We spent the morning going over the political position and history of Morocco, which like all places is loaded with turning points and personalities. The original question was, “Does Morocco identify more with Africa or the Arab states or Europe?” The answer has changed since I was here in 2012!
At that time Morocco was trying hard to related to Europe, even to hope of one day joining the EU. But last year they joined the African Union, seeing their current position more like the countries to the south.
Of course the country directly to the south is a South Sudan with whom they have a long standing conflict over independence and borders, complicated by the Saudi oil transport via Sudanese lands and old battles between French and Spanish territories. St the moment they are waiting for the Sudanese to vote on being part of Morocco or independent only no one can decide who can vote: those born in certain areas, those whose families date there but have been displaced, or those living there now.
In the meantime the number of refugees (true ones fleeing war and enslavement )via Morocco to a Spain is higher now that the number going from a turkey to Greece. It seems when Spain left the colony they held on to 2 cities on the north coast. Those are still technically in Spain even as they sit on this side of the Mediterranean. So anyone who sneaks into this heavily walled, barb wired and defended cities is in Spain and has to prosecuted to send back. Many desperate women get pregnant because the treatment of pregnant women or those with new babies is much better. The children born here Will never be citizens so they end up in orphanages eventually as the women moves on, stuck in abject poverty and only hoping for somewhat better treatment with the next pregnancy. Adoption is not permitted in Islam.
If you think that paragraph was long it is just one of the age old problems we discussed that have observable outcomes but no solution. Some issues are stuck waiting for UN decisions. some are unresolved borders from colonialism of the 1930 or the Cold War. Areas prospered under Soviet support but collapsed when the USSR did. And of course oil interests and prices create the problems or too much or too little money.
It’s complicated.
Azrou itself is somewhat isolated from all this except in the areas of education and employment. The highest unemployment rates - statistically - are among the educated educated which results in little motivation to stay in school. Private schools are growing for those able to pay leaving a gap in education. We are here to help with w small number of teachers of the littlest ones.
Way too much politics! The weather is sunny in the morning and rainy/cooler in the afternoon. Children play in the playground behind us, and lunch was delicious. Tomorrow we start teaching and move from the global to the personal.
At that time Morocco was trying hard to related to Europe, even to hope of one day joining the EU. But last year they joined the African Union, seeing their current position more like the countries to the south.
Of course the country directly to the south is a South Sudan with whom they have a long standing conflict over independence and borders, complicated by the Saudi oil transport via Sudanese lands and old battles between French and Spanish territories. St the moment they are waiting for the Sudanese to vote on being part of Morocco or independent only no one can decide who can vote: those born in certain areas, those whose families date there but have been displaced, or those living there now.
In the meantime the number of refugees (true ones fleeing war and enslavement )via Morocco to a Spain is higher now that the number going from a turkey to Greece. It seems when Spain left the colony they held on to 2 cities on the north coast. Those are still technically in Spain even as they sit on this side of the Mediterranean. So anyone who sneaks into this heavily walled, barb wired and defended cities is in Spain and has to prosecuted to send back. Many desperate women get pregnant because the treatment of pregnant women or those with new babies is much better. The children born here Will never be citizens so they end up in orphanages eventually as the women moves on, stuck in abject poverty and only hoping for somewhat better treatment with the next pregnancy. Adoption is not permitted in Islam.
If you think that paragraph was long it is just one of the age old problems we discussed that have observable outcomes but no solution. Some issues are stuck waiting for UN decisions. some are unresolved borders from colonialism of the 1930 or the Cold War. Areas prospered under Soviet support but collapsed when the USSR did. And of course oil interests and prices create the problems or too much or too little money.
It’s complicated.
Azrou itself is somewhat isolated from all this except in the areas of education and employment. The highest unemployment rates - statistically - are among the educated educated which results in little motivation to stay in school. Private schools are growing for those able to pay leaving a gap in education. We are here to help with w small number of teachers of the littlest ones.
Way too much politics! The weather is sunny in the morning and rainy/cooler in the afternoon. Children play in the playground behind us, and lunch was delicious. Tomorrow we start teaching and move from the global to the personal.
