Posts by Zbat

Hey Lillisa!!!!..and waaaooowww, I’m so thrilled about my little week spent there!!! Tangier is truly a unique and amazing city... I felt right at home, and everyone is so welcoming!!!! I love it, I love it!! It was such a pleasant trip discovering the region = Cap Malabata, Cap Spartel, Sebta (Ceuta), the start of the Rif, and everything else in central Tangier = the Medina, the Kasbah, Café Hafa, the fish meals, the stunning Tangier Bay.....etc.....etc... I’m completely charmed!! Plus, everything went super well with my interviews—I passed the first stages, and they should get back to me in a month for the next steps.... fingers crossed and hoping it keeps going like this... but I’m optimistic, it’s off to a great start!!!!

Now, I just have to finish up my work here and move over there!!! My friend lives on Place Mozart, and it’s true that downtown Tangier is transforming and booming... I was really surprised by all the new buildings under construction—there are so many, on every street corner! It’s incredible how fast this city is changing!! I’ve heard it’s nothing compared to summer, when there are even more tourists and tons of people passing through the area....

I can’t wait to be there!!!!!! And of course, GO TANGIER 2012—I’m crossing my fingers for that too, but it should work out.... the other cities in Poland and Korea don’t stand a CHANCE!!!!!

Anyway, I’ll let you go—I could keep going for ages.... I think I have a few more questions, but I’ll save them for later!!!! I’ll be in touch!!!!

Take care and see you soon!

Hey Lilisa!!! How have you been since last time?! It’s happening—I’m heading to Morocco and Tangier this Saturday, 17/03..., and I’ll be interviewing with the terminal manager at the port and maybe even the port director if luck’s on my side!!! Thank you so much for the housing tips you sent me—I’ll start looking into places to stay too... I’m reaching out again to see if you could give me a few more details about the interviews—like things to avoid saying or doing, and of course, what I should highlight (e.g., foreign languages I speak, professional experience, etc.). Spill everything!!!! I’ll definitely chat with my Moroccan friend who works in a similar field, but I’d love another perspective, especially a woman’s...

Hope to catch up soon... Take care...

François

Hi Lilisa, Thanks for your message below, but sorry for my late reply.. Thanks for the salary scales, but for now I don’t have much visibility on the position and the duties involved...but I already know what to expect and I’ll do as much research as possible before going!! My Moroccan friend there, who works for the same people, should be able to give me more details very soon.. Thanks also for the rough idea about rents, and I really hope I can find something nice (in the city center or a bit further out, depending on where my workplace is... I hope and would prefer to live in the city center (+ nicer and + lively!). Since I already live in a shared flat in Marseille, and even before that... I was wondering if the shared accommodation system works in Morocco, and specifically in Tangier?! Do you have any idea about that?... Besides cutting down on housing costs, it allows you to meet countless people and discover the city in a better way (that’s just my opinion!). No need to stay alone at home when you get back... openness to others... Anyway, hoping to hear from you soon..

See you soon, François

Hi Lilisa,

A huge thank you for your reply!!! You’re absolutely right—I’d love it if you could clarify a few things for me... I have a job interview in Tangier sometime in February, and I’m wondering what salary expectations I should mention?! Given that I don’t think I’ll have expat status but will likely be working under the Moroccan system... The thing is, I won’t be working for a foreign company but for the local port authorities, which are still being set up. This new deep-water port project is really exciting, and as you put it so well, it’s going to turn Tangier into a real international trade hub with all the benefits that come with it, and give the whole region an unprecedented economic boost!! That said, I don’t yet know the exact details of my role, but I should find out soon... I’ll keep you posted! On another note, could you also give me some advice on rent prices and housing opportunities? Do you have any idea of the costs, and do you know the nicest areas to settle in?! My Moroccan buddy, who’s originally from Fez, just arrived in Tangier at the beginning of January... He’s been singing the city’s praises and telling me not to wait too long... I’m so excited to get there now!!!

If you can talk about Tangier for hours, don’t hesitate—I’d love for you to give me a sneak peek of this beautiful city in advance... and I’m really happy you can help me figure things out!!!

Looking forward to hearing from you...

François

Hi Lilisa!!!

My name’s François. I don’t know if this forum’s still active… but I read that you know Tangier really well. That’s super interesting to me because I’ve got a really good Moroccan friend I’ll be joining there soon!!! 🙂🙂 After 5 years of studying, I worked for 3 years at the port of Marseille, and now an opportunity’s come up in Tangier with the opening of the new port (Tangermed). I’m not gonna let this chance slip by, so I’m heading there for an interview in a few weeks!!! Since you seem to know the area well, along with the cost of living and salaries, I was just wondering if you could give me some pointers on all that so I can negotiate properly and not go in blind!!! 🙂 Hope to hear from you, and thanks in advance!!!

Boussa François