again...new departure

pissed of from distance...hopefully things getting stable soon!

Bedbury notes about Brand Management...

• 'It takes time to create a great brand, and it is the result of the best product, combined with the best people.'
• a successful brand is not the result of a clever advertising tagline alone...the company name should become loaded with intangible qualities, which ensure it will become a great brand
• 'The internet has made companies realise they are totally transparent - one email from a disgruntled journalist can be made available to the world's media. Companies now have to focus on their core values, as customers have access to all sorts of information to help them make a decision - from consumer watchdog reports, to competitors' prices'

Bedbury is Brand Architect who was responsible for Nike's Just Do It campaign and the emergence of the Starbucks.

The International Leadership Summit Leaders

The International Leadership Summit Leaders in Dubai 2005 is set to launch in Dubai for the second time, with: Two days of powerful insights, ideas and motivation. Nine of the most influential thought leaders at a single event, The most multi-faceted thinking on leadership.
The speakers are:

• Bill Clinton (via videocast), former President of the USA from 1993 - 2001
• Madeleine Albright, the first female Secretary of State in the USA and a director of the New York Stock Exchange
• Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 - 2003
• Daniel Pink, the author of Free Agent Nation, the Washington Post bestseller, who will suggest six aptitudes crucial to the survival of white-collar workers
• Kenichi Ohmae, the former director of McKinsey Japan, who has earned global acclaim as 'Mr Strategy'
• Arie de Geus, who was at the helm of Royal Dutch Shell for 40 years and has been described as 'the global statesman' of business change
• Spencer Johnson, the author of the bestsellers Who Moved My Cheese and The One-Minute Manager

The Full Event costs $2,995.00 (USD).

The Mouna Diamond

The Mouna Diamond weighs 112.53 carats and is VS1 clarity. When it was submitted to the Gemological Institute of America on November 9th, 1995, they stated that up until this date it was the largest Fancy Intense Yellow diamond that they had ever graded. The cushion-shaped stone is 26 mm in diameter set in a baguette-cut mount by Bulgari, which with it the diamond has a height of 36 mm. It was sold by Christie's in Geneva on November 16th, 1998, lot 161, and fetched $3,258,000 (about $28,773 per carat).

King calls on rich countries to honour commitments towards the poor

HM King Mohammed VI on the summit of the Group77+China called upon the rich countries to honour their commitments towards the poorest nations, stressing however that the latter should rely on their own assets and shoulder their responsibilities.

(MAP)

Check it out!

First English language dailyMoroccan newsletter: www.moroccotimes.com

I hope you dance...

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance...
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance...

(Closing song in Marketing Management Class)

Strange!

Why should some people be hardly treated in order to respect rules and respect other's rights? Why do they need things to be at their extreme before understanding their roles and what they should do?
wake up!! A nation needs more than that for its good wealth!

One more lesson of life

What's a disappointing reality! Today, I got one of the lessons of life: values are not shared by all people...
Should one be punished because they did good for others? What kind of creature is the person who refuse to repair what they broken down?
Do never borrow something from others, never ever! This is a free advise that will cost me over 400$...so take advantage of my sales!
Do parents play a great role in the education of their children? definitely yes...All what I am saying might seem redendent and evident, but you might forget it with time and on behalf of "friendship" as it's my case! Will the child who sees their mum stoling other's rights be fair one day? NEVER!
And proofs are here:
- lying to honest people who loves you most
- playing with sincerity and ingenuousness of others
- not assuming personal and professional responsibilities and so on...
What I just can say? hram 3lik? I believe that allah is here to judge and I will never forgive you until I got my rights...You can live untroubled, but you consciousness won't let you die so...if you have any! So it's up to you!!

Michael Jackson verdict

Michael Jackson has been declared not guilty...What to think really? did the land of democracy and the first economy of the world witnessed from some kind of corruption and the notion that Money is Power?! I think that things are much more complicated and the thruth is hard to get.

A long time ago!

I am lucky hamdoulillah...I love you so much!

to be or not to be

Loosing freedom...is it what is desired?

Finished my BA today!

Finally, after 5 years of studies about marketing & communication, I finished all my final exams today... Waiting for the end of June to get my diploma :)

...

Wanna just go away...

Fes, the spiritual city...

Spent the week end in Fes...what's an internal peace while setting in Palais Jamaii, having a look at the whole medina of Fes and hearing more than 20 "adan" of "3ichaa" at the same time...
Yes!...it is a spiritual city

i-mode magazine

New monthly moroccan magazine about business and new technologies lauched this month! That shows that Moroccan are more and more getting the reading habits even if more that half of the population is illitrate. Added to TelQuel (http://www.telquel-online.com/) and Economies & Entreprises, I think that I-mode will know success too.
The content is dispatched into 5 main categories:
1. Mode Veille: it gather brief news with comments
2. Les dossiers: they are detailed articles about subjects that are in great importance for the Moroccan Economy
3. Pratique: it gathers useful articles, guide and tips in order to better manage own business
4. Carrière: it gathers articles about carreer management, portraits, success stories and business litterature.
5. Agenda: it presents events and adresseses.
The lauching price is only 10dhs...cool no?

www.imode.ma is under construction right now.

Superbrands' compilation

The first edition of Superbrands book, palmarès panorama of the most well known brands in Morocco, is in the market! It gathers 40 case studies of biggest brands that succeeded in their branding strategy (Motorola, DHL, La Vache qui Rit, Toyota, Sidi Ali, Nokia, Aicha, Coca Cola, Coeur de Lait...)
For more details: www.superbrands.org

Economie & Entreprise, Mars 2005, N°: 69

IIHEM Alumni Association...is on the road!!

Whether you are looking for an entry-level position or in mid-career…
Whether you are in need of interesting information about MBA Programs worldwide…
Whether you want to enrich your professional network of contacts…
…we are here to help.”
IIHEM Alumni Association



IIHEM Alumni Association is dedicated to provide professional development and networking assistance to all IIHEM Alumni. Indeed, it is launched as a program to offer all our alumni an opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of a wide range of subjects. Moreover, the association will gather IIHEM Alumni professional connections to talk about their career experience, to provide valuable insights in different fields and to assist one in developing professional networking relationship.

In the light of these objectives, IIHEM Alumni Association came up with 4 major projects for the mandate 2004-2005:
§ Development of an Online Alumni Platform,
§ Organization of “Start-up” conference,
§ Organization of Seminars and Debates Conferences, and
§ Organization of the “Graduation Anniversary”

In order to help us be more effective in promoting your career and networking development, and keeping you updated about IAA’ activities, please send us your current:
E-mail, address, phone number, and position at the following e-mail: iaa_iihem@yahoo.com

* Please help us reach the maximum of IIHEM Alumni by forwarding this email to the ones you know



IIHEM Alumni Association’ Team




Detailed information about the projects

§ Online Alumni Platform
The online platform will allow an interactive communication and interaction between Alumni and IIHEM students. It is a web-based solution where Alumni can meet, discuss about important issues, find and share information such as job opportunities and learn from others’ experiences.

§ “Start-up” conference
This is the first opportunity for IIHEM Alumni to have a face to face interaction among them. It is a cocktail ceremony where a debate will be organized about “the role of networking among Alumni for personal and professional development”. All alumni will be gathered in order to celebrate the initiation of the Alumni online platform and attend a demonstration of it. This will also be a good opportunity for IAA to present the activities scheduled for the rest of the mandate.

§ Seminars and Debates Conferences
Here, leaders of companies and professional trainers will be invited to facilitate training sessions to alumni. The IAA has already established a list of subjects to debate inspired from latest management concepts and best leadership practices. However, it is still flexible for any suggestions.

§ “Graduation Anniversary”
This will be a ceremony that will gather alumni, recent graduates of IIHEM and companies. It will be organized in June. The graduation anniversary ceremony will be positioned in a way to become a new culture of IIHEM alumni network. It will be an opportunity for businesses to promote their services or products and for Alumni to meet together in a pleasant atmosphere.

Hope you will be here in the wedding ceremony inshallah! 

I will never forget these flowers sent to me from USA by a friend...Thank you so much! 

Delegation Process

1. needs identification
2. person selection
3. delegation planning
4. set a delegation meeting
5. prepare action plan
6. review the plan
7. implement the plan
8. follow up

From Dale Carnegie Training

Planning process

1. Ideal situation
2. actual situation
3. objectives
4. steps
5. costs
6. calendar
7. execution plan
8. follow up

From Dale Carnegie Training

The good company

"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest."This is the point that Adam Smith emphasised in "The Wealth of Nations"(...)
(...) The standard of living people in the west enjoy today is due to little else but the selfish pursuit of profit. this is not the fatal defect of capitalism, as CSR-advocates appear to believe; it is the very reason capitalism works.

Departure to Dubai

Went to Dubai on Saturday 29th of January. As one friend used to tell me: Started again with the virtual?? oh yes!

Best New Year present!!

Woke up by a phone ring from my love: good news!!! Confirmation of Dubai...
So many things come in mind: preparation, visa, family, engagement...
Thanks god, everything was set smoothly. We came up with the following agenda let's say :)
1. talk to dad on Wednesday
2. engagement day on Saturday 8th of January
3. shopping...

I am so happy... This is the best present I have ever had in any occasion!

Does anyone know about E-books licensing???

Help!!
I need to know if it is possible to get a license to make copies of e-books from American or English publishers like Pearson, McGrill Hill or Wiley. I have heard that in India for example, they make personalized books by printing some chapters from different books and put them on one manual. I am looking for this license guys!!! Does anybody have information about this??

IIHEM Alumni Association

First day of my involvement in IIHEM Alumni Association...and it is just the beginning! So many things need to be set in order to keep alive this important association that stoped breathing some time ago...
I will be very happy if you can propose some ideas on how to keep track of Alumni, how to take advantage of Alumni-Students Network...You can even give some case practices used in your university!

Hollywood news?

If you wanna get latest news about hollywood or watch latest movies' trial go to: www.moviefone.com !!

Haraam Week end in Chicago!

from right to left: Badr (UAE), Dody (Indonesia), Mike (USA), Meriam (Tunisia), Yasser (Egypt), Suzanne (USA) and Me (Morocco :))
It was terrific week end!!! Guess why?? Because of the Sixth Flag!!!!!!!
Went through "Superman game" twice...we really felt once back childhood!

10 months with 9tita diali...

Today is the 10th month that I have offered my whole left half to my love...Hope we will make our wishes come true!
Good luck for Tomorrow my love. Do not forget that I am proud of you whatever happens tomorrow.
One thing I am sure of it is that: "Al khayrou fima khtarahou allah"
Tomorrow might be the day that will shape our lives in the direction of the middle east...It is our hope, i know... But I want to tell you that whatever happens tomorrow, the most important thing is to be with you! So take it easy hbiba and be confident...You can make it!

To try...

http://www.rassderb.com/

Moroccan Foundation

Check: http://www.moroccofoundation.org

Moroccan Event in New York

Moroccan Event in New York
Saturday, November 27, 20048:00 PM

Add toMicrosoftOutlookCalendarMoroccan Event in New YorkSaturday, November 27, 2004 8:00 PM
On Saturday November 27,2004 at 8 pm the Moroccan Community will celebrate “Eid Sghir” in New York. The show will be a gathering of Moroccans to enjoy SHAABI Music with the Moroccan Singer Jadwan coming from Morocco. There will be also a presentation of a Moroccan wedding. The show ($40 per person) will include Moroccan Halawiyat & Diner (ALL THE FOOD IS HALLAL). This event will be with the collaboration of Morocco Foundation (www.moroccofoundation.org). All families are welcome and please feel free to wear Moroccan traditional customs! The show will take place at: Chain Federation 4401 Broadway Astoria, NY Phone: 718-204-2550 For more info & reservations: Khadija Mouh 201-422-0540 or 201-333-0022

sad day...

Disappointed by news and felt so bad...The 20th of November 2004 will be remembered forever!

My small family...

My small family.
From left to right: Dad, Mum, Me and my brother Ziyad!

Internet oups!

Forgot to pay internet bills and left without connexion...Writing from public internet place.
This is a reminder to not forget this anymore!

Master degree!

congratulations my love! You deserve it...finally got your master degree. So now, what is next??
Maybe engagement? Dubai? Morocco? work?? we are gonna see in some days inchallah...This situation stress me lots...do not know what is coming...doubt, uncertainty, fears...hope everything will be set soon!!

Stress coming...

Stressed with vidioconferencing stuff...don't know if i will have enough courage and patience till the J day, hope so!
Holidays coming soon, 7 days of working at home...I need it to reorganize myself. Only thing that may disturb is stress if things don't get arranged...HELP!!!

New oily life...

Good news today! one of my closest friends (VP HR & F 2003-2004 of AIESEC LC Les Ambassadeurs Morocco; same mandate of my LCP term) is matched with NFO in Dubai for 1 year!! Incredible...
Taking plane, traveling, experiencing new life, new challenges, meeting new friends, being away from family and pressure, living for its own... all will be on time for her, as was my case when being in Chicago...

Physiotherapy

My leg is hurting me lots! This is just a reminder for me to not negligate pysiotherapy and take an appointment for next week!!!

week end in abeyance...

spending the whole week end working and thinking about the eventual answear...be patient mouna!

Ethnic groups in China

China is a large country noted for its dense population and vast territory. There are 55 minority ethnic groups in addition to the Han who represent 92% of the population. The defining elements of an ethnic group are language, homeland, and social values. 53 minority ethnic groups use spoken languages of their own; 23 minority ethnic groups have their own written languages.
The 55 minority groups are: Mongolian, Hui, Tibetan, Uygur, Miao, Yi, Zhuang, Bouyei, Korean, Manchu, Dong, Yao, Bai, Tujia, Hani, Kazak, Dai, Li, Lisu, Va, She, Gaoshan, Lahu, Shui, Dongxiang, Naxi, Jingpo, Kirgiz, Tu, Daur, Mulam, Qiang, Blang, Salar, Maonan, Gelo, Xibe, Achang, Pumi, Tajik, Nu, Ozbek, Russian, Ewenki, Benglong, Bonan, Yugur, Jing, Tatar, Drung, Oroqen, Hezhen, Moinba, Lhoba and Gelo. All nationalities in China are equal according to the law. The State protects their lawful rights and interests and promotes equality, unity and mutual help among them.
The dominant one, Han, is the largest ethnic group in the world. Han’ culture is very old; it outdates European culture by 1000 years. Han people are very proud people; they constitute the largest lasting civilization in the history.
The language of Han is Mandarine Chinese. It is the most widely spoken language in the world. It is the official language of china for around 220 CE and it is the oldest living language in the world.
Han practice the Confucianism, which is not a religion but rather, a set of rules regarding relationships like for example relationship between father and son. Founded about the same time as Confucianism, most Han are also Taoists. Since Confucianism is not a religion, Han practice both the two of them.
The traditional diet of the Han Chinese consists mainly on rice. It varies quite a bit between regions. In the North, there is more grazing area so Han in the North eat more cattle or chicken, while in the South, fish is more common. Meals are always eaten with family and their time is very important for the Han.
Traditional Han society has 3 basic classes: the one of Mandarin, which is constituted by bureaucrats and aristocrats; the one of peasants, workers and artistes and the one of “mean people”, who are the outcasts of the society. These classes are now banned but there are still some remnants. There is still possibility of social stratification in Han society. It was possible for workers to become Mandarins, but was never possible for “mean people” to attain a status.
The Han have been dominant since the foundation of Chinese Empire except for 2 periods totalling 400 years. The Mandarin class was completely made up of Han and was the massive bureaucracy base in Chinese Empire even in periods where Han were not in direct control.
Robe is the basic clothing of Han even full length or calf length. The front was left cut but was kept closed by a belt. Han valued cloth since it was a rare commodity. The silk was also valued and was given as reward for state service. Excess fabric indicated wealth and prestige and wearing larger and larger clothing conveyed status.
Family is very important for Han society. The oldest male is considered as the head of the household and has to be respected. Traditional Han family consists of the expanded family and not only the nuclear one. Once the father gets old, it is the duty of the son to take care of his dad till his deathn

Folders for better organisation??

I am wondering if we can create folders in Nomadlife in order to better organize our postings? whoever knows something about this, please put a comment!

European Social Charter

The European Social Charter

The European Social Charter comes to set human rights and fundamental freedom for the population of states members. It supports the enjoyment of social rights without discrimination on grounds of race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin. It is also established with the objective of improving standard of living and promoting social well-being of urban and rural European population.
Members of the council of Europe signed and agreed on 38 articles in 1961 as an initial version of the social charter. It was recently revised in 1999 and this new version is replacing the initial one gradually.
The European Social Charter guarantee to the population of states members 7 fundamental rights: housing, health, education, employment, social protection, movement of persons and non-discrimination.
They are defined as below:

Housing:
Considered as the most fundamental right, it states that maximum of people should have house where to live, with the universally agreed criteria of decent and affordable housing. Also, it supports that the construction of housing should be in accordance with the family’ needs in matter of space, facilities, security…
The last point about housing right is the equal access to social housing for foreigners; that is, the right for all foreigners to easily get a housing in matter of hotel…

Health:
The health right have 4 dimensions. The first one is the right to have an accessible and effective health care for everybody regardless the socio-professional level of the person. The second one is the guarantee of healthy environment in particular and the prevention of illness in general. Example of campaigns that governments organise to sensitise people about AIDS’ contamination. Then comes the dimension of elimination of occupational hazards so as to ensure that health and safety at work are provided for by law and guaranteed in practice. At the end of the health rights comes the protection of maternity.

Education:
This right comes in order to make education accessible for youth. First, it bans children under 15 years old from work in order to discourage them give up studies for money. Then, it stands for free primary and secondary studies. This right comes also to ensure free vocational guidance services and initial and further vocational training. This is done mainly for young people who give up studies and have skills on specific areas or to facilitate the integration of previous jailed young people. At the end, this right comes also to set special measures for foreign residents.

Employment:
This right covers 9 areas. First, the right to earn one’s living in an occupation that is chosen by the person and not forced to him/her. The states members agree on establishing a social and economic policy design to ensure full employment. The right also ensures fair working conditions as regards pay and working conditions. Example of minimum wage (SMIG in Morocco). The fifth area concerns actions to combat sexual and psychological harassment. The right gives freedom to form trade unions and employee’s organisations to defend economic and social interests and supports individual freedom to decide whether or not to join them. Moreover, the right promotes joint consultation, collective bargaining, conciliation and voluntary arbitration, protects in case of dismissal and gives the right to strike.

Social protection:
It sets the right to social security, social welfare and social services; the right to be protected against poverty and social exclusion and it takes measures catering for the elderly, families, persons with disabilities and young persons.

Movement of persons:
This right comes to ensure the right to family reunion, the right for nationals to leave the country. It sets procedural safeguard in case of expulsion and simplify the immigration formalities for European workers.

Non discrimination:
This right certifies equal treatment and equal opportunities in employment for men and women. It guarantees to all nationals and foreigners legally resident and/or working, as mentioned above, that all rights set out in the charter apply regardless of race, sex, age, colour, language, religion, opinions, national origin, social background, state of health or association with a national minority.

The European Union embraced 10 most ex-communist nations in May 2004, which are: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus. This brought the number of EU states from 15 to 25.

These joined countries consider this expansion as a final act that overcomes the effects of World War II. In fact, there are no old and new countries; there are just EU members. However, this expansion knew the complaints of many anti-globalization protesters and of the ones against the larger EU. In Prague, small groups of Czech neo-communists, anarchists and skinheads hoisted banners that read, "Nothing above the nation," The Associated Press reported.
In Warsaw, some 1,800 extreme nationalists held an anti-EU demonstration, carrying banners comparing the EU to the former Soviet Union. "Shame, shame, shame," they chanted, according to Reuters.
And tens of thousands of Latvia's Russian-speaking minority chose the day to peacefully protest against laws restricting use of their language in schools, AP said.
The EU expansion comes a month after NATO opened its doors to Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania and Bulgaria. Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999.

Sources: www.coe.int, www.cnn.com

Bad mood...

Today, I was in bad mood. My reintegration in Morocco is much more difficult than what I thought...
I was thinking of my project with my other half the whole day... I am supposed to smile but I lost this latter weeks ago;
Rebbi yehen...

mouna.nomadlife.org

Hope it is gonna work this time

First day of Weblog

today is the first day of using a weblog. i discovered it 2 years ago but never was i interested till i went to chicago and see all of my friends using it!