So much to update for all of those who have been following along. Sorry for the lack of updating once Roxanne and Kiersten arrived I lost all interest in the computer!!!!
So backing up a little - Kiersten's arrival in itself was a bit of an adventure. We hired this random man in the airport to drive us from Casablanca to Marrakech. He took us into this quiet little neighbourhood and we were all getting nervous and finally Abderrahim opened his door to get the man to stop. Despite the driver drinking and aiming the car for the ditch, the police hanging onto our passports looking for a little bakshish we made it to Marrakech at 6am.
Roxanne arrived the next day bringing her film crew with her and the next 4 days were spent with all of us being followed by a camerman everywhere we went and being interviewed. The locals looking on with much curiosity as to who we all were you will all be able to see the results in May 2010!!
I know - I know you are all waiting to here about the angry little man. Believe it or not I have not met the angry little man I am always left sitting outside his office. Lots of great things happen in family court in Marrakech!! While Abderrahim was in talking to the angry little man a fight broke out on a stair well 4 moroccan women pushing each other and throwing things and the men yelling and throwing things it was very exciting. The documentary director came up to me and said it must be wife number 2 & 3!!
One of the delays for those of you who are wondering why I am not yet married is that Abderrahim has lost his Carte Identite National. It is hard to do anything in morocco without it and it did delay things a bit and probably will cost us a little extra bakshish.
Next we met with the police. That went relatively smoothly except they needed a copy of our court file so Abderrahim headed back to see the angry little man and for an extra 30 dirhams bakshish he was given our file to copy. There is a woman at the courthouse who will make copies for you. She remembered me from our time at the courthouse and asked where I was from - Abderrahim looked her straight in the eye and said Somalia.
After the police we were off to the "big building" im not sure why but everyone was concerned that he would not let us move forward without A's original CIN so after a quick house meeting we decided that I should go with him and if necessary start to cry. Moroccan men dont like tears. Im not sure what that man does but he had an envelope for us which was sealed and stamped - ooohhhh the moroccans like their stamps!!
Abderrahim took that sealed envelope to the Big Angry Man! Every neighbourhood apparently has a big angry man. Sighhhhhhh he was not there. The people that were there told A. to bring me when he returned though.
This morning we set off to meet the Angry Big Man. When we arrived in Sidi Youssef (Abderrahims neighbourhood) I got a lot of stares - no tourists go to his neighbourhood. So nervous and trying to remember my instructions (dont look directly at the Angry Big Man, keep your eyes lowered when answering) I didnt notice a little step in the concrete and fell flat on my face - not quite the dignified, respectful entrance I was hoping for.
The big angry man is very angry. He has a buzzer on his desk and he hits it and one of three men come running. He didnt acknowledge us sitting there but keep stamping and reading papers and then he started to yell at one of his assistants " what is this?? This is not what I asked for! Do it again !!! and tore up someones papers, crumpled them in a ball and threw them across the room.
Our saving grace was Abderrahims dad being an Imam - which got us some peace.
Monday Abderrahim goes back to the big courthouse and Tues we should get to meet with the Judge and should be married by Tues - which is good because Kiersten leaves Wed., Rox. leaves Thurs and I leave Sunday.
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