June 29 and July 1

I slept well on my first night in MAR as my body still struggles to know what time it is! I woke up a bit in the morning as I wanted Charlie ( my parent's dog) to come to snuggle with me. Had breakfast at home with my parents. My Baba called to check on my bag but no real answer. We went over to the new house to meet my parents ' keeper Saida who was cleaning the new house with her Niece. I explored the house and fingered out the new Fountain my Mum is wanting to put geraniums in would be a great Mini Pool!

We went to The Oudaya Kasbah or also known as Kasbah of the Udayas. This is a beautiful fortified city that is under renovation. As you enter the city you see some beautiful LARGE doors. Mum said these doors have never been open any time that she has been before. As we entered the city there were MANY guides trying to get us to have them take us on the city tour. Mama Guide was all we needed. This city use to completely be painted top white with the bottom of the wall complete with a blue, each door blue. Now each door has been stripped back to the original wood and the walls have been painted white. My parents could not believe the change. I traveled a bit around to find some of the old roads. What a beautiful space. Old or on the way to new, each door, and residence had its own charm.

In this town, you are able to see across the river to Sale and are able to see the Atlantic Ocean. This part of the Atlantic is none like I have any Atlantic Ocean I have ever seen! It reminded me of the beautiful waters of the Gulf Coast. Mum commented isn't the water so beautiful. I take for granted how beautiful the Gulf coast is. Our waters are like none other. But this space had such beautiful shades of water. It honestly was breathtaking. Watching the ocean tides come in with such a force. I now have seen the Atlantic from the East and also the West. I must say I enjoy the color of it from the West the Best!

We went into a shop and I found a Moroccan Paper Dolls book, Baba bought it for me. I am going to scan it! Come to find out it was created by a couple of my parent's dear friends here in Rabat!

We also were in this small town during the midday call to prayer. What a sound, it filled the streets. Mum and Baba were getting tired, Mum has had Shingles for the past 13 weeks and is now in recovery. So we walked out and they found a seat. I wanted to walk down to the gardens. I walked down the stairs to the next gate and walked in.

I walked around some streets finally coming down to this path where this woman told me to come over to her. She was doing Henna, she said let me do a small one for you, I was like ehhh ok. (My mum's friend has arranged for me to get Henna professionally done at her home on Tuesday.) Then this lady started, then kept going, I almost pulled my hand away….. and kept going….. Mind you I did not have any monies on me at this time. She then said pay what you want……. I honestly at this point was mad at myself, mad at this lady, and really just wanted to get away. I said monies and pointed out and said I'm so sorry. She kept saying Inshalla 30 minutes. (God Willing). I just kept saying Inshalla back. I walked away thinking I would find a side road to get back to Mum and baba., Nope, I went every street DEAD end…. I had to walk back by her… She said, Madame…. I just replied Inshalla pointed and kept walking. I walked back quickly to my parents. My mum kept trying to take a picture of me as I was coming but Baba kept telling me to stop for my picture but this Jane was NOT happy.

Mum then said as I showed her the Henna, she said OHHH yea I was going to tell you to watch out for the Henna Lady….. Well, lesson learned. I honestly have forgotten what a different world is like. Not being out of the country in 17 years is a big culture shift.

We walked back to the car and went on a tour of more of the outside of the city next to the water! It was beautiful. Had a late lunch of leftover Middle eastern food from the night before and then a dinner of Quinoa salad and Chicken salad and watch Friends and then went on to bed.

Then on to the next morning of July 1st! We were going to go to their friend's house for Lunch at 11:30 so had a quiet morning, Painting, Yoga, and such. Their friends were getting ready for a trip out of the country next week to the USA and needed to the Main Police Station downtown. What was meant to take 2-3 hours ended up taking 4-5 hours. Our Lunch was moved to Dinner. They really want me to meet their community. It makes my heart happy to meet those who care for them when they are here!

I told mum I really wanted to mow the grass at their new place before I left. Their new place has an electric mower! Very uncommon here. We had some time so we went over there. It was a bit of a Crazy mowing session. The grass was above ankle high in some places. 2-3 hours of work! Rushed back to take showers and get ready for dinner.

We went over to their friend's house who has 3 children. It was a delightful family meal and fellowship time. We told the kids if we finished in enough time we could go see the new house. Mum then made soda floats with Birthday Cake Flavored soda. I only had a taste as the kids were begging me to try it! I then told the kiddos to collect all the balls they could find and we were getting to go to Ms. Phyllis's new house!

We then went over for a fun time. I took glow sticks for the kids and we went into the BIG Salon( living room upstairs) and played with balls and they ran around with Glow-sticks. To retreat home to sleep.

Mum is having me going and seeing things none stop! I want to see, taste, meet and Bless as much as I can while here! I pray I can. Pray for health and safety! We are having fun and spending time! I think Charles has fallen deeply in love with me! Which is a good thing it would suck if my brother didn't love me more than my parents!

Good night <3 jgh

​

Wednesday June 29th

Yesterday arrived quickly in Paris for a quick transfer onward to Morocco. Charles De Gaulle l airport is a little interesting. I'm also reminded that French people are not always nice or received that way.

Well, really the only thing was going back through security. I didn't know that you had to re-go back through the whole security thing. I had reconfigured my bag to get out my electronics when I saw that I had to go back but it's not America and I had to take everything out and about. There was a family People traveling together in front of me and the lady just kept yelling at them "Liquids" she finally went over to someone else and her contact bottle was the big one from the store "Throw it away, too big" and she had her contact lens open for some reason the lady threw them in the trash. And kept yelling liquids. I was frantically trying to find every liquid, lotion, electronic anything before getting to this lady. Finding 7 trays of things I went through to get to the other side of the x-ray machine and it frantically beeps at me and meant having to get "random" swabbed on top of hands, palms and tops of shoes…. Heart RACING. As she put in the machine…. Beep beep, green light. Ok,decor, oui , proceed.
Finally proceeded to the tram only to ride to the next station for it to end. Was looking at a message and looked up and saw that I was the only one on the train 😬 got off and literally jumped on the next train as the doors closed quickly behind me. Then on to my gate where they were already boarding.. but I had to go to the restroom before getting on the plane.

The French airport is really nice! And they also have a giant cat sculpture at the end of the terminal so good art and lots of interesting lounging options! I think you really need to set an alarm if you were in this airport for an extended period of time. On ward to a tinish plane to Morocco 🇲🇦
I saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time in my life in real life!!! Yes. It was from the air but what!!! Amazing!!!Tried to sleep on the plane but it was VERY uncomfortable. I tried to stay awake on some of it because I was sitting next to the window and really wanted to take in all the views.
Stay awake for landing. And onward to customs!

I got to customs only to realize that the paperwork they asked for was in the bag they made me check, which was now checked luggage that I was meant to be picking up over there 👇 The man said oh you have your vaccination card you're fine go go. Got in the long line and got herded through the stanchions. Then I went to the lady and handed my passport and my vaccination card. She asked me a few questions and painted back my passport. I said you have my vaccination card too? She said "no, have it."I started looking everywhere and panicked. She said I gave that back to you first. She finally found that it had slipped behind her computer. Walked through the next part and handed my passport to the policeman. He saw I had my stamp walked on to get my bags.

At the luggage carousel I was hoping to find my bags immediately but was not able to. Close to the end of baggage being done I was able to find my large one then quickly went to lost luggage where a line had already started forming. Delanos book was 5 deep. When the airport started filtering out I started getting more worried and knowing that my mama would be very worried. At this point a man starts yelling John, John, John. John hjgjg. Like kept listening then the man sat down and then I finally said what did you say and he said Jean Hatcher I said oh that's me the man said the policeman said a man I said well it's me You said your parents are I said oh yes I know So another 30 minutes past finally was able to get in the back to be able to give a description of my bag and finally walked out to my greeting parents holding sunflowers and chamomile.
Onward to home as they shouted out different things as we were driving through beautiful scenery. Via their beautiful new home they will move into after I leave.

Onward getting to the house and meeting Charles Robert Windsor Hatcher, my four-legged brother. Who is super snugly.

We had a wonderful dinner of orders from Allo Beirut, hummus and falafel, Baba ganoush, tabouli, tahini. These foods are not very common in Moroccan cuisine. But some of my favoritest.

Took a bath and watched some TV and Crashed ok the couch. Only to sleep hard till 6:00. Pretty amazing Arrival!

More on the news for tomorrow and will edit this and add pictures in the morning 🇲🇦❤️. What a day today! CanNOT wait to tell you about it tomorrow

🇲🇦✌🏼❤️ jgh