The Whatchamacallit: Archive

“He wanted to help a son dig his father’s grave, and the son just stole the...”

– Translated from Moroccan Arabic “جي يعونو فقبر باه هربليه بلفاس” or “Ja i3wano f9bar bah hrblih blfas.” Meaning: If you’re trying to help someone and that person ultimately ends up burdening you.

Jan 29th

Jan 28th

“It’s the fault of the sea.”

– Translated from Moroccan Arabic “فوت ديال لبحر” or “faut dial lbhar” Meaning: When you can’t/don’t want to blame something on somebody, blame it on the sea… just as some Moroccans blame the sea for not being attached to Spain and Europe.

Jan 28th

Jan 27th

A Moroccan Joke : "The Kiss and the Slap"

بينما القطار يشق طريقه متوجه إلى فرنسا كان يجلس في داخله أربعة أفراد متقابلين: ’ أمريكي ومغربي وفتاة وامرأة عجوز دخل القطار في نفق مظلم فسمع الركاب صوت قبلة ، ثم تلاها صوت صفعة على الوجه فلما خرج القطار من النفق شوهد الأمريكي يحك خده وقد احمر، فدار هذا الحوار: س قالت العجوز في نفسها: يالها من فتاة أبية قبّلها الامريكى …فصفعته على وجهه وقالت الفتاة في نفسها: ياله من امريكى غبي، يتركني...

Jan 26th

Jan 25th

Jan 24th

Avatar & Peace Corps Volunteers

Today in my “Global Affairs Class,” I began by having my students brainstorm information that they already knew about Peace Corps. They mentioned things like teaching English, Volunteers stay for 2 years, culture exchange etc. Afterwards, I jumped in to fill in the details and clear up some things, answer questions. My students didn’t know that Volunteers live at/near the poverty...

Jan 23rd

Jan 22nd

2 notes

Jan 21st

Jan 20th

Si Brahim, my Moroccan host father, invited a...

Jan 20th

Currently reading

Jan 19th

Jan 16th

Jan 15th

1 tag

“We abandon saints, and we kiss stones”

– (Translated from Tashelheet) “.دا نفال إڴرامن ، ار نسودوم إزران” or “da nffal Igrramn, ar nsodom Izran.” Meaning : Traditionally, some Moroccans visit tombs of saints. To show their respect, they often kiss the monument. This expression is used when someone chooses...

Jan 14th