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Rotterdam Not Novo Mantra

9 January 2015

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I have heard, “Rotterdam Not Novo” so many times now, my ears are ringing! It has become a mantra. CI dip and pay in Rotterdam not Novo. Buyers, brokers, agents, all seem to have enough offers from Novo and don’t trust the port, tank farms, authorities, and seller offers as much as they do Rotterdam. […]

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Does the word ‘mandate’ have any worth?

31 December 2014

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I think the word ‘mandate’ is thrown around so much, it has lost its value. I keep hearing, “I am a mandate, she is a mandate, I know a mandate, I am direct to a mandate, I only work with mandates…” etc! Have you ever asked a ‘mandate’ to provide a mandate letter? I did […]

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Many Rivers, One Sea

9 November 2014

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One day as I returned from lunch through our lobby, a spacious area bathed in Silicon Valley sunlight, three men wearing the blue lab smocks of engineers jumped up from their seats and tackled me with a chorus of questions. Erfan, a Syrian with a trimmed, graying beard, said, “Mariam, we were just arguing about […]

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The Ocean Is Calling

9 November 2014

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The ocean is calling, I have to go. It soothes me. It calms me. It energizes me. It gives me life. Viva nature!

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No Match

11 February 2012

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This week I met a happy young man with a lovely smile and radiant face.  He helped me with some work and then I asked his name.  He said, “Saddam Hussein.” Taken aback and certainly not expecting to hear that name I blurted, “Are you kidding me?” He laughed and said, “No, that is my real name!” Still stuck on […]

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4 Men, 2 Paths

5 January 2012

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This week I met four men.  Each has a different story to tell.  Two have similar stories and lifestyles.   Two have different lifestyles, but both are worlds apart from the other two men.  In simple words, two are the same and two are almost the same. Man 1 told me his woes.  Patiently I listened.  […]

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