Mid Century Maroc Blog

Our blogs offer all sorts of insights into Morocco and our life here. Nothing is spared except for a curse word or two. If a look ‘under the hood’ is what you fancy, you’ve come to the right place. Enjoy!

Ode to a Mid-century House, and my Mom, Josephine
Brooke Beardslee Brooke Beardslee

Ode to a Mid-century House, and my Mom, Josephine

My parents built their dream house in the 1970s. The house saw everything from happy times, sad times, engagements, divorce, and raging summer parties. And just last May, the house saw death. After fifty-two years of living on Provencal Road, my Mom got her wish...to die in her bed. While I mourn her loss, I am grateful she died on her terms. Just as she wanted.

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The Renault 12: Morocco’s hottest car
Brooke Beardslee Brooke Beardslee

The Renault 12: Morocco’s hottest car

The R12s of Sidi Mokhtar are a special breed. Always on some kind of tilt or another, they all look like they’re on their last legs. Slow driving, often with up to 8 occupants, the last of which is often seated on the lap of the driver, the R12 of Sidi Mokhtar sputters along. The driver, sporting a ‘hoods up’ djellaba, is always on his phone. To add to the already oversubscribed occupancy, 9 times out of 10 there will be a bushel of something-or-another tied on the roof, enhancing the already careening chassis.

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Losing my Language (and Mansplaining) in Morocco
Brooke Beardslee Brooke Beardslee

Losing my Language (and Mansplaining) in Morocco

Verbal communication has always been one of my strong points. Or has it? I’m beginning to wonder now after four years in Morocco where my native tongue, English, is reserved pretty much for conversations with Aziz, my husband, and a few English speaking friends. The rest of the time I am listening and occasionally contributing to conversations in darija, Moroccan Arabic, and French, neither of which I’m proficient.

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Decorating with Bones: Bringing the Outside in
Brooke Beardslee Brooke Beardslee

Decorating with Bones: Bringing the Outside in

Living in the Moroccan countryside means bringing the outside in. Little by little bleached and dried animal bones have been creeping into our interior decor as we channel our inner Georgia O’Keeffe.

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Our Life with Scorpions
Brooke Beardslee Brooke Beardslee

Our Life with Scorpions

We moved to Essaouira, Morocco three years ago and have been living with scorpions ever since. But we wouldn’t swap out our life for anything.

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