RSSPerso-Expatedness Archives
February 16, 2008
Changing Image of Middle East North Africa MENA Business
An odd encounter I had on a TGV in Europe (somewhere on the continent..., kha) highlighted a change one is seeing in re MENA and emerging markets business, and I think it worthwhile sharing.
Continue reading "Changing Image of Middle East North Africa MENA Business"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 18, 2007
Sorry bloody underwater
This sort of rubbish is keeping me busy, so afraid I may not surface until apres New Years. Trying to close a major financing deal and the fucking credit mess has made this a literal nightmare. Dumb fuck clients should have move sooner, we would have closed say in July, but no, typical emerging markets pissing and moaning about trivia (do you really care about my expenses if I bring you a nice financing package literally 100 times larger than your damned country has ever done in your sector? Yes, apparently pissing and moaning over a trivialities, habitude du souq....)
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 14, 2007
Two years encore
A small note recalling another 2 yr anniversary of little more than perso importance.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:48 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
November 18, 2007
Two years ago
A bit of nostalgia. two years ago this very weekend I had the fine occasion to begin that small bit of cancer unpleasantness.
Continue reading "Two years ago"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:35 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
September 03, 2007
On Shopping
Purely a personal observation on my Paris trip so far.
Continue reading "On Shopping"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 02:56 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
July 22, 2007
MENA Business, the personal thermometer
A personal benchmark for the degree to which Gulf money is getting too hot, the number of approaches, unsolicited, that I am getting from Gulf institutions wishing to build out North African investment business.
Continue reading "MENA Business, the personal thermometer"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:36 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Encore Vivant, Scans Edition
A small personal note for the interested.
Continue reading "Encore Vivant, Scans Edition"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:44 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
May 30, 2007
I fear for your children
So said a female collegue - from another firm - after spending a week working with me on a deal.
Apparently I can be somewhat intense.
Continue reading "I fear for your children"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:00 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
May 10, 2007
Unique Pleasures
They are a rare thing. Therefore I shall count them.
Continue reading "Unique Pleasures"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 29, 2007
Annoying Side Effects, Tedium
Have to piss off again for more scans shortly. Last set of exams apparently found something funny. Which is not amusing. Bloody tiresome. Bit of something possibly impinging on the spinal cord.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 01:30 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
April 27, 2007
The Horror, The Horror
I watch in horror as my dollar denominated salary gets smaller and smaller in real terms. It only moderately helps me feel consoled that I am long liability wise in dollars and so income balanced on Euro is going to look better.
Otherwise, I was bemused to find in reading Bahrain blogs that I missed some to do earlier this week. Well, conference rooms.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:32 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
April 17, 2007
Reflexions on Casablanca
It remains difficult to get business done here, the city being on edge, Moroccans and Casaouine being most unused to this kind of mindless violence. The anger is palpable across social classes, it seems to me, but frankly I have a lot of work to get done in a short time, so one must allow that my impressions are superficial, for all that they seem to match Ibn Kafka's.
Further, what everyone is saying - and I hear this from people who rarely speak well of the government, so I am inclined to say it is not mere government agitprop although that is present - is the population is actively helping the security forces.
Nevertheless, I am largely in conference rooms working on producing some financing documentation, which is rather different from being out on the street - that is doing a reporters job. Something facile whanking by bloggers oft forgets.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 12, 2007
Bombings, Bombings...
Well, looks like I am in for tightened security with the Maghreb getting its own indigenous self-proclaimed al Qaeda, to go along with the Machreq.
And the Americans continue to fiddle....
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 11, 2007
Presents
What do you give a good friend who's just become the governor of a central bank?
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:40 PM | Comments (13) | TrackBack
January 27, 2007
Fizzy Water
I believe I may have gone overboard in stocking my favourite fizzy water. USD 200 nearly, but I now shall be spared searching for the just-the-right-sized bottle for at least two months.
When one lives in a world of inexplicable supply disruptions, one has hoarding behaviour induced.
Of course, I also did the same in finding a vast stock of my favourite grapefruit juice, unsugared as is the evil custom prevalent in these lands which can't distinguish "nectar of juice" and actual juice.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:57 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 25, 2007
On Coordination, Clothing & Colour
A rather trivial, and personal observation.
Continue reading "On Coordination, Clothing & Colour"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 12:55 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
December 05, 2006
Smart Phone & PDA
I have grown sick of both my current phone and my current PDA. Perhaps some of the nerds who read this may have ideas as to business oriented (meaning able to edit easily MS Office docies, sync up with Outlook on contacts and calenders -yes I am sure there are better choices out there, but that does me fuck all of good) PDA or potentially Smart Phones. Blackberry is not an option I may add.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 12:53 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
December 02, 2006
Caftan
I am presently trapped in hell. A fashion show for Caftans that a woman has sucked me into (what one does to get a night in bed with dark girls). Thank god for the WiFi and blogging fad, such that I can pretend....
Posted by The Lounsbury at 09:53 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 12, 2006
And why paranoia
Just learned a friend of mine who got herself in a spot of hot water by speaking rather too openly about sensitive subjects, in the intersection of her business and politics, was declared persona non grata and has had to leave on short notice.
Paranoia is healthy.
Continue reading "And why paranoia"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:42 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
October 28, 2006
Valueless perso commentary
I am told that even when I dress down, I look like I am going to an investment committee meeting. This came when I mocked some nerdlish Indian Expat type w family on outing today, who looked bizarrely like he was taking the family to a business meeting.
Well, at least I am stylish.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 09:08 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
October 24, 2006
Eid Moubarek Said
A little tardy, but I am working flat out.
However, the partners insist I go to some Eid hoopla and the woman has dressed me up in a new Eid outfit - look like a bloody Emir, although I do like the nice wool felting, so off I am.
So, Eid Moubarek Said to all - heathens, kufar, idiots and so forth.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:56 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
October 22, 2006
What to make of unpoverty
I have to engage in some Eid time bribery to make my JV partner and associates comfortable with my generally heathen habits, which includes coughing up some Zakat and some added bonus Zakat to make amends for said behaviours (which I shall spare the more faithful from enumerating during this holy season).
Continue reading "What to make of unpoverty"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:49 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
August 26, 2006
German Steel & Transaction Costs
The operation buying my new German Steel is taking far too fucking long.
First, there was the idiocy of the American correspondant that froze my funds when some semi literate bank functioniary panicked over the cash being transferred to a suspect country.... Once resolved, now I am lost in the intricate idiocies of the local bureacracy which render any transaction 30 times more complex than necessary.
It's the sort of operation that underlines the idiocy of the Stiglitz's in their ivory tower attacks on globalisation and celebration of statism.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:49 PM | Comments (17) | TrackBack
Market Demand (expanded)
Today I had confirmation of a suspcion of mine regarding my favourite Halag, haircutter.
Summertime and Khaliji tourists means more fetching young Leb Sluttish assistants and expanded "services."
I had long suspected, but today (with me first haircut since the hair came back - pleased to say roots are going dark again) had confirmation.
I shall not be able to understand the very special scalp massage that comes with my haircuts in the same way. I am not sure if I am disappointed or not, however at least I don't wear a gold and ruby pinky ring heavy enough to dislocate said finger. It is, however, apparently a useful tool, but sadly my particular scumminess requires a certain image.
Continue reading "Market Demand (expanded)"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:27 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 22, 2006
Capacity
Afraid my commentary shall be slightly restricted, I am working on several fund proposals and the wave of resignations following my firm's cretinous penny-pinching idiocy (although nicely illustrative of their complete incomprehension of the emerging markets) has rather dumped a lot of work on me.
All quite bollixed up, but I shall make a quick note on a few items shortly.
As for the Fund proposals, none involve continued employment with the Titanic, but these things take time.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:37 PM | Comments (33) | TrackBack
August 21, 2006
Schadenfreude
Pursuant to the recent note re some utterly scummy changes in compensation regional (as opposed to expat) employees, one entire office has resigned. I loved the bland "resigned to pursue other opportunities" namby pamby rot. I myself wrote a longish note on chapter and verse as to how this was a completely bollixed idea.
Meanwhile, I have been at the beach returning myself to a more fashionable colour than post-chemo fishbelly dead. However, I am forced to note that my hair is coming back in vaguely blondish, which is most disconcerting.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:37 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
August 16, 2006
Kind Requests not to get whacked
Embassy got around to its latest round of asking its Registered Expats to do their best not to get blown up, kidnapped or otherwise whacked for political reasons on their watch, as it is very bad for business, causes much paperwork and generally is terribly inconvenient for the diplo on duty. They note in their kind announcement that intelligence indicates that rising anti-American feeling in the region puts foreigners (they probably should have said all those tending to be confused with Americans) at risk. Bloody hell, never occured to me, that.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:54 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Guilt, Economics and Residency
Among the items that motivated my work to renew my residency was my recent launching of a fine acquisition operation, that is acquiring a new car. It has also been an opportunity to reflect on the economics of several things.
Continue reading "Guilt, Economics and Residency"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:13 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
And I was beginning to miss this sort of thing
A fine announcement regarding air travel, bloody scared rabbits will soon have people flying naked - and now it's London flights as well:
Continue reading "And I was beginning to miss this sort of thing"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:11 PM | Comments (18) | TrackBack
August 15, 2006
Redoing Residency, An Opportunity to Test Waters
I will have some extended comments on this later, but I just started redoing me residency, which had lapsed during the Great Cancer Exile. A fine time to see the impact of the "Anglo-American Israeli Aggression" Fiasco, given can't hide citizenship, emplyer's citizenship or the like on such forms.
(I've already had the experience which I will elaborate on in today's unpleasant encounters to judge the waters. I can only say from personal interest, thank God for the ceasefire.)
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 18, 2006
Transparency, FDI & Foreign Groups - Counterintuitive Observations
An amusing side note to distract from the Lebanon hysteria that is sucking us all in.
I'm presently doing research on North African financial groups for a potential new piece of business (my idiot whankers back on the other side of the Atlantic still not grasping the lack of transparency that renders any given piece of research in MENA twice as hard at minimum than in the developed world).
It has been amusing so far to find that despite all our talk in sector about how foreign groups bring best practices, better governance and more transparency, that in the Maghreb -comparing like to like, i.e. listed to listed- the locals are actually rather better about publishing their financial reports than the French groups(*). Never mind site functionalities. Not really surprising, if one knows French banks, but provides a bit of nuance to easy talk about FDI and benefits. Not, mind you, that I am against FDI and all things being equal foreign groups usually do raise standards....
Continue reading "Transparency, FDI & Foreign Groups - Counterintuitive Observations"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 30, 2006
American Memorial Days
Given it is too humide to breathe, some quick thoughts on my fine Memorial Day with my cretinous american cousins. One involving discussions of the Gold Standard and Middle East & North African Infrastructure.
Continue reading "American Memorial Days"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:54 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Humidity
I am recalling now one thing I had forgotten I disliked about the east coast of the USA. Summer humidity.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:39 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 25, 2006
Sometimes one has to hang one's head in shame
I do.
I was just having a touching base chat with my assistance back in country who kindly told me of the latest sign of really mind numbing incompetence in my firm.
They wired our office rent to the driver. Who seems to have spent it or part of it, thinking it a bonus.
Continue reading "Sometimes one has to hang one's head in shame"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:04 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
On Reading Arabic
An article from the FT Arts section had something that caught me eye:
Almost 40 years ago I learnt to read Arabic. I can no longer remember what it was like not to be able to read it and I find it difficult to imagine what the exotic squiggles might look like to someone who is incapable of interpreting them.
While not 40 years, the phrase was evocative.
One does lose context after a while. Being out of the region for the first sustained period in a long time, it's a bit queer. Rather like being a foreigner in one's own... cultural landscape.
As to the subject, pity I am not back in London, it would be a pleasure to stop by the British Museum to take this in.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:53 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
May 11, 2006
Is it an insult or merely lack of awareness
A convo I found amusing today, call from one of my silly cousins. A rather older one, who is very tedious and tends to tell long, convoluted stories or extreme right-wing conspiracy theory - I believe he was once a John Birch Society member. He's queerly fond of me, however. Perhaps because of my natural patience and politeness.
This particular call was of the same nature as the usual. However, the highlights - besides his racist diatribe covering my woman's ethnicity - were moderately amusing in the abstract.
First, I found it entertaining to hear the fellow ranting about the stupidity of the Bush Administration, as not one year ago he was telling me the insults against the President of the US' intelligence were a Commie something or other. It appears he has realised that Ibn Bush is actually a bit on the dim side and not competent. Good for him. I shall not have to listen to painfully incoherent defenses of the current US Administration.
Second, and this part amused me immensely.he ranted on about Bankers controlling the world, etc. I rather liked the incoherency (I should mention the fellow is actually quite intelligent, simply when his ideology kicks in, critical thinking seems to cease. It's interesting), as well as the fact I was the audience. Perhaps the target? Well, the man inexplicably likes me and does have some property to inherit.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:17 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
February 14, 2006
Shocked: No Maids
Amused I am at my fine V Day convo. The woman was shocked, shocked that middle class American families do not have maids. How can women possibly get things done?!?!?!
I was deeply amused by this. I suspect it reinforced her determination to never, ever move to the West. I should have suggested for the bloody visa interview (to come see me, obviously) she should tell the stupid navel-gazing US officer, "why the hell would I want to emmigrate to a country where women can't have maids?"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 10:52 PM | Comments (28) | TrackBack
February 12, 2006
On Exile
Now that I apparently have an exit from the every so interesting sensation that my very bones are eating their way out of me, I thought I might turn my semi-addled senses to the subject of how much I miss my Arab sats. Or Sat TV in general.
US of A broadcast news media really has become very poor quality sensationalistic navel gazing rubbish. All things are a crisis, any bloody little storm is an occasion to breathlessly blither on about stocking up, etc. etc. etc.
I think I might put my eyes out if I have to watch another over-produced pointless set of graphics.
I do not believe is is mere snobbishness on my part to say that the industry desperately needs to be saved from itself.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:04 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 02, 2006
Fenanine/Fenanat Floozies
What is it about Leb Tart "Fenanat" (artistes) Floozies that requires them to be quite so.... what is the word? Breathlessly Lebanese air-headed artsy idiots? Listening to Radio Monte Carlo I subjected myself to a full 15 minutes of one of these air-headed "artistes" blithering on about her "feelings."
Yes, I could have switched to something else, but my Maghrebine brothers are down right now, which leaves me the Khalije or Lebanon. Or the Egyptians, sooner poke out my eyes than listen to Egyptians on purpose.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:21 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
January 27, 2006
Catharses?
One of the more annoying aspects of my medical exile has been the tedious role, as Cancer Boy, to play in being the way point between the various segments of this great Anglo Saxon clan that rarely speaks to itself. The foriegn and domestic parts are all promising visits, even those who've never seen each other, including my Aunts.
This is a most unexpected and undesired side effect of the minor detour that is cancer, as I had previously rather liked their not talking to each other. Worse yet, my JV partner is being dragged into this little frenzy of multi-continental familialness sparked by one inconvenient tumour. I had managed to avoid such in my previous JVs.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:48 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
January 18, 2006
Narcotics, infrastructure and Expats: Reflexions part I (an ongoing rambling reflexion)
As it was a request, and my narcotics have finally taken away the bone-aches (which I may add are deeply unpleasant) and rendered me giddy, a reflexion on Expattedness, socialising, and infrastructure.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:48 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
October 30, 2005
Other Reflexions - On US Firms, Business and Valueing International Staff
I had the occasion with my Italian collegue to have an interesting (to people like us at least) reflective conversation about working for American firms and the value place (or not) on overseas experience.
Although it was nothing new, nor particular news indeed as I should say everyone reading my blithering on is likely aware of these things, the issue of the degree of real interest in US firms in their international staffs arose; oddly not in any way connected with my personal axe grinding or bemusement at my organisation schizophrenic approach to regional expertise, but from the Italian's experience on transfering herself to the US after a career with several large international British financial institutions with experience from London HQ right through to high level managerial experience in Asia running operations as the feranji big cheese.
Continue reading "Other Reflexions - On US Firms, Business and Valueing International Staff"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:28 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 24, 2005
Ramadan and Bad Tempers Among The Drinking Classes
Well, still burrowing away through bloody Arabic financials for the new Fund proposal [another bloody 7 megs in the inbox this morning - this bloody well better be worth it, if these fuckers don't close or try to renege on the points....], but this past Friday I had a most surreal 'Expat' experience.
Deciding to have a few drinks before Iftaar, having a good two hours, (hmmm, already condemned for writing such a phrase) I popped by the nearby four star for some liquid happiness and to write some items up at the bar. Being a shameless bastard, I popped out my trusty thinkpaddy and started whacking away while knocking back some fine Cuban products.
Continue reading "Ramadan and Bad Tempers Among The Drinking Classes"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:41 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 11, 2005
On being an western expat, priviledges and abuse thereof
As I have a pounding headache from this quarterly nonesense (reporting as transparency.... bollocks) and my stress about the bloody fiasco upcoming, a moment to reflect on a few items.
First, yesterday I had a most peculiar (okay not so peculiar but I have bloody headache presently, so I will call it most peculiar) experience.
I got a ring from a partner at the local Price Waterhouse Coopers asking me to drop by, due to a conversation he had with the director of Fund X (a fund with whom I have had some conversations, they know I am sniffing about for exits).
I rather thought this was in regards to some issue I have been researching for Fund X and some associated schemes, or in the less likely alternative, about my real job. So, I pop by before Iftaar for a chat (not far from the office, why not?), and have a pleasant enough convo but it begins to take on the feel of an interview (as in askig me about what I know about certain financial subjects).
Continue reading "On being an western expat, priviledges and abuse thereof"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:19 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
October 06, 2005
And in regards to odd coincidences
Almost slipped my mind but today in going to a meeting with one of the big swinging dicks in the fin sector today - nice meeting really but not the point - I had the occasion to be kept waiting for a nice 45 minutes in the super fab penthouse offices and observe the fauna.
Continue reading "And in regards to odd coincidences"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 10:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Queer Conversations
I had a most peculiar experience a few evenings ago, indeed it was unique in my experience to date in the region.
Continue reading "Queer Conversations"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 09:59 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
Things That Boggle: Calling the US Embassy Emergency Line for Travel Advice
Last night I was out with some of my diplo friends, including one of my American diplo amigos (he who I seduced into consuming the forbidden Castro fruit) having a perfectly fine dinner and drinks at a local Judeao-Maghrebine fish restaurant.
A very fine time, I should add, but interrupted by one of the most singularly bizarre calls one can imagine (in such contexts to be sure). Now, one first must know that here it is American practice not to have the late hours duty officer holed up in Consulate, but for him to carry a special phone linked into their system (whatever it is) to answer "duty calls" on the number supposedly reserved for Americans who have somehow gotten themselves into deep shit. Such as getting arrested for smuggling hashish or the like.
Continue reading "Things That Boggle: Calling the US Embassy Emergency Line for Travel Advice"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 03, 2005
Random Reflections on the Office
While everyone is out, I am enjoying a quiet day looking out over the hazy city reflecting on why it is time to move on.
As some may have noticed, I seriously curtailed my commentary on the lying (not necessarily a bad thing), incompetent (very bad), deluded (bad) scum who are my central management, as well as my office generally. Got a bit sensitive when I discovered someone I know reads MENA blogs (thank god she's deluded and reads about that democracy rubbish).
This aside, you may have also noticed little to no commentary on the Leb Sluts and Near Substitutes (LSNS) in the office.
Continue reading "Random Reflections on the Office"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:45 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 27, 2005
Among the mind numbing things that makes one want to drink heavily
Translating balance sheets from Arabic (with eastern style numbers) into English or French.
First, no one has yet to settle on standard accounting terms in Arabic, so every goddamned school seems to produce its own highly idiosyncratic phrasing which even though one can usually get the sense of it, is bloody goddamned irritating. As for example, I can make out that a certain word that in classical usage meant to be worn away is being used by some very special accountant for depreciation (or something like that), it's more than a bit arch to revive a classical phrase for this concept when there are more ordinary substitutes.
Second, not only is eyeballing those annoying eastern numbers irritating, but then flipping them into the column western style adds a new level of irritation. Above all as it is easy to confuse which column you're working off as even from page to page this annoying fuck isn't quite consistent.
Oh what I would not give for some dictator to impose some degree of standardization on Arabic in these senses (not that there are not dominant usages... but every little two bit Islamic school schooled semi literate git accountant seems to want to revive some dead term to show off).
Fuck it, going to get drunk. Although that motherfucking 7 am meeting tomorrow is very unsporting. 7 am, who the fuck meets at 7 am?
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:02 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Random Observations on Things Not to Do (if hosting a business meeting)
Some observations from attending a high level meet between the principals for the Fund which may (if certain wrinkles are ironed out) become my new master. All in regards to hosting such things, if you are a resto or club or the like.
Continue reading "Random Observations on Things Not to Do (if hosting a business meeting)"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 19, 2005
Among the dangers of long business trips & meetings
is over-indulgence in expressos.
Or so I am remembering now after a good solid 8 hours of meets, greets, and the like.
I rather feel like my entire nervous system wants to jump out of my body and I have this weird disembodied feeling. I would call this cafiene poisoning. Staggeringly hard to achieve with me given how much I normally knock back ( I am, I confess, a cafe addict, sure it will produce an ulcer soon enough, but that's what doctors are for ), but managed it today.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:35 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Arab Blood and Arab Language
While I am on the road I thought I might find a moment to share one of the more typical Arab region interactions that I have (besides the Agency one). It is what I call “Arab Blood – Arab Language” assumption.
The conversation is always structured in the same way, and oddly almost always comes from Eastern Arabs although I get it not infrequently in the Maghreb as well.
As in the case that just brought it to mind, where the airport VIP escort fellow (part of the package on this particular trip, although I confess as I get older I get more inclined to such things as a recent hissy fit I threw with my woman because she only got me second class tickets sadly and most unflatteringly demonstrated) had an accent that suggested to me he was an Egyptian immigrant (or emigrant depending on the point of view), leading me to playfully respond to him in Arabic on a question. Leaving aside the poor bastard nearly jumped out of his skin (one should admit that my highly anglo name would not suggest Arabic speaking), he was all to happy to rap with me in Arabic (and I was in the mood being surrounded at the moment by a sea of idiot monolingual fatties for whom Arabic was scary).
Getting to the point, after having a real conversation for a bit that convinced him I actually do know the language, he then asked me what my “real” origins were. For my dear Egyptian the ability to speak more than bad kitchen Arabic had to be an indication of having Arab blood. The conversation always follows a very particular patter with Eastern Arabs, insistent questions as to whether I don’t really have Palestinian, Syrian or Lebanese blood. Certainly by physical type I could be from that region, but it’s the funny presumption that one has to have the blood to learn the language passingly well that always intrigues me.
Very peculiar, not sure where it comes from. The alternate presumption that one is Muslim makes rather more sense, but rarely get that directly (although I suppose it might be partially embedded in the Levantine assumption).
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:13 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
September 15, 2005
Geographic ignorance
Setting up some conference stuff today for a potential attendance next month in the US of A, in some steamy southern crappy city with fat bankers.
I'm emailing the twit in New York about the detials and I get a note, copying some other potential participants, saying "Although Mr. Lounsbury has been indicating the conference is in Charleston, SC, it is in fact in Charlotte, NC. I just wanted to avoid confusion. I’m sure this was just a typo as we’ve discussed this more than a few times."
Ah. The shame. Well two bloody cities in the Carolinas both start with C. What can I say?
My reply was quite simple: "Bother, two bloody cities in the bloody Carolinas, all the bloody same to me."
Nevertheless, I was amused. In fact I always confuse the two. Might as well be the same city to me.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:26 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
September 12, 2005
On Petrol
I filled up the Lounsbury Black Secret Car recently, my it was painful.
Thankfully the German engineering, my aversion to driving, my utter hatred of local drivers, and the fact I can walk to work all lead me to only rarely fill up.
70 euro equivalents for a full tank. And this with subsidies. Although perhaps the subsidies don't apply to my particular blend.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 29, 2005
Among the things one learns at Embassy Citizen Services - or lumpy fools and marriage
There are many observations one can make after spending a morning with Embassy citizen services. One could uncharitably note the concept "service" is poorly developed, but I keep in mind normally Consular people deal with various scams and schemes to get visas by locals, and not straight forward service. Habits.
However, the one item that I retained today, having been blessed with the fine opportunity to spend the morning at Consul's office waiting to get a simple affadavit notarised (because the Civil Code system is positively mad about notarisations, and even better if done by Consuls - bloody waste but what can we say? Stupid Franco-Italian traditions), is the sheer number of lumpy and unattractive Anglo women getting married to young local lads far out of their league.
Without being entirely ungenerous, as after all looks are not everything (nor are they nothing), it's rather bloody obvious these are visa marriages. At least from the local's point of view. Painfully obvious really.
What's more peculiar is the goodly number of rather.... well, lower class lumps who are doing this (given their accent); great deal for their local lover, and I suppose these, ahem, somewhat marginal players in the domestic marriage market [I shall create the acronym, MPDMM] having taken a holiday in these sunny climes and been wooed with marginal sincerity (well lots of sincerity in regards to the visa opportunity to be sure), are taking advantage of taste and opportunity arbitrage opportunities. Certainly the country Arabs do like their women rather... differently structured.
This aside, I was also bemused that the sheer stupidity of several of these MPDMMs such as asking the Consular official to fill out the forms for her because she did not understand them. I suppose joined up sentences in her native language (i.e. English, presumably although Slurese might well be a better rendition) still present some problems.
Indeed contradicting my opening statement, the Consular officers were far too tolerant of this semi-illiterate ignorant cows in offering even the barest advice when packing them off for remedial English language courses and some training in proper decorum would have been more called for.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 10:37 AM | Comments (18) | TrackBack
August 23, 2005
In other matters, on joint ventures
The joint venture paper work is proceding apace. About 3 of 14 steps to registration have been solved. Remaining items include fabricating documents that the benight Third World rent seeking vampire bureaucrats have invented and exist only here, but which these Civil Code demons insist must exist globally because very obviously THE way to do things involves the most hideous intepretations of the already hideous Code Civil.
Today's success, which involved - and this is sadly the unvarnished truth - my calling on contacts so as to get a senior police official to come down from the Main office to expedite the obtaining of the Certificate of Residency, which of course is merely a certificate certifying that the information in my Residency Permit - issued by the self same government - is in fact, legal, valid and official.
This merely took a day. And 20 units of local currency for official taxes and the like.
All to obtain a document certifying that my official document certified official information that was obtained officially and officially did not contradict anything else, officially speaking.
Long live regulation. Why once we get fair trade..... everyone will be better off.... Really. And they'll have donuts too. Magicla ones.
I personally am looking forward to obtaining of the Certification of No Judicial Cases (or otherwise known as the Negative Certificate, although it is actually positive in the sense it is a negative response to a negative question), although this also requires me to obtain the self-same from my home country (where such does not exist, but I'll concoct something to dupe these little vamperous trolls - although it adds to total cost).
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:15 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
August 22, 2005
Gone Native
I shall flesh this out a bit later, but I thought I would note my irritation at this phrase, "gone native" being used as a slur against me in regards to when I take people to task for being ill-informed.
This came up just now in regards to the Daniel Drenzer blog discussion (see Aqoul), and I confess it grates on my nerves. An empty and stupid statement, and I fail to see the sense of it, other than as a cheap way to dismiss being called on false presumptions and the like.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 02:34 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
August 19, 2005
Entirely Because of Bou Aradvrak - Belly Dancing, Orientalism, Academic Cant and Pure Bemusement [And some added thoughts on Business Enviroment Data and Obsessive Charting]
I wish to share with my 'Aqoul compadres, cohorts, or whatever the bloody hell they are, the following:
Belly Dancing Resource of some kind and in particular, the Bellydancers and Harem Girls -- A[n] Historical/Cheesecake Gallery.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:00 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
It is so nice they care, but really.... (Jordan)
Well, very nicely Embassy back in Amman, who still can not quite get it through their thick heads that I am no longer resident there (although I do stop in of course, business), sent me another kind note asking me not to get assasinated or otherwise blown up on their watch.
Continue reading "It is so nice they care, but really.... (Jordan)"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 10, 2005
It's Overseas Residents Season
And this fine city is filling up with our dear European resident Maghrebines, on vac to visit family, engage in modest levels of contraband product sales, pretend they are more successful than they really are, and generally behave in most peculiar manners while their friends, cousins and the like try to milk them for every Euro they can.
Continue reading "It's Overseas Residents Season"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:20 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
August 09, 2005
In yet other matters, I assure my minders I am not planning to get blown up
Amusingly once more local Embassy has sent us its kind note to the effect of "please be mindful and don't get blown to bits on our watch, the paperwork is a killer and it looks bad."
Continue reading "In yet other matters, I assure my minders I am not planning to get blown up"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:54 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
In Other Observations
I continue to be annoyed at the fact that every bloody time a friend who has been out of touch writes me (or even my bloody family), they always (and seriously) manage to include some line implying (or state) they think I work for some intelligence agency or another. Just happened again and I feel moved to rant.
Continue reading "In Other Observations"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:35 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack