Tahir Shah's Blog, page 7
September 18, 2012
Morocco Lost in Translation
Last week a close Moroccan friend and I met for our weekly cup of tea at our usual café.
‘You know how much I like you foreigners,’ said my friend, ‘but you people confuse me, and other Moroccans as well.’
Smiling, I asked what he meant.
My friend went on to tell me of how he had been received at an American family’s home in Casablanca the week before. Following that visit, he invited the American family to his own home. A series of lost in translation moments had punctuated both visits.
As someone with one foot in the East and the other in the West, I could see the difficulties and, for this reason, I wanted to present a list of do’s and don’ts for Westerners living in Morocco.
Here it is:
When visiting a Moroccan home:
Take a gift, however small. Not to do so when arriving for a social visit is almost unthinkable. If there are children there, take something for them, or something straight-forward such a platter of pastries. Better to take more than less.
Don’t expect a tour of the house, or ask for one. Bedrooms and anything but the formal salon, will be probably off-limits, unless you know the family well.
Don’t be surprised if the television is left on all through the visit. TV is regarded as background noise in Morocco.
Don’t worry if people come in and out endlessly, while you feel awkwardly rooted to one formal chair. You’re a guest and, as a guest, you’re expected to be seated while everyone honours you. At prayer time members of the host family might slip out, pray, and then return.
And, as a respected guest, an abundance of food will be provided. Don’t gorge yourself on starters, as there will probably be large platters of cooked meat to follow.
The choicest pieces of meat may well be picked out and served to you. Don’t worry if you have to leave a little, because that’s fine in Morocco – just as eating every crumb is a sign that you are still hungry.
Do not help yourself to drinks, but wait for your hosts to serve you.
If eating from a communal dish of couscous or a tagine, keep to the triangle of the dish in front of you.
Don’t praise an individual object in the home too much, because it may well be presented to you as a gift.
Don’t take wine or an alcoholic drink unless you are very certain that the hosts drink.
Do make polite conversation, declaring how you adore Morocco, and Moroccan culture. Don’t launch into politics or religious matters.
Irrespective of whether you are the guest or the host, your children will be kissed by all. And, if it’s a conservative household, men either kiss each other’s cheeks (if already close friends), and women kiss women’s cheeks. Men shouldn’t kiss women and vice versa, unless you know the family well or if you know them to be less conservative. A handshake is always a good bet unless a cheek is offered.
When Receiving Moroccan Guests
On no account serve any dish containing pork or pork products.
Don’t necessarily ask your guests what they would like to drink. It’s better to just serve tea, or whatever, or to pour various cold drinks and present them on a tray. Don’t offer wine or beer unless you’re pretty sure your guests drink alcohol.
Never eat or drink anything until you are sure that your guests have all been taken care of. And never on any account help yourself to a second helping until all guests have taken what they need. If there’s a little food left at the end of the meal, never dive in and finish it if you are hosting the meal.
Remember that when receiving people in your home, they are traditionally guaranteed security beneath your roof. This means that you are obliged to treat them with respect, and so it’s not the right time to launch into severe arguments.
In Morocco, receiving a guest is regarded as an honour for the host, and so there should be an abundance of food. Don’t worry if you have many times what will be eaten, as you will be honoring your guests. Quantity, quantity, quantity.
Don’t offer a tour of your home, unless the guests are close friends. Moroccans are always confused about the idea of the house tour. It’s largely regarded as absurd.
Don’t stress if your guests sit in silence. In Morocco, as in much of the Arab world, silence is seen as a virtue and a medium through which people get to know each other.
Don’t be offended if your Moroccan friends don’t send a message of thanks. It’s not something required in the culture. But, you are likely to receive a return invitation instead.
September 15, 2012
September 12, 2012
Forthcoming projects…
I’m often asked about what I’m working on. Here’s a sneak peek into what’s in the works at the moment:
Scorpion Soup (In Production)
A story within a story, the book is inspired by The Arabian Nights in its use of a frame tale. One story leads to another, taking the reader down through numerous levels. The idea is derived partly from my fascination for The Arabian Nights, as well as my love for my grandfather’s book THE GOLDEN PILGRIMAGE — in which fellow travellers to and from Mecca relate their own tales.
Hannibal Fogg and the Supreme Secret of Man (In Production)
An epic work of fiction, I wrote Hannibal Fogg back in 2009, with the intention of creating a character that would satisfy my obsession for the obscure, the fantastic, and all the places I had been to but never really spoken of.
The House of Wisdom (In Production)
Having lectured on the legacy of Arab science, I have taken every opportunity to draw attention to the extraordinary contribution that Arab science from the Abbasid era — the ‘Golden Age’ of Islam — has played in the development of Occidental know how and science. Named after the Bayt al Hikma, The House of Wisdom is a fast-paced thriller that considers the roles of Arab science from the great polymaths of the Abbasid age.
September 10, 2012
My Top Ten Favourite Museums
My top ten list of museums around the world.
Pitt-Rivers Museum, Oxford. Fav object: the shrunken heads.
Sir John Soane Museum, London. Fav object: the sarcophagus of Seti I
Hunterian Museum, London. Fav object, the giant’s skeleton.
Mutter Museum, Philadelphia. Fav object: Hyrtl Skull Collection.
Dog Collar Museum, Maidstone. Spiked hunting collars from 16th century .
Parasite Museum, Tokyo. Fav object: all of them.
Sedlec Ossurary, Czech Republic. Fav object: the chandelier fashioned from human bones.
Barbed Wire Museum, Kansas. Fav object: the selection of razor wires.
International Toilet Museum, Delhi. Fav object: the Japanese toilets.
Avanos Hair Museum, Turkey. Fav object: the caverns full of hair.
What are your favourite museums? Have you been to any of these?
September 3, 2012
10 favourite places we visited on our US trip
If you’ve been following my random updates on Facebook, you have an idea of some of the places we visited during our month-long road trip across the US. Here is a list of our top 10 favourite places that we visited.
1. Berkeley, because it beats to a rhythm of its own.
2. Malibu, where our great friends live. An affluent slice of Paradise.
3. Death Valley, because it meant we’d escaped Las Vegas.
4. Panguitch, Utah (photo to the left), which is a real Wild West frontier town.
5. Meadowlark Motel, Nebraska, because it took us in when we needed it most.
6. Omaha, Nebraska, because I never quite believed it existed at all.
7. Providence, Rhode Island, which reminded me of visiting Rach there half a lifetime ago.
8.Marblehead, Mass., a fragment of the Great Gatsby.
9. Hudson, New York, which is beyond amazing, and must be seen by all.
10. Central Park, where you can be whoever you want to be.
August 29, 2012
10 of the best things about our US trip
If you’ve been following me on Facebook, you’ve seen a few random updates of our month-long road trip from West to East across the US. Here are the top 10 best things about our trip:
1. The extraordinary swathes of empty space (especially between Arizona and Utah), which so reminded me of eastern Africa.
2. The politeness between total strangers.
3. The fact that there’s an abundance of free ice in all hotels and motels.
4. The chance it gave me to chit-chat to each and the kids.
5. Seeing the landscape change, mile by mile, from one ocean to the next.
6. The fact that you can get a simple egg cooked in a thousand ways and as the customer, you’re always right.
7. The cost of gasoline. Ohhhh, how that’s a wonder in itself.
8. The way there’s a sign ready to warn you of anything from a bend in the road to the chance of falling rocks.
9. Reaching the Atlantic and seeing it gleaming in the moonlight.
10. The sight of corn, corn and much more corn, in Nebraska and Iowa.
July 6, 2012
I’m on the BBC tonight and tomorrow morning
I just wanted to let you know that I’m booked for BBC’s The Hub TONIGHT (Friday) at 6.15 PM BST time. The Hub with Nik Gowing is broadcast Monday to Friday on the BBC World News channel.
And I’ll be on BBC4′s TODAY programme at 7.35 AM UK time tomorrow (Saturday) morning. You can listen to TODAY on 198 LW across the UK. It can also be heard on 92 to 94 FM. You can also listen to the programme on DAB radio, Freeview (EPG No. 704), and digital cable TV. Virgin TV broadcasts Radio 4 FM through their digital cable network on channel 904 and Radio 4 LW on channel 911. If none of these are an option for you, just click on this link, then click on “Listen: latest programme in full” on the upper right-hand side of your screen. That will open the BBC iPlayer console, where you can listen to the programme live, or you can access the programme at a later time tomorrow.
July 3, 2012
Timbuctoo Picnic Details: July 15th
If you’re based in London or the UK, join me in Hyde Park on Sunday, July 15th to celebrate the launch of Timbuctoo. If you’re interested in attending, please sign up via Eventbrite as The Royal Parks limits the number of people who can attend any event. Spaces are limited.
This is a FREE event, but you’ll need to confirm attendance on Eventbrite so we can control numbers. I hope to see you there!
June 26, 2012
Timbuctoo Update: hardcover, ebook, Q&A, and upcoming events
Timbuctoo limited edition hardcover
Hello! I wanted to share a quick recap of news and coming events…
Hardcover
As you may already know, the Timbuctoo hardcover will be out next month. This is a very special edition, with six fold-out maps, marbled end-papers, a pouch at the back with goodies, a silk bookmark, and non-wood paper. It’s now available for pre-order on Amazon, or (if you’re in the US) you can enter for a chance to win one of six copies on Goodreads.
Once the book has been released, I will be holding pop-up sales in London, where you can get a signed copy. I’ll be sharing more details on this early next month.
Ebook
The Timbuctoo e-book launch was initially set for August. However, the date has been changed, and Timbuctoo is NOW available on Kindle and other e-readers. Click on one of the links below to get your copy:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/MNdUyI
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/MQH0Kg
If you’d like a preview before you buy, you can download the first chapter in PDF. Hope you enjoy it!
Q&A
In other news, I held my first AMA on Reddit yesterday afternoon. You can still access the questions and answers on Reddit, where the conversation will be archived. If you have any other questions for me, I will be holding an Author Q&A on Goodreads from July 1-15. Several conversation threads have already been set up, so please introduce yourself and feel free to get started asking questions at any time. I will begin answering them on July 1.
Meetup
If you’re in the UK, get ready for a Timbuctoo picnic, which will be held in London in mid-July. More details on that early next month. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather, as it will be held rain or shine.
June 23, 2012
Reddit IAmA: 2pm BST/10am ET on June 25th
If you’re not already a Redditor, sign up now and get ready for my IAmA on Monday, June 25th at 2pm BST, 10am ET. Did that sentence just sound like gibberish to you? Read on.
What is a Redditor?
It’s a registered user of Reddit, which is a social news website, similar to Digg. It’s a place where people can submit content, in the form of either a link to something on the web, or a ‘self’ post, which is text or commentary. Other users then vote the submission ‘up’ (kind of like a Facebook ‘like’) or ‘down’ (like that ‘dislike’ button people keep asking for on Facebook), which is then used to rank the post and determine its position on both the page where it was originally posted and also on the home page. Once a conversation gets going on the original post, you can also upvote or downvote individual comments.
What is IAmA?
It’s a subreddit, or category, on the website. It means just what it sounds like: IAmA stands for ‘I am a’. In an IAmA post, a person will describe what is noteworthy about who they are (career or significant life event, etc.), and others will ask the original poster (OP) questions related to whatever it is that is unique about them.
What is AMA and AMAA?
AMA stands for ‘ask me anything’, and AMAA means ‘ask me almost anything’.
What do I do now?
If you’re interested in participating, sign up as a registered user on Reddit and then head over to the IAmA page on Monday between 2pm and 4pm BST, 10am and 12pm ET. I’ll be there to answer any questions you may have. Not sure what to ask? Here are some ideas:
This year I make the move from traditional publishing to self publishing. Find out more.
I also make the move from travel writing to fiction. Discover what that was like.
If you’ve read The Caliph’s House, you know about our ordeal with the jinns. Find out whether the exorcism did the trick.
You may be wondering whether Morocco is all I thought it would be. Maybe you’re even thinking of moving here yourself.
If you’ve read Sorcerer’s Apprentice, you may be curious about whether everything that I wrote about actually happened.
Are you a writer? Ask me about my tricks, tips, and rituals for writing.
Debating about whether you should self publish your next book or hold out for a publishing contract? Ask me what I think.
I hope to see you there. If you’ve never used Reddit before, please don’t be afraid. It’s a lively community, and a great place to join an online conversation about your favourite interests. Try something new, and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to come back!
