after 24 hours...

well, here i am. i'm laying on my bed (i got the bottom bunk!) looking out on the garden of my new home. i see lemon trees and bright red flowers. not too bad as far as bedside views go.

my flights were crazy and when i finally got into casablanca last night all i wanted was a shower and a long nights sleep, which i accomplished. This morning i was picked up from the hotel and driven to rabat to the group house. its huge. there is a big living room with couches and little tables that seems to be the center of social life in the house. there is another smaller living room right in front of the entrance. the large kitchen is filled with stern looking women who made the most delicious lunch. upstairs are a few bedrooms. i have two new roommates; one who has been here for a while, the other who arrived today. they both seem really sweet, so i'm off to a good start there.

it has been raining all day, which i'm told is extremely unusual. but i got here and everyone was lounging in their pajamas and introducing themselves. it made me feel comfortable, more at home. pajamas can do that. there were a bunch of people leaving and a bunch of us arriving and i got a glimpse of what life will be like when i leave. a group of girls were reliving inside jokes and telling stories of being harassed by men in fez. in any event, i'm pretty sure that this is what living in a sorority was like. a sorority for socially minded international volunteers who all want to save the world and have adventures. there are going to be 2 guys in the house, and it is filled with women. already i have had one of the girls show me her growing scarf collection and she promised she would take me shopping to all the best places. scarves are big here. every girl is wearing a colorful wrap, which is helpful since its really cold right now, by moroccan standards.

right now everyone is resting after lunch, but another group of volunteers will arrive this afternoon. and then tomorrow is orientation and then i start work on monday!