"It's All Happening"

2010-11-07T07:36:00.003-05:00

The emotions can take place all at once, randomly or never. For years the hope, or perhaps it’s a thought, the payback will happen. The suffering has been unbearable. Birth of the suffering starts young. Over years it increases and decreases depending on the levels of involvement. Crying, fighting, and trying to be strong.
“Strong”, mentally!!

For the majority of people this takes years to develop. How does a child achieve it in their first decade of life? They can’t…..
What they can do is ignore, block, and push down what the not yet “strong” part of them cannot conquer.

Remember the few times that created smiles :)
Try and forget all the promises that were never kept, an insurmountable number :(

The teenager arrives in the 2nd decade. The “know it all”, able to talk back and speak what partly is on their mind. The attempt to try in some way to mend what already has gone far beyond mending. The cards, letters, excuses whatever it takes to try and gain a morsel back of what the relationship must have been, at one point, VERY early in life.

Stories have been told about that VERY early time. The joy of arrival and the pleasure it brought, if only temporary, to so many people who have, each in their own unique way, been suffering for years.

Time to fly, leave the nest, leave it all behind. HUGE sigh….an escape. Don’t speak to soon. There is never an escape. One progresses through the college years – “the name of the institution unknown for the entire duration”. Aren’t they proud of such an accomplishment? The first one to achieve what the others have not.
NO they are not….

An adult, in some sense of the word, develops. The child becomes the adult and the adult seems to constantly revert back to their immature, adolescent ways. Once you are unhappy, they are so very happy. Narcissistic Behavior Disorder is the one that seems to be the best description. Everyone harbors some type of disorder – right?
Give up, just give up, it’s time.

Fast forward to the 4th decade. It has happened, others have known for ages. Those who matter the most have not, nothing new in this story. You can feel the ache in your heart, you can cry, scream, laugh, talk, drink, run, but in the end one will do what has been happening since decade 1 - - ignore, block, and push down what the “still” not yet “strong” part of the person cannot conquer.

NO - NO - NO

2009-12-19T18:15:00.009-05:00

I hate it,
I hate it,
I hate the snow!!

Someone please,
Please make it gooooooo.

A blanket of white,
Sooooooo not right......

REFLECTION

2009-09-20T16:39:00.022-04:00

Writing in this space that exists in the middle of nowhere is an interesting place to be, a place that I often feel I live in.

Labor Day 2009 marks 1 year that I have been back in America.

Still in PA, still without a job of any real significance. I have, called and e-mail and followed-up again and again with so many people, people in high positions. Zero luck. I now sit at a desk 8 hours a day and listen to people who don’t even know me getting angry with me for something I have no control over.

It’s a job I keep telling myself, a little bit of money to put in the wallet. Money to buy my wine from time to time and keep my sanity. O right and make my car payment. 1st time in my life that I actually had to buy a car. The years and years of company cars have come to an end.

I live in a space, not my space, not a bed but in a room, not a bedroom. I do have a roof over my head for that I am thankful.

I have reunited with people who I have not seen in over 20 years. I have met new people that I am so very thankful are now in my life. Others who I wish never entered my life because they are so cruel and so one way. It’s humbling, stifling, boring, and saddening some days. Other days it just time that passes.

I have learned new skills on jobs that I would never have thought I could have done in my life. Hydrolazers, Isophase, Alter X, Condenser Bay, Turbine, and Dosimeter. Words that were foreign to me are now part of my ever expanding vocabulary. A month of “Silkwood”!!

Looking on the positive side of the road. I run, I am running again, I run fast, the fastest I have ever run in my whole life. I’ve won medals and trophies. Will I ever be on the level of elite – LOL not by a long shot. Will I ever be able to understandPre Jr. or get that high…not so much but it feels good on a certain level. I am finally fit…to others, in their eyes. In my head is a different story. Damn you ED.

Don’t ever say “yous” or Illi”noise” or “TAger” or “ain’t”. Keep your grammar and accent in check. You worked hard to get out and now you will have to work even HARDER to get out again.

People who think they have authority over you will someday come to the realization who you are and what you have to offer. Worldly, ambitious, savvy, adventurous, not afraid and ready to go at a moments notice.

What A Long Strange Trip It's Been

2009-01-10T21:05:00.007-05:00

To all readers who have followed my blog from the beginning I THANK YOU. I am honored and grateful that you would spend your precious time reading my thoughts and feelings. For a first time blogger I believe I can say it has served its purpose. I was able to keep my family and friends informed of what was taking place on my fabulous journey. It’s a shame no one was able to experience it with me. See 1st hand where I lived and get a dose of an amazing culture. I received some very interesting comments and was introduced to people who I was unaware would even bother looking at my measly blog.

As all things do this too must come to an end. My Moroccan adventure is over and I guess I should say MY adventure is over for NOW. Well - wait - - does it ever really end? I will always keep hope deep in my heart that someday soon I will travel extensively again. That I will be given the opportunity or lucky enough to be able to do what I am so very passionate about. Humanitarian work speaks volumes to me. What Angelina, Oprah and Bono do for those less fortunate would be my dream job. A crazy comparison I realize but none the less it gets my point across. A few million dollars might help also? I will continue to search and research that avenue because I know it will fill my soul. I will feel as if I am finally doing something that has purpose and meaning. A way to keep my inner fire burning.

Wishing you all a 2009 that is lived at risk because you decide to pursue your dreams, rather than just dreaming them....

Happy New Year
BESLEMMA

Beyond Cold

2008-12-22T08:25:00.013-05:00

This is soooo not right and the sad part it that temp. is not even correct it's currently 8:30AM and 5 degrees. Who in their right mind would ever want to live in such conditions? My body certainly is not made for this weather. Yesterday was the Winter Solstice and it has come on full force.

Friday was a snow day for "the kids" and the subs -yahoo!! I decided to search sites of places that were warm-HOT, had green grass, blue water and sand. It's 65 in Morocco today. My positive spirit resides in those temps.

The backyard in Sugarloaf, PA

REFLECTION

2008-12-07T11:46:00.008-05:00

Bitter cold winter weekends in PA leave a lot of time to think and/or reflect. It's in the 20's here with a light dusting of snow on the grass and trees. People all over are getting ready for the holiday. My Moms house sits next to a Christmas Tree farm so people have been up and down the long drive all weekend. Cutting, dragging, and securing their dream tree on their vehicles, and did I mention FREEZING! I must admit upfront I have never been a holiday person. I know BA-HUM-BUG....blah, blah, blah. Today the house is being decorated and I would rather do anything else then help decorate. However the alternative is to go outside.

No Thank You! As I type this I am sitting at the computer with a wool sweater, wools socks and a ski hat on, pathetic I know. Thus my love of HOT Mediterranean weather.

Back to Reflection.

Over the years I have written down several quotes that have spoken to my soul.

I'd like to share some with you.

1996:

"There is a luxury in being quiet in the heart of chaos."-virginia wolf

"Sometimes it takes years to really grasp what has really happened to your life."
-william rudolph

"To sense when it's time to go is so hard-to leave a secure thing, a loving thing." "But that's what'll preserve the friendship. If you go past that time, you sacrifice it....." "But it's hard.

It is so hard."-lili taylor

2003

"Love your incredibly unique life, it is very short."-john olm

"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my cham friends."-25th hour

"Hope and imagination are only consolations for the disappointments and sorrows of experience."-italo calvino

"The earth turned to bring us closer it turned on itself and in us until it finally brought us together in this dream." - 21grams

200?

"There are many things in life that will catch your eye but only a few will catch your heart pursue those."-unknown

2008

"Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman." "Always"-khaled hosseini

And my newest favorite - -

"Deliver me from him who does not tell the truth unless he stings,and from the man of good conduct and bad intentions, and from him who acquires self-esteem by finding fault in others."-kahlil gibran

The tree has arrived, Blue Spruce, and it smells amazing..........

It Can't Be Over Yet

2008-11-13T16:23:00.011-05:00

Do you ever feel you’re in spiral motion waiting for the spinning to stop and it never does? Since December 2007 I have been living in that spiral. Hoping, praying that it will stop or at least slow down and allow me to get out. I made it through July and then came August I don’t think I will ever look at August the same again. I took a trip overseas for 3 weeks the place was incredibly beautiful but the situation was sometimes unbearable. I met some remarkable people who I know will be my friends forever and I feel so thankful to have them in my life, others I met well……

I was O so tan and enjoying the weather to the fullest but even for me the lover of sea, sun and sand I was forced to take breaks because my body was baking like a pie. Daily drinks, tons of food, late nights and not enough exercise makes Beth not on her “A” game.

Labor Day I was back in America unexpected by most but maybe not out of the question to others. Living in PA again but this time with Mom. My brother had the little one early on but now she is back in the nest. I guess at the end of the day the return was inevitable – it was too much, a chore, uncomfortable, it bucked the norm. 2 of us within a span of 6 months must have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Now it’s the 3 of us - in the tiny homestead, it will be challenging but we need to stick together because we only have each other. I never would have thought at this stage in my life I would be spending so much quality time with my Mother let alone living with her, it’s almost surreal.

November and I am still in PA how did this happen – ha? The job market is worse than ever, no breaking news to anyone! October I took on the role of substitute teaching in the Hazleton Area School District. I could not spend another day in the house doing nothing except chores. I was going stir crazy. The majority of my classes have been at a school very close to my Mom’s house. I have had classes from K-8 and everyday is a very different experience. I have a new found respect for teachers and the rigors they take on daily. I would have thought kindergarten would be a breeze. Cute, adorable 5 year olds certainly cannot be as challenging as hormonal 7th and 8th graders. Boy was I wrong. Out of 3 different KG classes I would have to say that 1 of them was the toughest day I have had so far since I started subbing. I can’t remember if this is how I felt about subs when I was in school. Was I ever as disrespectful to teachers as the teenagers at VEMS are to me? I certainly hope not….

On a high note for November the Thorn Girls came to the East Coast. It was excellent to spend much needed bonding time with them. My girl KR-is-Ten, there is no other like her. The weekend turned out to be a mini Hafey reunion with our crew. Laughter, tears and a WHOLE LOT of kids.......

Direction: a word that seems to be missing from my vocabulary of late. Up and Down, Back and Forth, Round and Round but no straight path leading to anywhere. I guess its life but it’s so very tiring and at times frustrating. When you pour yourself into something you expect or can only hope for desired results. After all these years I should realize for me that is not an option.

I am keeping my fingers crossed, everything crossed, that my journey begins again soon.

It’s now so deep in my veins/soul it seems impossible to let go of.

STAY TUNED.......

2008-11-12T21:26:00.008-05:00

I will be back VERY soon with some news/updates!

To be honest there has been so much going on I don't even know where the time has gone.

July, my last post, really......??

oh the horrors - sorry (dink) :0(

2008-07-04T16:18:00.009-04:00

4th of July wishes to the crew in Morocco

Let's talk about Independence.....this has been my week to fully experience it.
My heart still resides in Morocco. I have been back in the states solo now since May 14th. Living with family and riding the roller coaster of life once again.
Spending 7 days with nothing more then your mind and wine certainly opens your eyes to many things. I made some good, which i am very proud of, decisions this week (thanks b) and others that remain questionable, also I hit a small pothole that didn't make the week any easier.
My family is on vacation in CT and Cape Cod. The annual 4th of July party at Cape Hoop. The west coast crew decided to make the trip this year too. I'm sure it's a blast.
One of my choices - to not go..........
Daily I search for a job, e-mail resumes, network, and make phone calls. It's a very humbling time and I would not wish it on anyone. This is hands down the worst time to be unemployed in the states. Damn I should have gotten on that plane.
I was very close to getting an interview at GWA in Casa. The job was to be the Admissions Officer at the school. However they decided last week the candidate needs to speak French - CRAP. It would have been a super job! They are keeping me posted if anything else comes up. The director is awesome and would love for me to come over for a visit and to meet the team. I recently found out there are now direct flights from JFK to Casa so WHY NOT! It would be as simple as a jaunt to the West Coast.

I wish I could tell you stories and adventures but they will be on hold for awhile.
I'm not giving up yet on going back or.......to "another spot" for my next adventure!

Happy Summer !!

Congrats To The Men of Morocco

2008-04-22T07:55:00.020-04:00

112TH BOSTON MARATHON
Monday, April 21, 2008
DISTANCE - 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195 Kilometers)

2008 Top Men Finishers
1. Robert K. Cheruiyot - KEN - 2:07:46
2. Abderrahime Bouramdane - MAR - 2:09:04
3. Khalid El Boumlili - MAR - 2:10:35

Many Many Congrats also to everyone who was part of TNT this year.
WAY TO GO - I MISS YOU ALL!!

Rain, Rain, GO AWAY

2008-04-20T07:36:00.004-04:00

Since last Thursday "happy birthday" to me. Nothing, I mean nothing has gone right. It has been a non-stop week of one bad thing after another. The Black Cloud will not go away.
I hope this is not a peek at how my "XXth" year on this planet is going to be!

To top it off it is not only raining like mad in Tanger but we are getting HAIL.....
What in the world?? Thunder, Lightening and Hail on April 20th in Morocco.

TIA

So Much To Tell

2008-04-19T17:39:00.007-04:00

I am back in Morocco living in the bustling city of Tanger.
It's been a little over a month since I arrived.
Today I spent half the day in a Moroccan police station. I wish I had my camera with me.

Sunday I was headed to Gran Canaria for a weeks vacation but due to today's events that trip is cancelled.

Now I have no excuse with a free week(other then a side trip to Casa Blanca) ahead of me to fill you all in........

Is It MARCH Already

2008-03-08T22:07:00.010-05:00

Very Soon - YES - VERY SOON I will be back to tell stories and share adventures. The past few months have been...well honestly, I don't have or know the right words. No excuses, No apologies just a BIG bump in the road or should I say in my life!?

I'm on the move again and today has been one of the worst travel days I think I have experienced. So much so that I will arrive a full 24 hours past the time I was originally due in my FINAL destination.

Tomorrow is a new day - HAPPY SUNDAY!

TIME, TIME, TIME

2008-01-17T21:55:00.000-05:00

It's been ages.......I know. What can I say I am a huge procrastinator when it comes to writing this blog. It's almost stressful for me sometimes.

It's the new year and new things are happening in my life. I've been back in the states for a month now. Visiting, driving, flying, riding on trains and trying to survive the cold.
God how I truly detest this weather!!

What's next? I wish I could answer that myself. Limbo is an interesting place to be. No home, no firm roots, my computer, my suitcases and ME.

Since December 15th I've been on the move - -
Morocco
Spain
Massachusetts
Connecticut
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Massachusetts
California and the journey continues.

February will be a "warm" month for me with Sea and Sand.
2 new places to discover and add to my list-can't wait.

This photo was taken from the terrace of my apartment in Morocco - YB#33
Look closely, your not seeing double!! (i need to brush up on my photo skills)

I Miss You Morocco

Before my departure from Morocco I made absolutely sure I went to the place I had always dreamed of visiting - Marrakesh......the trip was incredible.
Only one thing was missing, getting to meet "My Marrakesh".
I'll save that for next time when I will definitely stay at the "Peacock Pavilions"

SUNSHINE

2007-12-02T09:50:00.000-05:00

I know I promised a post on Thanksgiving which is way overdue but I thought I would warm your soul first - sorry I can't take away the chill that has covered the East Coast but maybe I can make you feel what I am right now.

It's almost 3:00 Sunday afternoon and thankfully I did not have a viewing trip today. I am "semi-quarantined" to my apt, which is another story in itself.... I am seated on one of my kitchen chairs on the very small terrace in the front of my apartment. On the terrace with me is my laundry rack where my oh so soft yellow sheets have been drying in the Sun all day. I hear the call to prayer in the background and can see a few men across the way playing a game of some sort on another terrace. It's a very quiet day here in Ylara Beach. Jess and Erik have been in London since Friday and the rest of the group well who knows I generally don't. I see a few clouds on the horizon but other then that it's an absolute blue sky......the sun is beaming down on my face and trying to give me a touch of color since I am once again white. Is it truly December 3rd.....what a glorious day. If I could send a ray of this warmth to each one of you that mean so much to me I would do it in a second. Stay warm today even if it's exists only in your mind and with thoughts of Morocco. Happy Sunday!!

Thanksgiving was uneventful and a typical night with a ton of food and way too many very loud kids. I appeared with Jess and Erik and disappeared with Jess as soon as we possibly/politely could. The End.

An Abundance Of Thanks

2007-11-22T05:16:00.000-05:00

Today is Thanksgiving in America.

I can smell my Mother's Pumpkin Pie baking in the oven without even being there.

This evening we are having a dinner at a co-workers villa. A gathering of all the Americans who work for Compass. I am thankful to be able to share in the celebration.

It will be a strange Holiday season for me.

This will be the first time in my "xx" years that I will not be celebrating with my family.

I am thankful they will be together and can share the Holiday.

I have asked them to eat double portions for me.......

I have a "Jack B Little" on my desk which I received as a gift and it makes me smile everyday.

I am thankful for the people in my life who do small things which keep my spirits up.

Enjoy the day with your family and friends!!

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving From Morocco.

ahhhhh....Asilah

2007-11-08T13:08:00.000-05:00

Another day trip taken "the day after" my trip to Chefchaouen.

WHOOPS - how could I forget......

CONGRATULATIONS

"RED SOX" & "PATRIOTS"

My trip was taken on a Sunday once again during Ramadan but it was a beautiful day and teh shops and restaurants were all open. Asilah is a very artsy seaside town approximately 40 minute south of Tanger on the Atlantic. Bye-Bye beautiful Blue Mediterranean. There were many art galleries and stores with one of a kind pottery and candle holders. A new found place for me to shop.

I bought a very Moroccan hand painted bedside table and a very cool pair of leather flip-flops.

I also met 2 wonderful people. A very pleasant, attractive young Moroccan girl name Safae who was selling unique Moroccan clothes and bags designed by a women in Tanger. She spoke incredible English and was very well educated. The store was tiny but was decorated to perfection, less is more. The name of the store in Tanger is boutique "EXCENTRICA", which I tracked down a week later.

The 2nd person I met was Tarik. I was up the alley a bit trying to make a deal on a bedside table when my hear caught the sound of Tracy Chapman. What are the chances?? While the cabinet maker was still chewing on the deal I offered I decided to give him a few minutes and follow that music.

A few paces down the voice of Miss Chapman became louder. I entered a very small room which had several hand-painted tiles displayed. Next to this room was the artist's workshop and who knows perhaps his home as well. A young boy with dreadlocks walked in behind me and I praised him on his choice of music. The language barrier jumped right out but I was able to get by with the few words of Arabic I know. His name was Tarik and his small gallery spoke volumes. I bought 2 of his tiles - 1 "which may be a photo of him" a surfer with board in tow and another with my favorite number on it. He wrapped them up for me, not in a plastic or paper bag but, in a vibrant colored page of an English magazine that was advertising beautiful furniture it was perfect. I asked him if I could take some photos of his workshop, you will see those in the slide show. Take a close look - very interesting.

It was a nice day out and a place I will absolutely visit again!

I hope you Enjoy The Journey as much as I did.

SOX - ROX

2007-10-24T22:47:00.000-04:00

My internet is FINALLY back after being out at my apartment for almost 3 weeks, in the nick of time I might add! It’s 2:15 AM in Morocco and 10:15 PM on the East Coast but no matter where you are in the world it’s the bottom of the 4th at the 2007 World Series at Fenway Park in Boston. Tek just helped push the lead to 6-1. Jess and I started watching the game at her place on Slingbox at Midnight. After 2 innings it was time for her to go to bed since she has a manager’s meeting in the morning. We had been eating sweet-tarts all night that her Mom sent over in a Halloween care package. I am fully wired at this point. The internet strength I have is not strong enough to stream video so what’s a Red Sox Girl to do?
I’ve decided to purchase MLB Audio.
It’s perfect - - I am at this moment listening to WEEI and following ESPN Gamecast.

When I was a very young girl I spent a large amount of time with my grandparents. I grew up as a Phillies Fan. The days of Mike Schmidt when the Phils rocked, he was my favorite. I would sit on the porch with my grandfather and listen to games on the radio. Between innings I would go into the backyard with my glove and throw pop-ups. This has just brought back so many memories for me.

Jess, Erik and I all wore our Red Sox Garb to work today and plan to do so tomorrow as well. I had my very Red “socks” on also. Earlier in the evening I tucked the pants into the socks in honor of “33”. A friend of mine, HUGE Sox fan and East Boston native always use to say that you must wear the same outfit for every game of the series if the Sox are winning. It would be a jink if you didn’t……. Jess and Erik were not 100% on board with this but I may be able to sway them.

The hardest part will be keeping the result of Game 1 a secret from them all day. Erik is going to watch the game after work and will not want to know the outcome. Good Luck with that my friend since we all LIVE on the internet.

This weekend we’ll be making Red Sox Rally Pie (aka Boston Cream Pie) and getting very little sleep.

Bottom of the 5th: 9-1 and my guy is up next.
I hope your enjoying the game as much as I am.
GO SOX !!

BLUE CITY

2007-10-14T09:18:00.000-04:00

Chefchaouen is located approximately an hour and 1/2 from Cabo Negro. You can access Chefchaouen either by the mountain road or the scenic route which is the longer of the 2. Many of my co-workers have been to visit Chefchaouen on several occasions. Keep in mind the journeys always take place on the weekend when I can't go. Well... 2 weekends ago Erik's parents came to visit him and he was making the trip to show them the very beautiful, enchanting city. No VT's for me that weekend so I was free to go - whoo hoo. I drove my car and Jess rode with me so I would know how to get there on my own.

Upon arrival and after parking we stepped out of our vehicles and as if by chance this wonderful man appeared. "Mohammed" a new one, not either one of the 2 Compass Mohammed's - - - like out Bob or Jim very popular name. This petite, well dressed, man spoke excellent English and was going to be our guide for the day. Jess and Erik had toured Chefcahaouen with Mohammed on their first visit accompanied by Ginger and Mike.

It was a lovely day. Sunny and warm but not to hot and some of the sights were breathtaking. Although it was Ramadan you would not have know it in this small tourist town, it was buzzing with action.

We ate at a fabulous Moroccan restaurant that was very inexpensive and was extremely yummy. Mohammed brought us to a local bakery that was making fresh sweets and Moroccan treats for the breaking of the fast that day before our departure.
The entire tour was about 4 hours and was worth every Dirham.

I must like "doors" Enjoy the pics........

Ramadan

2007-09-28T06:17:00.000-04:00

Friday September 14th was the start of "Ramadan".
Below is an e-mail that was sent to the staff at Compass........

___________________________________________________

This Friday, (give or take a day depending on the shape of the moon), the month of fasting of Ramadan will commence. It one of the 5 pillars of Islam & is mandatory to Moroccans.

Muslims will fast from sun-up to sun-down, in the midst of festivities & family reunions. Most will wake up to have a religious washing & breakfast before sunrise. They will then break the fast (Ftur) as soon as the sun disappears, at this time of the year, around 5:30pm (this will change every day, with days progressively lengthening). The fast includes not drinking anything during the day. You will note many become more religious during this time, like wearing a scarf or praying 5 times a day. Women will not wear makeup, perfume, jewelry or immodest dress. When there are health reasons that require eating, one will make up fasting after Ramadan.

Some Muslims might eat/drink a little here or there, in hiding. Many families will eat huge meals through the night, favorite shows/sitcoms are on during the night & those who don’t work will sleep during the day. In Morocco, more food is sold during this 9th month than any other.

So how does this affect you as a foreigner? First of all, simply knowing what’s going on and respecting the religious festivity will help as you interact with society & the Moroccan employees. For clients, all restaurants except those catering to tourists (meaning maybe only Sofitel, McDonalds & Pizza Hut) will be closed for lunch, most even in the evenings. Birjiss a.k.a. Shawarmaville will be open for lunch but you must sit inside the Monochrome Café. There is no smoking or drinking of alcohol, so Marjane might not have these stocked up. The hanouts (little neighborhood stores) will be closed in the mornings & will open at 2pm with bread being sold before fast time, so buy next day’s bread & goods then. You will notice what we call “the hour of death”, an hour before Ftur, when people are racing home in their vehicles or on foot, so be careful as drivers do get impatient at this time. Once the break of the fast happens, signaled by a call to prayer from the mosque or TV, the streets are virtually empty & everything is closed. This is not a safe time to walk alone on the streets. As the month progresses, you will see people become more impatient and lose their tempers as Ftur nears.

The closing office kitchen can provide a spot to eat a sandwich or drink a coffee or a smoke, out of respect for the Moroccan employees who cannot eat or drink.

If you are invited for Ftur (breaking of the fast), you will be served harira with Moroccan pastries & goodies (shbakia, sfuf, dates) & milk. If you are to stay for the next meal, this could be around midnight. If you want to make a treat, Moroccans love zucchini bread or an American date or dried fruit cake.

After Ramadan, there is a 2 day feast called the Aaid Seguir, when Moroccans gather with family & give presents & clothing to children.

__________________________________________________

This past Tuesday Compass hosted a Ftur at the Sofitel Hotel after a staff meeting. Some very interesting food was served. A lot of meat which I passed on but I tried just about everything else. I stepped out of my comfort zone and had a bowl of Harira Soup which is made of Lamb, Chickpeas, Tomatoes and Spices. It was very tasty.

It's a quiet weekend here in Morocco and at Compass. 12 of the staff have left for the UK to attend "Place In The Sun" Birmingham Show. I was left behind..... but not to worry I get my dose of the UK next weekend.

Jess, Carla and I are headed to Surrey for "The Homes Worldwide Show"

It's being held at "Lingfield Park Racecourse" Saturday October 6th and Sunday October 7th.

If your in the area stop by!!

I'M BACK - - - -

2007-09-08T07:57:00.000-04:00

I've made it back safe and sound to Morocco. My trip to the states was great but also much different then I had envisioned. My eyes were opened to many things.

The crew got together my first night back at "The Horse" to celebrate. It was great to catch up with everyone and then it was back to work the next day. My first viewing trip for Saturday was already cancelled. I hope this is not the sign of times to come. Almost all the tourists are gone and it's very quiet once again. Hopefully business will begin to pick up within the next few weeks.

I got a new car.....yahoo - the Chevy has been banished and replaced by a Black Hyundai 4x4.

I'll start posting again soon.

Carnoustie (better late then never)

2007-08-10T12:40:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Padraig!!

No camera's were allowed at The Open so the few shots I have were taken on our way out. These first few photos are courtesy of the The Open Photo Gallery. It goes without saying, for those of you that watched the finals on Sunday, it was WET.

but it was BEAUTIFUL.........

Although I was upset Phil was not there it never took away from the excitement of The Open.

We learned many things from that day/weekend in preparation for St Andrew's 2010 -

1) Don't wear Khaki's in Scotland (or White Pants Sergio!)

2) Always pack your North Face, Umbrella and Golf Shoes

3) Stay close to the actual venue

4) Bring Snacks & Water (i found this out b4 hand so we were well covered)

5) Pick one or two holes and remain there for the day

6) Get to the 18th hole Grandstands early for a guaranteed seat & to view some amazing final shots (buy a beer first)

7) NEVER LEAVE BEFORE THE FAT LADY SINGS...........

THE KING REIGNS

2007-08-07T16:29:00.000-04:00

The King is in Town

His villa is guarded 24/7 by many men in various uniforms. If I can get some photos I will but I'm not sure how that will fly with the guys holding the automatic weapons.
M'Diq is A BUZZ - - - the Golden Mile.
Huge Moroccan and solid colored Flags fly on the entire roadway from Fnideq to Tetouan.
There are lighted decorations and strings of lights across the streets.
Picture Christmas as you travel down the street in your town.
Traffic is packed and the drivers are crazy.
Summer is in full swing in Northern Morocco.

Hence the reason why I am headed to the states for 3 weeks.
I'm going to strive to get some photos before I leave because once I get back it will all be over.

I have found the most amazing restaurant in Cabo Negro "aka" the Beverley Hills of northern Morocco. It's on the beach and the decor is Fab. The saddest part about it is the place is open for only 6 weeks. Can you imagine, I almost cried! The BONUS of the spot is - they serve sushi!!!!

5 days until departure......

Happy B-Day Jess ;0)

IT'S A BOY

2007-07-30T13:25:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the delay - back to reality here in Morocco and the days just fly by.......

The scan showed us a boy. We saw his face for about 20 seconds and that was it. His "willy" confirmed it. Susie and I cried!

After the scan we spent the day shopping in Edinburgh and the weather cooperated 100%.

Exhausted from shopping and walking the city all day I headed to the gym for Spin class. The instructor was a male tri-athlete and he kicked butt, it was incredible! I am amazed I made it through the whole class. I was so happy I was practically in tears. Honestly, I never realized how much I miss my workouts until after that class. I could not stop thanking Dom and Susie enough for letting me use the gym.

Off to dinner we headed. Susie was not familiar with "The Shore" but she use to live in that area so we were bound to find it. One thing we never thought of during the day was making a reservation. Saturday night in the city, big mistake on our part. After finding "The Shore" only to be told there were no tables available we ended up a few doors down at "The Ship". The food was great and the atmosphere was lovely.

Saturday I spent the day with Jess and her Mom. It was also the release of the newest Harry Potter book so the city was MAD!! You could get that book on every corner and in every store!!It rained all day in Edinburgh it was awful. I had bought the cutest shoes the day before and decided to wear them. HUGE mistake!! After a few hours in the rain and missing Mary King's Close the one tourist attraction I wanted to see, due to it being sold out, I was out of there......I was miserable at that point. I had to meet Susie at her gym since she was working until 9pm.

She phoned me around 5 to say she was at home - apparently after she left me in the AM she almost passed out on the street. She ordered a coffee in the morning and forgot to get decaf, it hit her like a brick. I jumped on the bus and headed back to her place. It was nice to have a mellow night with her. The original plan was to go to a "Polish" party with the health club crew. It's an incredible statistic the number of polish people who have moved to the UK in the past few years. There are a group of Poles that work at the club and one of the girls was having the party. Susie said it would be a crazy night - everyone speaking in Polish, drinking tons of Vodka and they would be asking me endless questions about America. Maybe next time!?!?!

A few more pics of Scotland:

Jessica's Mom

Great Name

Thistle - The National Flower of Scotland

CARNOUSTIE TO FOLLOW.................................

Scotland Day 1

2007-07-20T02:40:00.000-04:00

After a very long day of traveling up at 4:00AM I arrived in Scotland. Cold, wet, drizzly, and damp Scotland. The "norm" for summer here!

I'm traveling with Jess and Erik but staying with Susie and Dom (the sailing crew) in Musselburgh which is a suburb of Edinburgh. They recently have moved into their first new home. Jess's parents met us at the Glasgow airport Thursday afternoon. They traveled from Ireland where they were visiting friends.

Friday will be a packed day. Susie is finding out the sex of the baby in the AM. Very Exciting!! Then we are going to do some shopping - Hooray. The best part of the day will be this evening. Susie is a manger at Virgin Active Health Club. A proper health club. At 6:00pm I will be taking my first spin class since January. I CANNOT WAIT!

After the gym we're heading to a restaurant called "The Shore" which coincidentally was recommend by the greatest spin instructor I know Sharon Shriner. She was in Edinburgh for work and posted restaurant recommendations on her blog. Another spot she posted about is StacPolly which is owned by a member of Susie's gym. What a small world!

Birthday Wishes

2007-07-10T14:23:00.000-04:00

Last week we celebrated Carla's Birthday.
Carla is Canadian dates a Brit, Steve, and moved to Morocco from Spain.

Steve , Vanessa and Glen are all Brits who moved from Spain to work for Compass. They had all been working for another estate agent named "Palmera". The Spain property market is totally saturated and the business is terrible so they decided to venture south across the Med.
2 weeks ago Glen's 17 year old daughter Bianca moved from England and started working for Compass. The newest "Palmera" recruit as of last weekend is Farhan.
The Brits are slowing trying to out number us and we cannot let this happen.

The good news is we kicked their butts on the 4th of July golf tourney!! To say the least they were not happy. Their #1 player Padge was in "AMERICA" of all places, and missed the tourney.

Little did Jess, Erik, Micah and I know this would be our new crew. They are a blast and there is never a lack of laughs when we get together. Work is not spoken about and we are very careful about who we invite on our "Beer Nights" We even have undisclosed locations so as to keep the group exclusive. It sounds very silly but if you worked for this company you would understand 100%.

Yesterday the Brits minus Farhan left for Thailand (i am so extremely jealous) they'll be gone for about 3 weeks. It won't be the same without them here, we miss them already, except for the fact that we will have a few weeks to relax without Steve pushing beer night on us several times a week. What started out as Thursday night has extended into several more nights throughout the week. The joys of summer!!

Jess, Erik and I leave for Scotland July 19th to see the Open Championship. The weather does not look very promising but who cares as long as I get to see Phil.

A few pics from the B-Day celebration.

The Birthday Girl

Steve

Jess, Liza and b.

Vanessa, Glen and Carla

Bianca and Dad

Farhan, Erik and b.

A Wedding Story

2007-06-28T09:42:00.000-04:00

The wedding was an experience unlike any other wedding I’ve been to in my life and honestly I wasn’t expecting anything different.

The Kaftan’s were collected Saturday AM by Esther and we each got the exact dress we reserved. However my biggest fear was now a reality – THE SMELL. There is absolutely no way they cleaned that Kaftan from the night before. What to do? Remember this thing is a thick silk type material and “febreeze” exists only in the American memory banks here in Africa – “TIA”. I had no choice but to use the Palmolive (American, yeah) hand soap in my bathroom. I did my best to clean only the smelly bits but most of the dress ended up getting wet. I hung it in my window to dry for the next few hours. It didn’t matter it still smelled and was damp, not nice!

We went for pre-wedding drinks at our new spot La Ferma or The Horse as we have coined it. Not everyone “of course” just the “it” group. The others were late, as always, Compass (count on us to be late) Properties!! With a bottle of wine and vodka in the car we were off. The place was in the heart of Tetouan. Steve led the crew thru the very busy streets on a Saturday evening. He wasn’t sure he exactly remembered where it was since he had only been once and the groom was driving. He did an excellent job but along the way we lost 2 of the cars. It was tucked away literally in an alley.

It was now 8:30 and the groom was waiting for the Compass people to arrive before the wedding was in full swing. As we entered the place, hall (no clue what the name was) we were escorted to a section they had saved just for us. The room was full of women and children, various shapes and sizes wearing many colorful Kaftans. It was 95% women! Generally the men and women are put in separate rooms but they allowed all the Compass men to stay with us in what felt like our own “VIP” section. Everyone was staring as if we had just walked off the Red Carpet.

The music began and it was SO LOUD it was almost deafening. There were a group of musicians seated in a circle in the center of the room. Out of nowhere came a group of men with very unique looking instruments. The dancing started and did not stop for the rest of the night.

The bride was about to arrive. She makes several changes, 3-4, throughout the night depending on her wealth and the number of gowns she can afford. The very first time she appears she does not fully open her eyes. It is called “Hchouma” or shame. I don’t fully understand the tradition but it has something to do with her first gown being the most elaborate.

Most of us had not eaten all day awaiting a traditional Moroccan feast. Little did we know the only food we would get was pastry and some juice.

It may have been a blessing there was no open bar because the facilities were less then ideal. Imagine having to deal with the Kaftan and a hole in the floor – enough said!

It must have been over 100 degrees in that spot. No open windows and no AC. Everyone was so hot and sweaty. I now understand why those Kaftans smell the way they do. The night progressed and the dancing continued. The bride appeared in her 2nd own.

I enjoyed a dance with a few of the Moroccan children and of course with the groom. That may been against tradition but no one stopped me so I guess it was OK. That was the extent of my dancing for the evening.

Every so often we would try and sneak outside for some fresh air and to fill the “water” bottle without being too rude. The Brits all smoke so they were running outside every 30mins. My Chevy was in front of the place decorated with flowers – classic! Could that lad in the photo pass for a “Petrole”, name unknown or forgotten at this point.

Brian decided to join the band for a quick set!

Steve was able to get an early dismissal pass from Khalid - 11:00pm, before gown #3.

My camera batteries had died at that point so it was perfect timing.

The minute Carla and I hit the car the Kaftans were ripped off and thrown in a pile in the backseat. It was back to The Horse for a few Casablanca’s and some pool.

I haven’t seen the groom since and my Chevy was returned without a scratch!

The Wedding Album-enjoy the photos.

Where are Jess and Erik you may ask? In America - Seattle to be exact....visiting friends & catching a game of the best baseball team EVER!

Just another day in my on-going Moroccan adventure.

Wedding Part 2

2007-06-25T14:59:00.001-04:00

1 Photo of the Bride and Groom.....full details soon.

Moroccan Wedding Part 1

2007-06-22T10:15:00.000-04:00

I have been invited to my very first Moroccan wedding Saturday evening. Khalid who is the superintendent of Ylara Beach is getting married. He has invited all the Compass employees that live in the complex. Generally the weddings are an all night affair. Starting at 7:30 pm and going until the next morning. We have been told we can leave by midnight but are welcome to stay later. It’s customary for the family and “many” friends to be invited. In Khalid’s case, since he’s not a wealthy Moroccan, he has only invited his family and “Compass Staff”. We’ve come to the general consensus that the food will be amazing but the biggest concern of the group is....”no alcohol”. We’re all panicking a bit.

The beginning of the experience took place last evening. There are 8 girls going and we are required to wear traditional Moroccan Dress or a “Kaftan”. If you re-call one of my very first posts there was a photo of some of the Moroccan girls wearing Kaftans. They are very long, very colorful and decorated with jewels and designs. I was already panicking before we even headed off to the shop. Anything more then a solid, 1 color clothing item is over the edge for me.

The gals headed into Tetouan last evening after work. Mistake #1 going to Tetouan at night. It was an absolute mad house. Along the way we picked up Safia a new found Moroccan friend of Carla, who PS, – works for our #1 competition MRI.
I could write a post on this girl alone.

We arrived at the shop which is literally the size of a 12 x 12 room. It was jammed pack and very hot. We decided to simply pick a color and go from there. These dresses are made of a thick silk like material, lace and jewels so they are very heavy and warm. I would also guess the wedding location will not have AC. Kaftans basically consist of 2 layers, we found a style where the under layer was without sleeves and the top layer was lace. OK – much better then the full ones where we would have all died from heat in the 1st hour. We pointed to the colors we liked behind the counter and the owner handed them to us. Carla took Blue, Vanessa took Black and I stepped out of my comfort zone and chose RED. We went upstairs, which is smaller then the downstairs to try them on. Little did we know they are all one size, I threw mine on directly over my clothing……and then the “piece de resistance” A BELT – not just any belt but one the size of the belts a boxer receives for winning the title fight. This world boxing championship belt will give a rough idea.

The 3 of us returned downstairs with Safia chatting away 100 miles an hour in Arabic to the store owner. Apparently you are only allowed to rent the Kaftans for 24 hours @ 300 Dirhams = $36.15. Hopefully they are thoroughly cleaned after each and every use! By this time the rest of the girls showed up, we gave them the details on what to do. Everyone had their Kaftan and we were ready to pay and get out of there. All of a sudden the owner tells us several of the Kaftans we picked were already rented – HELLO, you handed them to us in the first place. Myself, Esther and Kendra had to find new ones. By now we had been there for over an hour and Carla almost passed out in the dressing room from low blood sugar. I pointed to another red one less attractive then the first one and was done with it.

Safia then got into a fight with the shop owner about the 24 hour deal. Eventually that was worked out and we put the Kaftans on hold for Esther to pick up Saturday morning. Will they be the same ones we choose or will they have been given to other Moroccan women? Will he include “THE BELTS”? If they were rented the night before will he have had a chance to clean them……YIKES!

TBC……….

CHEERS

2007-06-02T04:24:00.001-04:00

I'm back in England for another property show.

This weekend we are in Manchester. Home of the famous Manchester United Football Team and Mr. Beckham who now lives on our side of the pond. Actually he is here this weekend to Inaugurate the new Wembley Stadium.

The weather is beautiful which is horrible for the show but I'm not complaining. We're here until Sunday and then I'm making a pit stop in Southern Spain for 2 days. Sun, Sun, Sun!!

Back to Morocco on Wednesday.

The Wait Is Over

2007-05-27T10:09:00.000-04:00

Once again forgive me for the delay in this post. I have 2 full days off this weekend-Sunday and Monday....incredible. No excuses this weekend for not being able to post. Happy Memorial Day weekend to my fellow Americans from your favorite Ex-Pat in Morocco!

April 17th I met Susie and her fiance Dom at Stansted Airport. It was one of those reunions you see on TV. The last time we saw each other was over 10 years. Our relationship was that of sisters when I lived in England. Everything that came out of our mouths was exactly the same. It was like talking to myself in the mirror. We headed out to meet the owner of the B&B who was picking us up at the airport. Our flight Wednesday was very early a 4:30am wake-up. The first thing the woman said when she saw us was "Are you girls sisters?" we heard that all the time in England.

April 18th, arrived in Lamezia where I met Susie's Father/Captain Tom and his girlfriend/Yacht Mate Ann. Tom and Ann another similarity for Susie and I. We drove directly to the port of Sibari where the Yacht was docked.

Sibari Marnia began in 1979 and aims to be one of the largest marinas in Italy. Sibari = "sybaritic"

We stayed in Sibari for 2 nights waiting for the channel to be dredged.

As we unpacked our clothes on the boat, in very small Tupperware containers, Susie pulled out her perfume-D&G Light Blue exactly what I use!

April 20th the true journey begins. We left Sibari at 9am and sailed 38 miles. Very cold, no wind motoring the whole way. Stayed in Ciro for the evening. We had a nice meal at a local restaurant. I was told most of our meals would be eaten on the boat. Where I slept doubled as the table during the day and my bed at night. It was quite a learning experience from Day 1. I was the only person on the boat who had never sailed. I was able to get a run in early morning through the streets of Ciro. It's always a great time/way to explore and see the sights while the rest of the town sleeps.

April 21 left Ciro at 7:30 and sailed 58 miles to Santa Maria Di Leuca.

Santa Maria Di Leuca = White Limestone Cliffs, the Greek leucos meaning "white". The monumental stone staircase by the harbour was built by Mussolini as a ceremonial gateway into Italy. The wind was kicking and it was perfect, all sails up, top speed of 8.3 knots that day. As Susie said "Now this is Proper Sailing!"

It was a great little town. The smells, the sights and a beautiful harbour. We climbed the steps, that evening while the sun set, even Susie, she was a real trooper. You would never have known she was pregnant except for the midday naps should would take in the cabin. The running was even more picturesque then the day before.

April 22nd out at 8:00, sailed 48 miles to Nisoi Othoni, Greece. We anchored for the night. Another interesting experience. The wind was so strong that night we weren't sure if the anchor would hold. The captain stayed up most of the night watching and listening. Truth be told the whole crew was awake swaying and listening to the wind and waves crash into the boat.

April 23rd shortest sail of the trip 26 miles to Corfu Town. We docked at the N.A.O.K Yacht Club. The most popular Nautical Club of Corfu. Kids learning sailing in the smallest sunfish sail boats I have ever seen.

It was finally time to do some sight seeing. We would be in town 2 nights before heading to the mainland. What we didn't know until we got there is that we were in the "town" nowhere near a beach. It was not the Corfu I had visited many years ago.

Susie, Dom and I walked the streets, hit many shops & had a great lunch. I discovered one of the greatest clothing stores!! They carry a line of clothes called "Nice Day" - fab-bought one shirt. If Susie hadn't walked in I would have bought half the store. The chances of me ever finding that brand again will be slim to none. Group dinner that night. It was our thank you to Susie's Dad & Ann for having us on the boat. The restaurant was rather disappointing to be truthful but I didn't choose it which was half the problem.

April 24th 2nd day in Corfu. AM run and then another day of exploring. I went on my own this time which I much prefer. At this point I was tired of being the 3rd wheel. Mental note- (never again will I take a trip where I am the odd man out) I hit the side streets and found some super little shops hidden within the winding rows and rows of Greek houses. I bought a very cool bracelet made out of coral.

The last sail was upon us Wednesday AM. Headed to the mainland where I would depart from the crew. At this point I was about ready to get back. I never realized however how much of journey there was still to go....

April 25 - 56 miles Preveza, Greek mainland.

Each night on the boat someone made dinner. Dom and I had been able to get out of it due to our lack of cooking skills until the last night. Apparently Dom knew we were in charge and forgot to tell me. Good Lord - -can you imagine me cooking, not just cooking in general but with very limited resources and space to do it. I thought all day about it, Dom was zero help. I put him in charge of going to the store and getting me as many fresh vegetable as he could, olives, bread and cheese. I have to say I surprised myself.....I made bruschetta they could not stop raving about and pasta primavera.

Dom supervised for the most part and somehow on the Alba Voyager blog ended up getting all the credit. It was good fun.

April 26th was my day to head off. I needed to make my way to Athens for my flight back to London. I was able to sort out a hotel room that morning and figure out the bus schedule. I boarded a bus Thursday afternoon for a 6 hour journey to Athens. The scenery was spectacular. Arriving Athens on the bus my next challenge was to find a taxi driver who could speak English and get me to my hotel. I was absolutely dying for a shower. During the sail it was hit or miss if the marina would have a shower or even bathrooms for that matter. Upon arrival I was happy to see it was a decent hotel and there was some type of festival taking place in the square close by. I think I showered for an hour. All my clothes were dirty and smelled like a musty boat but I felt a 100 x's better. I walked the city that night. I happened to be in the heart of the shopping district and it was full of activity so It was a great time to simply walk and people watch. I disciplined myself to only 2 purchases: MAC blush which I was just about out of and Nag Champa incense which I was so psyched to stumble upon. I planned on saving my shopping for the weekend in London.

April 27th I boarded yet another bus for an hour to get to the Athens airport. Boats, Buses, Taxis, Planes, Trains and The Tube, I believe I covered just about every mode of transportation possible on this journey.

LONDON - I love it.......my hotel was in the Kensignton section of London not far from Harrod's and Hyde Park. Running Hyde Park was breathtaking. I was hoping to hang with a friend who I had met there a few weeks earlier but unfortunately he was working for the weekend in Liverpool. No worries I made the best of the weekend. The weather was incredible! I went to the Natural History and V&A Museum. I also decided if I was going to shop I needed to get rid of the dirty sailing clothes that filled my duffel bag which was now another appendage to my body. I took a bag of clothes to the "Royal Post" and shipped them off to Spain. Freedom to shop - Gap, H&M, Next, Boots, Marks & Spencers so many to choose from. I could not let myself think about the prices since the $ is so stinking weak against the GBP right now. The time in London was worth every penny!

April 29th another 4AM wake up. Gatwick to Gibraltar and the journey was coming to an end. Jess, Erik, Carla and Burnsie were picking me up in Tangier. The weekend I'm away and they decide to spend the night in Tangier and go to the Casino - go figure. Lucky for me I would have a ride back to Cabo Negro. There's plenty of time to back to Tangier.

Was the trip what I had expected..NOT- or maybe I truly didn't stop and think what a sailing trip would be like from Southern Italy to Greece. 244 total nautical miles sailed. The crew was a melting pot in itself regardless of anything else that took place during those 8 days. 2 Scots, a Brit from Yorkshire, a Pol and an American. A captain who has been sailing for many years and is the master of his ship. Different personalities, cultures & lifestyles but in the end another chapter in my book. One that I most likely would not have been able to to add if it was not for my move to Morocco.

The link below will direct you to Shutterfly where I have posted the photos from my trip.

ENJOY - - Sailing April 2007

Another Day, Another Viewing Trip

2007-05-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not I have been trying my hardest to get a post out on my trip.
It seems like ages since I was away and it's only been a few weeks.
The pictures are downloaded so I'm one step closer......stay tuned.

Took a day trip to Rabat, the capitol of Morocco, this week. It's the first time I've been on the Atlantic Coast since I moved here. Walked through the Souk on my own which always makes you "immediately" very aware of the cultural difference. At least I have a tan so I don't stand out too much but my hair.....well, there's no getting around that obstacle.

It's 2:00 Sunday afternoon in Morocco and the sun just decided to show it's face. Thank goodness I have a viewing trip at Mirador Golf in 30 minutes - Perfect Timing.

GO SOX! "33"

Sorry For The Delay

2007-05-08T14:33:00.000-04:00

When I left this country on April 12th I was without internet. I got back from vacation April 29th still without internet and it took me until today almost a month later to get it back. "TIA"
Since I cannot post at work this is the first chance I have had to get back on the blog.

This weekend I will do my very best to fill you all in on the "sail" It was quite an adventure, not at all what I had thought. Then again maybe I never put a ton of thought into it.
I was just happy to be getting away for a "wee spell" I'll explain that later.

Enjoy the rest of the week!!

Be Back Soon

2007-04-11T17:07:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to let you know I will not be posting again until May. Tomorrow I leave for another property show in London. The show runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tuesday I meet a very old friend "Susie McKirdy" who I met when I worked in London back in the early 90's. I think it may be10 years or more since we've seen each other.
Sunday night she gave me the news she's pregnant!! The best part of that story is that her Father doesn't know yet and has never met her boyfriend who will be asking his permission to marry her on this trip -YIKES.

I'm heading out on my very first vacation since I moved to Morocco.
Tuesday night I meet Susie and her fiance Dom at London, Stansted Airport. Staying in a B&B that night and flying out to Southern Italy very early Wednesday. Susie, Dom and I will then meet her Dad and his girlfriend Ann in Lamezia, Italy. We'll be boarding her Dad's 45 foot sailboat and heading over to Greece. Final destination is the Greek Island of Corfu.

I've been to Corfu but never via a massive Sailboat. When I was there I was backpacking through Europe with many random people, very young and stayed at "The Pink Palace" that's a story for another time.

I'll be back in Morocco Sunday April 29th. Stay tuned..........

Debra and Denise

2007-04-06T16:31:00.000-04:00

I met 2 very cool women today "Good Friday" on my viewing trip - Americans living in London. They gave me tons of things to do next weekend while I'm in London. A tiny hole in the wall Sushi place - aren't those always the best. Jess will be psyched since we were craving it last weekend. We talked girl talk and laughed and had lunch together. It was for the most part extremely normal. Somewhat like hanging out with 2 of my close girlfriends from the states although I had never met these women before. It was business and the goal was to sell a property but I truly would not have been bothered if they ended up buying or not. They gave me some tips on English men...best tip is they are not American men. I may be thankful for that in the long run?? They love London and could not imagine moving back to the states. "What about the weather" I asked, my clients are always saying the weather in England is horrible. They didn't seem to agree, they believe due to global warming there is actually a "proper" summer in England. I guess that's an easy word for Americans to pick up since I have already used it in a previous post.

At the end of the day I got them to put a holding deposit down on a unit at Playa Vista, mission accomplished.

For my fellow fans of Prison Break I must say this last episode "SONA" was riveting!! Thank goodness for iTunes.

I swiped this photo from KK's blog. Hope you don't mind girl....I just love it.

HAPPY EASTER!!

AHHHH London

2007-04-04T16:59:00.000-04:00

A great weekend was had by all, well maybe not all. Yours truly was top sales agent of the weekend. Our incentive was to book viewing trips. For every VT we booked you got 100 euros. If you brought the client into the booth and signed them for a trip you got 150 euros. Day 1 the slowest day I won 200 euros. Day 2 which was a bit busier I got 3 more. So I was getting a bit nervous....day 3 Sunday, last day of the show....the morning was so dead I was ready to pack it in. Out of nowhere around 12:00 things went crazy. I booked "13" trips it was awesome. I also ended up booking clients who know the editor of "A Place In The Sun Magazine" They are coming to Morocco to buy multiple units and feature "Playa Vista" in the Magazine. Bonacci scores big with the directors! In the end I made the equivalent of about $2000. Just in time for my 2 week vacation - more on that later.

Enough about business.....arrived Gatwick took the tube to Victoria Station. Hopped in a taxi and drove through the city - saw all the sights-beautiful. The hotel was great it was in the Docklands area which are very cool.

Night one was a group dinner in the hotel. Hung out with one of our developers who is a "Brit" and loves to have a good time as much as I do. Great little gym in the hotel ran every morning! Night 2 Jess and I went solo and found the Caribbean Scene Restaurant across the street. Live music, "reggae" & excellent food and wine. We met the chef and the GM. Also that night we met the "Bourne Brothers" and Kirsty. The Bournes, which we later found out, had a booth at the show. They own an international relocation company. They were great fun. We played Giant Jenga in the Hotel bar with them it was hysterical. They have a family record to beat, that was set by their father, of "26" rows. Below is Wess right before the whole thing went down. The record still stands!

Side note for the PA crowd - they asked me if I ever heard of Pottsville.....they are moving a client there!!

Saturday night Jess skipped the group dinner. I was not happy with her. The dinner was at Canary Wharf about 10 mins from the Hotel, a business and shopping area. The stores were closed but in the complex was A STARBUCKS - it was also closed but I now knew where it was. They had Costa Coffee in the convention hall which I had been drinking daily -not bad. Got back to the Hotel bar and hung out with the Bourne Brothers again.

Sunday night I skipped the group dinner..........

Monday morning before we left for the airport we headed to Canary Wharf to do a bit of shopping. First stop, you guessed it and to my surprise they still had Cinnamon Dolce - I drank 2 Venti's that morning - delicious. I bought 3 books, 2 cd's, mags, soap and some "bars". A perfect ending to a successful weekend of civilization.

Next Thursday I head back to London for another property show. Earls Court is the location of this show. Apparently a very posh section of London. One thing about London, it's not cheap and the GBP is very strong right now. Whatever the cost is just double it and that's what it costs in US Dollars. I guess it's best not to think about it to much in those terms!!

From London I fly out for my first European vacation - 2 weeks - - I CAN'T WAIT.

Out Of Africa

2007-03-28T16:43:00.000-04:00

I’m an American living in Africa and tomorrow I’m going to London “for the weekend”! That’s something a year ago I would have never imagined would be part of my vocabulary.
This time last year I was nursing a serious leg injury that kept me from running The Boston Marathon and counting down the days until “Red Sox Opening Day”. The thought of missing opening day and not seeing JV on his 35th birthday “honestly” makes me homesick more then anything right now. Someone please send him my warmest Birthday wishes from Morocco.

Let’s talk about today.
I took the day off - -I still had clients calling me and I was returning e-mails but none the less it was an official day off.
Earlier in the week I had Rachida make an appointment for me at her friends Salon in Tetouan. I was hoping to get a manicure in London but we don’t get in until late Thursday and there would be no time before the show on Friday. I thought what the heck. Maureen has had her hair done there twice. It turned out quite nice and was dirt cheap. 400dh which is about $45 dollars for a cut, highlight and style. You might want to fly over for that deal alone! I know women who travel hours even across states for a good cut ;0) The manicure is scheduled for 11:30. I made plans with Souhaila to meet me at the Marjane and I would follow her there since she was getting a hair cut and knew where this joint was. She was due to call me when she was leaving the office. I hate being late, no new news there. It’s now 11:15 no call so I head out to the meeting point to be on the safe side. She finally arrives and we get there about 12:00. No sign of the women who is dong the nails but I hear a baby crying in the background so I’m guessing she’s a bit busy. Souhaila and 2 other women who work in the salon are chatting away in Arabic. Interesting shop - some Matrix and Biolage products, other lotions and unknown potions too. Signs written in French and some random Egyptian show on the TV. FINALLY at around 12:30-12:45 the girl takes me in. Her name is Hennah – not pronounced how you would think. It means happiness. Luckily she speaks a bit of English. Very sweet, attractive, young girl. I get the scoop…..she’s the owner of the shop and has an 8 month son named Ryan (pronounced that way, wrong spelling) means doorway to the kingdom and her husbands name is Elias meaning prophet. Thank God we cleared that up. She was meticulous in her work and applied enough lotion to my hands for 10 people. Granted I had not had a mani in over 2 months so there was major work to be done on my digits. The baby came into visit us since he was still crying up a storm. I was freezing, zero heat in the room I was in. The nail color selection was minimal at best. I was scared…..she asked if I wanted a French Manicure but I told her maybe next time. Was there going to be a next time was my thought process. We chatted some more she said if I taught her some English she would teach me some French which is 1000x’s easier then Arabic. At this point I had no clue what the time was. I ended up with a very pale pink, which was perfect and we were finished. At this point I had no clue what time of day it was. We walked out and she said 70dh!! I almost fainted less then $10 I gave her a 20dh tip so the whole thing cost me 90dh about $10. I jumped into my car and looked at the clock 2:15. Well I guess I won’t be running there on my lunch break anytime soon. I must admit she did a very nice job and I would definitely go back to her again. A successful adventure!!!! Next time maybe I’ll risk the brows?!?!

"TIA"

2007-03-25T05:39:00.000-04:00

Friday night I had the privilege of dinner at The French in Tangier. The have recently added a jazz bar - very nice. I happened to be in the right place at the right time when a bet was placed regarding the moving of earth at Playa Vista. Richard Padget one of the developers lost the bet by approximately 12 hours. While waiting for Richard to show up (he tried all day to get out of it) we sat in the bar and had a drink. I was chatting with Erik enjoying a Casablanca Beer and some olives. The 2 of us stopped talking and started cracking up because they were playing a very jazzy version of "Walking In A Winter Wonderland" How bizarre! Just when you feel like you may have found a spot that makes you feel like your at home for a few hours you are quickly reminded "TIA". For those of you that have seen Blood Diamond ,if you haven't please do, this acronym is from the movie and our new favorite to use. TIA = This Is Africa

The first time we went to The French it was raining terribly and we ran out of washer fluid. Chuck pulled into Afriquia Gaz to get some. No one in the car could speak Arabic so we knew it was going to be interesting trying to explain what we needed. After what we thought was our best sign language, apparently not, the guy ended up washing the entire car. In the end we did get the fluid but it took about 20 minutes for what should have been a 5 minute pit stop.

In one of my previous posts I talked about no power in the complex for over 12 hours. This is one better - - NO WATER for over 24 hours - excellent!!

The new Compass Properties Web-Site is up and running. Check It Out!

What's Your VisualDNA?

2007-03-20T19:04:00.000-04:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Thank you, My Marrakesh

Let There Be Light

2007-03-11T09:06:00.000-04:00

1:00 Sunday afternoon and the power has just returned. This is the second time in a week I have been without power. Last week it was my block of apartments. No power for over 12 hours. Today it was the entire complex for almost 4 hours. There is nothing you can do. Just wait and wait. I can't call up the electric company "Amendis" and report it because I can't speak Arabic. I called Brian & Liza, we all confirmed what we already knew and then continued to call each other to see if there were any updates. I watched Nip/Tuck on my computer until that battery died and then started a new book "Memory Keepers Daughter". Nip Tuck - I never watched it before and had no intention of doing so, but, Jess & Erik left all their DVD's with me before they headed home. They have the first season so I decided I'd give it a try. I'm on disk #2. Somewhat disturbing yet gripping in a strange sort of way.

Memory Keeper's Daughter was given to me by Ginger who said it really wasn't her type of book. She had been in the states over Christmas and brought it back with her. I was psyched! I just finished reading "The Tenth Circle" which I had bought at Logan on my flight out. It was perfect timing. Let me know about any new books that are worth picking up. They will be part of my shopping list for London.

I got "2" packages last week! Many thanks to my Mom and Kath. They got here so quickly. They were post marked Feb. 26th and 27th and arrived here around March 5th. PRETZELS!! 1 bag of the ultimate Rold Gold and another bag of an all time favorite "Kidzels" very yummy, 2 Cliff Bars, People Mag. love the dirt - - and 2 pouches of Premium Albacore Tuna. I think I may have had a break through with the Tuna. Silly I know....yesterday I went to the Marjane and spent some quality time in the canned fish aisle. I read or tried to read can after can to find a proper tuna and I think I have finally found it!?!?! I haven't tried it yet but it may be a winner. I better not get my hopes too high.

I also found balsamic vinegar, parmesan cheese in the shaker can, and what looked to be a delicious Olive Tapenade but was awful. I spent almost 3 hours in that place.

Weather Update-64 - Very sunny but it's so windy here today that even with my shutters closed the curtains inside my apartment are swaying.

Closer I Get

2007-03-09T09:12:00.000-05:00

Sunday March 11th is Daylight Saving Time in the states. Here in Morocco we follow "GMT" or Greenwhich Mean Time. Daylight Saving is not observed so I will be 1 hour closer to all of you starting Monday. I love the thought of that. A 4 hour difference from the East Coast!!

Some more exciting news - - I found out yesterday I will be heading to London the end of March to attend A Place In In The Sun Live property show. As the newbie of the group I never even put it on my radar screen as an opportunity. Apparently I'm doing something right. I can't wait!!!!! We're staying at the Crowne Plaza London-Docklands. A gym, spa, mani's, pedi's, shopping, STARBUCKS - the possibilities are endless!! It doesn't take much to please this girl.

Several other changes were also announced within the past 2 days at Compass. An official org chart was rolled out, the commission structure has changed (hooray) and 2 apartments are being remodeled into offices. I'll have my own space until they hire another sales person. It may not sound like a lot but it's an "enormous" step for these few small changes to actually be implemented.

Jess and Erik headed back to the states for 10 days. They get to enjoy "24" live and St. Patrick's Day along with the most valuable piece of the trip which is spending time with their families - ENJOY!!

A Day In The Sun

2007-03-03T10:19:00.000-05:00

Today was my first official day on the beach. Out the back gate, 2 minute walk - 11:30 - 3:00. It was the perfect temp. with a slight breeze. Liza joined me midday. She's from Puerto Rico and was as happy as I was to be laying out. My next goal is to find a beach chair. In the states my chair was always in the trunk of my car so I could have access to it at a moments notice. Although my heart still belongs to Boston there is no comparison to this and my many, many days spent at Carson Beach in Southie.

Arabic classes are on hold for a month. Our teacher Sanae has gone back to her hometown of Fes about 3 hours south of Tetouan. She has left us with a book and homework to do that she will quiz us on when she gets back in April. The language is incredibly difficult to learn, read and write. I can write the dialogues out phonetically and read them but I still cannot read it without the cheat sheet. Recognizing words becoming somewhat easier. When I watch American shows here...(watching Rachel Ray right now minus the shoebootty)...the subtitles are in Arabic. Hopefully I wont' forget everything I have learned before she gets back. I'm not very motivated to do self study. Below is picture of Sanae and myself before class. Her name is written first on the board in Arabic and mine is below it.

"HENNA"

2007-03-02T09:39:00.000-05:00

My first real Henna tattoo......the dark brown you see peels off after it drys and then you are left with the lighter brownish color on your skin. I had to sleep with a sock on my arm the first night I got it. Rick had a surprise party for his daughter Casandra who was turning 13 and there was a girl there doing the tattoos. The party was February 23rd and it has just started to fade within the last day or so.

The weather here for the last 3 days has been incredible. It's Friday afternoon at 3pm and 72 degrees!!

No "Chicken" Curry Today.....

2007-02-21T09:53:00.000-05:00

President's Day this past Monday, Ash Wednesday today, just another day in Morocco. I passed on the chicken curry from Marge and am still deciding on what I'm giving up for Lent. Not many choices since my diet currently consists of only a handful of foods.

I'll need to ponder that one a bit more today.

I get a lot of e-mails from friends and family asking me so many questions about my life in Morocco. I'm trying to tackle them one by one.

1) Food - I will post anything new or unusual as I encounter it - - -

Came across what I thought was a "HUGE" find in the Marjane the other day. Bought a box of what seemed to be Clorox Wipes I was so psyched and couldn't wait to share the news with Jess. Drove home with lightening speed, ripped off the plastic, opened the plastic box and.... they were "DRY", can you imagine! I was not the first one to be fooled by this product the same thing happened to my neighbor Maureen. I guess by the time they make it hear from France, where they are produced, they dry out. The box specifically says "In English" keep tightly closed so as to not lose moisture.

2) Social Life - Zero! It's off-season and there are only a few restaurants in the area open. There is a Hotel across from our office but it's rather expensive - Sofitel, Marina Smir and Kabila Marina which have bars and cafes are also close by but are all currently closed.

I have been out 1 night since I've been here. A few of us went to Tangier - it's a very happening city but still very Moroccan and 1 1/2 away so it's not often that people make the trip. 4 of us went to a great French restaurant "Relais de Paris" and had some excellent wine. The guys had Cubans and I got my hands on my first box of matches to start my new collection. We weren't actually supposed to take them but C'est La Vie!!

The Compass office was originally in Tangier directly below the restaurant so the directors are good friends with the owner.

I miss city life 100%. I miss being able to call up a friend and head out for dinner and drinks at a moments notice. I miss American music, live bands, concerts and sports.

The pace of my life has drastically changed.

July and August are the height of the holiday season in Northern Morocco. The area will be flooded with French Moroccans. I've been told my commute to work which currently takes approx. 15 mins can take up to 2 hours during July and August. It will be reminiscent of Route 28 on the Cape over the 4th!!

Summer 2007 should prove to be an interesting one!

The Flag of Morocco

Coffee Withdrawal -

2007-02-17T09:25:00.000-05:00

Venti, Non-Fat, No-Whip, Xtra Hot, Cinnamon Dolce Latte -
Large DD with 4 Sweet and Lows and Skim Milk…….PLEASE!!!!

It’s Saturday morning and I’m sitting in my kitchen still without internet writing this post. I have to work this afternoon so I have a few hours to chill. I would give anything right now to go out and get a coffee!! It may sound very silly to hear me say this but “nowhere” here can you get a coffee to go. You have to head into M’diq and sit down in a cafe and get a coffee. Not a large coffee either, a small 8oz cup that takes at least 10 mins. for someone to make. This is just one of the “many” things I miss from the states.

Pretzels – I LOVE PRETZELS….."Rold Gold Mini Twists" reign supreme.
At the local Marjane they have one type of pretzel, a short thin stick item. Saltletts Sticks that come is a small non-user friendly bag. Not Fun!!

The cereal’s OK-I’ve been living on it. I can find some decent Kellogg’s brands.
Yogurts are about 4oz and not very tasty unless of course you buy the kids or full fat kind.

No cereal bars or balance bars of any type. In Spain I was able to find some Kellogg’s breakfast bars but they were awful. The guys in my office however loved them they ate all 3 boxes. They’ll eat anything though….I’ve been buying different foods to try, whatever I don’t like I bring in to the office and eat it right up.

No Dasani – all the water here is mineral water. The best brand I’ve found is Sidi Ali. I need to look for Ciel which I discovered on-line is a Coke product. I believe I have drank more “Coca Light” since I’ve been here then my entire 4 ½ years with Coke. It actually tastes different then the Diet Coke in the states. It’s sweeter almost like the fountain soda.

No Take-Out and if you do find a half-decent place it can take up to an hour to get a pizza made. No wraps, burritos or a simple tuna or turkey sandwich.
I have not eaten any sliced turkey or canned tuna since I’ve been here.

No Zip Lock Bags, Dryer Sheets, Clorox Wipes or Essie Vanity Fairest Nail Polish.

Magnets – I brought many pics of friends and family to put on my “little” fridge and can’t find a magnet to save my soul.

There are many so things we take for granted as Americans on a day to day basis that are impossible to get here.

Some positives…..OLIVES!! Before every meal they serve olives. Many different types as well as marinated olives. Delicious!
Spicy Chicken Curry with Rice homemade by “Marge” who is British and lives in the complex Jawhara Smir where our offices are. We call in our orders to her and she hand delivers the meals on proper plates to our office.
Still waiting to a try real couscous which I’m told is amazing and I’ve found a few very yummy Moroccan Salads. The downside of salad here is that they use Mayo for the dressing. No worries “Sally” has not lost her knack for ordering her meals exactly how she wants them (with a little help from my Arabic speaking friends)

I can hardly believe it's already been a month since I arrived here......

This is why I moved to Morocco......

2007-02-13T13:50:00.000-05:00

Today is by far the most beautiful day since I've been here. The temp must have hit 70.

This afternoon as I was surfing the Internet I saw the East is about to get the worst storm of the season.

I took these pictures over the weekend so if nothing else they will warm your soul:

Entrance to my apt complex

The next 3 photos are views from my terrace from left to right

Cabo Negro at Dusk

Side Note

2007-02-11T14:55:00.000-05:00

For those of you that may be unfamiliar with blogging there is a link at the bottom of each post to add a comment. You can send thoughts, questions or feedback on that day's post.

It was a beautiful Sunday in Northern Morocco and I ended up having the day off!!

A view overlooking Cabo Negro

What A Difference A Day Makes

2007-02-10T13:13:00.000-05:00

I started this post Friday AM and things have changed a bit so I'm adding in as I go.......

Sales have been going well. I’ve already made “3” ;0) It goes without saying I need to make many more to survive. Each viewing trip takes anywhere from 3-4 hours so it’s difficult to do 2 a day. It’s a long and tiring trip. I need to be “on” at all times and hope they don’t ask me a question I haven’t learned the answer to yet. I’ve gotten several good reports already so I must be doing OK.

I got an unexpected call today (my 1 day off) as I was walking through the Medina in Tetouan from one of my UK clients that he is not taking his property - booooo...

My clients are mostly from the UK. We have clients that come from agents we have hired and also direct leads that we receive from Rick. The directs are the best to sell because we get the highest commission.

I still don’t have a car....GOT A CAR FRIDAY-very small make unknown!!! or a desk. I’ve been using the "edge" of Micah’s desk. I’m carrying around my files in my computer bag. It’s very frustrating but part of what I knew I was getting myself into so I need to deal with it. 2 of my co-workers have already copied my system for organizing clients so I have not lost that strength!!

I have finally moved into my apartment and hired a cleaning lady. These women are amazing. I have never in life witnessed the type of cleaning done by a Moroccan. They literally spend the whole day cleaning and will also cook upon request. They will do the grocery shopping along with the cooking. The cost is ridiculously cheap. She comes twice a week and I pay her 200DH which is the equivalent to approximately $25.00. If I decided to have her cook it would be an extra $10.00. The good part for her is that I live alone and (as most of you know) the place is never truly a mess. She's almost cleaning what is already clean. So I spoke to soon........ - the women (Nime) broke one of my new mugs and spilled bleach on my bathroom rug. - oh well.

This week I got a landline and window screens put in the apartment. Still no internet! Moroccans do not believe in screens. If you don’t have screens I’ve been told you must keep the windows closed at night during the summer or be eaten to death by the mosquitoes. My landlord was nice enough to get the screens as well as a mini dual washer, dryer. Its takes about 2 hours for a very small load of laundry to dry and it comes out a wrinkled mess. Hopefully my girl irons too ?!?!

The furniture and decor is not very nice. Nothing matches! Eventually I will get around to buying some curtains, bedding, and furniture to make it more like home but for now it will have to do - - - bought some curtains today.....got home and there was only "1" panel. It will most likely take weeks to get another panel of the same color...uugghhh.

Monday we started Arabic lessons. It’s incredibly hard. They read and write from Right to Left. Learning to write the letters makes you feel like you are back in Kindergarten. Our classes are Monday-Friday 1 hour per day either 8-9am or 5-6pm. I have chosen the night class so I can work out in the morning - hold that thought - Things constantly change here overnight - classes are now in the "morning only" so I may be dropping out because I will quickly lose my new friends if I can't work out.

The crew I watch 24 with every Wednesday night:

Erik (Morris O'Brien), Mike (Bill Buchanan), Ginger (Karen Hayes), Jessica (Chloe O'Brien)

I'll take some pics of the view from my apt soon...

Finally !!

2007-02-09T16:52:00.000-05:00

It’s been 25 days since I arrived in Morocco – 25 days
I’ve already made 2 sales and have experienced unseasonably cold weather for this time of year. Everyday I wish I had packed my winter clothes. Thank goodness for North Face I have literally been living in my jackets on a daily basis.
Last week there was snow on top of the Riff Mountains it was a spectacular sight.

Although I have found my own apartment I am still living with Jessica and Erik. I need to buy several items before I can move in. #1 HEATERS - There are no heaters in any of the homes so we use portable heaters in our rooms at night.
The apartment is 2 bedroom, 1 Bath- 3rd floor unit with a Panoramic View of the Mediterranean overlooking the pool – Unit #33 (what a coincidence). Yllara Beach is the name of the complex. Several of my other co-workers live here as well. The area is called Cabo Negro. We are turning it into an American compound.

Things move at a snails pace here. The Moroccans say “Enshallah” (God willing); basically it will happen when it happens. It could several weeks to a month to get phone/internet installed. This is after you can find the right person to communicate to someone exactly what you need.

The language barrier is a huge obstacle right now. Arabic, French and Spanish are the 3 languages spoken in Morocco. My landlord speaks Arabic and French and our complex supervisor speaks Arabic and Spanish. Luckily a few of the Americans speak Spanish so after I tell Liza what I need in English she then will tell Khalib in Spanish who will then tell my Elhaitny my landlord in Arabic!!!
February 5th we start Arabic lesson with our teacher Sanae.

January 20th we had a company party to celebrate the Islamic New Year as well as a new year for Compass Properties. It was a traditional Moroccan party at a large hall in Tetouan. There was a traditional Moroccan band the played “shabby style” music.
The girls from our office came dressed in their very best Moroccan dress or Kaftans. They dress just as you and I do on a daily basis so it was a real treat to see this beautiful handmade clothing.

They serve desert first at the meals almost as an appetizer then a type of bread and mint tea which is the popular tea in Morocco made by a tea man. The dinner was 2 traditional Moroccan 1 which I can’t pronounce or remember the name of and beef couscous.

After dinner there was a lot of dancing by the Moroccans. However, it is not custom for men and women to dance together. The women will dance in group and it is not odd to see 2 men dancing together by themselves.

Shabby Band

Mint Tea Guy

Erik and his Angel's Fatima, Kadija, Nizzia, Rajae

Rob and Rick Knight our directors

February 5th we had an official Superbowl party. Jessica’s sister in California has a program called Slingbox. We can either watch American TV live or DVR it. We connect the computer up to the Wide Screen TV and we’re set. The picture is not perfect but it’s a great stream with almost not interruption. Jess DVR’d the game Sunday and we had a party complete with Chili, Buffalo Wings(the best we could do), & a few other American treats. We did squares for 200 Dirham each which is the equivalent to $2.00 per square. Winnings = 0. I drank my Amstels (which I can only buy in Spain) in a Red Sox coozie and enjoyed the game!!