Jebel Toubkal

Jebel Toubkal

Toubkal  is a mountain peak in southwestern Morocco, located in the Toubkal National Park. At 4,167 metres (13,671 ft), it is the highest peak in the Atlas Mountain and in North Africa. It is located 63 km south of the city of Marrakech, in the Toubkal National Park       (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).

Most of the tourist top itinerary is to climb the summit of  Toubkal. And since I’m a tourist  (gee!! ;-)), I try also to go there, and here’s my proof…..;-)                                          

But I did not reach the summit, because my idol is Edward Hilary. He is the first man who reached the summit of Mount Everest, but he did not make it on his first attempt. .

…….OK,  fine……I admit…. I did not reached the peak because of my arthritis , my legs is so painful. But I will comeback next time and I will make sure that I will reach the summit….I shall return!!!!! With vengeance, pride and dignity!!!  I’m just saving money right now, so that I can rent a helicopter to bring me there. I did not regret that I did not reach the summit…, my only regret is I forgot to bring condense milk and some fruit because I saw a bunch of crunched ice along the way. I’m craving for fruit shake. ;-)

Work Attitude

This is the second country that I work with. First in Taiwan for 3 years in an electronic company. I just want to share with you my experiences...  In Taiwan , they have this saying "first impression last". If you do 10 good things, and you did 1 mistake..., for them you're still good.

One day, I did a very huge, big, titanic mistake with the product involved. It became a big lost to the company, and for the record, I'm the first and only one who did it. Actually, its the machine problem, but since it is my machine I'm responsible for it. I did not check immediately the machine if the output is good or bad then the machine produced a lot of bad output.The machine runs 24 hrs. 3 persons were responsible for it because we had 3 shifts. Among the three, I'm the one who accepted the mistake, since it is discovered during my shift.

All the managers came to me and  very angry.... "why did you do that....bla..bla...churva...chenez...etchuz....sprakinayts...biz...bizzz. (actually it's my own language because I can't describe their face anymore). I tried to calm them, I wanted to say, "hey guys why so stress, only half a million lost. You cannot bring that money in heaven. The end of world is near!!! repent, repent, alleluia". Again it's only in my mind, because if I say this maybe it's my world will end that time. So the least thing that I can do that time is to accept the mistake, apologize with matching tears and colds and at the back of my mind I said.... "I did not kill anybody huhuhu".

After a month , It's the anniversary of the company , and it's bonus time. Everybody was excited for their bonus, except me, because I know I will not receive any single cent because of my mistake. We're three batch in the company, the first batch which is three years already received 18k NTdollar, the second received 15k NTdollar, and the third batch where I belong , received 10k NT dollar. I'm not excited to open my payslip because I'm expecting a ZERO.

Then to my surprise I saw in my payslip it's 20k NT dollar. I told my co-worker, "can you please check this, there's a typographical error because the 1 became 2".  When I went to the bank, its 20k NTdollar. I really can't believed it. I reported immediately to my manager, that there is an error in my payslip  for me I didn't expect any bonus, because of my mistake, and now I received the highest.

The manager said, even I make a mistake, they still believe in me, among the 200 Filipino workers. They said that I'm the most serious one. I wanted to disagree "no I'm crazy!", ( but it's only on my mind). It's a big money, I'm really happy, because its the fruit of my labor.

Here in this country they have their own interpretations,  if you do 10 good and do 1 mistake.... you'll be bad all of your life,  and there's also the bonus. Even if it is other people's mistake.... it will also be your fault.  Look how sweet they are.

I'm a very peaceful person, I hate arguments, instead of arguing with them, since it is impossible for me to win anyway, because they will insist that they are right. All I do is to sing
"I did my best 
But I guess my best
wasn't good enough
'Cause here we are back
where we were before
Seems nothing ever changes
We're back to being strangers
Wondering if we oughta stay
or head on out the door

Just once ..la..la..la.. hmmm... followed by why, why, why, Delila.

Well I hope it's an isolated case, there are some Moroccan who are nice person and with pure heart.

First Impression Last

The first time that I came here, I had this impression that stick in my mind until now and its been a practice for most of them.
The word is.... tantararan.... drum roll please.... the word is  LATE.

I arrived at the Casablanca airport at 8am. I waited for 1hr.... but nobody came. I borrow the mobile phone of the security guard in the airport and call my employer, but the number that I called just ring once and off.

I'm tired and hungry, it's a 16hrs travel from Philippines to Morocco. So I've waited in the corner and start to sing....."That it's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late.....( by Justin Timberlake.)  hmmm, lalala, hmmm, grrrrr, hmmm,  lalala,  grrrrr.

After a decade... at last they came... its 11:30am. I asked why were they late? the local said, she forgot, and I told her that I tried calling the number in the invitation, but she said, she did not received any.(She lied.Because my friend said, she woke up late.)  I wanted to say "Oh really, so you're FIRED!!!"  but of course I tried to control my emotions and besides she is the boss.

In my country, being late is also a practice but not more than two hours. Being late for 1 hr is really a big deal. Sometimes it's a caused of break up. If you are at work you will be fired, if member of the family, you will be outcast, if you are congressman or any politician, you will be put on electrical chair or shoot to kill order.... well I'm just exaggerating, kidding aside,  for us, its so impolite and no respect, it seems you're not serious and you don't give importance to the person.

The Language

French is the second language in Morocco, but for the Berber it's their third language. There are some French word that is similar to Tagalog also. I have some funny experiences with the French language.

One day my Moroccan friend ask me if I want  "Jus d'orange" (pronounce as juduran). I thought that she ask if I want deodorant, at first I felt offended , but since its free I said yes, then I said Rexona pink. I don't know if she heard it. Then when she come back, she did not bring the deodorant instead she bring a glass of orange juice. I said what is this she said its jus d'orange.

I don't have any idea that some of the French word are similar to Tagalog word (Philippines). I ask the brother of my boss  that I want to buy detergent soap. he said what soap? so I pronounce it as "sowp", still he don't understand, then I pronounce again as sup, still he don't understand. My throat is aching while saying "sowp, sowp, sowp".

So, what I did is to bring him to the washing machine and do a sign language instead, thinking that he will understand me this time. At last after a decade of explaining now he understand. And he said "ah you want SAVON!". I said "wwwhhhhaaatttttt!!!!!!!!! you mean you speak  Tagalog? (in Tagalog it's sabon)  why you didn't tell me!!!!!!!!" my throat is now bleeding of saying soap, soap, soap, and you don't understand, and now you will tell me it's savon, it's a Tagalog word!!!!! and he said it's also a French word.

Then I went to the store, I point the TIDE detergent soap     (I pronounce as "tayd") but the Moroccan said "tid", I said I want Tide "tayd" not "tid" then we're arguing. until one Moroccan came and he speak English and explain to me that that's how they pronounce it in French. then I point also the Colgate (pronounce as kolgeyt) then the vendor said "kolgat" . They said that the English alphabet is different from french alphabet.

Unique Greetings

The Unique Greetings

Part of the Moroccan conversation , is there very long greetings  that would take a few minutes,  the Initial greetings are as follows:

“Salaam aleikum” May peace be upon you. And the answer is

“Waleikum salaam” And upon you as well.

“Labas?Labas alik?” means no harm. (at first, when I heard this word, I get hurt… It was summer season, with the temperature of  49 degree farenheit,  I came from a long walk; then when I enter the house, the morocan shout “salve labas!!!”.  Labas in tagalog  or Philippines means Go out. If you where in my situation, how would you feel? , instead of welcoming you and say “come in”  she said Go out!!! That time, I felt like blowing a fire from my mouth then become the incredible hulk… with bra, of course , because I’m a woman. Later on she explained to me the meaning. Then the answer is

“Labas, alhamdulillah” means  No harm, thanks be to God.

Bekhair? is “fine” the answer is

“Bekhair” also, the difference is only the tone.

“Kolshi muzien?” Kolshi means “everything”. Muzien: Good

Then they will also extend their greetings to their family members. They will also ask where they are, what they're doing, and also the health.

These greeting is also their practice even in talking on the phone. So if you’re using your mobile phone with just prepaid card, and your load is only 10 dirham, the last money in your pocket, you will call your friend because you saw in the TV that you won a lottery ticket, but there’s a condition that you have to claim the 1 billion dollar within 30 minutes. You called your friend because he has the fastest car ever. But since your friend is a moroccan and its so happen that both of you have 10 children, of course both of you will greet each member of your family… well all I can say is goodluck to your load (or credit , that’s how they called here). And to your 1 Billion Dollar.

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No Plate

                                                      “The plate”

 (from the award winning academy, oscar , pedro, juan awards  a  film by salvehabilskie, the sequel of  The spoon”)

The Moroccans are warm and friendly people, they  love to invite new friends in their house, especially other nationality. They are proud to show off their traditions, likewise their native food.  One time I was invited to eat couscous (the traditional food normally served during Friday). It was served in a one big plate with a nice decorations or presentation. They gave me spoon this time, that’s why I’m so happy, yesss!!! I will not eat by hand. I’m smiling from ear to ear.  Then I asked… Where is my plate? They said no individual plate, we will eat on a one big plate.(Oh no!!! not again!!! ) They said , it’s part of their traditions. Then I asked, why is it until now in the modern age, they still eat on one plate? (even on the gatherings like wedding, they eat in one big plate). They said , for them eating on one big plate is a symbol of “for the love of each other, for friends or family. (Wow! I’m impress, then on my mind I said oh! it’s sooo sweet!!!! Then we ate happily ever after, hayssss!). It is a unique experience to be part of their culture. And I’m happy for that…..,;-)  then one stood up to get a glass of water, it’s a big glass also, then the first one drink, and then the second….and then the others, in one glass of water. This time I did not ask anymore, because if they will say its for the love of each other,  of course, I will not agree.

No Spoon

The Traditional Restaurant

                                                       “The Spoon”

                                                    Salvehabilskie film

            It’s my second day here in Marakech,  Morocco, when my friend invited me to eat dinner outside. I told her , wait for me, I will  throw the garbage first, because I’m not yet finish unpacking my things. Then when we’re there already in Jemaa alfna, there are a lot of open restaurant to choose from. We chose the fish stall. What caught my eye is their unique style of serving. They don’t use spoon when getting the food. They get the food, the money , wiping the table and sometimes picking something from the nose, (well only sometimes, not all the time) with the same hand.  Then we sat down. They served the food, I said where is the spoon,  My friend said we will eat also by hand. I said WHATTTT!! Then I blamed my friend. “Why you didn’t tell me there’s no spoon here, I just threw the garbage!!!! “,  I didn’t find a faucet there, so I told her, “give me tissue please, I will wipe my hand first”. And then my friend gave me paper. “I said tissue not paper”, but she said that there's no tissue here. (I don’t have a choice but to eat with my bare dirty hand huhuhu wahhh!!!).  But in fairness, the fish, calamar and the salad eggplant is so delicious, well, I don’t know if its from my hand, or from the hand of the server. Any way, up until now its my favorite food.