Morocco had a lot of rain in December and January. We needed the rain! So it was a good blessing, but it is also true that there was flooding in some places… I hope everyone was safe.
Last Christmas, my husband’s brother’s family came all the way to visit us! So we had a fabulous God Jul time with them, and tried our best to make a traditional Swedish Christmas menu.
And for New Year’s, I made Japanese “Osechi” (traditional New Year’s food). Since I couldn’t find all the ingredients, it was a bit of a “makeshift” version, but we were able to welcome the New Year in spirit, I think.
Throughout January, we were very much involved in rooting for Moroccan National Team at the Africa Cup of the Nations! We had fun with the locals at a bar or cheering loudly together in the FanZone. It was so much fun.
Oh, and I made some “Victory Headbands” – yup. そうそう、「必勝はちまき」も作りましたよ。
We spent a few days in Agadir, in search of sunlight & the blue sky. Agadir amazed us, with beautiful beaches and very organized infrastructure. The resort we stayed at had so many visitors from Europe… It was a lovely, relaxing weekend.
Oh, at Agadir airport, I got to meet Assad, the mascot for Morocco’s soccer team. モロッコのサッカーチーム·マスコット、Assadくんにも出会えました。
And my husband got to meet a big duck. そして旦那さんは、大きなアヒルさんに出会えました。
Weekly choir practice, studying French and Darija every day, trying out new recipes & dishes at cooking – something I didn’t have much time to do before back in the US. Often we join some activities through International Club of Rabat, And, spending time walking with my husband, while saying hello to our kind neighbors (both humans and cats)… Days in Rabat flow peacefully with lots smiles, and I am so thankful.
This year, 2026, seems to be another year of lots of traveling ahead, both business and personal. Inshallah! 今年2026年も、出張やら里帰りやらでいろいろな場所へ旅をしそうな夫婦です。インシャーラ！
Tomo
The cats of the day :: Les chats du jour :: 今日の猫しゃんたち
Please stop by at my salon again 💞🫖🍵 3afak & Chukran
Three months passed after the last blog post! Oh dear… well, I don’t want to sound like sharing “excuses”, but we have been quite busy in the last three months, and I was away from my laptop. Okay, that’s an excuse…
While we were in the US, there were so many people to reunite; our children (in Providence and Seattle), our mother-figure, Tant Aina (in Cleveland), our dear friends (in Seattle). We also attended a wedding (in Denver) of Olof’s friend from MIT.
It felt like we were traveling around the US, like astruggling rock band. “The Hellmans US Tour!” did not quite cover the major cities (see, we are a “struggling” rock band 😅) but all the love we received from each place was priceless!
After returning to Morocco, we had to go to Valencia & Logroño, Spain, and then Marseille, France, for Olof’s conferences. I know there is a term “TradWife” that’s been trending on social media, but I guess I’m more of a “ConfeWife”. I just tag along to my husband’s conferences as a “plus one”.
I have to say, I like my life as “ConfeWife” – it’s a refreshing change. When we lived in the US, I traveled for work more often than my husband did, so I’m really happy to be able to accompany him on his business trips now. Besides, how can I complain about visiting new places and exploring different cultures? Well, above all, it makes me very happy to see my husband enjoying his career, presenting his research and expanding his network through international conferences.
Okay, more “excuses” 🙂 Three wonderful guests stayed with us in September & October. One couple from Arizona are friends we’ve known since our sons were homeschooled. Katie and Brent stopped in Morocco after studying Spanish in Granada for a month. The other guest was Takano-san, who helped me a lot when I was working in Hawaii. He brought so many souvenirs from Japan – and I am so touched!
We have visited Marrakesh with him! 高野さんとは、”小旅行”としてマラケッシュへも同行。
Since moving here, we have been so blessed to welcome many guests staying at our place. I cannot express enough how wonderful Morocco is 🇲🇦, and I believe that the best way to see the beauty of Morocco is for anyone to come and experience it for themselves. We absolutely enjoy showing them around, introducing them to the amazing Moroccan culture and even-more amazing Moroccan people❤️.
Our next guests will be Olof’s brother and his family at Christmas! I’m trying to figure out how to create a Swedish-style “Julbord” for Christmas in Morocco… probably no ham 🍖.
Over the past three months, we’ve been making numerous trips to the police station: no, we are not in trouble, but we are trying to get our Moroccan residence permits (carte de sejour) . Each time, we have to wake up at 5 AM, then appear at the police station by 7am, sign our names on a list, and then have Petit Déjourner until the police counter opens at 8:30am. Yes, this is our regular schedule. We’ve already been to the police station for eight times, needless to say, with so many trips to La Commune. Are we almost ready to receive our permits soon? It’s a true “inshallah”…
I joined the local choir, Harmonize Choir! and practice started in September, and I’m having a lot of fun every time! But, I’m lamenting my lack of French ability… So, recently, I’ve been devoting a lot more time to “studying French.” I’m constantly reminded how difficult French is (maybe I need to eat more cheese, or drink wine 🍷🧀 as my husband suggests…) Hopefully, I will be able to understand French directions at each rehearsal better. Inshallah.
In addition to French, we’ve also started attending the “Darija” class held by the International Club of Rabat. We spend 90 minutes once a week puzzling over Darija verb conjugations… this is another “inshallah” moment.
I’m also spending my time making and replenishing Natto, growing herbs on our terrace, taking yoga classes, figuring out “how to make authentic Japanese food with ingredients found in Morocco”, etc… and telling myself that I should start blogging more frequently. Shukran for reading my “excuses”! 😆
In Morocco, you can find “The Laughing Cow” cheese everywhere. It seems like this joyful cow became an essential part of Moroccan breakfast or snack time. I am sure you have all seen this cheese somewhere. It’s been distributed to so many countries by the Bel Group in France since 1921. That makes this ‘laughing cow’ older than Mickey Mouse (who was born in 1928) .
You can feel assured that the cheese made from such a smiley cow must be delicious, non? Well, the original design of the cow is a bit questionable, but those were the days. Speaking of ‘questionable’, I am not sure about the life-size mascot either…
French is widely used in Morocco, therefore, the cheese is named “La Vache qui rit.” I have been a fan of this logo way before moving here; I actually own Vache qui rit earrings and a T-shirt, and I ADORE them (thanks to my hubby!). Especially, these earrings have become kind of like my identity; many people stop by and talk to me when I wear these 🙂 If you look closer, though, it is written “The Laughing Cow” because they were made in the US. And it’s not the original flavor (that’d be in a blue box), but orange (cheddar flavor). Okay, too many details…
フランス語が主流なモロッコでは、”Vache qui rit” という名称で親しまれています。このロゴの牛さんが前々から好きだった私、実はイヤリングとT-shirtを持っております（笑）。このイヤリングをしていると、声をかけてくれる方がたくさん！楽しいアイテムです。でも、アメリカ在住中に旦那さんからプレゼントしてもらったので、よ～く見ると”The Laughing Cow”、そしてオリジナルフレーバーのブルーではなく、オレンジ色（チェダー風味）。どうでもいい情報です。
I came across these fun designs of La Vache qui rit while I was shopping. The cows are wearing a variety of Moroccan hats! And each package design features a different region of this amazing country. SO, I HAD TO buy all 4 of them. Pourquoi pas? Why not? Thanks to Google Translate, I could see what these designs represent: “Treasure of the South,” “Great Atlantic Coast,” “Jewel of the North,” and “Authentic East.” This is a cheese with some poetic attitude.
Scanning the barcode also leads to a game for children. Fun! Apparently, there was a “Cow with a Hat” contest, and the results showed that the one wearing the Moroccan cap came out on top. I love this kind of customer interaction. I am moooooved.
The Bell group sells cheese and other related products in 130 countries. In Japan, it started in 1983, and I’m sure you know the “BelCube” if you are reading this blog in the land of the rising sun. Now, why cubes? when triangle wedges are the norm in other countries? Is it the size? Oh, maybe it’s because Japan is a serious country, so they decided that cheese needs to be a bit “square“? If you know the reason behind the cheese shape, please let me know. I was impressed that they have 10 different flavors – chorizo, onion, prosciutto, scallop, blue, cheddar, camembert, tomato, olive, and creamy. Wow.
By the way, there’s apparently an event in Zurich titled “La Vache qui LIT” (‘lit’ means ‘read’ in French). Yup, it’s a reading contest for children aged 8 to 12, with a ‘dad-joke’ title. Also, in the town of Lons-le-Saunier in France, there is an annual cycling race sponsored by the Bel Company. I don’t do sport cycling, but I do want that uniform.
ちなみに、Vache qui ritの言葉をオヤジギャグ的にもじったイベントがスイス、チューリッヒで行われているようです。その名も＜La Vache qui LIT> コンテスト。8歳から12歳のお子さんを対象に、読書を推奨するためのイベントらしいです（Litはフランス語で’読む’）。また、ロンス・ル・ソーニエの町では、ベル社主催のサイクリング・レースが毎年行われているようです。このユニフフォーム、欲しい。
Speaking of Lons-le-Saunier, it is the home of “La Maison de la Vache qui rit,” a museum dedicated to our beloved laughing cow. Visiting there is definitely on my bucket list. I might even be able to buy some underwear for my husband (not sure he wants it though) in their gift shop. Inshallah.
First, apologies to all the vegans & vegetarians. Today’s post is deeply about meat. まずはじめに、ベジタリアンの方、ごめんなさい。今日の投稿はお肉三昧です。🍖
Selma-chan previously told us about a great Moroccan barbecue spot. Today, thanks to her arrangement, we decided to try it out! Selma, Badr, Alex, my husband and I took a 30-minute drive. Alex came all the way from Casablanca to join this “meat-eating-adventure”!!! See, he is that cool, and, to make him even cooler, he is a Natto-loving guy (I am so going to share my Natto with him)!
We arrived in an area called El Aarjate, a huge “truck-stop” 🚛 kind of place that popped up along the highway. The “touting” began even in the parking lot. I love this kind of “truck-stop” atmosphere. In Japan, it is called the “Service Area” and I have fond memories of our family vacations as a child in those places. We would spend summers in Karuizawa or Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture, and we often stopped at service areas along the way to eat ice cream🍦… Good times.
So, our mission for today was, simply, to EAT MEAT! With Moroccan barbecue style, Chwa, of course. It’s not fancy, there is no tablecloth with a waiter with bow tie. But, it is the best kind of barbecue experience you can get! Just so that you know, mint tea is a must, even in a place like this. Humdulillah.
I took a peek at the grill and sampled a little piece of meat, generously coated in cumin powder. So delicious! Okay, I could tell, we were in the right place! When I asked the gents if I could take a photo 📸, they said, “Sure, go ahead, and you should grill also!” Alright then, if you say so👩🏻🍳.
We were a group of Moroccans🇲🇦, Chinese🇨🇳, Japanese🇯🇵, and Americans🇺🇸 with a hint of Swedish🇸🇪. We were like members of Petite United Nations 🌎 and were having a great time chatting, and then… THE MEAT arrived! A TON OF MEAT! 🙌
The grilled beef skewers and the lamb meat in foil were definitely “melt-in-your-mouth”, and Selma-chan’s favorite, the grilled liver skewers with the fat pieces rolled around them, were incredibly juicy. We had grilled tomatoes & onions as a side dish. Oh, by the way, the bread was served as a plate, as a fork, as a knife, and maybe as a napkin. How can we live without bread???🥳
Our stomachs and our hearts were so filled! Thank you for driving, Badr-kun!
お腹も心もいっぱいの時間。運転してくれたバダールくん、ありがとう！
Now, today, August 9th, marks the 80th anniversary ofthe atomic bombing of Nagasaki. Three days before, on the 6th, Hiroshima was bombed as well. Sure, 80 years is a long time, but it still gives me a lot of pain to think of all those who suffered from the bombings and were exposed to radiation. Of course, it should never happen again. Never.
Five of us were born in different countries, from different upbringings in different cultures. Yet, we were able to enjoy delicious barbecue together in a little village in Morocco. After 80 years of those devastating historical events, I cannot stop but think that a society where we can co-exist regardless of where you are from, should not be taken for granted. Especially with good food and good laughters. No more atomic bombs, no more war. These are the thoughts I had while sucking on my oily, greasy fingers. Gochisousama-deshita!🙏
I’m studying French every day, but I found its pronunciation very difficult, sometimes discouraging. The other languages I’ve studied, Hawaiian and Hindi, I could basically pronounce the words exactly as they’re written and I’d get them right. However, that’s not the case with French. There’s a lot of liaison, or elision, where words are joined together or vowels are omitted; therefore, I need to learn some ‘rules’ of pronunciation. It’s tough…
There is one French word I just can’t pronounce well: heureux (m) or heureuse (f). This means “happy.” To say “I’m happy,” it becomes “Je suis heureuse (f).” The problem is, no matter how I say it, it just doesn’t sound happy. For this particular word, I never pass the pronunciation test on Duolingo. One time, I tried to pronounce it in a sad, melancholic way, and then I was able to pass. It doesn’t make sense, but maybe it’s just French being French.
そんな中、どうしても上手に発音できない単語が＜heureux（m）>または<heureuse（f）>、”幸せな”という意味の言葉。「私は幸せよん」と言う場合は、”Je suis heureuse (f)” になるわけですが、どうにもこうにも、ハッピーに聞こえない。ドゥオリンゴの発音テストでもいつもパスできない。一度、とてもアンニュイな悲しい感じで発音したら、パスできました。納得いかないです。
For our “petit bonheur” (little happiness), we went out for a dinner date, at Tangerino in the Souisse area. We wanted to try this restaurant for a long time. It’s located in the same building as the stylish (and a bit pricey) Carrefour – I call it “Boujee Carrefour.” It’s an upscale Western restaurant with a Spanish flair, and the prices were also upscale. Well, it’s okay; we get to feel boujee sometime.
After Mr. Matisse (he has visited Morocco twice – his paintings from those times, capturing the beauty of Morocco with his signature Fauvism are truly amazing!) welcomed us, we were shown to a lovely terrace seat. The people around us also seemed boujee. Alcohol is served here as well. My husband ordered grilled branzino (also known as European seabass), and I ordered a simple steak. Both were tellement délicieux!
By the way, we had these two side dishes: Russian-style octopus salad and burrata, fresh mozzarella cheese. It’s been a while since I’ve had burrata this good paired with high-quality olive oil. So so yummy. 🙂
Speaking of fromage, my Scandinavian husband loves cheese. There are many delicious cheeses in Morocco, but my husband’s favorite is Swedish Västerbottensost. It’s a hard, strong-flavored cheese and is known in Sweden as the “king of cheese.” This cheese is difficult to find outside of Sweden (and considered “illegal” to consume in the US, because it contains sodium nitrate), so my husband was very excited when Auntie Siv brought it over in Morocco!
Now, this cheese, available at Carrefour, is also pretty good. It’s called “Péché des Bons Pères,” which literally translates as “the sins of the good fathers.” What an intriguing name… Péché has the same spelling as “peach” or “fishing” (pêche), but just by changing the phonetic symbols, the meaning can become so different. Again, it’s just French being French, I guess.
カルフールで手に入るこのチーズもなかなかです。その名も”Péché des Bons Pères”, 直訳すると”善良なお父さんたちの罪”。なんともまぁ、意味深なネーミングなんですが、このPéchéって、＜桃＞や＜魚釣り＞と同じ綴り。発音記号が違うだけで、だいぶ意味が変わっちゃう、、、フランス語ってある意味すごい。
Is ‘guilty pleasure’ a sin? Well, in French, guilty pleasure is called “péché mignon.” So, I guess it is a “cute sin.” What is your guilty pleasure? Lately, mine has been binge-watching<Emily in Paris> all over again. But, please forgive my péché, because I’m watching it in French for a study purpose.
I often meet local people who tell me, “I love Japan! I love Japanese food!” in Morocco. Although my nationality is the USA, I still feel that I am 100% Japanese, so it really makes me happy to know that Japanese culture is much loved and appreciated here. My husband and I invited a few friends over to our home, and we had a wonderful time over some “Japanese flavors.”
Okay, so, to be clear, when I say “Japanese flavors”, it means “Japanese food that Tomo can make – as a Japanese American.” Therefore, it might not be authentic, it might not be elaborate, and, to be really honest with you, I cheat (to make the cooking easier) 😂. And, because how I grew up and where I have been spending my life, the Japanese food I cook is more like “International Japanese food.” Anyway, here is the menu for that night:
Tuna-mayo rolls and Karaage were on the menu because, I thought, these were somethings that Selma-chan would enjoy. Chawan Mushi is my husband’s favorite, and Singaporean noodles? I just like the flavor of the curry and the rice noodles 🙂
After the meals, we served some sweets from the trip to Chennai. Indian mithai (sweets). Our guests brought fabulous Moroccan baked goods, so our dessert time was full of yummy flavors. I was a little nervous making mint tea in front of the “100% Moroccan” friends for the first time, but everyone said, “It’s delicious! It tastes authentic!” Maybe they were being nice to me, but even so, I was very happy to hear that!!
We talked about a lot of stuff, but one thing I found it particularly interesting to know was, “growing up in Morocco, we watched Japanese anime.” Apparently, there’s a channel calledSpacetoon, which airs a lot of Japanese anime series. Both old and new. This channel is headquartered in Dubai and Damascus, so the dubbing is in Arabic (not Darija). Therefore, Moroccan kids learned to understand standard Arabic through the Japanese anime. Isn’t that amazing??
Maruko Saghira『ちびまる子ちゃん』: Saghira is “little girl” in Darija. It makes sense. Saghira は’小さい女の子’という意味のダリジャ。納得のタイトル。
The Great Al Namir al mo9ana3 『タイガーマスク』: Wow, so retro! Namir means tiger and mo9ana3 means “masked.” Aha! I learned something new.うぉおお、なんともレトロな。Namirはダリジャ語で虎、そしてmo9ana3は”マスクを被った”という意味。勉強になります！
Dai Al Shoja3 (Dai the Brave) 『DRAGON QUEST -ダイの大冒険』 : “DRAGON QUEST – The Adventures of Dai.” ‘Shoja3‘ is a Darija word for ‘brave’. Yes, Dai is extremely brave. 日本語タイトルとちょっと離れてるけど、確かにダイさんは勇敢（Shoja3は、”勇敢な”の意味）。
Doesn’t Tiger Mask theme song sound even cooler in Arabic?🐯 Maruko’s “Merhaba~” is super cute, no? Japanese anime culture is truly loved all over the world. And, I am so so happy to know about the love for Japanese anime in Morocco, too, thanks to Spacetoon!
Anyway, it was a fun get-together, and I would LOVE to host more home parties like this 🙂 Let me know if you would like to join next time! I truly feel that the friends I met here are my treasures, and we have been so blessed to share good times with them. というわけで、楽しかったホームパーティ。こちらで知り合えたお友達は、私の宝物です！🥰
Tomo
The cat of the day :: Le chat du jour :: 今日の猫しゃん（Hi Butterscotch! Miss you!)
Please stop by at my salon again 💞🫖🍵 3afak & Chukran
We took a tour of Salé, a neighboring town of Rabat. The tour was led by a government official in charge of urban development and the city’s preservation of the historical buildings. He was so passionate about his work, therefore, the tour was full of “passionate” information. Truly, it was a half-day of historical, archeological, and cultural lessons.
Our meeting point was at Bab el-Mrissa Gate, considered the “face of Salé.” There were a lot of dogs here (maybe it’s just a coincidence?), unlike Rabat. Apparently, the gate existed on the protected harbor of the city, which was used by the Marinid as a shipyard. It also worked as a gateway to all the commodity exchange.
Back in the 12th century and onward, Salé grew as a very important international port, as well as, a pirate’s hub! Salé Rovers! Aarrgghh! Not only were there checkpoints for travel between Rabat and Salé, but there was also a curfew. “So, if someone from Rabat married someone from Salé, it was like an international marriage, and it was a real challenge!” -said our guide. Nowadays, the tram connects the two cities seamlessly. Humdullia!🙏
Morocco’s taxi system, the Petits Taxi, can only operate within the city limits. For example, the blue-colored “Rabat Petits Taxi” cannot operate within Salé, and the cream yellow-colored “Salé Petits Taxi” cannot enter Rabat. So what do you do if you’re traveling between two cities, across the river? Tadaaaa! We can use the white taxis known as “Grands Taxis.”
Don’t worry, there are no pirates on Salé anymore. But there were some remains telling us what the “Salé Life” used to be. On our tour, we were introduced the ancient murals inside the fortress. We also visited an Islamic school called Mederesa Marinid, walked through Old Medina, and at the end, we came across the remains a huge fortress facing the Atlantic Ocean. For some reason, there were even some old Italian-made missiles…
This fort was used as a military bastion, and it held the slaves intended for sale in North Africa. Hmm, heavy topic… It’s called the “Bastion of Tears” as the ships from Castilla Kingdom once attacked the city through this bastion, and more than 3000 locals were taken to Seville as slaves after a huge massacre. Sad story. But, we were told, “it’s a great spot for Instagram! I will take a phot of you two!” so… we did. We are not looking very sad, are we?
As a Chiba prefecture native, I feel that the relationship between Salé and Rabat is somewhat like that of Chiba to Tokyo. Tokyo Disney Resort is in Chiba, but it’s still called Tokyo Disneyland. New Tokyo Airport is actually located on the Chiba side. Just like that, the airport you would fly into Rabat is in Salé, and all the amazingly modern buildings like the ones in the photo are also on the Salé side (but for some reason, they are known to be the iconic towers of Rabat).
The development of Salé’s marina has been progressing rapidly, with new restaurants, stylish shops, and luxury apartments. With our new Swedish friend from the tour, Madame Eva, we had a lovely dinner together at the marina. And yet, Salé still retains its traditional Medina and other historical buildings. Needless to say, it’s deep history! It’s a wonderful city with many different faces.
I find the Moroccan people very charming and delightful 🥰. It might be because of the rhythmical Darija sound they make, or simply because they are such genuine, pleasant people with nice smiles. Also, their capability to use three or four languages in one sentence is tremendously fascinating! It has been a joy to learn about their culture, their languages, and their personalities.
While getting to know them, or them getting to know us, I have noticed some hand gestures 🤙they often use. Their hands are very expressive and fun to look at, which could be another factor in them being so delightful. Among those gestures, I have two that I really like.
The first one is this hand motion, often used when we are a little away from each other (but we can see each other, like across the street). This is “how are you doing?” like Joey from “Friends.”📺 When I first arrived here and saw this motion by our doorkeeper (by the way, we call him Monsieur Bogos (Mr. Good-lookng) – as he is such a handsome man at heart, and outside!), or by our regular Hanut (Moroccan seven-eleven) master, I thought they wanted some money. Je suis désolé! I was SO wrong!🙇🏻♀️ For my excuse, it made me think of the “how much?” or “money?” expression in the US, but, I should have known that people would not randomly ask me for money…
Okay, so the important part is, you move these hands – and often with two hands – in circular motion🌀. Then it becomes “How are you?” “Everything good?” kind of meaning. Here, I am showing its movement – do I look like Joey?:
こんな感じです。キメテは、この手（両方の手を使うことが多々）をグルグルと動かすんですね。ちょっと、ジョーイになった気持ちで、私もみなさんへ「How are you doing?」
Next hand gesture. This means “we/you are friends” or “getting along well.” When we are out taking a walk, our neighbors do these hand motions to us, probably saying “oh you seem happy together, nice!” Isn’t that cute?
There are tons of other unique hand gestures in this country, and I am slowly learning about them. Oh, by the way, raising the middle finger IS BAD in Morocco as well. I never used the gesture back in the US, and I will not have to use it here either. Inshallah. 🙏
By the way, this beautiful palm-shaped amulet is called Hamsa, or Hand of Fatima. It is a popular symbol in Morocco, and is believed to protect you and bring you good luck. Sometimes I see an “eye” in this hand, too. People wear this symbol as jewelry, or hang it on the front door to avoid evil spirits entering the house. This is, I think, a very powerful & most spread hand gesture in Morocco! 🇲🇦
What comes to your mind when you hear “Morocco”🇲🇦? Is it delicious food cooked in Tajine? Maybe Couscous? Could it be a camel ride🐪? You might also think of “Mint Tea”🍵 – and, it is true, we drink A LOT of mint tea here 🙂 Its flavor is just the way I think of people here – sweet, deep, and refreshing.
I love when my husband finds time to ask me out for going to take “café time” and, when we do, I usually order “atay b’na3na3 b’skkar”, mint tea with sugar. That’s also called “Thé Morocain Normal.” What’s abnormal, you might say? Well, that’d be “without sugar.🤭”
My husband usually goes for a cup of black coffee☕️, or “Nous Nous” – half coffee & half milk. I guess when his Swedish DNA🇸🇪 calls for Fika, it has to be coffee (with some baked goods, like cinnamon bread…hmmm).
I learned to make mint tea at home. It requires a good amount of fresh mint and, of course, tea leaves. We use Chinese green tea🇨🇳, and oh boy, there are so many kinds to choose from!
Now, do you notice these numbers outside of the packages? Some are 4 digits, some are 5 digits. What are they…?🤨Apparently, the number indicates the variety and the quality of the tea.
The First Digit shows what kind of tea it is. For a tiny rolled “Gunpowder” green tea, it is always 4. 最初の４の数字は、緑茶の中でも＜ガンパウダー＞、日本語だと珠茶と呼ばれる種類を表す
Gunpowder Tea
The Second and The Third Digits show the quality of the leaves. The higher the number, the better? No, actually, 10 be the highest, and 11~20 be the next level, then, 21~30 means “standard.” ２桁目と３桁目は、お茶っぱの品質を表し、最高品質だと１０。ちょっと下がって１１から２０。さらにスタンダードのものは２１から３０、となっている
The Fourth and The Fifth Digits show refinement of the leaves, meaning how “squished” the tea leaves are inside. In this category, 22 indicates the best quality (gunpowder tea leaves are usually rolled really tiny and tight, some of them almost look like black peppers), and the bigger number means that the leaves are looser. ４桁目＆５桁目は、お茶の精製状態を表し、２２はその状態がいち番高い状態（ガンパウダーの場合は、どれだけタイトに形良く巻いてあるか。小粒の胡椒のような感じが良いみたい）。数字が増えるにつれて、お茶の葉の巻き状態がルースになっていくそう
So, without opening the box, you can kind of imagine what kind of tea you get inside. Nice! According to this number system, the best quality gunpowder tea should have… you guessed it, 41022! Good job!👏
Now, I see a lot of boxes with the number 9371. This is a specific category of Chinese green tea, which is a bit different from the ones starting with 4. 9371 seems to have more loose style tea, almost like Japanese Sen-cha. The leaves are softer and curved, and they taste milder than gunpowder tea when they are brewed.
How about 4011? This is another popular green tea called Chun Mee, widely used to make Moroccan tea. This particular tea has a smokey flavor (maybe because it is pan-fired!), and it has a more transparent and yellowish color, compared to others.
Whichever number you choose, these teas have great benefits for your body💪; they work as antioxidants, they help boost metabolism, they improve your heart conditions, and they contain vitamin C and… another C, “Caffeine”🥸! I know I need that big C quite often in the mornings…
When making atay b’na3na3, the most important thing I learned in the process is, “Don’t hurry, take time, and think about people who would share your cups with – then you get to pour lots of love into this marvelous drink.” Then, I promise you, it will taste sooooo Mzyen (good) 😘
After we had moved to Rabat, our first “outing” was to go listen to the choir concert at the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre. It was such a treat on Palm Sunday; so beautiful and so mesmerizing, and I remember feeling how lucky I was to be able to enjoy such an amazing concert – as well as how much I missed singing in a choir (I wrote about it on my blog).
Well, now, I went through the audition, and I became a member of one of the choir groups from that concert – the Harmonize Choir!
There was a “choir retreat” last weekend, and, of course, I joined them at La Pakatane farm 🙂 そして、クワイヤーのリトリートがあるということで、私も参加してきました！場所は、パカタネ農場〜🚜🐑🐐🐄🐂🚜
The farm is located about a 45-minute drive from Agdal 🚙. I was in a car driven by our Maestro Ghali-san, and a few other members, listening to some Moroccan🇲🇦, Egyptian🇪🇬, French🇫🇷, Spanish🇪🇸, and American🇺🇸 music. I can tell they have goooooooood tastes of music!
At the farm, it was so relaxing and quiet, and it had almost-like-Tatami room 🙂 Nice breeze coming from the field, plus, everyone has such a positive vibe! Potluck lunch was SO YUMMY 😋! Everyone brought something to share – I brought my homemade Gyoza with sweet & sour sauce 🥟.
Afternoon full of singing, talking, and getting to know each other. What I noticed was that they are all so beautiful inside-out 🤩! And, very fashionable and cool! I think it’s because everyone in the choir is really genuine, kind, and fun-loving, and, yes, all the right breathing for singing – you know, getting lots of oxygen is good for your skin and your mind 🙆🏻♀️!
Some of the songs we sang together almost made me cry. See, it has not been easy to find our church in Rabat (we are Lutherans) and I have missed singing hymnals and gospels so much, as it is really my way of appreciating God’s divine love 🥰. Here, the Harmonize Choir sings Christian songs so beautifully – regardless of the difference between religions. It is a good example that music has no boundaries and God’s love can be shared with anyone, anywhere. Humdulillah 🙏.
Things about living in Morocco 🇲🇦; Moroccan people and Moroccan culture make me want to become a better person, and have kinder heart. Joining the Harmonize Choir surely gives me more of that feeling, as well as, you know, it makes me want to sing better (if possible! – Inshallah)
