Giving Back to the Community
After a week of getting settled in Fes, the students are beginning to feel at home in their new community. Since Fes is our home-base for the program, we involve ourselves in various activities to reciprocate the kindness of our hosts. In addition to daily cultural exchanges with their homestay families, the students also volunteer at a local orphanage for street children, Ahli, and participate in medina restoration. On Monday, the students engaged in a soccer game with the boys from Ahli. Even with our best skills, the 8 years olds had us beat! It was great fun! Afterwards, the students led a creative drawing activity. This morning, the students participated in their first medina restoration project with a local organization which assists in repairing medina houses to their original glory using traditional materials. As a city that has survived the ages, Fes is a fascinating place. In order to maintain this historical and spiritual place, restoration is a continual process. Today, the students got their hands dirty. They laid bricks, shoveled ans sifted sand, mixed mortar, and chipped away at the aged walls in order to rebuild a solid foundation.
This afternoon, we will learn the ancient and patient art of Arabic calligraphy.