Teaching is interactive performance art!

It's 4 am and I'm up again. I like the quiet of the early morning hours. I will prepare for my classes next week for a few hours before we go to Fes later this morning with a friend, Karen Smith. I was discussing teaching with some friends yesterday afternoon at the Forest Restaurant in downtown Ifrane near our apartment. I described teaching as interactive performance art. I really enjoy the dynamic relational aspect of teaching where the interactive relationship between teacher and students is always shifting and changing into something different and new. My days are never boring and always stimulating. It also helps that I really like my students and find their different personalities a constant source of amusement and enlightenment about Moroccan culture, Islam and what it means to be young in today's world; but, what I like best is that I see them each as a person without any cultural or religious label. I find labels impersonal, dehumanizing, dangerous and usually inaccurate. If you drop the labels and take the time to get to know the person, it is a whole different world. I find as I get older that life is more and more about relationships and less and less about abstract intellectualization. My life now is much more up close and personal - it's a better way to live for me and a better life.

Traveling!

Doris and I had dinner Friday night at  the Weimar in Rabat. We had dinner last night with Moni and Hubi at the Posthaus in Kronberg.  Sometimes it just hits me - two countries and two continents within 24 hours, and I feel at home in both places. Who would have ever thought?  This week we are in Germany to help Moni and Hubi pack up Elfriede's apartment.  It will be an emotionally challenging week. I wish I could say something profound but I just feel sad. 

Germany this weekend!

Doris and I will fly to Germany this weekend to dissolve Elfriede's household since we have a week holiday for Aid.  We may buy a car while we are there and drive it back to Morocco via the ferry from either France or Spain.  We are looking at a VW Tiguan.

Doris writing

I want to thank everyone for expressing such heartfelt support to us. It is hard  - impossible still - to imagine that the person who has loved me me before I was born, who knew me best and has been with me my entire life, is gone. Just before my mum died, my sister said to her: "Muddi (that's the Frankfurt version of 'mother'), you will have to watch out for us from heaven" to which she responded: "Of course I will, I have nothing else to do."
Mike has been incredibly supportive and will be once again when we go back to Germany next week to dissolve my mum's household. When love is not a source of joy, it can be the source of unconsolable sadness.

Funeral

Elfriede's funeral was elegant, beautiful and dignified.  The minister's eulogy captured her life and personality perfectly.  There was sadness and grief over the loss but also joy and laughter over the memory of her life so full of love, humor and compassion.  She is well-loved by all who know her and will always be remembered as an example of a life well lived.  Elfriede is that rare human being whose life deeply touched everyone who knew her - friends and family and she will be missed - her love, her wisdom and her joy of life.