The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, organized by the Confederation of African Football (AFFA), kicks off on December 21st. This is the second time the tournament will be held in Morocco.
And, the whole city, the whole country, we are all excited about hosting! もう街中がこのカップに向けて準備中！
Four of our stadiums will be used in Rabat. Five other Moroccan cities, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes, Tangier, and Agadir will become the home of the cup.
Even the windows of taxis have this design… タクシーさんのガラスもこのようなデザインになりまして。。。
It’s Christmastime, therefore the coexistence of trees and football; what a creative & tasteful way to decorate the tree! 「クリスマス·シーズン」らしい、ツリーとサッカーの共存！なかなかのセンスです。
Flags of participating countries – 24 of them! They are so colorful and beautiful. I noticed that I was not very familiar with all the designs of flags and their countries. I need to study a bit 🙂 アフリカの２４の国が競うトーナメント。こういったカラフルな旗も街のいろいろでみかけるようになりました。あんまり知らないデザインも多いので、ただいま勉強中～。
This is the elevator of Arribat Center Mall – ya, very much in a mood. 地元のモール内エレベーターもこんな感じです。
And so are the water bottles. カフェで無料でついてくるお水も。
The local tram looks like this too. La Vache Qui Rit (The Laughing Cow) cheese is also selling a “special flavor” for this occasion. Love, love, love. 地元を走っているトラムも、この通り。La Vache qui rit (The Laughing Cow)ちゃんも、スペシャルバージョンを発売中～。この牛さんロゴ大好きな私、たまりません。
Malls and parks have set up “spectator areas” or “fan zones.” Even if you can’t make it to the stadium, you can still experience all the fun and excitement at those places, I bet. モールや公園では「観戦エリア（ファンゾーン）」のようなものが設置されてきました。球場に行けなくても、ここで十分盛り上がれそうな。
Morocco is also going to be one of the countries to host the World Cup in 2030. Moroccans LOVE succor, and beautiful facilities are being built one after another… great for economy & spirit!
December is here! My favorite month of the year! Christmas decorations have begun to appear in Rabat – shopping malls, trendy restaurants, fancy shops seem to be excited to decorate with trees, Santa Claus figure, snowmen, etc. Just as beautiful as those in Seattle 🎄.
Every year, my husband and I cook a Swedish smorgasbord 🇸🇪. The menu doesn’t change for as long as I remember, and it includes up to 15 dishes or so. Yes, it’s a serious tradition. I must say, preparing all the dishes is as much fun as eating them. This year, we will probably skip the ham 😅, but we are planning to make a traditional bread and potato dish, as well as… Glögg for sure :). It depends on how we can gather the necessary ingredients here in Morocco. Inshallah 🙏
Local churches and American schools here hold “Marché de Noël” during this time of the year. At the market, a large variety of stalls are set up, selling handmade crafts and accessories, some jewelry and even clothings which would make great Christmas gifts. Oh, we were also able to buy some pork bacon! Feels like Christmas IS coming 🥓! The outdoor markets are filled with a festive Jul atmosphere, making me feel like I am in a small European village.
Last weekend, we went to a Marché de Noel at the church where I attend weekly for choir practice ⛪️. There, we bumped into the wonderful Sara-san, a lady we got to know through ICOR (International Club of Rabat). She was selling kitchen towels of her own design, and they came with a yummy chicken tagine recipe! Also, a beautiful apron featuring Fatima’s hands – very cool, so attractive, and definitely unique!
I like that the recipe on the kitchen towel is written in English – this would make a great souvenir from Morocco, don’t you think? The red color of the tagine surely adds to the Christmas mood, too. I am a big fan of Sara-san, who is beautiful inside out, and now I’ve become a huge fan of the towels and aprons she creates 💝.
Since joining the ICOR, we have gone on hikes with the members, taken a Darija class, and my husband seems to enjoy Happy Hour a lot. This club, where English is the common language, is also a time for me to take a little break and relax from my every-day immersion in French and Darija. I am very happy that we joined ICOR.
At any special event like Christmas Market, I am totally interested in its food options. We found sandwiches, artisan chocolates, Belgian waffles… yum yum. We chose to try fresh oysters, for the first time in Morocco! They were big, fresh, meaty, and oh so delicious. They cost 10 dirhams each (about $1), and are farmed on a beach in southern part of Morocco. According to the owner, “We grow oysters imported from Japan. Oh, are you from Seattle? Seattle is famous for good oysters, isn’t it?” It was really fun to chat with him.
We are in the season of Advent, and our Sunday nights start with lighting Advent Candles while watching a live worship service from our home in Seattle 🕯. Our Christmas decorations have not arrived here yet (still in shipment… 🚚) but, thanks to the generous and kind people we’ve met here, I am certain that we are able to spend a special God Jul time in Morocco. Peace on earth and peace be with you all 🕊.
In addition to studying French, I am also learning Darija (Arabic language spoken in Morocco) every day. Being able to say something with the shopkeepers or the security guard at our apartment, even a little in Darija, makes me very happy.
I still have struggles with the French numbering system, and now, here are the numbers in Darija up to 10. さてさて、ダリジャ語での数字はこんな感じです。フランス語だけでもまだヘトヘトなのに、です。
Though a lot of people use French for the numbers here, I am trying to understand them in Darija also. When I attend choir practice every week and while French seems to be the main language, French, English and Spanish sometimes pop up into the conversation among our choir members. I am always impressed by how smart Moroccans are…
Speaking of being “smart”: we often use the word “Algorithm.” I only recently learned that the word Algorithm originated in Arabic! Al Khawazimi was a mathematician and astronomer in the 9th century in Persia, and apparently, he was a Big Name in the Islamic scientific community.
He announced “Hindu Aarabic Numerals” while conducting his research at the “House of Wisdom” in Baghdad – a place where all the intelligent people gathered (and I would never be invited at all). Essentially, this is a number system that we are all used to nowadays: numbers written from 0 to 9.
When his research on this particular numbering system was translated into Latin and spread around the world, “Al-Khwarizmi’s Indian Mathematics” became “Algoritmi de numero Indorum” in Latin, and from there the word “algorithm” was born.
これがラテン語に訳されて『アル·フワーリズミーのインド数学』という名で全世界に広まると、、、”Algoritmi de numero Indorum” となりまして、そこから＜アルゴリズム＞と呼ぶようになったそう。
Apparently, Al-Khwarizmi was also the father of the concept of algebra. What a smart man! 代数というコンセプトも発案したアル·フワーリズミーさん。頭の良い方ですねぇ。
Tomo
The cat of the day :: Le chat du jour :: 今日の猫しゃん
Please stop by at my salon again 💞🫖🍵 3afak & Chukran
It is the pomegranate season in Morocco. The sight of giant pomegranates sold at the roadside, or fresh pomegranate juice squeezed at the market, definitely adds a more “exotic” feeling in Morocco. That red color (inside out), to me, gives me a hint of Christmas as well.
Pomegranate and me. I have to say, the relationship is a bit complicated, and it is perhaps influenced by a story my grandmother told me. This is how it goes; a long time ago, there was a female deity named Kishimojin. She was originally a rather fearsome existence, who would eat human children. To stop her from doing so, Buddha gave her a pomegranate, saying, “eat this instead, as pomegranate tastes just like human flesh.” After eating a pomegranate, Kishimojin had a change of heart, and has since come to exist as a deity to protect pregnant women and children…
Well. Pomegranate = human flesh idea has stayed in my head for many years. I guess I had been slightly hesitant to eat this fruit. Another thing that complicated my relationship with pomegranates was this painting. One of my favorite artists, Sandoro Botticelli, created this masterpiece called “Madonna of the Pomegranate” – yes, you see the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus holding the fruit. It was a breathtaking painting at Uffizi Gallery.
The porcelain-like skin tones of people and fairy-tale-like light are very typical of Botticelli. However, the pomegranate was painted vivid red, and it appeared as if each individual seed liked to spring forth as if they were alive! When standing in front of the paining, I couldn’t take my eyes off the juiciness of the fruit, as well as its powerful movement; it reminded me of the pumping human heart, and I could almost heat that sound. According to the researchers, this pomegranate represents both motherhood of the Virgin, and the upcoming suffering of the baby Jesus. Hmm…
Anyway, pomegranate has been my “mysterious” fruit, therefore, I kind of avoided it for a long time. But then… I see them a lot. Well, maybe it’s time to stop being scared? Let’s bring one home, and get it over with! I thought I could remove the seeds by cutting the fruit in half, and tapping it from outside, like what Martha Stewart would do with a smile – but, oh no, it took a bit more effort. I couldn’t become Martha. I was more like a mouse trying to steal food out of the food waste. But, it was worth it , the sweetness and tartness of the seeds were just right 🙂
While they were delicious eaten as they were, I decided to mix them with strawberry mousse for a next-level dessert. 甘味と酸味がちょうどよく、そのまま食べても美味しかったのですが、いちごムースとあえた＜おしゃれデザート＞にしてみました。
According to a study, pomegranate is said to have great effects on the human body, such as lowering blood pressure and keeping skin moisturized. Now that my “relationship” with pomegranates is becoming better, I think I will try to get used to this gorgeous fruit more.
The other day, we enjoyed our first “live concert experience” in Morocco! It was at the National Theater in Rabat, a beautiful venue that opened in 1962 with a 2600 seat capacity.
The concert was… A Queen Tribute! 何のコンサートかと言いますと、、、クイーン·トリビュート！
My husband and I are eight years apart in age, and we grew up in different environments & different countries. So, when it comes to our “favorite bands”, it kinda creates a gap. However, I’ve always loved Queen since the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, and my husband was definitely in the era of Queen when he was young. So, we decided to indulge ourselves in some tribute music for Queen (performed by Italians!).
This gorgeous theater has nice, comfy seats, with “king-worthy” boxes. Kind of reminds me of “The Gilded Age” show 🙂 The lobby had a gallery of set models from previous shows, as well as a theater gift shop.
The concert started right on time! Amazing voice by a Freddie Mercury “lookalike”! Other members also seemed to be trying hard to look like the real members – though, very heavy on wigs.
Ahh, my favorite, Mr. Brian May! His brilliant guitar skills made it so worth attending the concert. Btw, a few years ago, I did my Brian May impersonation. Good time…
It was a whole two-hour karaoke in the audience! Everyone in the venue sang along, and danced. It was so much fun! Singing “We are the Champions” with everyone (and Mr. Freddie Mercury came so close to us~) in the theater, was a priceless experience.
Live concerts are truly the best, to feel the energy and to feel be part of a community. I would love to attend more concerts in the future. Actually, opera would be great, too. By the way, I wonder when this new Grand Theater will be open for more live performances? Inshallah.
First Thanksgiving in Morocco. I was thinking, “Hmm, it’s just the two of us, and roasting the whole turkey sounds too much…” Then my husband suggested, “How about going to our favorite dajaaj Atlas? It’s almost like having a roast turkey (same “bird” family!)?”
It was yummy as usual. However, I wanted to make some dishes to feel Thanksgiving, like our US home. Pecan Pie? I looked for pecans in stores, but had no success (note: there are other kinds of nuts everywhere in Morocco, but not pecans. I wonder why…?). But, I saw plenty of pumpkins! Oh, it’s because of Thursday – see, people get ready for CousCous Friday & pumpkin is an important ingredient. D’accord, I will make Pumpkin Pie instead!
Back in the states, making pumpkin pie was so easy, with canned pumpkin purée & frozen pie crust. But, here, I am making it from scratch. I learned that it takes more time and more “strength.” Cutting fresh pumpkin could be a real workout.
I mashed the cooked pumpkin, and made the pie crust. THEN I realized, I didn’t have a pie plate. Kind of too late, so I had no choice but to make the pie in a cake mold.
I also made a ‘mini’ version to share with our neighbors. Persimmons are in season, so I used them to decorate. Well, more like to ‘cover up’ the edges of the pie, really. I learned the hard way, that cake molds are for cakes, and the pie plates are for pies. Simple. My husband gave me 10/10 for the taste! Hooray!
By the way, one puzzling Thanksgiving tradition in the US, is that our president pardons the turkey. Apparently it became an official ceremony at the White House during the time when Papa Bush was president (1989-1993). What happens at the ceremony is, one ‘lucky turkey’ is chosen out of the millions that are eaten (killed) in America, and he is “pardoned” and allowed to survive, a few days before Thanksgiving Day.
Since it’s an official presidential ceremony, with all the viral air time & social network, this ‘chosen’ turkey must be the most handsome, and the best behaved. Some pardoned turkeys ended up being on a parade at Disney World with Mickey and Minnie. What a responsibility for a bird.
It’s already late November (time to think about what to do for Thanksgiving!), but the weather in Rabat has been so pleasant & sunny, which makes it perfect for a long walk.
１１月後半。ですが、ラバトは朝晩冷えるくらいで、日中は「最高のお散歩日和」です。
During my walk, I enjoy meeting our neighborhood cats (of course), and also enjoy getting to know our neighborhood “Trees 🌲.” I notice tons of orange trees with their proud fruits (which makes it a great season for delicious orange juice) but there are so many other trees with blooming flowers. Today, I would like to share some of them!
<Bird of Paradise : 極楽鳥花> Isn’t this name perfect? These days, the birds of paradise have been in full bloom. It’s so mesmerizing, and I feel like I can almost hear the birds chirping… 🦜
<Bougainvillea : ブーゲンビリア> They are everywhere, and they bloom pretty much all year round here in Morocco. What’s impressive is that their wide variety of colors: red, purple, yellow, white, orange, pink…
<Hibiscus : ハイビスカス> I also greet a lot of hibiscus in our neighborhood. The wall covered in masses of bright red hibiscus makes me a bit nostalgic of Hawaii 🌺. Apparently, the hibiscus flower was used as the design for one of the coins in Morocco.
<Palm Tree : ヤシの木> So noble and so proud, yet it gives you the feeling of a warm breeze (with Aloha 🤙). I think palm trees are truly magical. Well, it also appears as “cell phone tower” using its magical power. 📶
<Lotus : 蓮の花> Lotus flowers have been in bloom in the park where my outdoor yoga class is held. Lotus also appears to have been featured on a Moroccan coin. 🪷
<African Tulip Tree : カエンボク> It is said to be “one of the world’s three greatest flowering trees” – okay, it sure does stand as “a great tree” with beautiful flowers. Yes, they just look like tulips 🌷!!
世界三大花木のひとつだそうですが、確かに圧倒的な雰囲気があり、そのお花はチューリップ 💐そのもの！
<Angel’s Trumpet : キダチチョウセン朝顔> These mysterious looking flowers are about the size of a human face, and they invite you with a sweet scent. But don’t be fooled by its attractive scent and oh-so-cute name; they are actually highly poisonous 👼.
<Brazilian Pepper Tree : サンショウモドキ> The red berries and green leaves warm my heart as they remind me of Christmas decorations especially this time of the year). If you harvest & dry these berries, they can be used as peppers! “Modoki” is a Japanese word to describe “faux” – Faux Sansho (pepper) – okay, it makes sense.
<Fross Silk Tree : トックリキワタ> The flowers have breathtakingly bright pink colors, so you won’t miss them. When the berries form, a silk-like, or cotton-like material comes out of those berries (was used as filing for pillows and mattresses in the old days). The Japanese name for this tree, “Tokkuri” comes from… please take a look at the shape of the trunk 🍶 Kanpai!
Ever since we started living outside the US, we have been enjoying our car-free lifestyle.
私たち夫婦は、モロッコに来てから「車を所有しない生活」を楽しんでいます。
Getting around on foot everywhere allows us to have a good sense of our neighborhood, and an even better sense of the surrounding nature 🍃🍂, plus, affirming sense of our 4-legged neighbors – Cats!! 🐈 Best of all, it’s great for our health (we usually walk +10000 a day). I often get carried away at supermarche (especially Hyper Marjane at the Arribat Center!) and buy too much stuff; of course, then, I have to walk home with heavy bags… I get to learn the “sense of remorse.”😅
On my walk, I feel really happy to greet or wave to familiar faces at our haunt, street parking uncles, people at nearby cafes & restaurants, even the guardians on duty around the royal palace. I think that simple human connection is too underrated – I love the “sense of community” from my walks. 😍
Because of the way I look (clearly Asian), I often get “Ni Hao! (“hello” in Chinese) from strangers and passersby. I still feel happy to get greetings from everyone, and I normally reply with “Salamalikom! We just smile at each other and move on. Simple.
I recently learned that many Japanese people don’t like to be greeted with “Ni Hao” overseas. There seems to be various reasons behind this, but their basic opinion is “Japanese and Chinese are different, so why would they say Ni Hao to us?”
This opinion is rather puzzling to me. When someone who doesn’t know me at all (and who is not trying to take advantage of me, such as selling something to me, etc.) greets a foreigner like me on a street, it warms my heart whether it’s in Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, or in any language. Maybe I am just naive?
Truth is, the majority of Asians living in Morocco are from China. So, I imagine that locals would assume that saying “Ni Hao” would work with people like me. And yes! It works (with me)! At that moment, there was no need to reply, “No, I am of Japanese descent, so you should say Konnichiwa, not Ni Hao” to a casual observer. If, by any chance, I end up spending more time with this person and become friends, I will likely explain that Chinese is not my native language (but, maybe, this person might be studying Chinese! Then I will learn to say something funny in Chinese), but an effort they make to connect with me, is something I appreciate dearly.
See, I am simply an immigrant living in this wonderful country called Morocco. I am just grateful to be greeted, and I don’t care at all what people think of where I am from. I am just happy to be connected, even for a moment, by any language. When I’m in India, I am mistaken for Nepalese; in Europe, I am mistaken for Filipino; when I am in Japan, people speak to me in English… But I know I live on this earth, with everyday opportunity to connect with anyone, through any culture. That’s a gift in itself. 🌍
“Discrimination” is a rising issue in many parts of the world. But, there is a difference between “Being Discriminated” and “Being Identified.” See, when someone thinks, “oh, there is a person whom I can IDENTIFY as not being local, but let’s say hello to her anyway!” – isn’t it lovely? Most of all, I would like to be IDENTIFIED as “a foreigner who is trying to respect the local culture and willing to greet locals with smiles.”
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”! 😆
We are back in the US after six months in Morocco. Our itinerary this time reminds me of a struggling rock band: we enter the US from the East Coast (Boston), and our first stop is Providence, Rhode Island, where our youngest child attends college. Thereafter, we would visit relatives (Ohio) and then attend a wedding (Colorado) before heading to our U.S. home in Seattle.
First stay is in Providence, and it is such a charming city. Our child is aspiring to be a graphic designer and is currently studying at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design). He’s also taking classes at Brown University and doing an internship at the RISD museum. His days seem very busy, but at least he has such a beautiful room with a view on campus!
We also wanted to go a little further away from the campus this time. So, upon my request, we went to Plymouth Rock! This rock is a historic site, as it’s said to be the first place the Pilgrims, who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620, stepped on this special rock. Very important place for Americans (I think so & I demand so) because it represents the of life in the “Land of the Free.” That being said, it’s also known as “the most disappointing tourist destination in the US.” Well, I didn’t think so! And I’m grateful for my family to accommodate my request to visit this rock. See, the rock might not move – but, you can let the rock move your heart, if you truly believe. Hamdulillah.
The Mayflower II is also docked here. It’s the replica of the original Mayflower ship. Apparently, this “number 2” ship also made the voyage from England to Plymouth, just like the original Pilgrims did (but a bit shorter). The Mayflower in 1620 took 66 days to complete its journey, whereas the Mayflower II was able to cross the ocean in 54 days.
We also drove to Newport. It is a very fashionable port town, and the highlight of the visit was exploring luxurious mansions in the neighborhood. Very bougie. Among them, we actually stepped in an ultra-luxury mansion from the gilded age, called The Breakers. It has the appearance of a European palace, and each room is decorated in French/Italian style. Definitely the vibe of Downton Abbey or Bridgerton.
I was particularly intrigued by the Billiard Room and Music Room. The interiors, designed by a French architect, with their beautiful sculptures and tapestries… there are many items which are not necessary in the mansion such as a fountain behind the stairs. But it’s okay, they were rich and they could afford. The surrounding cliff walk was a great exercise with some seriously picturesque views.
We spent time getting to know our child’s roommate (and her fabulous mom!), professors, and friends on the RISD campus, and I’m so grateful for such a welcoming and inspiring community. I hope our child continues to enjoy his college life here, and I will be so looking forward to visiting him again!
