Where in the World is Miss Solesbee?

One of the last conversations we had with our host, who'd gone out his way for the billionth time to take us to the Old Medina in search of authentic Moroccan spices to bring home with us, was about his family. Moroccans love in ways I can't fathom - their sweetness, their kindness - it knows no bounds. Our host teacher and his wife look at each other with love and adoration - never the flashy, over the top kind, either. It's the quiet kind. The kind that lasts. His daughters - which were such a light in our week here in Taza - are no different. Sweet to their core and genuinely good to one another and to their parents. While I'm sure they're subject to the same sibling troubles all kids face - there's this sense of forgiveness that permeates their relationship both with each other and with their parents. They care for and about one another - and they work as a team. Their busy days - which would make any American cringe - the back and forth from school to ho...

Baracka - which was taught to us so early on in this trip - is defined as a sort of blessing and spiritual continuity among all of us here and everywhere. Moroccans believe in baracka - that we are all connected in spirit and in heart - and that this joyful feeling - this goodness in all things- is something to be honored and celebrated, always. When it was first described to me - I understood it, as I know baracka flows through my classroom every day. It is, for me - gratitude, personified. It's what brings us together and makes our time in room 234 mean so much. Yesterday, as we said goodbye to our first group of students here in Taza - I felt baracka first hand. It's not a feeling I'll ever forget. We'd seen these students Monday - they were our first group of students and set the bar very high for the many others we'd meet throughout the week. There was something very special about them - even on that first day, when they were a bit shy and - despite the sin...

The Arabic language is beautiful - but difficult. We've managed to get by on a handful of words and sayings - my favorite of which is Salam A'Alaykom - or Peace be upon you. It's the first thing out of someone's mouth when they pass you on the street and, often, the last thing said in a conversation between friends. It means "Peace be upon you," and in a way - I think it defines the culture here. Back home, it's common for Southerners to speak to strangers - it's actually one of the things I love most about living in the south. Folks are friendly - whether they know you or not. That kind of warmth without expectation has always felt right to me - and to have found it here in Morocco feels pretty incredible. Moroccans take that warmth a step further with their greeting - it isn't just a "Hey" or "Hello," but "Peace be upon you." Peace - what so many of us in America can't seem to hold on to in our lives - is bes...

I think people don't like to talk about struggle when they're in it - the easy thing to do is to wait until the struggle has passed, and talk about it after. It requires no bravery - no courage. You talk about what you went through, what you learned, and that's that. It is a much harder thing, I think - to talk about the struggle while you're in it. To be in it - and to know that it's also exactly the thing you needed. That place is where I was yesterday. On a mountain - literally, and figuratively. We arrived in Taza two days ago. We'd spent our first week together as a cohort, learning and growing in the capital city of Rabat. Just like home - the capital felt diverse, and safe, and not so different from home. When we approached the city of Taza - we began to see the mountains. I mistakenly thought they were the Atlas mountains - but I was wrong. These were the Rif mountains -and the city of Taza sits between them and the Atlas mountains at an elevation of 1...

We're all having a really hard time with these blogs - not because we don't want to write, and certainly not because we aren't having an incredible time together here in Rabat - but because it's very hard to attempt to put into words what's happening around us. This place is filled with beauty - and there's no way anything I could write could properly convey what that beauty has done for me as a teacher and as a human being. In just a handful of days, I've seen more than I could even begin to share. I'm going to try and do that - but read ahead knowing that these words pale in comparison to the experience and feeling of gratitude that's flooded me these last few days. Today is Friday. Most of the day felt like a dream - we drove out early to Casablanca, where we met the most incredible Moroccan high schoolers. They welcomed us with flowers and food and had prepared a series of exhibits all about Morocco and their culture. Just like every Moroccan ...

I've decided the title of this post is my new definition of the word "travel." We left Raleigh last night (maybe? My days are mixed up.) I enjoyed my first international flight very much - I watched "The Lion King" and realized a few things: it is a completely perfect Disney film, Nala is an inspiration to us all, and I still know every single word to every single song. It felt like a great way to usher in my time in Africa - and it was. I woke up in Paris - and while I didn't get to see the city, I did get to try out my "Bonjour!" and "Merci!" many times. I also got to meet up with the other teachers who are with me here in Morocco. They come from everywhere - and teach everything. They are all such an inspiration to me as a teacher and as a human being. I know we're going to have such an awesome time together these next few weeks, and I just feel really grateful to be here with them. Once we flew into Morocco, I did a lot of t...

Welcome! It feels very right that my first entry to this travel blog is my last day with my incredible students at Neal. This blog will document the next three weeks of my life - where I will travel to Morocco as part of the Teachers for Global Classrooms program! I can't believe it is already time to travel. About a year ago, I remember submitting my application for the TGC program. It was one of the most challenging applications I've ever done. I wrote and re-wrote my essays, revised my resume, and even though I knew I'd worked very hard - I couldn't imagine myself making it in to such an amazing program. And then, after a day on the beach during my vacation to Ocracoke Island in late June - I got the acceptance email. I was so excited and it just did not feel real! That feeling has stuck with me - throughout the ten week online course, which proved more challenging and rewarding than any course I've ever taken as a teacher. Even in DC - where we all came toge...