Chasing Rainbows

No pot of gold at the end of that rainbow, but my new house is! :D Big smile on my face.

Well, my new place isn't exactly at the end of that rainbow, it's actually in the center of town. Which is fantastic, it's close to the tahanuts (corner shops), hemam (public bath house), and souq (Sunday market).

It's a mud house, very old. I think it has lots of character. The only minor setback is that it's under renovation (by Moroccan standards that is). No pictures yet, so here's my description for you...

Downstairs:
Kitchen-the kitchen is just an empty room right now, no sink or counter, yet.
Storage Room-decent size room for luggage and firewood and any other odd bits.
Bitlima (toilet)-small room with a cement turkish squat toilet and tap.

Upstairs:
Bedroom-decent size square room w/small skylight & spot in the corner for a furno (woodstove)
Living Room-rectangle room, two windows (windows are decorative iron bars with wooden shutters on the inside, no glass)

The stairs continue up and lead to my roof, which is my favorite part of the house. I can't wait to take pictures of my view and show you guys! I have a 360 view of all of my town and all of the mountains. It's amazing. I also have a washing line on the roof to hang my clothes.

The ceilings are all dark wooden beams, which is what gives it character, aside from the fact it's made outta mud!

So aside from there not actually being a kitchen...the house belongs to my host family's uncle. He is a butcher here in town. As the house has been empty for a while, he has been storing all the dead animals in the downstairs, so there is a smell of death right now. Also, the whole place needs a cement finishing on the floors as they are a little rubbly right now. And the whole place needs painting, some kinda bad. Other than that, I'm good to go. The uncle has promised to have all the work completed by next Saturday, so fingers crossed that happens and I can move in on New Years Day!

As soon as I get a chance I will take pictures to share with you all.

As far as furnishing the house, Peace Corps gives us a modest settling in allowance to do what we like with. I gave Kristen (the volunteer I replaced) almost half of the allowance and am taking her double bed, three ponj's (moroccan sofas, basically single mattresses with pillows against the wall for back support), a dresser, and her two burner butagas stovetop, along with some other small items...I will get everything else at my weekly souq (market).

I'm getting very excited to move into my own place! Happy New Year to me....

That's it for now, be back soon.

Merry Christmas!!!

Maryeem xXx