Shellah, Kasbah, and Souqs

Yesterday was my day off teaching so in the morning I went on a a shopping mission to the souqs in search of a ceramic plate. I know, it will break in the suitcase. I know, it takes up a lot of room. I know, I should wait to buy souvenirs. Don't worry, I did not buy one yet. But I have every intention of doing so because you can buy these amazing hand carved or painted plates for about five dollars. Ayt home I am pretty sure you would pay at least 70 or 80 dollars for the same thing. At 11, Helen, Laura (Laura that lives in my house, not the one with Projects Abroad-she left already) and I went to these Roman ruins called Shellah. It was really beautiful and we took some amazing pictures. The walls and architecture are so intricate...


After lunch, Helen, Sawsen, and I went to the Kasbah to get a drink and see the gardens. Helen helped me study for the GRE because she is ridiculously good at coming up with silly ways to remember weird words. Fortitude= fort (strong) plus attitude =bravery. We stayed there for a while and Sawsen and I attempted to figure out how to get down to the beach from where we were but we kind of just wandered into peoples houses. Oops. There were probably about 3872 adorable little kittens that looked like thy needed to be pampered just lying in the Kasbah gardens. I do not know if they were abandoned or what, but they were way too small to be out on their own. I know my mom would have scooped them all up and turned them into spoiled little princesses, but I did not think that my host family would have appreciated an addition to the dinner table. Alas.

Afterward we wandered around in the souqs, or craft markets, for a while. I didn't buy anything because I am going to buy most of my souvenirs at the end of the trip. I love window shopping though. We eventually went back to Helen and Sawsen's house and Pete came over. After a little internet we headed out to check out a calligraphy shop with Sawsen and look at a few dresses. I realized that "Obvious Statement Syndrome" (the tendency to make overly obvious statements when you are speaking a foreign language for lack of better vocabulary) does NOT actually shut off by itself. When we got to a suitcase store to look at suitcases for Helen, I brilliantly declared, "Oh, here is the suitcase store." I would have been really proud of that statement in French or Spanish or something, but it just doesn't have quite the same effect in English. Pete was not impressed by my ingenious observation.

Anyway, I accidently left my house key at the girls' house, so we are in search of it. I wanted to add more about my classes but I have to run right now because I teach in a bit and I am not done typing up my stuff for class. Okay, I will post more later!!! Bye!!