It's been a great first week here with with some wonderful times though I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I have been taken out of my comfort zone!

While definitely excited, I was also seriously nervous about the whole adventure, but my immediate fears were very much laid to rest by the wonderful welcome that I received from Khadija, the housemother and all the girls. I was taken into the dining room where they were doing their homework and was kissed on both cheeks with the extra third Moroccan one by all 30 girls one after the other. Khadija then took me up to show me the roof terrace of the very spacious brand new boarding house from which there was a magnificent view of a very starry sky with the lights of the little town of Asni below and the hills and mountains all around. Perhaps this wasn't going to be such a scary adventure after all! And of course on a more mundane level I was thrilled to see that I did indeed have my own room with a shower attached. There might only be a fleecy blanket as opposed to a top sheet, there appeared to be not a single mirror in the whole house and the basin had a significant leak, but I felt that I was so warmly taken into the house that I could cope with whatever lay ahead.

The girls get up at 7 and, in their uniform of white cotton jackets walk down to the Lycee for the start of school at 8.00. Under the jackets they are mostly very stylishly dressed in tight trousers or long skirts, lovely tops and colourful and beautifully tied headscarves. As the school day lasts until 6 they all have at least two free periods and it is during that time and in the evening that I am supposed to help them with their English as well as talk to them in French (rather more of a challenge for me than them.) I started by putting together profiles of the younger girls - in this house there are girls from the first and third (final) year of the Lycee. It was a great way of getting to know them, though even after a week I do find it difficult to remember their names, particularly as nearly every name is 'new on me', in addition to which they look very different with their headscarves on or off. (And when you add the extra factor of a hopeless memory ….!) Although some are shy they are very smiley and as I gradually get to know them, and am able to help them particularly with English I think that I am making some headway. I have to say that it is difficult to work with them during the day as they all have a lot of homework which often has to be done for the next class so it can be a challenge to find a slot. So far I have done a few games and 'getting to know you' conversations as well as beginning to identify areas where I can help. While the days can be a little emptier than I had anticipated the evenings more than make up for it as the older girls in particular have some seriously challenging homework such as writing about 'How society and parents can better support gifted youth' - and this is after just two years of formal English classes in school. While I can suggest how the more confident English speakers can tackle it I have had to almost dictate answers to the ones who are struggling as the exercise has to be written before they go to bed! As Khadija explained, they will have had widely varying levels of primary education in their villages so attaining the level of the Moroccan baccalaureat is not an easy task. At least I feel that I can be doing something useful!

It has been a huge treat to have all my meals prepared by the wonderful cook, Khamisa. Apart from vast quantities of bread the food is great with lots of beans, lentils and soup, as well as the Friday traditional dish of couscous, where the bowl is placed in the middle of the table and everyone digs in - usually with their hands though I was given a spoon!

I think that perhaps the biggest challenge is the (hopefully temporary) lack of internet access. This is mainly due to the fact that the house is brand new so while all the basics are there, the wifi connection and the promised computers are not! I realise how much emails and constant communication with the family have just become part of my life. It is taking me back to being on my gap year but does make the distance between home and her feel very far away At least I was able to go to Marrakech yesterday with one of the other volunteers and skype David as well as pickup and send emails and Whatsapp messages. I then had just a few minutes to catch up on the news from the outside world before we had to head for the hills again. It actually felt quite strange though also quite special to be in the Ville Nouvelle with all the very elegant and westernised Moroccans as well as all the foreign tourists, and to know that we fitted into neither category. It was also good to have some amazing cucumber and mint juice and to go to a supermarket to buy a few treats. But I think that I was very lucky to be with lovely Sinead (who is almost half my age) and who has volunteered and backpacked all over the world and is a lot more streetwise about ensuring we found a shared taxi where we were not wedged with three other people in the back and weaving through the Marrakech streets to find the best place for a local phone. My children would have been proud of me!

As today is Sunday all the girls as well as the house staff are at home so, while it has felt a little odd to be rattling around in the empty, echoing rooms I have finally been able to go walking in the hills behind Asni and get a closer view of the glorious ridge of Djebel Toubkal. After passing a herd of goat and sheep I left all the houses behind and climbed high above the town. While everyone is very friendly it was a rare treat to be able to walk alone along the ridge without any curious glances from the men and demands for sweeties or a dirham from the children.

And now after all that exercise I need to go to bed, especially as I have to be up at 7 to let Latifa, the cleaning lady into the house!

PS Am very sorry that the photois upside down but I can't change it|