July was an excellent month filled with wonderful adventures and memories to last a lifetime. This bold statement may prompt you to ask whether such is possible in the barren desert home I call Mauritania. Although Mauritania certainly has some potential for lasting memories, the enthusiasm you sense in this posting is a direct result of spending 11 glorious days in Morocco in honor of my 30th birthday. Three of my closest friends and I visited the imperial cities of Marrakesh and Fes as well as the classic beaches of Essaouira, the Middle Atlas Mountains in Azrou and Ifrane, and Casablanca. I will let the photos posted on this website tell the story for me, however, I will say that if any of you ever get the chance to visit Morocco, you must do so. It is a country filled with so much beauty and history that it literally takes your breath away, especially if you are in the midst of climbing a mountain overlooking any of the amazing cities in country.
What is interesting about Morocco is its complete contrast with all things Mauritanian. As a North African country, Morocco does share some of the same Arabic influences as Mauritania, yet there is so much more development there. After living in Mauritania for the past year, I could truly appreciate the little things which I would otherwise have taken for granted. Things like:
book stores and restaurants
sidewalks and traffic lights
flowers and trees
fruit and vegetable markets with dozens of varieties of foods
fresh-squeezed orange juice
all types of cheeses as well as Ritz crackers and Oreo cookies
modern means of transportation (trains, buses, planes, etc.)
street sweepers, garbage cans, and garbage trucks
irrigation systems and drainage sewers
overweight children (in Mauritania, all kids are malnourished)
clean and healthy animals that are not abused
gardens, public parks, and greenspaces
Of course, this list may seem mundane to others. However, to me it is bittersweet because these things are so simple and beautiful, yet I have little faith that Mauritania will ever achieve the level of development where such things are routine. Quite frankly, I don't think anyone here really cares either. Pride of place is indeed a foreign concept.
Until next time,
Janine
