English Club Oujda (ECO)

Editorial (p. 2)

(…)

For four years, ECO has been organizing activities that created another space of encounter between students of English, playing thus a vital role in their educational life. (…)

I think it is worth reminding my dear readers of its aims, which were set with the starting project, and specified in the club’s first newsletter (September 2005). In my own words I may say that they generally focus on the needs of students: the need for help in the first place, with regards the difficulties they find in their studies, the need to express themselves and voice their ideas, the need to have achievements of their own, and finally the need to feel that their studies trajectory is more interesting and enjoyable than it was. (…)

Dear students, you are the ones who can make the difference. There are many problems you are facing, many changes you would like to see in your faculty. You have got hidden talents, ideas to share and massages to convey. Your energy, your spirit of creativity and your care for learning and improvement are rich enough to enable you make the changes you wish to see. (…)

Soumaya B. (March 03, 2009)

Stereotypes, Communication and Networking (American Corner) (p. 6)

November 2007 was an occasion for the English speaking individuals of
Oujda city to exchange ideas with some Americans about the American life and about the possible ways of more understanding between the Moroccan and American people, leaving apart the political issues that generally hinder this understanding and co-work. It first started with Ms Paula McLaughlin, an American teacher of French at Mercy High School, San Francisco, California, who was invited to animate a debate on Stereotypes and Moroccan-American Communication on November 6, 2007. What might be of surprise about the event is that while she was expected to find grounds of understanding between her country and Morocco, the director of the American Corner, Mr Mohammed Bendaha, was simultaneously doing the same thing in the US for his country, Morocco, and the US. They happened to be ambassadors of their societies at the same time. And it is no wonder still to know that while in the US he had the occasion to talk about the Corner’s activity that particular day, November 6, as he recounted to me after his return back home. (…)

Mohammed Hashas (November 2007)

The Price (Short Story, p.

(…)

Sliman worked as a Mason; he shared a small apartment with two of his cousins; their life was summed up to working, eating and sleeping. Every penny they saved was for the sake of the loved ones.

They picked off every flower of their age in order to embellish the future of the loved ones.

Sliman knew the beautiful aspect of life only when he went back to his country and spent his holidays with the loved ones. Everything was tasteless except the month he used to spend with his wife and children. During that month Sliman did not deprive his family from anything they asked, though most of the times he anticipated their needs and thought. (…)

“Your father is an old fashioned and a naïve fellow, but he must discover later that we are not interested in school,” said Mohamed. “Hey idiot, be sure before you enter home to get rid of any cigarette and be sure that your mouth and clothes are smoke free, too,” said Mohamed in a low voice. (…)

Mostafa Chaachaoui (October 6, 2007)

A Mid-Summer’s Night (Short Story, p. 15)

August 15, night, I packed up my clothes, gathered a number of books and prepared every necessary thing my residence there would entail. After having put everything at the ready, I went out to meet my cousin Yassin in order to arrange for the time we would leave as we had already agreed to set out together. (…)

Onion is usually dirt cheap in Souk and the last thing I expected to be in such a need for in my life. Surely you will never know the value of a thing till you lose it or till you find yourself in an urgent need for it, just like the urgent need I felt for onion. I developed a strange sense of both love and hatred for onion ever since. Anyway, I took that piece of onion, confused whether to smell it first or to have a bite as if that was rule-bound. (…)

Faouzi Yasbah (March 19, 2009)

Fate (poem, p. 22)

Could one change one’s fate?

Some people are ranked among the late

Though they set the date.

Others, to be leaders is their fate.

Some are borne to give;

Others are here just to take.

One has no life to live,

And another one can’t feel the ache.

Do you see now the mess?

Find the reason you never tried to guess.

I and you can’t change our fate

Doomed we are to be among the late.

Though we try to set another date,

To be led by others is our fate.

Moundir Alamrani (2008)

An Alumnus Commemorating the Birth of ECO on its 4^th Anniversary (p. 23)

The American poet and philosopher Henry David Thoreau was right when he wrote:  ‘when you have built ivory towers, put the foundations under them.’ This is our aim. Why should I start with such a quote? The reason is that ECO is now entering its 4^th anniversary and still more foundations are needed to solidify its basis. (…)

I always like to keep an optimistic tone, yet sometimes tough talks help in bringing the lost threads into their right place. Otherwise put, after each newsletter we receive very good feedback and encouragements to go ahead with this work, but little contributions accompany these encouragements, which we are delighted to receive, of course. The point is, ECO cannot go on with lip-service and good words, we need real acts, more contributions, more participation, more involvement, more commitment, and with them more criti­cism to do better and better. (…)

I seize this opportunity to announce to ECO’s contributors and friends that we are in touch with Casablancaanalyst newspaper which is issued generally monthly, depending on the contributions received, by Dr Mohamed Oujetti, a professor at Hassan II University in Casablanca. So, with ECO and more writings we can have some of ECO’s works published by this Moroccan promising newspaper, which we all have to encourage and contribute to. With this note I wish all the best for the new members who are working on ECO’s agenda, voluntarily and with passion and professionalism, hoping that the 4 years that have elapsed will be added to the CV of ECO, with more appreciated records. That is what I succinctly meant by Thoreau’s words ‘when you have built ivory towers, put the foundations under them.’ (…)

The editor: Mohammed Hashas (Rome, March 15, 2009)