Interview with Lynn Dines, September 13, 2021

Interview Summary

Lynn Dines tells of joining the Peace Corps to serve in Morocco from 2008-2010 soon after her early retirement. She reports that her excellent in-country training emphasized language, and cultural and technical knowledge. She describes her work doing business development with women’s weaving cooperatives. She describes Morocco’s culture, including its cuisine, Islamic religious and artistic traditions, and the generosity of the people. She describes her housing, plus daily life in a small town in an agricultural area surrounded by spectacular mountain and valley views. She tells of developing close friendships with women she worked with, and life lessons she learned knowing them. She describes her work, which included conducting business workshops, establishing artisan craft fairs, and launching a web site to market co-op products. She reflects on her challenges and satisfactions during her service, on the Peace Corps’ three goals, and on the impact of Peace Corps service on her life. See also http://oclynninmorocco.blogspot.com.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S) Morocco (Country of service) 2008-2010 (Years of service) Older Americans (Age 50+) Peace Corps (U.S.)—Training Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Community Economic Development Casablanca (Chief port of Morocco) Fez (Major city in Morocco) Azrou (Town in Morocco) Ain Leuh (Town in Morocco) Morocco Ministry of Tourism and Traditional Handicrafts Khadija (First name of the woman who was President of the weaving cooperative in Ain Leuh) Fatima (First name of the woman who was President of the Adwal weaving cooperative in Ribat el Kheir) Darija (Language--Moroccan Arabic) Fusha (Language--Classical Arabic) Tamazight (Language--Berber) Islam (Religion) Muslim culture Zelij (Moroccan mosaic tile) Ribat el Kheir (Arabic name of town in which Lynn Dines lived) Ahermoumou (Berber name of town in which Lynn Dines lived) Zlul (Darija name for a valley here, the valley below Ribat el Kheir) Souk (A local market) Quince (Fruit) Clementine (Fruit) Pomegranate (Fruit) Couscous (Pasta made from wheat) Harira (Traditional Moroccan soup) Ramadan (Ninth month of Arabic calendar, during which Muslims fast) Eid el Kabir (Muslim holiday honoring Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael) Eid Sghir (Muslim holiday, the Festival of Fast-breaking) L-Fitr (Darija word for the meal that breaks the daily fast during Ramadan) Handira and Hanbl (Flat-carpet weaving) Zrbya (Pile-carpet weaving) Marché Maroc (Moroccan crafts fair started by Peace Corps Small Business Development) Anou Cooperative (Official online market site selling Moroccan handicrafts) Centre Ville (Ribat el Kheir neighborhood) Lagar (Darija name for a place associated with a train here a neighborhood in Ribat el Kheir) Hanut (Darija name for shops) Lavoka (Avocado juice) Executive Service Corps of Southern California Website “http://oclynninmorocco.blogspot.com” (Daily blog written by Lynn Dines during her time in Morocco).

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