Welcome Letter from PC Morocco Country Director

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Rabat, Morocco


Congratulations Peace Corps Morocco Invitees! I think you’ll love it here. We’re all looking forward to meeting you in country on September 10, and wish you a wonderful, relaxing, and productive summer. To help you be “productive” this summer, I am sharing with you the following link to help you get started on Moroccan Arabic before you arrive: http://friendsofmorocco.org/learnarabic.htm. I strongly encourage you to study a little bit each day. You won’t regret it.


Twenty-one years ago, I was in the same boat as you, waiting to fly to Morocco to begin my Peace Corps experience as an English teacher in Marrakesh. I can’t believe how the time has flown since then, and I am thrilled to be back as Peace Corps’ country director. Upon your arrival, you’ll be met by Peace Corps training staff and driven to a training facility where you’ll stay for your first few days. Then, you’ll move into a Moroccan family’s home in a small community where you’ll live and do most of your training with a small group of fellow Trainees. This “immersion” type of training has proven over and over again to be the most effective in language and cultural acquisition. And it’s fun, albeit a little intimidating at first.


If your imaginations are anything like mine was when I prepared for training in Morocco in 1988, you may be picturing camels, deserts, and Rick’s Café in Casablanca. It is all of that and much more. It may surprise you that many of our Volunteers were knee deep in snow at times this past winter. Morocco actually has two ski resorts in its Atlas Mountains.


So, bring cool clothes, bring heavy coats and sleeping bags, but most important, remember to bring lots of patience, innovativeness, adaptability and flexibility, creativity, lots of curiosity, and a very good sense of humor. Peace Corps is a human-resource driven development agency which means that these qualities, plus your tremendous skills and experiences, will be essential for a successful and productive two years.


We look forward to sharing the experience with you.



Sincerely,


David Lillie

Country Director