Day 6 - Finally, on the right track!

Thurs Apr 12

Picked up at 8:30 to go to SO office to figure a different athlete from a list on the office. We waited at the office 'til past 9:30 for someone to show up and unlock the main office, apparently neither of our friends had a key. Finally somebody did come, and we discussed several options for a good story. We left it up the SO folks to make the ultimate decision, as they knew the athletes in question much better than us. It was decided that a girl who swam and was 15 years old would be best, as she interacted a good deal with friends, and was one of the more expressive and vibrant athletes. A quick call to her parents confirmed that it'd be fine to do our story on her.

So, we drove to the same center we'd been at several days before when Hasna was training for table tennis (the Moroccan Center for Handicapped People), but this time it was to work with 'Amina'. She was playing basketball when we came into the gym, and when introduced to us she greeted Whitney and I with the traditional cheek touch that most people here do. She seemed like a very sweet girl, and has a mild form of Down Syndrome. She's 15, but her condition causes her to act more like she's 10. We shot her playing basketball with other athletes for a bit, and once she was done and had gone to shower, I played a little soccer with the athletes, and then some basketball with another. And then against the coach. I was nice and let him win, I was a foot taller than him and he wasn't all that good... wouldn't turn and face me like a man, dribbled with his back to me (had to write that, jokingly).

Anyways, Amina then had class in another area of the center, working on arithmetic and reading. Lunch followed, which we briefly shot, and we then left to get our own lunch in town. Went to a cafeteria-style place, but of course the food was still great. Mr. Attar (I finally figured out the Director's name) bought the meal for all of us, something he and/or Said had insisted on doing each time we had eaten with them, saying that a Moroccan never lets a guest pay (that means we've not had to spend much while here!). On the way to eat, we drove past a local weekly market, and asked to stop by on the way back to the center, following lunch. We did so, and it was the real nitty-gritty of Morocco we'd not been able to find in the city. The whole place smelled a lot. People everywhere selling everything one could need, from vegetables to spices to clothes to meat to cow heads to... you get my point. There were areas where they killed and plucked chickens, and a sheep slaughterhouse as well. Fun stuff. Hard to take pictures, because we really stood out like a sore thumb. Got some good ones though of course, and Mr. Attar helped us get permission to take some photos of various vendor's wares. He also bought us some freshly-cooked chickpeas, and no, I didn't think I'd like them, and they still weren't great, but they were pretty good... I might have to try hummus once I get back. Maybe.

So, back to the Center, shot Amina getting on the bus for the ride home, and then rode with them for about an hour back to Rabat as students were dropped off. So cool, great access and shots. Arrived at her house around 5:45, smiled at the waiting parents (who we'd not yet met, mind you), and shot her being greeted and then entering the house. Then sat and talked for a bit, explained what were doing, met her two brothers. They were all more than happy to let us tape whatever we wanted. What access! It was a beautiful house, nicely decorated and large, 3 stories plus a roof terrace. Moroccan houses are not built the same way as ours, built in blocks town home style side by side touching. They are tall and narrow, maybe three rooms on each floor. And don't look like much on the outside. Inside, though, is completely different. Tile decorated the walls in this one where we would have used paint. Long couches were everywhere, the house looked designed to have people, not a lot of things cluttering the rooms. Anyways. We shot her fixing dinner, doing crafts with the mother, watching TV, doing homework, interaction, ect. Great footage. This is so much better and exactly what we wanted and didn't find in Hasna's story.

Their house was literally attached to a mosque, so we got to go to the roof level when the call to prayer went out at 8:20, of which we recored the audio. We then did an interview with one of the brothers, the one that seemed to interact more with her, which went well, except for a slight ringing/buzzing the camera was adding to the mic input. Nothing that can't be fixed in Final Cut, it was very faint, but frustrating not to get top-notch audio. Anyways, Moroccans eat dinner late, and this was no exception, so dinner ended up being at 10. We shot a little of Amina eating with the fam, and then the parents insisted we join them for the meal. It was delicious, real, authentic couscous, a huge heaping platter of it. Steamed vegetables were on top of meat in the middle, of course I'll post pictures. Very good, and even better to be experiencing a meal in a real Moroccan house! Perhaps the only time this will happen in my life, who knows?

We left there about 10:45, and will return in the a.m. to shoot her getting ready, interview her parents, and then her attending swim practice. Has been a long day, but quite productive, and perhaps the best yet!