Shopping in the medina there is every conceivable combination of coverings and clothing. Hair out, long dress. Hair covered, tight jeans. No scarf, short skirt. Scarf with long dress and close toed shoes. None of it is stared at. There's are a few obviously non-Moroccan tourist who are in Travel Wear and some in shorts and sleveless tops. No one pays any attention. So we are told to dress modesly when going out and that usually means cover elbows and knees, but no one seems to care.
At our placements we are to be even more conservative so I have loose pants and a couple of the tops I got to teach in India. I brought my scarfs, too, but have not felt it was needed. Wearing the scarf if a personal decisions and many woman choose to. And many don't, as opposed to India whe it was very unusual to see an Indian woman in Western clothes.
And the students today - both male and female in one class at the local community center - were the same mix. All the men wore western pants and shirts. The women were covered, uncovered, western and Islamic in equal measure.
The one things that was completely in common was they they were all fasting. We did not talk about food. Because it is Ramadan we met in the afternoon. Not sure why. Maybe they stay up to eat and sleep in? In any event next week we go back to teaching in the morning.
So properly garbed, we arrived and found 15-16 in each class. Ages 15-21 or so. They may be able to read and write but if so they cannot yet tell us about it. So we are here to teach oral conversational English and that is clearly the need. It is a two hour teaching slot so we each teach 1/2 the group and swap after an hour. Since my partner is from the UK it gives them a couple of perspectives, not to mention accents!
And the students today - both male and female in one class at the local community center - were the same mix. All the men wore western pants and shirts. The women were covered, uncovered, western and Islamic in equal measure.
The one things that was completely in common was they they were all fasting. We did not talk about food. Because it is Ramadan we met in the afternoon. Not sure why. Maybe they stay up to eat and sleep in? In any event next week we go back to teaching in the morning.
So properly garbed, we arrived and found 15-16 in each class. Ages 15-21 or so. They may be able to read and write but if so they cannot yet tell us about it. So we are here to teach oral conversational English and that is clearly the need. It is a two hour teaching slot so we each teach 1/2 the group and swap after an hour. Since my partner is from the UK it gives them a couple of perspectives, not to mention accents!
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