomorrow to check on him.
Some of the toddlers we sit with were also sick, one had an ear infection so i held him because i know how awful that is. So hopefully the sickness stops spreading. Gladly it hasn't reached the older kids, theyre still as playful as ever. There have been some hectic afternoons there, but always fun.
My mom told me I have gotten my nursing uniform!! Which just makes me excited so i thought i would share.
23 new volunteers came yesterday, so there are 30 people in the house right now. It is prettyyy crowded, but everyone seems so nice. They see us as the experts and keep asking what we've done, so it's nice to give advice on trips and such... Now we have to have two different times to go to the orphanage since there are so many of us, Margie Liz and I will be going earlier, seven forty-five to twelve.
So... that's about it for that update. I miss everyone terribly, and will update again this week!
Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!
-Lace