Popcorn and Sisters

One of the most amazing things about living and traveling abroad is the people you meet along the way. The most unexpected person can come along and change your life. That's what happed to Audrey when she met her host sister Fatiha as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco.

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It was cold and rainy when I met Fatiha. I was so nervous that I hardly said anything at first. I remember walking into the house to find everyone sitting in the salon all huddled around the wood-burning stove. Fatiha was wearing a dark blue jelaba. I could see her dyed, blonde hair peeking out from her black scarf. I walked in and nervously said hello and kissed the women on the cheeks. I remember Fatiha also looking nervous, but more curious than uneasy. She looked at me up and down like she was trying to figure me out. I just stared blankly back at her, trying to figure out what I was going to say next.

The next day Fatiha took me on a walk around the farmlands by the village, my new home. I didn't say much. I was still just trying to take everything in. Later that night, she insisted that I get henna on my hands and feet - the works! Henna is a traditional dye used to decorate the skin, similar to a temporary tattoo used for special occasions.

Fatiha told me to sit by the fire so the henna would dry faster. Since I was covered in henna, I couldn't feed myself. But before I knew it, Fatiha was shoving her hand towards my face... hand feeding me popcorn! I kid you not, she was HAND FEEDING ME! Like I was a baby! There I was sitting next to the fireplace, the first full day in my village, my hands and feet covered in henna as Fatiha hand fed me popcorn. All I could think was: who the heck is this woman?

That was the start of Fatiha and my relationship. Ever since that first day of her shoving popcorn in my mouth, our relationship has been full of love and laughter. There is not a day that goes by where I don't count my blessings. My relationship with Fatiha has truly made Morocco feel like home. Even though I'm halfway across the world from family and friends, I know that in Fatiha, I've found not just a host sister, but a piece of home that will stay with me long after my time in Morocco ends.