前途: A Year in Morocco

As a kid, my parents used to take us on vacation in places where there was some kind of train to ride. As a result, I have a healthy (nerdy?) appreciation for riding trains, and have been completely delighted that they are a convenient, inexpensive way to move around Morocco.

The Rabat-Sale tram has been under construction since we arrived, and has recently begun to operate (it’s a hip, cheap way to avoid traffic jams while moving from one end of Rabat to another). I’ve been in Rabat for several events recently, and I kept thinking about the tram, knowing I’d have to try it before leaving, just so I could say I did it.

Today, I finally rode the tram. Mission accomplished.

I also spent some time reading at the National Library, where I realized how noisy my life has been for the past nine months—the stark, nearly sacred quiet of the library contrasted sharply with my city life, where, although I live alone in a somewhat spacious apartment, I always am aware of the white noise of traffic, the honking that is an honored part of Moroccan driving culture, knives against neighbors’ cutting boards, blenders/juicers, televisions, construction, the occasional airplane, people talking, children screaming, cats/dogs fighting, roosters and other birds, and all the various street vendors and random musicians.