I should have probably anticipated this moment. And found myself regretting the black large-sleeved ‘abayah à là Morticia Addams that I had purchased in Saudi Arabia 3 years ago. Not exactly comfortable if you are eating soup – for the sleeves would be all over the place – but definitely perfect for showing off a little bit. Instead, I forgot to pack it when it was most needed.

I realized my unforgivable mistake yesterday night, when I happened to find myself invited at a party for the celebration of a new-born here in Ain Leuh. A strictly girl-only event – sorry, guys – where I could not but pale at the superiority of the dancing skills of ALL the ladies present. All those years spent in a disco on Saturday nights try to boost some good moves! What a waste of time. Even the banat could do better than me!

The lady beside me in the picture below must have felt pitiful for me, because at some point during the ahidous – the dance performed in occasion of a wedding – she came to rescue me and gave me some tips on how to execute the steps correctly. How am I ever going to find a husband if I dance so clumsily, she must have thought. I could not but agree.

But the ladies are making sure that this musibah (catastrophe) will be averted: among other things, they are feeding me to the point of no return, to make sure that I get into proper shape by the end of August. Being not used to eating so much, I try to inquire previously about the next course, as to calculate precisely how much I space is still left in my stomach. Sometimes this is a double-edged sword, as it occurred yesterday, when I investigated whether there would be harira (traditional soup) after the iftar. Well apparently that was not on the menu, but since I asked they prepared that for me. Ouch!

So after a night of total unwinding, today I finally got to design the small rug I will produce as part of a series of activities the Association will offer to visitors and aimed at raising greater awareness on the issue of Amazigh women weavers. I got the idea from a design I spotted on the loom at one of the women’s house. It should be an easy one – or so I have been told- but I liked its since first moment I saw it. And it has very evocative name: nujum ‘lleil, night stars.I am looking forward to it.