![\"2013-02-23](\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/mediterranean-migration\/files\/2013\/02\/2013-02-23-16.51.33.jpg\")
<\/a>Albidi, Prof. Borges, Jiovanni, and me at the restaurant in Moissac.<\/p><\/div>\n
The next morning, we met Jiovanni on the town square in the frigid early morning and he drove us to Albidi\u2019s complex.\u00a0 Upon entering the three bedroom apartment we were immediately greeted with warm hugs, kisses, and handshakes from the men.\u00a0 I was at the front of the group and cautiously followed the hallway to the living room where a fold-up table covered with a plastic flower table cloth was set up for us.\u00a0 Their four children greeted us shyly, prodded by their parents.\u00a0 Soon, a silver tray with small decorative glasses was brought over and we were served mint tea out of a tall silver tea pot. \u00a0This was not our first time having mint tea in France, but it is here we learned the importance of pouring your mint tea while holding the pot up high to create white bubbles on the surface. \u00a0“If it’s not like this, it’s no good,” Jama informed us. \u00a0 As we waited, chatting with Jiovanni and Albidi, Albidi\u2019s wife Jama brought out plates and plates of food.\u00a0 Moroccan crepes, rghaif (pronounced raif), and yet a third type of bread surrounded us.\u00a0 Bowls of olive oil, argan oil, and honey were set out before us.\u00a0 Before we knew it, we were convinced to stay for couscous that had already been cooking on the stove before we even arrived.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Our Moroccan feast.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Pouring the mint tea.<\/p><\/div>\n
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After the table was empty and our bellies full, Jama sat at the table with us while the men sat on fold-up chairs on the other side of the room and continued with their own chat. When the men left to go on a walk, Jama opened up to us as if she hadn\u2019t spoken to a friend in years.\u00a0 While her husband\u2019s Spanish was strong, she felt more comfortable in French because her Spanish had faded since being out of the country.\u00a0 So Jama and I spoke together in broken French.\u00a0 Occasionally, she would substitute a word or phrase in Spanish that she did not know in French.\u00a0 Luckily, speaking French and Spanish made it easier to follow the conversation when she would do this.\u00a0 However, listening to Jama required a lot of attention.\u00a0 She stumbled over her words and made long pauses, searching for the right way to express her ideas in whichever language she could.\u00a0 It was a nice form of communication since neither one of us had perfect language yet we could still understand each other.\u00a0 Of course, there were moments when a few things were lost in translation or when I had to ask for a clarification which entirely changed what I thought she said and left me feeling a little ridiculous.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Jama talking to us while holding her baby daughter and youngest child, Sarah.<\/p><\/div>\n
Jama\u2019s story is powerful, full of struggles with her mother-in-law during her time in Morocco, her husband, her first-born child, and her first years in Europe as an immigrant.\u00a0 It would not do her story justice to begin telling it now; the entire experience was so rich that a book could be written about it.\u00a0 The family\u2019s hospitality was incredible and Jama was so grateful to have us visit.\u00a0 As we left, she kept repeating \u201cCome see me, come see me again! I\u2019m alone in the house all day.\u201d\u00a0 She smothered us in kisses, hugs, and wishes for good health at the door.<\/p>\n
Since I am writing this post after my experience, and not the day it happened, or even in the same week, I can definitely say it was the most illuminating experience for me on this trip.\u00a0 There are so many things to talk about it is almost impossible to decide on where to begin.\u00a0 I gained so much from my time with the family: learning about Moroccan traditions and culture, seeing their reputed hospitality, how to navigate the situation as a sociologist, etc.\u00a0 It definitely eased my anxiety about our next stop in Morocco\u2026<\/p>\n
<\/a>The whole group minus Albidi and Jiovanni.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On a weekend trip we took while staying in Toulouse to a small town called Moissac, we met two Moroccan workers currently living in France. The pair had previously spent 12-13 years living and working in Spain but made their … Continue reading