Sugar, sugar

Impossible to find plain Cheerios here:

And how to make a cereal with a high sugar content sound and look healthy:

One serving has 12 g of sugar. That's 14% of the recommended daily allowance.

Lost in translation, Thai version

The transliteration here is as incomprehensible to me as the original--except for seasoned cuttlefish which doesn't sound too appetizing...

Crispy on the outside

Hmmm.  Are big Americans really crispy on the outside and soft on the inside? 

File under: let's rethink this marketing campaign.

Imitation is the best form of flattery

Imitation is the best form of flattery--also known as copyright infringement.

 Or maybe Google is starting an international chain of cafés/pizzerias?

Scenes from a Sunday

First-world problems

Discovering that our new (and more powerful) microwave works great as a mirror:

But it also prevents you from seeing what is happening inside. 

Result:

Elections Moroccan style

In a country where the adult literacy rate is 67%, political party logos are important.  On the ballot, you select the party symbol. 

All 20+ of them. 

All around the city there are designated areas where parties can post information--or just their logo. 

But modern campaign methods are increasing. 

Way down upon the Swanee River

Called a French hair salon in Morocco and was put on hold.  The music playing? "Way down upon the Swanee River", (also known as "Old Folks Home") --a minstrel song by Stephen Foster from 1851 and the official state song of Florida.  

Who comes up with these things??

#foundintranslation. #itsasmallworld

Timing

As they say, timing is everything. 

One day:

The next:

One size fits all

You don't appreciate how eggs are sorted into various sizes (like medium, large, extra large, jumbo) until you live in a place where your eggs are sold altogether, resulting in this:

Scenes from an expat life

...when you see these shelves not in a bookstore's travel section but in a friend's living room.  

#ohtheplacesyoullgo

The Beatles in Morocco

If you had told me when I was a child that one day I would be walking through the aisles of a French-owned grocery store in Morocco in Africa while listening to the Beatles singing,  "it's been a hard days night" I probably would not of believed it.

Linguistic tajine

Another five-language experience: Arabic, Berber, English, French, Spanish

#tipofafrica

Keeping calm, part two

Infomaniac's motto:

In the linguistic garden

Four couples lounging by the pool, speaking four languages while the villa staff speak a fifth. (English, French, German, Italian, and Derija) #expatlife #lostintranslation

Does anyone really know what time it is? Part two

I don't without this clock that shows all the time zones in my life:

Dinosaur, gramophone, or papyrus scroll

Instagram:

What does this make Blogger? A big, lumbering, invisible dinosaur? Your great grandparents' gramophone? Or perhaps ancient papyrus scrolls?

Chocodate

One begins to see how you could get to chocolate-covered ants...

Signs of the times

I noticed a change when I recently transited through the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.  Can you spot it?

 

I heard it on the shuttle train announcements and saw it at the duty free store too:

1.9 billion Chinese speakers are making a difference.  

And in case you're wondering, there are 942 million English speakers (both as a first and second language).

What light does to color

Untouched photos:

International Chocolate Century part three

The French could have also helped me overcome my distaste of math when I was younger. 

Where were these choco numbers when I needed them???

International Chocolate Century part two

I don't know who gets credit for this wonderful concoction: chickpeas covered in chocolate :-) 

Protein, fiber, a slew of vitamins and minerals, and chocolate.

 

Question:  Is there any

food that isn't improved by chocolate???

In honor of International Chocolate Century (because a year isn't long enough)

One reason I'm Francophile: who else would come up with the idea of bran cereal mixed with chocolate shavings??

(The same country that came up with dense whole wheat bread studded with chocolate bits). That's what I call joie de vivre!

Keeping calm

One spot, three views

"It all depends on your point of view" illustrated by three pictures taken at the same time from the same spot.

looking east:

south:

and west:

The beauty of Fez--looking up