The fine art of the hammam scrub
Autumn fills the neighbourhood hammam with steam, a coarse kessa glove and a very thorough kassal. Bring the Darija words for skin and shoulders.
As autumn arrives, Moroccan neighbourhood hammams fill with steam and quiet reckonings. A tireless kassal works a coarse kessa glove across your shoulders until grey rolls of skin pile up like pencil shavings. You come out three kilos lighter, breathing through pores you had long forgotten about. Keep a straight face when they ask how many months you spent away from the steam.
Words from this week
- mustash (موسطاش): moustache
- bzzula (بزّولة): breast
- bash mrid? (باش مريض؟): What ails you?
Keep exploring
Three more topic packs were waiting that week: Describing words, Everyday verbs and Food & drink. Browse them on the packs page.