Job Discussion Forums

MichiganFan · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 38

Can someone with boots on the ground in Morocco point me to some blogs or resources about the area? It might be a fun diversion. I wouldn't mind teaching there. I'll pop a resume off to AMIDEAST this weekend.

I'm looking to jump straight from the ROK without having to go home first. Got two years here...time to go.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

TwinCentre · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 273 Location: Mokotow

Well, this forum is actually the best resource on the Web that I know of for Morocco....just trawl back through the pages, there's loads of stuff.

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

I think blogs would be in French or in Arabic.
For English I don`t know a better site.

MichiganFan · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 38

Is French as prolific as it looks? If so, it might be wise for me to learn it before I go.

Have you guys heard of any Americans having trouble visa-wise?

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

hey Morocco isn`t in the EU.
Morocco and the US have good relations.

sweetkerolajn · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 3 Location: USA

http://bisahha.blogspot.com/2009/08/ramadan-preamble.html

I love this blog for cultural insights! The more recent posts are a bit more technical, and not as informative for your purposes, but it's in English, and it covers a lot of what you might want to read about.

MichiganFan · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 38

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

the University of North Texas has a study abroad program with Morocco.
The site has some information.

MichiganFan · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 38

Thanks for all the advice, people. I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and head down there. Can anyone recommend a good neighborhood? Edit: I mean in Marrakesh. (I don't necessarily mean a *safe* neighborhood, I mean a *good* one.) I like busy markets and such, kind of a place to relax while "keeping it real" as it were.

Also, what bank should I use? I can transfer some of this won to a Moroccan bank before my arrival and bypass the USD conversion altogether.

medina · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 64 Location: Morocco

Just about banking: I work in Morocco and I'm pretty sure that before you can transfer money here, you'd need to be here and open an account. As a foreigner, before getting residence, you have the right open a convertible account. That means you can put foreign currency in and withdraw either as foreign currency (at whatever the current buy rate of exchange is) or as dirhams. You would not, however, be able to put dirhams (for example, salary for teaching) in the bank and withdraw them as foreign currency. You'll need official residence for that kind of account. I'd just say be really careful with banking transfers.
The other thing: if I understand your earlier posting, you were going to work for Amideast, but the last posting is about where to live in Marrakesh. Last time I checked, Amideast is not operating in Marrakesh. They have schools in Rabat and Casa.
One last thing: between "safe" and "good" --- these days you might opt for safe. The crime rate for robbery is up in Fes and Marrakesh. Getting mugged is no fun no matter how exotic the street you're on.

MichiganFan · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 38

Yeah, the guy from the Bank of Commerce said the same thing, I'd actually have to show my face to open a bank account.

This means converting my cash from KRW to USD to MAD, which I'd rather not do. Any ideas whether it's cheaper to buy MAD with KRW in-country, or use USD as an intermediary? I'm sure the loss on converting twice would more than make up for a ripoff buy rate on the Won in Dinars.

As for working, I don't really need a job at the moment. I'd rather steer away from English teaching for the moment, but I'm easy, if something comes up, it comes up.

Do you teach?

Adela · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 40

Hello Michiganfan, Could you post an update on your experience in Morocco so far? thanks!

medina · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 64 Location: Morocco

This is in response to Michigan Fan's question a month back... I haven't been checking this forum all that much. It seems to be kind of dying, at least the Africa page....but, yes, I teach English and have done so for a few years.

MichiganFan · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 38

I'm not there yet, I've still got a couple months left on this contract. If you want to see Morocco, try http://www.gomorocco.com and look through the forums. There's stuff there to see, also Moroccan radio.

There aren't many jobs to be had at the moment, since they're hiring for September or October. Many of them want conversational fluency in French. I'll keep posting when I get there, and I'll tell y'all how it is.

MichiganFan · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 38

Just giving this thread a bump. I have a month to go here on the ROK and I'm in negotiations with a guy in-country.