Me and Omayra at her Graduation

Here's a Pic of me and my beautiful sister!

Back from Morocco, now at MayMac...

I have made the transition from Morocco to MayMac!

My beautiful sister Omayra graduated from GWA on Saturday June 19th, the following day, there was a great banquet for the Seniors and on the 21st, I was on a plane headed back to the USA.

I had a nice flight from Casa Blanca to New York. There were a few students from my dad's school. I sat with Saad Benkirane a young man who is my brother Jeremiah's age. Saad's sisters Lina and Maria and his parents were also on the flight. (Mr. Benkirane owns the restaurant where the banquet was held, it's called Cities Restaurant)

Anyway, from New York to San Jose was almost unbearable but I made it!

Anyway, from now until I'm done with MayMac, I'll be keeping my web log at the Spike at Camp MayMac site.

-Tony

Morocco... Week 2

George Washington Academy is now in finals. I just got a copy of the school year-book and plan to get kids signatures.

I've had a great vacation so far. I went to the beach a second time (with the all 42 high schoolers). I played guitar at the school. I have gone several times to an area of town called Maarif to draw the people passing by.

Unfortunately, my vacation is coming to an end!!! But the next part of my summer begins right away at Camp MayMac.

That's it for now, not much to say I guess.

Week 1 in Morocco

So, here I am, in the Library at George Washington Academy, typing away on a slow internet connection but enjoying my vacation none the less.

Monday morning after a nasty stay in a New York Hotel, I took off to central park in Manhattan. This was a much nicer view of New York. I went around, toting my luggage and my guitar. Stopping to play here and there. I made ten dollars and change just by playing. The most money was made when I sat down next to a crowd of Italian ladies, mostly in their 40's and 50's and full of life (if you know what I mean). They really liked my guitar playing and singing. Soon after, it started raining and my show was cancelled :)

Oh well, I needed to go to the airport anyway.

That evening, I flew from New York to Casablanca and arrived here around 6:30 AM on Tuesday. My parents picked me up at the airport. We drove home where I briefly saw Jeremiah and Omayra(they had to go to school). A few hours later I visited the school. George Washington Academy. It was nice to see students and teachers that I know from years past. The children are so beautiful here.

Wednesday, I was promoted to Senior status and I accompanied(drove) the Seniors(all 4 of them) to the beach for Senior 'cut' day. It did seem strange that the Principal's oldest son would help the seniors skip class, but even when I was a Senior back in '98, my dad let me go to the beach with my friends. My excuse the next day was exactly that and the secretary said. "well, at least you're telling the truth!".

I drove Omayra, Sarah, Jordan and Nadir in my mom's van. We arrived a a nice beach where there weren't any people except for this one man who was fishing. There, I tried surfing for the first time in my life. Jordan (an avid surfer) brought along his surf-board and a long-board. I saw him ride a few waves pretty nicely. Nadir also went out using the long-board, trying his best to stand up. Finally, after about 45 minutes, he came in and asked if I wanted to try -I did!

The waves were choppy, coming in from different directions and although they didn't look big from shore, they sure felt huge once I was among them. In the 5 or so minutes that I floating around, I felt like I was doing more drowning than anything. So I came back to shore. That was at a beach in Bouznika.

We decided to go to another beach in a town called Mohammedia. There we ate lunch, and soon after I found myself trying to build a sand castle. I guess that was inevitable. The sand didn't hold to well, but it was good enough for me to try and build something. Not too long afterwards and I was in an argument with about 20 Moroccans who were trying to play soccer and thought that I was in their way. I didn't understand since I had been there first but I thought about it and told them that if they knocked down my sand-castle by accident, I wouldn't be mad. Anyway, the waves might come and do the same thing. I said in Arabic, "Makein moushkil" -no problem.

Then I decided to draw, and this girl who was about 11 years old, was coming around asking for money. I tried to explain to her in French and broken Arabic that I wasn't going to give her any money. But I told her if she wanted, I would sing songs for her and play guitar. She agreed and I played a bit. Then I showed her some of my drawings. Immediately she said "ateinee" (give-me).

To which I responded, "La, sme-helia" (no, sorry)

But then I asked her name. Fatima, she told me.

I began to draw her name out with my markers and she got excited. Before I finished writing her name there were another 5 kids sitting around me waiting for their name to be 'tagged' up. I suppose that these kids weren't used to getting anything other than a dirty look or a few Dirhams(Morocco's monetary unit). I was glad to give them something new. I ended up drawing 8 names total. By then, the Seniors were ready to go and I had to say good-bye.

There were two other guitarists there who had gathered around while I was drawing, as I left I heard one of them playing La Bamba. I had shown him the chords and gave him some tips on the strumming.

It was a cool day, overall. I enjoyed hanging with the Seniors.

Thursday and Friday weren't too exciting except for the GWA Soccer Match between the high school girls and Female Staff (the girls won 5 - 0).

Saturday we went to see the new property that belongs to the school. I took some pictures which I'll post up later. There has been a nice amount of progress since I was here a year ago.

Sunday, I was sick, probably with the Flu. (I'm still feeling it a bit). I think Jeremiah got me sick, that little booger! Just kidding.

Anyway, that's a short summary of my weekend.

In New York

On my way here to Morocco, I had a lay over in New York. I arrived at JFK airport on Sunday Night, May 30th 2004. My first flight had been canceled from San Jose, and I had to wait for a later plane. At least I got to sit next to a guy who liked to talk, obviously I like to talk so it went well.

The plane arrived around 8:00 PM that night and I was experiencing New York for the very first time in my life. I had planned to stay the night at the airport, but my weary body said otherwise and I decided to get a hotel.

A very skinny Puerto-Rican girl at the reservations counter recommended a certain hotel which will remain unnamed. "Oh, it's very economical, very economical this hotel is...
".

Being as tired as I was, with my eyes burning because of my contacts, I really needed to get some rest. I should have known by the way she said 'economical' that the hotel she was booking me for would not be cool, but we all make mistakes and I decided to fork over 70 bucks plus tax so I could get out of the airport.

I took the Air-Train from the Airport towards Jamaica Station in Queens. Then, I took the E train to Manhattan. My hotel was on 83rd street, a few blocks away from Central Park. Now, when I think Manhattan, I think 'nice'. But this hotel I stayed in was nowhere near what I imagined.

Before I continue, I must say that I am thankful to have gotten some sleep that night. Other than that, the 'hotel' was the worst accommodation I have ever experienced! This was supposed to be New York??? It looked and felt like I was in Russia during the Cold War!

The room was on the fourth floor, measured about 8 X 10 feet, it featured a bunk-bed, absolutely no A/C, an empty refrigerator, a working sink, blankets, two tiny towels and a good view of the neighboring building's wall. The bathroom was a 'shared' bathroom that the whole floor used(2 per floor).

There was no elevator, the building was too old for that, so I'm glad I didn't pack a huge suitcase. I climbed the steps, carrying my back-pack, roller-bag and guitar. I was already sweating at the first floor! When I finally got to my room, I was relieved to find a fan in the window. As I reached for the electrical cord to plug it in, I found that there was no outlet close enough to do so. How stupid is that? Then I went back down to the 'lobby' and asked the clerk for bigger towels to which he replied, "oh, we are all out".
"well, do you have any extension cords, my fan doesn't have anywhere to plug in?"
"uh, we ran out of cords."
Actually, I don't think they had cords, anyway, at least I had a good night's sleep considering I could have been sleeping on a chair at the airport, trying to make sure nobody took my stuff.

I won't mention the nasty shower and how it was plugged up with gunk and other people's hair. Nor will I tell you about the loud neighbors partying all night and keeping me up.
But I must say that the next day, Memorial day, was much nicer. I hung out at Central Park. But I'll write about that later.

I am in Morocco!

Wow, what an adventure I had getting over here... I'll write more later, but I am HERE!!! I'm happy, but tired, the ground seems to be moving around all the time. Whoa... :)