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mstlyevil
March 11th, 2006, 03:56 AM
Mathew has anounced he is moving to Morocco. How many of you out there are from or been to Morocco? It would be nice if those who are familiar with Morocco would give him some advice on customs and great places to visit.

I have never been to Morocco but I have lived in Oman for six months. Here are a few cultural details that might be true for Morocco also. Never offer your left hand when shaking hands. It is considered unclean to do so. Never spit on the ground for any reason. It is a act of contempt for the land to spit on the ground. Never lift your foot and show the bottom of it to someone. You will be proclaiming that they are beneath you.

These may be or may not be the same in Morocco but they could be helpful. Good luck on your move Matthew and may God be with you over there.

bjweeks
March 11th, 2006, 03:58 AM
No, you can't leave! It has to rain first;)

Iandefor
March 11th, 2006, 03:58 AM
Yeah, I remember hearing about this a long while back. Good luck with the move!

@Matthew: IIRC, you'll be writing a book about Moroccan culture. Any thoughts on when
it'll be available?

fuscia
March 11th, 2006, 04:07 AM
i'd rather go on a ladyboy tour of thailand, but that's just me.

matthew
March 11th, 2006, 05:37 AM
These may be or may not be the same in Morocco but they could be helpful. Good luck on your move Matthew and may God be with you over there.Thanks, man! I actually lived there for 3 years (2001 to 2004) and am moving back. I will still be around here, though--I might have a bit of a blackout period starting just before I actually leave (date isn't set yet, but definitely before the end of April, hopefully sooner) until I get my internet access set up over there.

I would love to connect with anyone in/from Morocco that reads this, though, or people who have visited there as well.


No, you can't leave! It has to rain first:wink:It may do so tonight...I saw there is a storm advisory (and snow advisory above 4000 feet or so) for most of Arizona tonight. That would be cool. Flagstaff has 3 inches of the white stuff so far.


Yeah, I remember hearing about this a long while back. Good luck with the move!

@Matthew: IIRC, you'll be writing a book about Moroccan culture. Any thoughts on when it'll be available?No ETA on the book yet. I need to get back over there to do some further research which may take up to a year, although I hope less. I will definitely be around these forums during the process so when it gets close I'll say something. I also need to brush up on my Moroccan dialectal Arabic, which will be a lot of fun. Oh, and they have GREAT coffee! :)


i'd rather go on a ladyboy tour of thailand, but that's just me.Uhh, hmm. Don't think my wife and kids would like that. I've been to Thailand, though...let me see, I think I have a picture of me riding an elephant and drinking out of a coconut here somewhere...if I find them I'll post 'em.

EDIT: found 'em...there are near Chiang Mai, Thailand
http://static.flickr.com/42/110724674_894dd7fd0b_o.pnghttp://static.flickr.com/47/110724673_777ceb72ce_o.png
I love how the orchid in the drink matches my shirt!!

mstlyevil
March 11th, 2006, 05:39 AM
You mean you don't speak French?

matthew
March 11th, 2006, 05:46 AM
You mean you don't speak French?Not really. My Spanish isn't too bad, my Modern Standard Arabic is passable, my Moroccan dialect is pretty good, but my French is only so-so. I understand a lot, but I can't seem to remember it fast enough to say anything useful. Depending on who you ask my accent is okay. It will make a Frenchman cringe but an African will say it's great. :)

mstlyevil
March 11th, 2006, 05:49 AM
Not really. My Spanish isn't too bad, my Modern Standard Arabic is passable, my Moroccan dialect is pretty good, but my French is only so-so. I understand a lot, but I can't seem to remember it fast enough to say anything useful. Depending on who you ask my accent is okay. It will make a Frenchman cringe but an African will say it's great. :)

You should spend a month in Paris to brush up on your French.

byen
March 11th, 2006, 05:53 AM
Wow! The elephant and the sculptures remind me of home (India). But wow.. Morocco! never been there but have read so much about it! What amazes me is how great an experience it can be to a person who gets to see different countries! Something...I strongly suggest people to do (if they get a chance and can afford it)

Have a great journey matthew. Bon Voyage!

matthew
March 11th, 2006, 05:58 AM
You should spend a month in Paris to brush up on your French.C'est vrai, mais je ne voudrais pa le francais. Et je vais recherche la culture marocain tradicional et pour ca la langue dialectal c'est tres importante.

Okay, I probably spelled most of that wrong--a major problem for me in French. What I said was you are right, but I don't like French. Also, I am going to research traditional Moroccan culture and that really requires the use of the Moroccan dialect (unless I want to pay/rely on translators, which I don't).

mstlyevil
March 11th, 2006, 06:01 AM
C'est vrai, mais je ne voudrais pa le francais. Et je vais recherche la culture marocain tradicional et pour ca la langue dialectal c'est tres importante.

Okay, I probably spelled most of that wrong--a major problem for me in French. What I said was you are right, but I don't like French. Also, I am going to research traditional Moroccan culture and that really requires the use of the Moroccan dialect (unless I want to pay/rely on translators, which I don't).

That makes a lot of sense. What I found amazing when I was in Oman were the number of people that spoke English in that country.

matthew
March 11th, 2006, 06:09 AM
Wow! The elephant and the sculptures remind me of home (India). But wow.. Morocco! never been there but have read so much about it! What amazes me is how great an experience it can be to a person who gets to see different countries! Something...I strongly suggest people to do (if they get a chance and can afford it)

Have a great journey matthew. Bon Voyage!Thanks, man. Traveling is one of my favorite things to do--that and meeting new people


That makes a lot of sense. What I found amazing when I was in Oman were the number of people that spoke English in that country.That's part of why I chose Morocco. Unless you are in Casablanca or Rabat you don't find many people who speak English. Plus the people there are incredibly warm and friendly. I've traveled to towns where I didn't know anyone, sat down at a cafe or next to a fountain in the town center, and been invited to people's houses when they found out I was traveling--then they begged me to stay at their house instead of a hotel!! Moroccan hospitality is unrivalled in my experience.

Iandefor
March 11th, 2006, 06:20 AM
Plus the people there are incredibly warm and friendly. I've traveled to towns where I didn't know anyone, sat down at a cafe or next to a fountain in the town center, and been invited to people's houses when they found out I was traveling--then they begged me to stay at their house instead of a hotel!! Moroccan hospitality is unrivalled in my experience. Really? I'm sort of tossing around ideas for places to go during my wandernjahr. Perhaps I'll pay a visit to Morocco?



My Spanish isn't too bad, my Modern Standard Arabic is passable, my Moroccan dialect is pretty good, but my French is only so-so. I understand a lot, but I can't seem to remember it fast enough to say anything useful. Depending on who you ask my accent is okay. It will make a Frenchman cringe but an African will say it's great. :smile: Quite a few languages, there. I'm impressed.

eriefisher
March 11th, 2006, 06:22 AM
I was in Spain a couple of weeks ago and did a day trip into Tangiers. I found the people nice and friendly. To see and here some of the history was great. I would love to return one day and see the rest of the country.

eriefisher

P.S. good luck

matthew
March 11th, 2006, 06:28 AM
Really? I'm sort of tossing around ideas for places to go during my wandernjahr. Perhaps I'll pay a visit to Morocco?You would be welcome. Contact me if you decide to visit--I'll give you some tips.


Quite a few languages, there. I'm impressed.Thanks. I have a gift for communication and an ear for accents--maybe it's the musician/artist in me. I confess that compared to a serious student or linguist my skills would be seriously lacking, but I can tell a joke or order coffee and shoot the breeze in all those I mentioned.


I was in Spain a couple of weeks ago and did a day trip into Tangiers. I found the people nice and friendly. To see and here some of the history was great. I would love to return one day and see the rest of the country.

eriefisher

P.S. good luckThanks. Hey! Someone who's been to Morocco! Cool. The same invitation applies--if you ever get back give me a holler.

bored2k
March 11th, 2006, 06:52 AM
Can I ask you (matthew), what line of work are you in (which allows you to travel and move from country to country so seamlessly)?


I don't like French.J'aime le FR :( .

matthew
March 11th, 2006, 07:01 AM
Can I ask you (matthew), what line of work are you in (which allows you to travel and move from country to country so seamlessly)? I used to work/teach at a university where I began travelling during breaks. I saved and invested well and then unexpectedly inherited some money--I'm not rich, but by living frugally and with the support of my loved ones I'm self-funding this book experiment. It's a risk but hopefully it will sell well enough to finance a second, etc.


J'aime le FR :( .Je me excuse. Pardonne moi, mon amie.

mstlyevil
March 11th, 2006, 07:24 AM
I want a signed copy when you publish it.:mrgreen:

eriefisher
March 11th, 2006, 07:55 AM
Thanks. Hey! Someone who's been to Morocco! Cool. The same invitation applies--if you ever get back give me a holler.[/QUOTE]

My only regret was I did not spend enough time there to learn and see more. I'm told the first thing you should do is buy yourself a jalabah(not sure about the spelling) so you can blend in. HAHA

matthew
March 11th, 2006, 04:16 PM
I want a signed copy when you publish it.:mrgreen:I'll do my best. :)


My only regret was I did not spend enough time there to learn and see more. I'm told the first thing you should do is buy yourself a jalabah(not sure about the spelling) so you can blend in. HAHAWould you believe I own two! One is an ivory colored lightweight cotton/silk blend for summer use and the other (my favorite) is a full-on black wool for winter that doubles as an integral part of a Darth Maul costume. :) They're kind of like these...the hoods don't show up too well in these shots, though.

http://www.e-souk.com/assets/images/im308_01m.jpg
and
http://www.skyhighway.com/%7Erose/ManBlackRobe.JPG

BWF89
March 11th, 2006, 04:20 PM
Why are you moving to Morocco, what do they have that Arizona doesn't?

mstlyevil
March 11th, 2006, 04:25 PM
Why are you moving to Morocco, what do they have that Arizona doesn't?

The Mederteranian.:mrgreen:

matthew
March 11th, 2006, 04:30 PM
Why are you moving to Morocco, what do they have that Arizona doesn't?Really good couscous!

Iandefor
March 11th, 2006, 06:13 PM
Wah! I just realized mstlyevil is now staff! Good job!

mstlyevil
March 11th, 2006, 06:26 PM
Wah! I just realized mstlyevil is now staff! Good job!

Thanks man.

Quake
March 11th, 2006, 07:13 PM
Have fun in Morocco. The country is really changing for the better.

Last time I talked to my family, they told me Tangier was a giant costruction site trying to modernise the city, plus the city will have an International port (http://www.tmsa.ma/english/projets/index.html) .

And they are plans to implement a tramway between the city of Rabat and Sale.
http://www.bouregreg.com/admin/photos/upload/image4_18.jpg
http://www.bouregreg.com/admin/photos/upload/image4_59.jpg

bjweeks
March 11th, 2006, 09:59 PM
It may do so tonight...I saw there is a storm advisory (and snow advisory above 4000 feet or so) for most of Arizona tonight. That would be cool. Flagstaff has 3 inches of the white stuff so far.


It rained last night for the first time in like 4 months in phoenix.

Matodo
September 12th, 2006, 02:07 AM
Hello Matthew

I'm Moroccan and I live in Tetuan, a city in the north of Morocco. I just want to say welcome to Morocco, and I hope I can meet you one day :)

matthew
September 12th, 2006, 08:20 AM
Hello Matthew

I'm Moroccan and I live in Tetuan, a city in the north of Morocco. I just want to say welcome to Morocco, and I hope I can meet you one day :)Mitsherrfin! I drove through Tetuan last week on my way to Sebta for a holiday in the south of Spain. How wonderful to meet you. I hope we can meet face to face someday.

matthew
April 7th, 2007, 10:51 AM
As promised, here is an official announcement. My book has been published! It isn't available yet on amazon.com, etc., but it should be within the next 6 weeks or so. In the meanwhile, you can look here (http://derbyandwehttam.com/node/5) and here (http://www.lulu.com/content/669267) for more information.

RAV TUX
April 7th, 2007, 10:59 AM
As promised, here is an official announcement. My book has been published! It isn't available yet on amazon.com, etc., but it should be within the next 6 weeks or so. In the meanwhile, you can look here (http://derbyandwehttam.com/node/5) and here (http://www.lulu.com/content/669267) for more information.Is your book copyleft?

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6219/170pxcopyleftsvgif7.png

What is copyleft? (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/copyleft.html)

and available at the Gutenberg Project?

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

looks nice

http://skins.hotbar.com/skins/mailskins/em/google_emoticons/emoti_422.gif

RAV TUX
April 7th, 2007, 11:12 AM
As promised, here is an official announcement. My book has been published! It isn't available yet on amazon.com, etc., but it should be within the next 6 weeks or so. In the meanwhile, you can look here (http://derbyandwehttam.com/node/5) and here (http://www.lulu.com/content/669267) for more information.

Also I am curious if in your book you touched on the subject matter found in the following articles, on ironically enough: Humor and Moroccan Culture?


Humor Article Leads to Conviction of 2 in Morocco

By Craig Whitlock (http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/craig+whitlock/)
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, January 16, 2007; Page A12

CASABLANCA, Morocco, Jan. 15 -- A Moroccan court convicted a magazine editor and a reporter Monday on charges of defamation for printing heard-on-the-street jokes about religion and politics, the latest case in which journalists here have been punished for trying to make readers laugh.
A Casablanca judge gave three-year suspended jail sentences to Driss Ksikes, editor of Nichane magazine, and Sanaa al-Aji, a staff reporter, and fined them the equivalent of $9,280 each for publishing jokes that a prosecutor called "contrary to morals and customs." Nichane, an Arabic-language newsweekly whose name means "As It Is," was also barred from publication for two months.

Morocco has rapidly developed what is perhaps the most robust free press in the Arab world, a trend that started in 1999 after liberal-minded King Mohammed VI succeeded his authoritarian father, King Hassan II, and announced broad plans to modernize the country. But the spontaneous emergence of muckrakers and political commentators among the country's print media has provoked a backlash recently from the government.
The government has sought to shut down several other publications that have criticized or poked fun at the government. One editor, Ali Lmrabet, was imprisoned and then prohibited from practicing journalism for 10 years after his Demain magazine printed cartoons and jokes that indirectly lampooned the monarchy. It remains a crime in Morocco to say anything negative about the king, who retains ultimate authority over the government.

Moroccan journalists said it has become increasingly difficult to figure out how far they can go in exercising their newfound liberties. Ahmed R. Benchemsi, the publisher of Nichane and a French-language newsweekly, TelQuel, said his magazines had broached sensitive topics before -- one article revealed details about the king's personal finances -- without apparent repercussions.
"I wish I knew where the red lines were," Benchemsi said in an interview Monday after the verdict was announced. "I would never have imagined that reprinting common jokes would have been like stepping on a land mine. And I am an expert on land mines: I have been dodging them for five years."
The latest article to raise hackles was a Nichane cover piece last month titled, "How Moroccans Laugh at Religion, Sex and Politics." Editors said they thought the reprinted jokes were inoffensive and familiar to many Moroccans.
One bit featured prankster angels playing a joke on a companion of the prophet Muhammad by making him think he was destined to spend eternity in hell. As the holy man panics, he is interrupted by the punch line: "Smile! You're on Candid Camera!"
The Moroccan government was not amused. Authorities ordered Nichane removed from newsstands and filed criminal charges against the editor and reporter after receiving complaints from an obscure Web site run by fundamentalist Muslims and from the Kuwaiti government.
The defendants said they would appeal the conviction but expressed relief that the judge suspended their jail sentences and did not permanently ban them from practicing journalism, as prosecutors had sought. But other Moroccan journalists said it was hard to take any solace in the outcome.
"The best sign that could have been sent would have been to not prosecute them in the first place," said Aboubakr Jamai, publisher of Le Journal Hebdomadaire, a newsweekly that has been repeatedly prosecuted and fined by the government for its aggressive reporting.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/15/AR2007011501046.html


same story different publication:

Saturday, April 7, 2007
Last modified Thursday, January 25, 2007 8:39 PM PST http://www.nctimes.com/art/spacer.gif


In Morocco, journalists take on Islam and nationalist icons at their peril
http://www.nctimes.com/art/spacer.gif
By: JOHN THORNE - Associated Press
CASABLANCA, Morocco ---- Caught in the middle of the Moroccan government's delicate balancing act with Islam, magazine editor Driss Ksikes came out of court a convicted ---- yet relieved ---- man. Prosecutors wanted him and a colleague jailed for up to five years, but the judge gave them a fine.

"I'm a freethinker, but I don't want to be a martyr," Ksikes said following his conviction a week ago.
After publishing an article citing jokes about Islam last month, Ksikes found himself up against a government eager to assure conservative Moroccans of its religious credentials.

The relatively light sentence ---- fining Ksikes and journalist Sanaa al-Aji about $9,000 each ---- also illustrates the government's desire to please the electorate without enraging Western opinion.

Press in the North African kingdom has blossomed as the government gingerly relaxes long-standing restrictions, part of King Mohammed VI's efforts to break from the dictatorial rule of his father, Hassan II, who died in 1999.

But this is a devout Muslim country, and the 43-year-old king is both recognized as a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and as the country's chief religious authority.

He also wields absolute power, but is mindful of public opinion as his country's parliament heads to an election in September. The opposition Justice and Development Party, an Islamic group, is expected to win the most votes.

So while Mohammed is a U.S. ally, a moderate on the Arab-Israeli conflict and has ushered in some social reforms, he has to assert the palace's attention to Islam.

That's where Ksikes' independent Arabic-language magazine, Nichane ("Straight Ahead"), comes in.

Last month the government banned Nichane for allegedly insulting Islam with a 10-page article titled "How Moroccans laugh about religion, sex and politics."

In addition to the fine, Ksikes and al-Aji were barred from any journalistic activity for two months. Their magazine and its Web site, both shut down by the government when the scandal broke last month, will remain closed for the same period.

"I don't regret what I wrote," Ksikes said. He regretted that an article meant as a thoughtful examination of Moroccan humor offended some of his countrymen, but said he was glad to have avoided a repeat of the uproar triggered across the Muslim world last year over Danish newspaper cartoons featuring the Prophet Muhammad.

Indeed, Ksikes said he and the government held secret talks to settle the matter quickly and quietly. "We brought the affair out of the street and into the courthouse," he said.

Nichane is not the only periodical under the gun.

Aboubakr Jamai, editor of Le Journal Hebdomadaire, and one of his former journalists, Fahd Iraqi, have been told by Justice Ministry officials to come up with about $350,000 in damages in a government-supported libel suit against them ---- the largest such award in Moroccan history.

Jamai had focused attention on Morocco's three-decade occupation of Western Sahara and its standoff with the Algeria-based liberation front, Polisario. It remains a crime in Morocco to criticize the king, Islam or Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara, which it insists is sovereign Moroccan territory that was seized by Spain as a colony in the 19th century.

In an article last year, Jamai and Iraqi alleged that a damaging report on Polisario by a Belgian research institute bore signs of having been directed by the Moroccan government. The report's author, Frenchman Claude Moniquet, hit back with a libel suit backed by the king's prosecutor ---- proof that the court proceedings were rigged in Moniquet's favor, Jamai claimed.

"For us, it's the Moroccan regime bringing suit," he said.

He said the relatively light sentence imposed on the Nichane journalists "shows that the regime is very sensitive about its image in the West," but insisted he wouldn't do any deals.

He said he was forced to resign Thursday from Le Journal Hebdomadaire, and was planning to leave Morocco shortly. "I would refuse to pay even if I had the money," he said.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/02/01/faith/20_03_031_25_07.txt


http://skins.hotbar.com/skins/mailskins/em/google_emoticons/emoti_287.gif

matthew
April 7th, 2007, 11:28 AM
Is your book copyleft?
No, but it is licensed using a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)


Also I am curious if in your book you touched on the subject matter found in the following articles, on ironically enough: Humor and Moroccan Culture?When I first heard about this I was a bit concerned. I actually searched all around until I found someone with a copy that hadn't been confiscated and read that magazine (yes, in Arabic). I can safely say that my jokes and subject matter are not remotely controversial when compared to what was printed there. I don't think I'm in any danger. I don't have any jokes about the king, Islam, or sex...nothing that would be controversial or provocative in this society.

RAV TUX
April 7th, 2007, 11:39 AM
No, but it is licensed using a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

When I first heard about this I was a bit concerned. I actually searched all around until I found someone with a copy that hadn't been confiscated and read that magazine (yes, in Arabic). I can safely say that my jokes and subject matter are not remotely controversial when compared to what was printed there. I don't think I'm in any danger. I don't have any jokes about the king, Islam, or sex...nothing that would be controversial or provocative in this society.

Matthew this is cool:
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)


Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported


You are free:


to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work
to Remix — to adapt the work Under the following conditions:


Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).
Noncommercial. You may not use this work for commercial purposes.
Share Alike. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one.
For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. The best way to do this is with a link to this web page.
Any of the above conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder.
Nothing in this license impairs or restricts the author's moral rights.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/


Also, I am sure that you played it safe, I was just wondering if in your book you spoke of this incident at all?

http://skins.hotbar.com/skins/mailskins/em/google_emoticons/emoti_206.gif

matthew
April 7th, 2007, 11:54 AM
Also, I am sure that you played it safe, I was just wondering if in your book you spoke of this incident at all?Not a word. :-#:-$ I can think of lots of things I might want to say on the matter, but they really weren't appropriate for this book.

christhemonkey
April 7th, 2007, 12:01 PM
Congratulations Matthew :D

If i find some money might get a copy.

matthew
April 7th, 2007, 12:02 PM
Congratulations Matthew :D

If i find some money might get a copy.Cool. Thanks!

RAV TUX
April 7th, 2007, 12:22 PM
Not a word. :-#:-$ I can think of lots of things I might want to say on the matter, but they really weren't appropriate for this book.

perhaps you could share with us here, or at least PM your thoughts I would be interested to know things from your perspective.



http://skins.hotbar.com/skins/mailskins/em/google_emoticons/emoti_379.gif

matthew
April 7th, 2007, 07:08 PM
perhaps you could share with us here, or at least PM your thoughts I would be interested to know things from your perspective.Since I'm still living here in Morocco it's probably best that I keep my comments to a simple, "I am in favor of a free press."

That said, I understand the difficulties involved in the political situation in this country, the constant stress between "modernization" and tradition, between more liberal parts of the society and more conservative, and the constant need for the monarchy to try to achieve a balance between two very different extremes in order to maintain peace in the country (and retain the throne as well). This is not really an easy issue and could involve a book all by itself.

RAV TUX
April 7th, 2007, 07:11 PM
That said, I understand the difficulties involved in the political situation in this country, the constant stress between "modernization" and tradition, between more liberal parts of the society and more conservative, and the constant need for the monarchy to try to achieve a balance between two very different extremes in order to maintain peace in the country (and retain the throne as well). This is not really an easy issue and could involve a book all by itself.

I will look forward to your next book based on this subject matter. :)

FyreBrand
April 7th, 2007, 07:16 PM
As promised, here is an official announcement. My book has been published! It isn't available yet on amazon.com, etc., but it should be within the next 6 weeks or so. In the meanwhile, you can look here (http://derbyandwehttam.com/node/5) and here (http://www.lulu.com/content/669267) for more information.Congratulations Matthew.

matthew
April 7th, 2007, 07:18 PM
Congratulations Matthew.Thank you! :)

matthew
April 7th, 2007, 07:21 PM
I will look forward to your next book based on this subject matter. :)I'll add it to the queue, but I've already got a couple of ideas ahead of this that I really want to pursue. I'll use an Arabic expression here, "I'll get to this soon, inshallah." (God willing) :D

RAV TUX
April 7th, 2007, 07:33 PM
I'll add it to the queue, but I've already got a couple of ideas ahead of this that I really want to pursue. I'll use an Arabic expression here, "I'll get to this soon, inshallah." (God willing) :D


cool....

and Matthew a Mazel Tov! to you on your grand accomplishment, please let us know when it becomes available through Amazon.com...

PartisanEntity
April 7th, 2007, 07:35 PM
Actually I am of Arab origin, I find it quite interesting to see how non-Arabs experience and interpret Arab culture. I would definitely pick up a copy once it is available on amazon.de.

And congratulations by the way :)

Big Dave
April 7th, 2007, 07:36 PM
As promised, here is an official announcement. My book has been published! It isn't available yet on amazon.com, etc., but it should be within the next 6 weeks or so. In the meanwhile, you can look here (http://derbyandwehttam.com/node/5) and here (http://www.lulu.com/content/669267) for more information.

Attention *****! As I originally promised months ago, I'll get a copy the next time I'm around on Amazon.

Congratulations, Matthew. :)

matthew
April 7th, 2007, 07:40 PM
cool....

and Matthew a Mazel Tov! to you on your grand accomplishment, please let us know when it becomes available through Amazon.com...Will do! and thank you.


Actually I am of Arab origin, I find it quite interesting to see how non-Arabs experience and interpret Arab culture. I would definitely pick up a copy once it is available on amazon.de.

And congratulations by the way :)Thank you. I would be interested in any feedback you (or anyone else) might have once you get a chance to read it. I have an email address printed on the copyright page in the book specifically for this purpose. Consider your comments (and corrections) invited. :)


As I originally promised months ago, I'll get a copy the next time I'm around on Amazon.

Congratulations, Matthew. :smile:Thank you! It may take another 5 or 6 weeks to appear on amazon, so if you don't see it right off, please check back later.

Iandefor
April 7th, 2007, 11:05 PM
Congratulations!

It has been duly added to my list of books to read.

matthew
April 7th, 2007, 11:20 PM
Congratulations!

It has been duly added to my list of books to read.I'm honored, and thank you.

matthew
April 25th, 2007, 12:32 AM
This is giving me a serious thrill, more than holding the actual book in my hand did...I guess I'm a computer/internet geek. It didn't actually feel published until now. Here are the links to the book on various Amazon sites.

Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Humor-Moroccan-Culture-Matthew-Helmke/dp/0615142842/ref=sr_1_1/102-3272900-3802546?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177443056&sr=8-1) (USA)
Amazon.ca (http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/702-9636466-0163202?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=matthew+helmke&Go.x=10&Go.y=14&Go=Go) (Canada)
Amazon.fr (http://www.amazon.fr/s/ref=nb_ss_w/171-5519785-1795445?__mk_fr_FR=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=matthew+helmke&Go.x=15&Go.y=13&Go=Go) (France)
Amazon.co.uk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/026-9113852-7398830?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=matthew+helmke&Go.x=13&Go.y=16&Go=Go) (United Kingdom)
Amazon.de (http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_ss_w/028-2037493-8914919?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=matthew+helmke&Go.x=15&Go.y=11&Go=Go) (Germany)
Amazon.co.jp (http://www.amazon.co.jp/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/250-6946167-3330661?__mk_ja_JP=%83J%83%5E%83J%83i&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=matthew+helmke&Go.x=17&Go.y=13&Go=Go) (Japan) <- That one feels weird and cool at the same time.