One of my (Ashley's) favorite things about Moroccan culture is 'Tea Time'. Women invite friends into their home where they sit and chat for hours over mint tea and goodies. I went with my mentor for tea at one of her friend's villas (quite possibly the largest home I have ever been in) and was amazed by the multiple rounds of cookies and treats, coffee, juice and tea. On one visit for tea in Marrakech, we chatted about a recent wedding, saw all the wedding pictures, and then watched the wedding video... for three hours. As a general rule, Moroccans are very hospitable, which is reflected in the custom of sharing tea. I have enjoyed visiting homes and attempting to speak with Moroccans in broken, toddler-like Arabic.
Most recently I spent an afternoon with friends drinking Southern-style sweet tea. The two Moroccans in this picture are sisters (the one on the left is older, and the one on the right has a twin who wasn't there). One of them speaks English very well, so talking with her about life and Moroccan culture was a real treat!
We talked about many things. We talked about our understanding of who we are as human beings and about our creator, about life and death. I pray that God will bless my new friends as they have certainly blessed me. It was a 'Tea Time' that encouraged and challenged me, one that I will not soon forget and one that I would love to share with you sometime.
