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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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 Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:15 am Post subject: |
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Uncle Scotty, be careful what you write in your memories about the Magic Kingdom!
Check for any words which might be considered as an insult and might upset Uncle Bandar and his associates, the minimum punishment for this in the Magic Kingdom is 6 months in prison, 99 lashes, and deportation!  |
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redeyes
Joined: 21 Jun 2007
Posts: 254
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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Is that the same "Harry Nicolaides" who wrote the 'article' discussed in a previous post?
My my, what is the pristine world of Riyadh EFL coming to? |
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redeyes
Joined: 21 Jun 2007
Posts: 254
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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That's tempting Cleo -- tell us a little of what you know about the guy!
Did he really think Saudi was the place for an adventurer of the SE Asia kind -- or was he just there seeking "stories" to get into print and get a name for himself?
Did he have a conventional EFL background qualification wise, just out of interest? |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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When you're in their ballpark, you play by their rules or you may suffer the consequences.
Anyone who's in EFL and doesn't realize that doesn't belong in EFL (or, for that matter, outside of his/her own country.)
Regards,
John |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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I had to laugh at this:
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| Greek national day was celebrated like any other embassy function. The usual cast of ambassadors, diplomatic attaches, Arab royalty and European nobility in all their elegant finery gathered around an infinity-edged swimming pool expressing cordial greetings and paying homage to each other with generous compliments while grazing on a lavish buffet of haute cuisine served by cordon bleu chefs. |
Granted, I've not been to the Greek embassy, but I have been to quite a few embassy functions in my time here. Sure, you get the odd 'dignitary' but in my experience, such parties are rather less glamorous than the picture Mr. Nicolaides strives to present (part of his usual obnoxious self-aggrandizement). Instead of "ambassadors, diplomatic attaches, Arab royalty and European nobility in all their elegant finery" you're more likely to meet tipsy Aussie nurses, local blokes on the make, bored compound wives and aging BAE electricians from Scunthorpe. The dress, umm, sense is more 'compound chic' than 'elegent finery'. I'd also love to say that such events typically feature a "lavish buffet of haute cuisine served by cordon bleu chef". In my experience, they all hire the same Bangladeshi caterers serving up the same old hummous, chicken salad and kunnafah. But one rarely goes to such events for the food anyway...
Of course, it could be that the Greek embassy is a cut above the rest. Then again, it could just be that "Harry" is talking through his a**. Not for the first time. |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| In my experience, they all hire the same Bangladeshi caterers serving up the same old hummous, chicken salad and kunnafah. |
Sure, if you go to functions at embassies of South Asian or African countries.
Functions at embassies of white-people countries are almost always catered by hotels (Marriott, Sheraton, etc), or by well-known Indian/Chinese/Lebanese restaurants in town, at least in my experience. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Sure, if you go to functions at embassies of South Asian or African countries. |
I've never been to such an embassy. Oh wait, I once went to a party at the South African embassy, but that's about it.
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| white-people countries |
??? |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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Like Japan! 
NCTBA |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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White-people countries = USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, UK, Germany, Italy, France, etc.
Takes less time to write 'white-people countries' than to write the names of all those countries, or even to say 'Europe, North America, Australia, NZ'. |
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bje
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 527
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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| trapezius wrote: |
White-people countries = USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, UK, Germany, Italy, France, etc.
Takes less time to write 'white-people countries' than to write the names of all those countries, or even to say 'Europe, North America, Australia, NZ'. |
Maybe so, but it sounds like krap.  |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe so, but it sounds like krap. |
LOL
BTW might Our Man In Bangkok be the first ex-Saudi ESLer to get a Wikipedia entry all to himself?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Nicolaides |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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I don't understand??? All of the embassy functions that my wife and I attended at her embassy was catered by either Hyatt or Intercontenental...and she's Japanese. Doesn't that make her white?
NCTBA   |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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Jeez, what a total sleazeball:
"Working as a hotel concierge in Melbourne has prepared me well for the itinerant life as Writer-at-large in Thailand. My instinctive networking skills have gained me employment as an English teacher to beautiful Thai girls at the Amanpuri � the world�s most exclusive resort, helped me to develop friendships with the senior constabulary of the Phuket police force (avoiding liability for recklessly endangering the life of former Malaysian President Mahatir by nearly colliding with his 17 car motorcade on a private road) and become a senior lecturer to 120 students in social psychology at the Prince of Songkla University. A few phone calls and I can be on a million-dollar yacht sharing stories with a maverick boat captain who has smoked pot with Robert De Niro, got drunk with Mel Gibson and rubbed sun tan lotion on Nicole Kidman�s back. And all this happens in Phuket, Thailand exactly four degrees north of the Equator where there is just three degrees of separation between Nicole Kidman�s buttocks and my left hand. My right hand is vigorously networking..."
http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.php?IDNEWS=0000007121 |
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