Day 2- Early Daze




My first restaurant experience, Comptoir du Parc. Moroccans love PINK decor.

 

Here we go, my friends-

It’s been a whirlwind trip and a nice place to be so far. On Wednesday 1/5/2011, my boss Karl and I came from Tampa thru JFK’s Jet Blue terminal, Madrid airport on Thursday (fabulous!) to Casablanca and to my final destination, Mohammedia. It’s an Arabic country that is very French-influenced and Francaise is the official language, but younger Moroccan people have had English in high scholl and college. I’m told that their king is insistent on everyone learning English, to the extent that the Samir refinery I’m working in sends it’s workers without that skill to English classes in Casablanca, which is an hour away. So far the people have been very sweet and accomodating. Warm handshakes and hugs abound. However, it’s very “let’s make a deal” here which has a downside; the guy who rents cars to our team is quoted as saying “I’m Arabic , so it’s very difficult to say no to you. That is why I tell you I’ll do what you require in an hour and it takes me a few days. I’m not allowed to tell you I can’t do it.” The student interns who work next to our team, separated by a glass wall, were all a-titter at my arrival. My nickname is Cat. I wonder if they mean Cougar! J

My view out of Room 203

Morocco is very green, surprisingly. There are wildflowers blooming everywhere along the roads. The French influence is evident in the sidewalk cafes, beautiful parks and some of the upper crust houses have gorgeous private gardens and lush plantings. There is much poverty, as well as a middle class. (Remember middle class? ) I saw a man hand-clipping the grass at the bank today. Apparently, that’s pretty normal. Their greatest asset is their labor force and they know it. Workers are very well taken care of by the refinery.  They are transported to and from the refinery in Mohammedia in hordes of tour busses and fed subsidized healthy food, provided a giant sports complex with a pool where their kids can come and spend the day during school breaks. They are surrounded by parks inside the refinery as well as Samir-sponsored parks in the town. And there is a beautiful mosque on site at Samir, where Friday is the big prayer day for Muslims and workers get extra time off mid-day for that.

Mohammedia is a metropolis, but also a sea-side town that draws a gazillion people in the summer in spite of the fact that the refinery dominates the view from here. Tomorrow (actually later today) I get to explore beyond my little hood. I’m in a hotel called the Sabah, no frills, but pleasant. There is a disco here, as well as a restaurant and bar. And last night was a Friday Night Fever experience for me. It’s 2:53AM and the walls are still pulsating from the disco. I’m hoping that since it is Saturday, there may actually be hot water in the morning. Yeehaw! The Ritz Carlton, it ain’t. When the windows are open (no screens anywhere) the aromas of spicy meats cooking wafts up to my 3^rd story room. I like it, it reminds me of the Renaissance Festival.
 The Dynamic Duo

Anthony, looking like he's loving life!






Mike, What's that little beer you're drinking?