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Published: September 28th 2010
Another long day coming to a close! Too forever to get to sleep as some sat out in the garden with the hookah and were a bit loud --- close to 1 AM before sleep. I hope it is quieter tonight!
We headed off to the Orphanage this morning at 7:40 and I went in with the babies again. It was quite hot today and even hotter in the Orphanage. When we arrive all the babies were just rising. They sleep/live in the nursery beds that you see in the hospital nurseries. They are all swaddled in and they have them dressed in not only onesies but long sleeve/long plant sleepers. I was melting!! When they bathe the babies they close all the windows.
They go through and strip the babies one baby at a time and they bathe them. They then would diaper and dress them in onesies and full sleepers again. Once all the babies are washed and clean they prepare the bottles. I helped dress the babies and then I helped feed. The babies are sooooo adorable!
The pink nest (babies) got busy with a group of nursing students so I crossed the hall and
went over to the 6-12 month group. During the day they put the kids in these huge playpens maybe 10x10. I climbed in with a few other volunteers and tried to entertain the kids. They have the kids play with balloons - inflated balloons. i was so surprised. One of the girls in the 6-12 group is special needs...fetal alcohol syndrome I think and she has a bunch of teeth - she was chewing on the balloon. I had a vision of her choking on the darn thing.
I moved over to the 1-2 year old group where there are 10 children. Of those children all but 3 are adopted...the three with special needs have not been adopted. I think the three with special needs have Cerebal Palsy. It is so terribly sad - they get no therapy. I think the quality of life is quite poor. It's very sad but as I sad before the nurses/staff are really great - they love the children.
After placement we had lunch...another interesting lunch of which I have no idea what it was. 😊 After lunch I went on a tour of the city. We went first to the Mauseleum
Minaret
Minaret started to be built in 1100 but was never completed. It is only half the height it was intended to be. It was going to be the largest mosque in the world.of Mohammed V. This is the tomb of the current kings's father, grandfather and brother. It took 7 years to build with intricate tile work. Every entrance has a royal guard - it is very beautiful. Next to it is a Mosque - remember I cannnot go in the mosque - only Muslims. It is not a Muslim law that you cannot enter the mosque but a law enacted the French that they have held onto. The only mosque a non muslim can enter is just one...the one in Casablanca -- 3rd largest in the world.
This was also the site of the Hassan Mosque. It was intended to be the largest mosque in the world but with the death of the king in 1199 the work stopped and the minaret is only half the size and all that is left is part of the outside walls and the columns. It is quite a reverent place.
We then went over to the Kasbah de Oudaias. What is a Kasbah (or Casbah)? It's a fort....it's funny how many people didn't know that. LOL. The Kasbah was built in the 12 century as well and is gorgeous. Inside we saw
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Minaret - the posts are all from 1100 -- more than 300 posts to hold up what would have been the largest mosque in the world. the oldest mosque in Rabat that was also built in the 12th century and restored in the 18th. We walked all through the Kasbah with the climbing winding streets painted blue and white. At the end is the Signal Platform with amazing views of the Atlantic and the next time Sale. We were also able to see the formal Andalusion gardens. Beautiful... I never knew the Andalusions were Muslim -- I am learning alot!
When then went over to the Medina and walked from one end to other. Not nearly as crazy as it was on late Sunday afternoon but still very exotic. No one has really even bought anything yet -- it's like you have to get your nerve up -- the bargaining is quite a process!!
When I got back I was tired but ending up staying up until after 12 with Jean, Ina, Heidi and Chad laughing. It was a nice evening! Back at placement in the morning!
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Alexandra
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I am so proud to call you my mom. You do all these fun adventures and all of it for no money at all. I love you mom and I cant wait to read your blog tomorrow to hear more about your adventures in Morocco.