Think you've got it bad?

Just to remind you...

10 Mar 2015 | From Mourad of Algeria 

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world.

If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering.

If you can read this message you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read it at all.

From Algeria with love

Valentine Greetings from Algeria

10 Mar 2015 | From Mourad of Algeria 

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Now here's another Valentine greeting card I received from another male friend this time in Algeria. Though there's a different reason behind this parcel - with the Valentine card.

Mourad shared to me, through e-mail, that he received three Valentine cards from unknown 'mystery' girls. He found them in his office desk one day after having lunch - and with no notes, his friend told him that some girls left the cards for him. His friend did not spill any other details despite him begging. He was quite confused and perplexed with the situation and asked my thoughts about him. I told him not to get too bothered about it. They were probably his secret admirers, and joked that he might be the popular and good-looking one in his office. I even added that I haven't in my life received any secret Valentine cards - hahaha!

Mourad decided on sending one of the cards to me - either I keep it or give it to someone else. The latter won't work since I have no one to give it to =p The Valentine greeting card is a music-playing one. The kind of card which plays music when you flip it open. It has this very-girly-with-lots-of-rose-hearts-glitters-and-pop-ups vibe =p

Along with the card is a letter and a 2015 calendar. The envelope has a cool anime design that I suppose was drawn by his cousin.

Postcard and chewing gums

 

An Algerian beach view

4 Apr 2014 | From Mourad of Algeria

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Algerian beaches, while not the best in the Mediterranean, are still quite appealing as a result of their lack of commercialization. I did not get the name of this particular beach, but I think it may be Padovani and Rmila beaches with Z'ghara and Bologhine in the background. I searched the net, and it does looked like this one.

Mourad also sent me a bunch of Cow-boy chewing gum. He shared that it is a famous mint gum in their country.

An Algerian footballer

Madjid "Magic" Bougherra

17 Jan 2014 | From Mourad of Algeria

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Madjid Bougherra is a professional Algerian footballer who currently plays for Lekhwiya and the Algeria national team. He is a central defender, who can also play as a midfielder.

Bougherra began his professional football career with French club Gueugnon before having spells with English sides Crewe Alexandra, Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic. Bougherra moved to Rangers in the summer of 2008 for a fee of £2.5 million, he made his debut against Falkirk in August of that year. Bougherra made 113 appearances for Rangers and was a key part of the team that won the Scottish Premier League championship in seasons 2008–09, 2009–10 and 2010–11. In August 2011 Rangers sold Bougherra to Lekhwiya for £1.7 million.

An Algerian international since 2004, Bougherra has won 53 international caps and scored four goals for the Algeria national football team, participating in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, where Algeria finished fourth, and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Source: Wikipedia

A letter from Algeria

Port of Algers

29 Nov 2013 | From Mourad of Algeria

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Last February, Mourad and I arranged a swap. Unfortunately, his mail did not reach me. And since I am not the type of postcrosser to message fellow postcrossers and swappers regarding unreceived mails on my part, I just let it be. Such is life. As postcards will reach me, some postcards will not.

Then months later, I got an e-mail from Mourad. He was asking if I did receive his mail. After a telling him that I did not and that he need not to worry about it. he decided to send me another mail. And a few weeks after, I found this in my mailbox. A letter, a postcard, used stamps, bus tickets. The envelope was made by his cousin. He also asked me if we could continue our correspondence through letters and postcards.

About the postcard, the port of Algiers is the main port of the country, with a structure for general cargo and containers. It is also the main port for passengers in the country with ferry (ferries) for Europe.