Blog Post 2: SSS (Sunset, Snails, Stray Cats) - Janet

After a cumulative 12 hour flight from Seattle to Paris and Paris to Rabat, we all stumbled off the plane into the surprisingly nice and cool weather of Rabat. Only later did we find out that this weather wouldn't follow us when we got to the village. Regardless, we savored the weather as we traveled to the dinner spot next to the river that borders Rabat into the Medina (Old city) to the new city. Many fishermen were trying to catch fish there, but as it turns out there's only small fishes and sardines there. We arrived to the dinner place there was an aroma I had never experienced before. 

The already beautifully layered clouds started to turn light blue and purple, and then an almost neon orange. Every minute the clouds would change shape and colors, as if it was showing us a sunset from every part of the world. Fluffy purple clouds turn into streaks of deep red. It was the best sunset I've ever seen in my entire life. While this is happening we were just waiting for our food to arrive. As we were thinking in the sunset, Melissa (one of the program heads for the organization we're volunteering for) says, "anyone want some snails?" She points to a street vendor right next to us with a huge pot and steam flowing out of it. It turns out the earthy smell was from that pot! We each took a toothpick and a snail and pulled it out of its shell, its flavor was incredibly strong and slightly sweet. It had the texture of a cooked oyster but without the fishiness. Rabia, one of the leaders for this trip, told me that the flavors come from a variety of spices (the only one I remember being chili flakes). Already one day in and I'm trying new foods! 

When we return to our seats we noticed many cats. Two cats, gray cats, black cats, all of them stray. Don't worry, none of us pet any. Anyway the one that stood out to me was this little gray striped kitten. It was so small yet so bold, walking around under my table right next to our feet. It stood out of every single one of the other cats with its bright green eyes and playful stride. The kitten would play with a little piece of cardboard on the ground scratching it. it would also pounce on a little furball from I don't know where. And it would hide behind a little curb but it would never make any noises, no meows, no purrs. I wonder why... 

Overall I've already encountered so many things I've never experienced or seen before. and for this trip, I want to be open to experiencing more things. Keeping an open mind about everything making myself live in the uncomfortable because as Ms. Devine says, "you will get out of this trip as much as you put into it."


Sunset over the river walk


Sampling snails

At the airport in Rabat




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