Lost in translation

Ait M'hamed Day 2

view of the mountains and grazing lands

A bit lonelier than my stay in Amslane since there are no children or others in the house and my translator is staying with his family in Azilal but we won’t meet for a few more days. Malika is very thoughtful and quiet person, but to improvise with communication we are using a mix of English, French, Darija/Tamazirght (since many general phrases have been incorporated from Arabic into the Amazigh languages). I told her to use the name I was given in Amslane- Amina, since my actual name seems too troublesome most people so far.

aster filled grazing field

I joined her for breakfast and then walked down through town with her to her workplace but continued along the river to explore the landscape. It’s a little more awkward being here alone without a translator and not looking fully like a foreigner- especially being so tan from my trip so far. I have been assumed to be many different ethnicities, so I’m not surprised that Moroccans think I am a Moroccan but from foreign parts- even in Marrakech it was happening. I dress and I suppose act like a foreigner, but not too obviously since I am covering up all but my head and hands and wear very loose clothes both here and Amslane out of respect. With Souad in Amslane I felt better walking around since she also dressed differently and without a head coverings and she could translate and tell people I was not Moroccan and spoke English. Here since the douar is larger not everyone knows that I am a foreign researcher, so my presence is questioned since there are so many people, there is less greeting on the roads and paths like in Amslane.

Had a lovely time walking and exploring the other hills. Got some great shots with my camera of the douar, plant species, and landscape- the snow covered mountains are so stunning and a contrasting with the green and brown arid hills and low peaks. It’s very warm here, like the sunnier days in Amslane. The flora is also very similar, most of the same species but more flowers here on the hills than the mountainsides in Amslane, and a few beautiful new species. In the afternoon I had couscous at Najar’s house with her family, since Malika was away not sure how everyone was related, but the other women were very nice. In the afternoon I walked along the same back hill by the river. Taking a path to avoid the dogs. So much trash mixed in with the rocks plants and food waste on the paths and in streams down from the houses, much like Amslane. Sad so see this kind of degradation even if the population is small it builds up a lot. Did some more sketching of the valley and watched women grazing and washing clothes in the river and took a tally of the animals I’ve seen so far.