I've returned to Singapore safely on 18 September via an Emirates flight.
It was an enjoyable flight. We upgraded ourselves to business class. Much to our delighted surprise, we were upgraded again to first class this time for the second leg of the journey from Dubai to Singapore. It was a Boeing 777 with fully reclinable seats.
My stint in Middle-east (Lebanon) and North Africa (Algeria & Morocco) has officially ended.
Showing posts with label Morocco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morocco. Show all posts
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Beach
Sometimes life's a bitch. Or maybe management's the bitch!
As I mentioned previously, just as the beach-going weather sets in, I received instructions to move out of the guesthouse at Palm Beach, Sidi Fredj.
Conditions at Sidi Fredj is very bad but at least there is a beach to spend the summer. The Cheraga guesthouse can provide better comfort but the surrounding area is really boring. Both places cancel each other out in different pluses and minuses so I really can't complain.
The bottom line is that I hate moving!
Moving Day/ Traffic
On moving day yesterday, I could see the road leading to Palm Beach jam packed with beach goers. The queue of cars trying to enter the beach was so long even during the late hours in the afternoon. Probably the late sunset at after 7 pm helped as people could stay at the beach longer.
With heavy traffic everywhere, it was nice to see policemen stationed at almost every junction to direct traffic. I think that this is one of the things Algeria is superior to Morocco. In Morocco, I see a lot of policemen on the road doing nothing about the traffic. They are just there to collect bribes. Yes, the Moroccan police are that disgusting!!!
Isn't it labor intensive and expensive to expend so much manpower to direct traffic, you'll ask? Yes, it is. But judging from the Algerian driving style which disregards most traffic rules, the roads will be impossible to drive with every vehicle trying to meander around each other. Bottlenecks will appear everywhere. So the human "touch" is necessary!
Last Moments At Sidi Fredj?
While the bulk of my things were already transfered, I will continue to stay at Sidi Fredj for the remaining two days of this visit. I leave tomorrow for Beirut.
Trying to maximize my remaining time at Sidi Fredj, I mingled a bit with my fellow tenants, the ICTs. I was invited by the Chinese (3 of them) ICTs to their apartment for dinner for several times. Once I contributed a dish - ABC soup, South-east Asian style.
A home-made Chinese dinner, easily tastier than Restorante Mudan at Hotel Mecure
Me and Pablo, my Colombian colleague, being the other manager there, were also invited to an evening teaparty organized by the Syrians and Egyptian ICTs. We munched on digestives, sipped beverage and shared our general disdain for most of the commercially prepared Algerian food we can. It was a nice evening that uplifted Pablo's spirit after Colombia's defeat to France in a friendly soccer match that day.
The boo boo-factor at Cheraga is the lack of social activities. Cheraga guesthouse is occupied by senior managers and they aren't a lot of fun. Most of them just want to drink, smoke and sleep.
At The Beach
Yesterday, I visited the beach with Pablo. It wasn't the best but it wasn't that bad. At least there were efforts to keep the beach clean.
The lack of safety consciousness in Algeria showed in few instances at the beach. In particular, young men are especially prone to reckless and dangerous behaviour.
For instance, many riding motorcycles were observed to be dashing across junctions and traffic at breakneck speed along crowded roads. Some were doing willys. None of them wore helmets. Perhaps they think they look cool but they could endanger theirs and others life.
Things were not safer at the beach either. I saw young people riding jetski along and very close to the coastline. These people own the jetski, so they are rich and probably well educated. But yet, they also don't have the consciousness that riding that close to the coast line could endanger the safety of people in the water, especially children.
I'm no stranger to high speed ocean going crafts, so I know how difficult it is to spot a head bobbling in the ocean. And also I wonder in the first place, why are these people jetskiing so near the coastline when the ocean is so big?! If not to draw attention to themselves than what else?
Algerians are sometimes stupidly crazy like this. Everything that can be done, they will do it.
While I was observing the jetskiers, a rider on a horse galloping along the beach came into my view. I know that there is a horse riding school nearby but didn't the rider think about safety also. What if the horse got startled by something, went berserk and started trampling on the sun tanners? Can a rider control the horse 100% of the time? I think not, especially in a place with so much distraction.
It wasn't all bad though. I did get to enjoy a nice sunset and experienced some interesting activities of the local people at the beach.
I thougth they were playing majong (popular Asian domino game)
So in love.... =P
Merry makers at the beach - drum n dance
As I mentioned previously, just as the beach-going weather sets in, I received instructions to move out of the guesthouse at Palm Beach, Sidi Fredj.
Conditions at Sidi Fredj is very bad but at least there is a beach to spend the summer. The Cheraga guesthouse can provide better comfort but the surrounding area is really boring. Both places cancel each other out in different pluses and minuses so I really can't complain.
The bottom line is that I hate moving!
Moving Day/ Traffic
On moving day yesterday, I could see the road leading to Palm Beach jam packed with beach goers. The queue of cars trying to enter the beach was so long even during the late hours in the afternoon. Probably the late sunset at after 7 pm helped as people could stay at the beach longer.
With heavy traffic everywhere, it was nice to see policemen stationed at almost every junction to direct traffic. I think that this is one of the things Algeria is superior to Morocco. In Morocco, I see a lot of policemen on the road doing nothing about the traffic. They are just there to collect bribes. Yes, the Moroccan police are that disgusting!!!
Isn't it labor intensive and expensive to expend so much manpower to direct traffic, you'll ask? Yes, it is. But judging from the Algerian driving style which disregards most traffic rules, the roads will be impossible to drive with every vehicle trying to meander around each other. Bottlenecks will appear everywhere. So the human "touch" is necessary!
Last Moments At Sidi Fredj?
While the bulk of my things were already transfered, I will continue to stay at Sidi Fredj for the remaining two days of this visit. I leave tomorrow for Beirut.
Trying to maximize my remaining time at Sidi Fredj, I mingled a bit with my fellow tenants, the ICTs. I was invited by the Chinese (3 of them) ICTs to their apartment for dinner for several times. Once I contributed a dish - ABC soup, South-east Asian style.
A home-made Chinese dinner, easily tastier than Restorante Mudan at Hotel MecureMe and Pablo, my Colombian colleague, being the other manager there, were also invited to an evening teaparty organized by the Syrians and Egyptian ICTs. We munched on digestives, sipped beverage and shared our general disdain for most of the commercially prepared Algerian food we can. It was a nice evening that uplifted Pablo's spirit after Colombia's defeat to France in a friendly soccer match that day.
The boo boo-factor at Cheraga is the lack of social activities. Cheraga guesthouse is occupied by senior managers and they aren't a lot of fun. Most of them just want to drink, smoke and sleep.
At The Beach
Yesterday, I visited the beach with Pablo. It wasn't the best but it wasn't that bad. At least there were efforts to keep the beach clean.
The lack of safety consciousness in Algeria showed in few instances at the beach. In particular, young men are especially prone to reckless and dangerous behaviour.
For instance, many riding motorcycles were observed to be dashing across junctions and traffic at breakneck speed along crowded roads. Some were doing willys. None of them wore helmets. Perhaps they think they look cool but they could endanger theirs and others life.
Things were not safer at the beach either. I saw young people riding jetski along and very close to the coastline. These people own the jetski, so they are rich and probably well educated. But yet, they also don't have the consciousness that riding that close to the coast line could endanger the safety of people in the water, especially children.
I'm no stranger to high speed ocean going crafts, so I know how difficult it is to spot a head bobbling in the ocean. And also I wonder in the first place, why are these people jetskiing so near the coastline when the ocean is so big?! If not to draw attention to themselves than what else?
Algerians are sometimes stupidly crazy like this. Everything that can be done, they will do it.
While I was observing the jetskiers, a rider on a horse galloping along the beach came into my view. I know that there is a horse riding school nearby but didn't the rider think about safety also. What if the horse got startled by something, went berserk and started trampling on the sun tanners? Can a rider control the horse 100% of the time? I think not, especially in a place with so much distraction.
It wasn't all bad though. I did get to enjoy a nice sunset and experienced some interesting activities of the local people at the beach.
I thougth they were playing majong (popular Asian domino game) So in love.... =P Merry makers at the beach - drum n dance
Thursday, May 29, 2008
In Algiers At Last
After two weeks of waiting for my visa, I was finally able to come to Algeria.
I realized that the process of getting the Algerian visa from Morocco was too complicated because it passed through too many hands. Unfortunately, this time I couldn't help it due to the recent crisis in Lebanon. In the future, I would prefer to apply through the embassy in Beirut.
Moreover, the Moroccan sun can be so punishing. And this is coming from someone who lived all his life in a country that only knows summer.
Seemingly peace has triumphed in Lebanon. A peace settlement brokered by the Arab League had been reached between the fighting Sunni and Shites factions. A new president who was the chief of army was elected.
I was informed that most expats had returned to our Beirut office to resume work. A Lebanese colleague who I met in Casablanca told me that after the blockades to Beirut downtown was removed, the shops and restaurants are all starting to reopen. (The blockade was for several months a Hezbollah-led effort to disrupt the economy and protest against the government before the crisis in May).
That means that I have more choices during lunch when I am back in Beirut.
Will the peace last? Any guess is as good as mine. Since Hezbollah has not agreed to disarm and since it has another agenda outside of Lebanese national interests, international politics may again trigger off events such as the Hezbollah-Israeli war in 2006.
Meanwhile, I will stay in Algiers for one week for work issues. Due to some internal adjustments, I will also be moving out of Palm Beach guesthouse back to the former one in Cheraga.
Just when the good weather is coming, I am moving away from the beach. What a let down.
I realized that the process of getting the Algerian visa from Morocco was too complicated because it passed through too many hands. Unfortunately, this time I couldn't help it due to the recent crisis in Lebanon. In the future, I would prefer to apply through the embassy in Beirut.
Moreover, the Moroccan sun can be so punishing. And this is coming from someone who lived all his life in a country that only knows summer.
Seemingly peace has triumphed in Lebanon. A peace settlement brokered by the Arab League had been reached between the fighting Sunni and Shites factions. A new president who was the chief of army was elected.
I was informed that most expats had returned to our Beirut office to resume work. A Lebanese colleague who I met in Casablanca told me that after the blockades to Beirut downtown was removed, the shops and restaurants are all starting to reopen. (The blockade was for several months a Hezbollah-led effort to disrupt the economy and protest against the government before the crisis in May).
That means that I have more choices during lunch when I am back in Beirut.
Will the peace last? Any guess is as good as mine. Since Hezbollah has not agreed to disarm and since it has another agenda outside of Lebanese national interests, international politics may again trigger off events such as the Hezbollah-Israeli war in 2006.
Meanwhile, I will stay in Algiers for one week for work issues. Due to some internal adjustments, I will also be moving out of Palm Beach guesthouse back to the former one in Cheraga.
Just when the good weather is coming, I am moving away from the beach. What a let down.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
An Update From Casablanca
Although I have so much to blog about, I had difficulty accessing a computer until when I arrived in Casablanca. I got a temporary notebook from our local office here. When I was leaving for Europe, I didn't want to bring my notebook along but I didn't expect to miss it.
It had been a very long trip starting since I left Beirut in late April almost one month ago with a large backpack worth of clothes. I'd spend most of my time visiting parts of Europe and Turkey for vacation and for a little business. After my arrival last Wednesday in Morocco, the travel bug apparently hasn't stop biting. Over the weekends, Xinyi and I joined our colleague and his wife on a road trip to Tangiers.
I should be travelling again this time at the end of the week, to Algiers, provided if I am able to get my Algerian visa before the week ends. All because I wasn't able to return to Beirut from the Europe trip due to the political unrest there.
Updates from Lebanon confirmed that the Beirut airport has re-opened. However, I wish to evaluate if the calm will persist in Beirut a little longer before deciding to return. In the meantime, I will be settling in my second home in Algiers.
As I mentioned earlier, there are so many things to blog about. I've yet to update my entries about the Prague business trip. As things had been moving so fast, I missed the opportunity to blog and upload my photos of the exciting Europe trip to the Netherlands and Belgium. In addition, there's the Istanbul and Tangier trip that deserves their separate entries along with lots of photos too.
With so many thing to come, I wonder when will I ever get the time to blog about all of this long trip.
It had been a very long trip starting since I left Beirut in late April almost one month ago with a large backpack worth of clothes. I'd spend most of my time visiting parts of Europe and Turkey for vacation and for a little business. After my arrival last Wednesday in Morocco, the travel bug apparently hasn't stop biting. Over the weekends, Xinyi and I joined our colleague and his wife on a road trip to Tangiers.
I should be travelling again this time at the end of the week, to Algiers, provided if I am able to get my Algerian visa before the week ends. All because I wasn't able to return to Beirut from the Europe trip due to the political unrest there.
Updates from Lebanon confirmed that the Beirut airport has re-opened. However, I wish to evaluate if the calm will persist in Beirut a little longer before deciding to return. In the meantime, I will be settling in my second home in Algiers.
As I mentioned earlier, there are so many things to blog about. I've yet to update my entries about the Prague business trip. As things had been moving so fast, I missed the opportunity to blog and upload my photos of the exciting Europe trip to the Netherlands and Belgium. In addition, there's the Istanbul and Tangier trip that deserves their separate entries along with lots of photos too.
With so many thing to come, I wonder when will I ever get the time to blog about all of this long trip.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Leaving Beirut / Air Travel Stories
Tomorrow evening, I'm leaving Beirut for Algeria. Colleagues in the office were commenting how "lucky" I am to be travelling during the long weekend holidays. In Algeria, Saturday and Sundays are working days and they don't celebrate Easter holidays there.
In Beirut office, public holiday has been declared from Thursday, Friday and next Monday. That's 5 days off in total. I could have gone to Cyprus for a short getaway.
Tomorrow's flight will, confirmed and guaranteed with a big stamp, be delayed for sure. Based on international standards, the time reading on boarding passes and boarding gates is usually the flight departure time. When it comes to Air Algerie flights, the stated time is usually taken to be boarding time!
However, don't be fooled into thinking that since the flight is usually delayed, one don't have to be right on time. A colleague managed to miss his flight because it departed AHEAD of schedule.
Among colleagues, we sometimes trade 'amusing' stories of our air travels. Amusing, yes, only in hindsight.
My personal 'best' air travel stories were the observations on passenger behaviour while boarding and alighting a plane. Actually, these observations extend to all north african/ middle east flights I've taken (Air Algerie/ Royal Air Maroc / Emirates).
Firstly, I noticed that passengers here usually do not turn off their mobile phones even when the plane has started to move. They continue to text-message or make phone calls on their mobile phones while the plane was taxi-ing to the runway. I don't know what the actual standards were but during air travel in Asia, we were constantly bombarded by overhead announcements to turn off our mobiles once on the plane.
What made it worst here was that the cabin crew usually don't give a damn! They walked down the aisle turning a blind eye.
Once, I even got into an argument with a Moroccan passenger after I pointed out to him that he should stop using his phone during taxi to avoid interfering with pilot communication. He refuted that technically the mobile phone needed only to be switched off AFTER the plane left the ground. I don't know who was correct technically but what's the fucking difference a few minutes between taxi-ing and taking-off make? (Airports in Algeria, Morocco and even Beirut are not busy airports, so it doesn't require more than 10 minutes to takeoff).
My second observation was that IMMEDIATELY after the plane landed on the asphalt of the runway, passengers whip out and turn on their mobile phones. A cacophony of mobile phone activation beeps and incoming message tones started going off in surround effect. As if on cue, everyone with a mobile phone started calling or texting someone. Perhaps I must have been flying with local equivalents George Soros or Warren Buffet who might lose millions of earnings for just one missed call.
I can almost imagine what goes on in Mohamad Soros' frentic mind when he started dialing as soon as the plane wheels scratch the runway. "Gotta stay on top of the stock market! Gotta make this call! It's make or break 50 million durhams!" Yeah OK, next time don't come squeeze with me in the economy class, if you are so rich, take business class.
And finally to my third observation, soon after making the million dollars calls to their brokers, all the Mohamad Soros and Abdulhamid Buffet began clambering over seats for their luggages and getting ready to disembark the plane while the plane was still moving to the terminal. It's as if they get a mystery prize for being the first out of the plane. For goodness sake, the plane was still 2 miles aways from the terminal!
Whenever I saw this on an Emirates flight, my heart really went out to the poor stewards and stewardess who tried in vain to request the passengers to go back to their seats and fasten the seatbelts. How do you restrain a herd instinct?
The most amusing story was one I heard from my Japanese colleague. Once while traveling back to Algiers from Hasi Mesaoud in the south, he and 2 other colleagues boarded a plane only to realize that it was completely full. There were not a single empty seat left on board.
He supposed that he may have boarded the wrong flight but it turned out to be the correct flight. That was only one flight for that day. Few thoughts occured in his mind.
1) Why did the ground crew allow his party to board when the flight was full?
2) If he had to stand throughout the flight, why hasn't the cabin crew showed him the hand-straps?
Just then, a steward came into the cabin, pointed to three passengers at random and told them to get off the plane. My colleague and his companions got their seats promptly.
As they say in Algeria, anything is possible.
HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER DAY!
Saturday, February 09, 2008
First 2009 2008 Post
This is my first post in 2009 2008. Damn, I really know how to procrastinate.
The beginning of the new year had been an exceptionally busy time for me with all the planning duties I had to do back in Beirut headoffice.
Some changes may be in due as my job responsibilities have changed slightly. I probably will spend less time in Algiers and more time in Beirut. It is also likely that I will be travelling more extensive in the MENA region outside of Algeria and Morocco.
As a follow-up to our Marrakesh trip end of last year, deep-sixed made an entry that can be read here.
I'm leaving for Beirut tomorrow. Will blog more when I'm there.
The beginning of the new year had been an exceptionally busy time for me with all the planning duties I had to do back in Beirut headoffice.
Some changes may be in due as my job responsibilities have changed slightly. I probably will spend less time in Algiers and more time in Beirut. It is also likely that I will be travelling more extensive in the MENA region outside of Algeria and Morocco.
As a follow-up to our Marrakesh trip end of last year, deep-sixed made an entry that can be read here.
I'm leaving for Beirut tomorrow. Will blog more when I'm there.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Marrakech Here I Come
Tomorrow is the first day of the Eid holidays in Morocco. I will be visiting Marrakesh for a weekend getaway with Deepsixed. Woohoo.....!
On this day, muslims commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ibrahim to show his devotion to Allah. Instead of sons, muslim households will each sacrifice a sheep on this day. It is also a day for charity as 2/3 of the sheep will be given away to the poor so the meat doesn't go to waste.
About a month or so before this event in Algeria and Morocco, you can see a lot of sheep being traded by people just about anywhere you go. In Morocco, a sheep cost about USD300.
I heard that in Morocco, 1 million sheeps will be sacrificed tomorrow. Geez, that's like 1/3 of Singapore's population!
Sacrificial Lambs in Algiers: taken from a passing Corolla. Where's Little Bo Peep?
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Sleep
Dinner conversation with colleagues at our hotel in Casablanca.
A (58 years old): How to sleep 6 hours without waking up?
B (60 years old): Impossible! The most I can sleep is straight 5 hours without waking, especially after drinking. I set my alarm everyday but I always manage to beat the clock in getting up.
A : Yes, yes ... usually I'm up, looking at the alarm and waiting for the it to go off.
Sencha (gasps incredulously) : Wow... And I'm complaining that I have difficulties waking up every morning.
B : You are still young. As you grow older you start to require less sleep.
Sencha (thought) : Darn! I don't wanna grow old....
Mental note to self, start enjoying my full night's sleep for as much as I can before I grow old.
A (58 years old): How to sleep 6 hours without waking up?
B (60 years old): Impossible! The most I can sleep is straight 5 hours without waking, especially after drinking. I set my alarm everyday but I always manage to beat the clock in getting up.
A : Yes, yes ... usually I'm up, looking at the alarm and waiting for the it to go off.
Sencha (gasps incredulously) : Wow... And I'm complaining that I have difficulties waking up every morning.
B : You are still young. As you grow older you start to require less sleep.
Sencha (thought) : Darn! I don't wanna grow old....
Mental note to self, start enjoying my full night's sleep for as much as I can before I grow old.
Dinner - Oeuf Benedictine
Friday, July 13, 2007
Bureaucracy: The Joke Is On Us
Happy Friday the 13th!
It's all quiet on the Moroccan front lately as the summer holidays are here and some of the staff are on vacation. I will be conducting a training for them in a couple of days time and I'm confident that the attendance rate will not be as planned because of the vacation season. Can their HR people plan better in advance?!!
I was reading this Singaporean blog and found out about a sad story related to bureaucracy.
In the story, a woman passed away due to massive loss of blood after childbirth. Unfortunately, the hosipital was obstinate in upholding its blood use policy of 'use 1 replendish 1', and refused to provide more blood for the woman's treatment, resulting in her death. According to the deceased's husband, it was explained that authorizing the use of more blood for her treatment was subjected to approval by more higher layers in the administrative structure. Usually, this kind of gesture requires time which a dying patient don't have. (You can watch the report on youtube here).
Has that hospital person-in-charge in question considered the purpose of the hospital before refusing to commit more blood? I believe that every hospital in the universe puts preserving lives somewhere in their mission statement. Therefore if that purpose was to preserve lives, shouldn't the hospital went ahead and provide what is necessary to preserve the dying woman's life? Perhaps I'm wrong, the purpose of that hospital was to watch their blood inventory level.
Shouldn't there also be a kind of a quick communication process up the bureaucratic chain whereby critical decision could be made for emergency cases? If the person-in-charge is afraid of making the decision, somebody at the top could be informed and could make a quick judgement call to release the use of blood . The hospital can worry about the blood inventory level later by mobilizing the public to donate in order to replendish the inventory. In my opinion, this kind of emergency don't happen everyday so there should not be a frequent break of policy.
But perhaps hospitals are so accustomed to dealing with life and death situation on a daily basis that nothing is out of the ordinary. The person-in-charge probably thought like this:
Much as I dislike bureaucracy especially red-tape, in the modern society, we simply cannot live without a bureacracratic structure to handle the needs of the masses in a professional and efficient way.
But I'm afraid that if the incident becomes more prevalent, then our society is approaching the day when we have bureaucrats that Max Weber dubbed "specialist without spirit, sensualist without heart". Believe you me that I really dread the day when Singapore becomes a society without bureaucratic flexibility.
We are facing so much of bureaucratic inflexibility in the countries where we are working. It really irks me that no matter how inefficient and incapable these people-in-charge are, I cannot do anything about them because they are preserved behind official positions and layers of rules (sometimes unstated and probably made up impromptu ... you sons of bitches!) and so can do no wrong.
Red-tape is the name of the game here. In Morocco, a colleague took almost 3 months to get a visa application approved when it should have taken 2 working days. For my Lebanese residential permit, there are simply too much layers of in the approval process that I get thrown from departments to departments for one fucking piece of crappy looking paper. More often than not, we received no explanation about delays and processes but instead all we get is the "take it or leave it" attitude.
It's all quiet on the Moroccan front lately as the summer holidays are here and some of the staff are on vacation. I will be conducting a training for them in a couple of days time and I'm confident that the attendance rate will not be as planned because of the vacation season. Can their HR people plan better in advance?!!
I was reading this Singaporean blog and found out about a sad story related to bureaucracy.
In the story, a woman passed away due to massive loss of blood after childbirth. Unfortunately, the hosipital was obstinate in upholding its blood use policy of 'use 1 replendish 1', and refused to provide more blood for the woman's treatment, resulting in her death. According to the deceased's husband, it was explained that authorizing the use of more blood for her treatment was subjected to approval by more higher layers in the administrative structure. Usually, this kind of gesture requires time which a dying patient don't have. (You can watch the report on youtube here).
Has that hospital person-in-charge in question considered the purpose of the hospital before refusing to commit more blood? I believe that every hospital in the universe puts preserving lives somewhere in their mission statement. Therefore if that purpose was to preserve lives, shouldn't the hospital went ahead and provide what is necessary to preserve the dying woman's life? Perhaps I'm wrong, the purpose of that hospital was to watch their blood inventory level.
Shouldn't there also be a kind of a quick communication process up the bureaucratic chain whereby critical decision could be made for emergency cases? If the person-in-charge is afraid of making the decision, somebody at the top could be informed and could make a quick judgement call to release the use of blood . The hospital can worry about the blood inventory level later by mobilizing the public to donate in order to replendish the inventory. In my opinion, this kind of emergency don't happen everyday so there should not be a frequent break of policy.
But perhaps hospitals are so accustomed to dealing with life and death situation on a daily basis that nothing is out of the ordinary. The person-in-charge probably thought like this:
We just followed procedures so everything should be fine. Too bad that sometimes people die but hey, it's a given 50/50 right? The patient just didn't respond positively to our efforts as expected. Anyway, we tried, so good job, let's give ourselves a pat on the back and go grab a beer.
Much as I dislike bureaucracy especially red-tape, in the modern society, we simply cannot live without a bureacracratic structure to handle the needs of the masses in a professional and efficient way.
But I'm afraid that if the incident becomes more prevalent, then our society is approaching the day when we have bureaucrats that Max Weber dubbed "specialist without spirit, sensualist without heart". Believe you me that I really dread the day when Singapore becomes a society without bureaucratic flexibility.
We are facing so much of bureaucratic inflexibility in the countries where we are working. It really irks me that no matter how inefficient and incapable these people-in-charge are, I cannot do anything about them because they are preserved behind official positions and layers of rules (sometimes unstated and probably made up impromptu ... you sons of bitches!) and so can do no wrong.
Red-tape is the name of the game here. In Morocco, a colleague took almost 3 months to get a visa application approved when it should have taken 2 working days. For my Lebanese residential permit, there are simply too much layers of in the approval process that I get thrown from departments to departments for one fucking piece of crappy looking paper. More often than not, we received no explanation about delays and processes but instead all we get is the "take it or leave it" attitude.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Flying Back To Singapore - 24 June
The east bound flight from Casablanca via Dubai to Singapore could be described as a progressive upgrade in the modern retailing experience.
Casablanca's Mohammed V airport, inferior even to the Algerian airport, occupies the lowest end of the spectrum. It seriously lacks a nice and comforting retailing environment. For a tourist country, its airport is unhygenic and inefficient.
Dubai International Airport occupies the more developed end of the spectrum. Its duty free stores carries products that appeal to people that the airport receives. On one hand, there are branded items for the business class travellers. On the other hand, there are no lack of electronic goods and indigenous souvenirs for the ordinary tourists. When I'm there, I'm always tempted to find something to buy.
In my consideration, Singapore Changi Airport is even one rung above Dubai's airport in the retail experience. There are so much more amenities to be found besides the shops I thought amenities like the nature garden, kid's playground and movie areas really caters to the passengers' varied tastes while in transit.
There's also free broadband access which is a good way to lure in potential customers too. Otherwise how can you explain why Samsung and Sharp want to place many laptops around the terminals for free use by the passengers? Subtle marketing?
Casablanca's Mohammed V airport, inferior even to the Algerian airport, occupies the lowest end of the spectrum. It seriously lacks a nice and comforting retailing environment. For a tourist country, its airport is unhygenic and inefficient.
Dubai International Airport occupies the more developed end of the spectrum. Its duty free stores carries products that appeal to people that the airport receives. On one hand, there are branded items for the business class travellers. On the other hand, there are no lack of electronic goods and indigenous souvenirs for the ordinary tourists. When I'm there, I'm always tempted to find something to buy.
In my consideration, Singapore Changi Airport is even one rung above Dubai's airport in the retail experience. There are so much more amenities to be found besides the shops I thought amenities like the nature garden, kid's playground and movie areas really caters to the passengers' varied tastes while in transit.
There's also free broadband access which is a good way to lure in potential customers too. Otherwise how can you explain why Samsung and Sharp want to place many laptops around the terminals for free use by the passengers? Subtle marketing?
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Algiers To Casablanca - 22 June
Normally, I don't enjoy visiting Casablanca because it's so darn hot there. But this trip was an exception. I will be leaving for Singapore via Casablanca.
On a different note, I don't own any cats but I'm sure cat lovers will agree that they do the darnest things right?
Saw this cat at the Algerian airport while waiting for my departure. I took a picture of it washing it's face at a mini fountain outside a duty-free shop IN THE MIDDLE of the airport waiting lounge.
On a different note, I don't own any cats but I'm sure cat lovers will agree that they do the darnest things right?
Saw this cat at the Algerian airport while waiting for my departure. I took a picture of it washing it's face at a mini fountain outside a duty-free shop IN THE MIDDLE of the airport waiting lounge.
Looks like it just woke from a good night sleep and was trying to freshen up. Perhaps it owns the place. Xinyi pointed out that the cat is sporting a square top. How it got past airport security was beyond me.
After landing in Casablanca, my colleague and I decided to follow through with our rightful return to "civilization" by heading to MacDonalds. (MacDonalds is still not available in Algeria). We bought the latest promotion burger known as the Big Tasty.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Moroccan Business Communication 101
I got this information from Yudabong. The University of Iowa's Business Communication Program website keeps an international communication etiquette resource that provides how-to information for meeting people from different nationalities. Read Yudabong's blog entry about communication etiquettes with Singaporeans here.
Working in the MENA region, I am interested to know what are some of the common etiquettes which I may not be aware of. I was able to find something for Morocco but not Algeria or Lebanon. Here are the some of the ones on Morocco I found interesting:
When Moroccans greet each other they take their time and converse about their families, friends, and other general topics.
Yeah, I'm familiar with that. I usually get asked how was my flight 32 times everyday after my arrival to Morocco.
Who you know is more important than what you know, so it is important to network and cultivate a number of contacts who may then assist you in working your way through the serpentine bureaucracy.
Right on! Things never get done if you follow the rules.
Once a relationship has developed, it is common to kiss on both cheeks, starting with the left cheek while shaking hands, men with men and women with women.
Everyone seems to be kissing everyone, I'm confused.
In business it is extremely important to verify anything that has been agreed to in front of others as it may not have been a sincere agreement and the person may have no intention of following through.
Very true! They promise the sky but upon the deadline, they look the other way.
Since Moroccans judge people on appearances, dress and present yourself well.
Dress to kill!!! *Roarrrrrr*
Moroccans prefer to do business with those they know and respect, therefore expect to spend time making a personal relationship before business is conducted.
Whew, I wonder when this meeting will ever end?
It is best to avoid scheduling meetings during Ramadan since Muslims cannot eat or drink during the day.
Better yet, avoid scheduling work.
Companies are hierarchical. The highest ranking person makes decisions, but only after obtaining a group agreement.
False. With or without group agreement. As point 2 is true, most of the group don't know anything or say anything, the decision gets passed by the highest ranking person either way.
Eat and drink only with the right hand.
Right for input function, left for output function. Makes perfect sense.
Expect to be urged to take more food off the communal plate. Providing an abundance of food is a sign of hospitality.
Ordering food in excess amount is a sign of opulence.
Everything else can be found here
Working in the MENA region, I am interested to know what are some of the common etiquettes which I may not be aware of. I was able to find something for Morocco but not Algeria or Lebanon. Here are the some of the ones on Morocco I found interesting:
When Moroccans greet each other they take their time and converse about their families, friends, and other general topics.
Yeah, I'm familiar with that. I usually get asked how was my flight 32 times everyday after my arrival to Morocco.
Who you know is more important than what you know, so it is important to network and cultivate a number of contacts who may then assist you in working your way through the serpentine bureaucracy.
Right on! Things never get done if you follow the rules.
Once a relationship has developed, it is common to kiss on both cheeks, starting with the left cheek while shaking hands, men with men and women with women.
Everyone seems to be kissing everyone, I'm confused.
In business it is extremely important to verify anything that has been agreed to in front of others as it may not have been a sincere agreement and the person may have no intention of following through.
Very true! They promise the sky but upon the deadline, they look the other way.
Since Moroccans judge people on appearances, dress and present yourself well.
Dress to kill!!! *Roarrrrrr*
Moroccans prefer to do business with those they know and respect, therefore expect to spend time making a personal relationship before business is conducted.
Whew, I wonder when this meeting will ever end?
It is best to avoid scheduling meetings during Ramadan since Muslims cannot eat or drink during the day.
Better yet, avoid scheduling work.
Companies are hierarchical. The highest ranking person makes decisions, but only after obtaining a group agreement.
False. With or without group agreement. As point 2 is true, most of the group don't know anything or say anything, the decision gets passed by the highest ranking person either way.
Eat and drink only with the right hand.
Right for input function, left for output function. Makes perfect sense.
Expect to be urged to take more food off the communal plate. Providing an abundance of food is a sign of hospitality.
Ordering food in excess amount is a sign of opulence.
Everything else can be found here
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Oh Baby Baby It's A Wild World
Yes, indeed it is. Just take a look at the recent outbreaks of suicidal style killings in Algeria and Morocco, two countries that I happened to be in at the time coincidentally.
In Morocco, Casablanca April 10th, 3 suicide bombers wearing explosive belts blew themselves up in Casablanca killing a policeman and wounding others. A 4th bomber was gunned down by a police sniper before he had any chance of blowing himself up. (CNN source)
Then on April 11th, a suicide bomber killed 30 and wounded 200 or more when he detonated his car in downtown Algiers. Another bomb also killed 11 people when it went off near a police station. (CNN source)
A day after my arrival in Casablanca on Friday 13th, another two suicide bombers blew themselves up near the American Cultural Center. A third suspected bomber was arrested before he could blow himself up.
And not to mention many more similar terrorist acts around the world, especially Iraq and even in the US.
Why are these people so eager to take their lives and harm the lives of many other innocent people in the process? The common justification for such kinds of action is that the aged old idea of "good vs evil" sometimes with heavy religious overtones. The perpetuators rationalize themselves as the good guys who are fighting against something perceived as evil. However, I believe that any religion worth its salt will never condone any form of reckless killing no matter how noble the ideals maybe.
Incidently the issue reminded me of an espisode in the series Supernatural that I watched recently. In the episode, the spirit of a recently deceased pastor, due to a violent shooting, started to reappear to others as a holy vision. The spirit, believing that he had become God's avenging angel, started appealling as a vision to some 'low life' (a prostitute and an alcoholic), and offered them 'redemption' by taking the life of someone, whom the spirit knew had committed or is going to commit a grievous crime. At the end of the episode, the pastor's spirit, summoned by a séance performed by Sam Winchester, defended his actions and that he was acting upon the word of God, to strike down those who has sinned against humanity. Hearing that, the mentor of the dead pastor disagreed and said, "'Thou shall not kill!' THAT is the word of God!"
In Morocco, Casablanca April 10th, 3 suicide bombers wearing explosive belts blew themselves up in Casablanca killing a policeman and wounding others. A 4th bomber was gunned down by a police sniper before he had any chance of blowing himself up. (CNN source)
Then on April 11th, a suicide bomber killed 30 and wounded 200 or more when he detonated his car in downtown Algiers. Another bomb also killed 11 people when it went off near a police station. (CNN source)
A day after my arrival in Casablanca on Friday 13th, another two suicide bombers blew themselves up near the American Cultural Center. A third suspected bomber was arrested before he could blow himself up.
And not to mention many more similar terrorist acts around the world, especially Iraq and even in the US.
Why are these people so eager to take their lives and harm the lives of many other innocent people in the process? The common justification for such kinds of action is that the aged old idea of "good vs evil" sometimes with heavy religious overtones. The perpetuators rationalize themselves as the good guys who are fighting against something perceived as evil. However, I believe that any religion worth its salt will never condone any form of reckless killing no matter how noble the ideals maybe.
Incidently the issue reminded me of an espisode in the series Supernatural that I watched recently. In the episode, the spirit of a recently deceased pastor, due to a violent shooting, started to reappear to others as a holy vision. The spirit, believing that he had become God's avenging angel, started appealling as a vision to some 'low life' (a prostitute and an alcoholic), and offered them 'redemption' by taking the life of someone, whom the spirit knew had committed or is going to commit a grievous crime. At the end of the episode, the pastor's spirit, summoned by a séance performed by Sam Winchester, defended his actions and that he was acting upon the word of God, to strike down those who has sinned against humanity. Hearing that, the mentor of the dead pastor disagreed and said, "'Thou shall not kill!' THAT is the word of God!"
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Happy Lunar New Year!
WOW! My first post in 2007.
Just want to wish my non-existent readers a Happy Lunar New Year!
Just want to wish my non-existent readers a Happy Lunar New Year!
Monday, December 25, 2006
Christmas Eve Dinner @ Casablanca
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Christmas is not a holiday here so I was hoping to spend Christmas in a quiet sort of way. On Christmas eve, Xinyi and I didn't do much but lounged in our hotel rooms until it was dinner time. (Check out the things that we did since we got to Casablanca).
Our Christmas eve dinner was Japanese food. Turkey and stuffed meat, foods that are traditionally associated with Christmas, are pretty usual fare in the Maghrebian diet anyway. Moreover, I had a craving for Japanese food.
Kiyotori, one of the two Japanese restaurants in Casablanca, not far from our hotel was our choice. Other than sounding Japanese, Kiyotori does not have any meaning in Japanese. It was also not easy to find the restaurant because it was located in the middle of a inconspicuous and deserted alley. Ridiculous name and location aside, Kiyotori is really a popular restaurant with the hip and up-market crowd because of its pricey exotic fare and lush interior design.
Our Christmas eve dinner was Japanese food. Turkey and stuffed meat, foods that are traditionally associated with Christmas, are pretty usual fare in the Maghrebian diet anyway. Moreover, I had a craving for Japanese food.
Kiyotori, one of the two Japanese restaurants in Casablanca, not far from our hotel was our choice. Other than sounding Japanese, Kiyotori does not have any meaning in Japanese. It was also not easy to find the restaurant because it was located in the middle of a inconspicuous and deserted alley. Ridiculous name and location aside, Kiyotori is really a popular restaurant with the hip and up-market crowd because of its pricey exotic fare and lush interior design.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Returning to Singapore
Yes, my dear non-existent readers, I am finally going back to Singapore for my annual vacation starting from 8 November!
It has been about 11 months since my last return. It is very exciting and interesting for me to see my country again after being away. Shopping and Eating are definitely on the top of my agenda. =)
My poor flight planning is evident again. I am going to spend 17 hours in Dubai before catching the next connecting flight...*duh*
Anyway, I'm glad to be going on vacation!
It has been about 11 months since my last return. It is very exciting and interesting for me to see my country again after being away. Shopping and Eating are definitely on the top of my agenda. =)
My poor flight planning is evident again. I am going to spend 17 hours in Dubai before catching the next connecting flight...*duh*
Anyway, I'm glad to be going on vacation!
Saturday, September 30, 2006
新人培训：感想
一转眼五个星期的新人培训在上个周末结束了.课程结束之后，新生们都会分散回国，然后被调到不同的单位工作.离开前一天，上完最后一天课后，负责培训的我们就让新生自由发言表示他们在这一个多月的感想和意见.大家都说在这几个星期里学到了很多商业和职场的知识，也说自己能结识到这么多不同国籍的新朋友而感到高兴.要和不同国籍和背景的人相处固然不简单，但是做得到也算是一种成功.
毕竟大多数的新生都是刚毕业的年轻人，所以还没有在社会上工作的经验.对他们来讲, 这次培训能够让他们见识到什么是职场的心理准备。因为他们还没经历过工作的磨练，所以很纯，感情非常丰富.有好几位在发言时，可能是回想到培训中的苦与乐，还有将要和新朋友离别的事实，激动到哭了，话也只说了一半就说不下去.有一位来自摩洛哥的表示他曾经上过几家公司的训练，但是没有遇到过这么会照顾新人的培训员.听了这些感激的话，我们都感到很欣慰.
大家离开之后，我却因为行程的关系，在饭店多住了几天.每天下班回到饭店，看到Lobby空荡荡的，和之前以经熟悉看到那里一大群人集合在聊天说笑的情景相比之下,觉得气氛很不一样. 这段时间大家在一起生活的情景不断在脑海浮现，感觉满温馨的.
这次培训我参与的部分最少，跟新生接触的时间也比较少，不过跟大家相处了也有一段时间，觉得他们都有成长.有一位阿尔及利亚的男新生，在培训开始时，因为没有自信心所以一句英语都不敢讲，但是在最后一天，他却在大家的鼓励之下，在众人面前大胆的用英语发表自己的感触.虽然英语还是说得很烂，可是他却得到了很重要的自信心！
我参与这次公司办的新人培训（其实是没有选择）而却能够做出一点小贡献，让这些刚毕业的公司新生学到在社会里工作所需要的宝贵知识和态度（比如自信心，尊重他人意见之类），我也算尽了份力吧.
毕竟大多数的新生都是刚毕业的年轻人，所以还没有在社会上工作的经验.对他们来讲, 这次培训能够让他们见识到什么是职场的心理准备。因为他们还没经历过工作的磨练，所以很纯，感情非常丰富.有好几位在发言时，可能是回想到培训中的苦与乐，还有将要和新朋友离别的事实，激动到哭了，话也只说了一半就说不下去.有一位来自摩洛哥的表示他曾经上过几家公司的训练，但是没有遇到过这么会照顾新人的培训员.听了这些感激的话，我们都感到很欣慰.
大家离开之后，我却因为行程的关系，在饭店多住了几天.每天下班回到饭店，看到Lobby空荡荡的，和之前以经熟悉看到那里一大群人集合在聊天说笑的情景相比之下,觉得气氛很不一样. 这段时间大家在一起生活的情景不断在脑海浮现，感觉满温馨的.
这次培训我参与的部分最少，跟新生接触的时间也比较少，不过跟大家相处了也有一段时间，觉得他们都有成长.有一位阿尔及利亚的男新生，在培训开始时，因为没有自信心所以一句英语都不敢讲，但是在最后一天，他却在大家的鼓励之下，在众人面前大胆的用英语发表自己的感触.虽然英语还是说得很烂，可是他却得到了很重要的自信心！
我参与这次公司办的新人培训（其实是没有选择）而却能够做出一点小贡献，让这些刚毕业的公司新生学到在社会里工作所需要的宝贵知识和态度（比如自信心，尊重他人意见之类），我也算尽了份力吧.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Casablanca: Freshmen Orientation Camp / Being a Teacher!
I'm way overdue in updating my blog *checks the date* for like more than a month. This period had been very hectic for me because of work. First a little update, although the crisis situation in Beirut has subsided much, I still don't have plans to return to Beirut because of work commitments. From the looks of it, I will not be returning for quite some months.
Freshmen Orientation Camp
It's quite unheard of for a company to run a Freshmen Orientation Camp for its new associates. Actually, this is the second one conducted within our organization and the number of freshmen has increased from 7 to 40+!
The Camp began at the end of August and will run it's course until end of September. During these 5 weeks of Freshmen training, the 40 or so management trainees will receive an education on a variety of topics ranging from the TW foundations, BR Kaizen principles, vehicle, service and parts marketing. This kind of training is rare even in TMC group.
Our "camp" happens to be a very plush compound that calls itself Casablanca Appart Hotel. The place reminds me of the Hollywood-ish apartments in popular soaps starring A-list wannabes suntanning besides the pool. Anyway, it's a great place with great hospitality and great food. I'm definitely missing it after September. My involvement in the camp was to be a trainer and coordinator for the freshmen.
My Worst Nightmare: Being a Teacher!
If I knew that in the course of my job I have to lecture to a big class, I will think twice before accepting the offer. Teachers are not in my good books and I have a deep dread for public speaking.
My involvement in the Camp is to be one of the trainers and coordinator. When I learned about it two months ago, I felt shivers down my spine. Panic buttons couldn't stop ringing. Then the "top" assigned me my topics: Vehicle Marketing, Logistics and TW Sales and Marketing.
Are you kidding me?...I was thinking to myself. I never had a day of marketing lesson in my entire 16 years of education (kindergarten excluded). I didn't even know who is Kotler or what the 4Ps are until last month! And I was expected to stand in front of 40+ people, including a number of marketing graduates, to tell them about marketing and selling vehicles for 3 days!?
And then came the late nights trying to cram what I can glean from borrowed texts and the internet into a presentation, all the while thinking to myself if I have enough content to last an entire lecture. Fortunately, the late nights came in handy as I was too tired to worry on the night before my lecture.
The Lesson?
I didn't give the best of lectures but I didn't ruin it entirely either. The deep fear of speaking in public quickly subsided after a few minutes into the lecture. I was defintely nervous throughout but the fear didn't turn out to be a big ugly monster that I thought it will be. The responsive audience helped alot in easing the tension. Sometimes my mind run blank and no words came but asking the audience questions gave me sometime to think about what to say. And the best trick to avoid public speaking? Throw a couple of questions and break the audience out for discussion groups. Once the ball is in their court, they must now do the talking now. I just need to listen. =P
(...having sweaty palms)
Freshmen Orientation Camp
It's quite unheard of for a company to run a Freshmen Orientation Camp for its new associates. Actually, this is the second one conducted within our organization and the number of freshmen has increased from 7 to 40+!
The Camp began at the end of August and will run it's course until end of September. During these 5 weeks of Freshmen training, the 40 or so management trainees will receive an education on a variety of topics ranging from the TW foundations, BR Kaizen principles, vehicle, service and parts marketing. This kind of training is rare even in TMC group.
Our "camp" happens to be a very plush compound that calls itself Casablanca Appart Hotel. The place reminds me of the Hollywood-ish apartments in popular soaps starring A-list wannabes suntanning besides the pool. Anyway, it's a great place with great hospitality and great food. I'm definitely missing it after September. My involvement in the camp was to be a trainer and coordinator for the freshmen.
My Worst Nightmare: Being a Teacher!
If I knew that in the course of my job I have to lecture to a big class, I will think twice before accepting the offer. Teachers are not in my good books and I have a deep dread for public speaking.
My involvement in the Camp is to be one of the trainers and coordinator. When I learned about it two months ago, I felt shivers down my spine. Panic buttons couldn't stop ringing. Then the "top" assigned me my topics: Vehicle Marketing, Logistics and TW Sales and Marketing.
Are you kidding me?...I was thinking to myself. I never had a day of marketing lesson in my entire 16 years of education (kindergarten excluded). I didn't even know who is Kotler or what the 4Ps are until last month! And I was expected to stand in front of 40+ people, including a number of marketing graduates, to tell them about marketing and selling vehicles for 3 days!?
And then came the late nights trying to cram what I can glean from borrowed texts and the internet into a presentation, all the while thinking to myself if I have enough content to last an entire lecture. Fortunately, the late nights came in handy as I was too tired to worry on the night before my lecture.
The Lesson?
I didn't give the best of lectures but I didn't ruin it entirely either. The deep fear of speaking in public quickly subsided after a few minutes into the lecture. I was defintely nervous throughout but the fear didn't turn out to be a big ugly monster that I thought it will be. The responsive audience helped alot in easing the tension. Sometimes my mind run blank and no words came but asking the audience questions gave me sometime to think about what to say. And the best trick to avoid public speaking? Throw a couple of questions and break the audience out for discussion groups. Once the ball is in their court, they must now do the talking now. I just need to listen. =P
(...having sweaty palms)
Monday, July 17, 2006
Crisis in the Middle East: Private Concerns
When Israel invaded Lebanon few days ago, I was away on a business trip to Morocco fortunately. I am very grateful to those who tried to contact me out of concern for my safety.
During the start of the crisis, most of my expats co-workers were either travelling or on vacation with their families. It has been decided to temporary set up our office at our distributor office in Morocco. For the time being, I am going to be based between Morocco and Algeria.
At present, there are few personal concerns over the situation in Lebanon
The first concern is to the colleagues who are still in Beirut. As the telephone lines and internet are down and the office closed, we have no knowledge of their well-being. At this stage, I think Beirut is still pretty safe but it is very difficult to speculate what will happen next. If the situation worsen, they will be endangered.
The second concern pertains to the relocation of our office. Even if the crisis ends in a few months time, it will be in the best business and employees' interest to relocate to another country. The question is when and where?
The third concern is whether I can ever get back to my apartment in Beirutto retrieve my personal belongings. If I do return in a few month's time after the end of the crisis, I wonder if my landlord will give me a war time discount and not charge me months of unpaid rent? The content in my fridge must be spoilt by then and it will be difficult to clean up.
As each day passes, we follow the news closely to grasp the situation in Lebanon and hope that the situation doesn't worsen.
During the start of the crisis, most of my expats co-workers were either travelling or on vacation with their families. It has been decided to temporary set up our office at our distributor office in Morocco. For the time being, I am going to be based between Morocco and Algeria.
At present, there are few personal concerns over the situation in Lebanon
The first concern is to the colleagues who are still in Beirut. As the telephone lines and internet are down and the office closed, we have no knowledge of their well-being. At this stage, I think Beirut is still pretty safe but it is very difficult to speculate what will happen next. If the situation worsen, they will be endangered.
The second concern pertains to the relocation of our office. Even if the crisis ends in a few months time, it will be in the best business and employees' interest to relocate to another country. The question is when and where?
The third concern is whether I can ever get back to my apartment in Beirutto retrieve my personal belongings. If I do return in a few month's time after the end of the crisis, I wonder if my landlord will give me a war time discount and not charge me months of unpaid rent? The content in my fridge must be spoilt by then and it will be difficult to clean up.
As each day passes, we follow the news closely to grasp the situation in Lebanon and hope that the situation doesn't worsen.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
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