Good Morning,

March Madness is here! Get out your foam fingers and clown wigs!

You might think the NCAA Tournament determines the best college basketball team in the country, not so. It is a reminder of how much we Americans love an underdog.

Me? I'm rooting for Mamdouh (kind of sounds like a college doesn't it?). Mamdouh is a friend of mine who's started an on-line business called Sharm.biz.

I met Mamdouh when I was on safari in Africa...ooops, no wait.

I met Mamdouh in a yoga class a couple years ago. Recently, he asked if I would like to help edit his new e-commerce website.

Sharm.biz offers convenience store products to suit the needs of people traveling to Sharm el Sheik, Egypt.

"Okay, sure" I said. I can spell Egypt correctly, I think...(I always get flubbed up on the "g" and the "y").

Let's see, I've been to...the Kentucky Horse Farm, Shaker Village, The Henry Ford Museum...

The team back home in Sharm el Sheik, Mamdouh describes like this "they do not like to be bothered with work. They do not like, you know, schedules." He wouldn't say it, but I believe the term is lazy.

I've taken a few notes on what I've learned so far.

1. The site was designed by Mamdouh, his brother-in-law (no, I don't know why he's wearing the camouflage vest), two friends and a lady from Russia. English is not anyone's first language.

2. "We hope to hear from you!" is not a sales pitch we Americans often use.

3. I like that I get to make tactful comments like

American’s sometimes mistake politeness for lack of confidence. Have confidence! Americans (at least in the business world) expect it.

or

Americans tend to assume others already like us. In short, you don’t have to work so hard on selling yourself to the customer. Just being simple, direct and honest (which you are by nature) works.

4. I like that through grammar and a simple turning of a phrase I get the chance to watch out for my friend...

Okay, one more item. ALWAYS make sure you check the spelling of your site. I just accidentally typed Sham.biz. “Sham” has a COMPLETELY different connotation. Sham means you’re trying to “put one over” on people, trying to cheat them.

Other things I've learned.

5. I think someone/the Russian lady? tried to copy the writing on the packaging for the product descriptions

"Lopsided tweezers this handy beauty aid is a dream to handle!"

or

"Protects dry chopped lips!" (the chapstick)

As a perfectionist by nature, I must research every item. This has been eye opening for the Sexuality products...

6. I've learned I am not familiar with words like "odour masker" and "extra bulbous teat." This is probably a good thing.

7. "Top to toe tingling experience!" Not exactly sure how that can happen but okay?

Lastly,

8. Baby Care? If you have a winding? Colically, teething baby? I do not have children, but I do know you will not be traveling to Egypt. (Monitor this section carefully. You might consider removing it).

Anyway, this job promises to be interesting : ).

Now I'm going to go take a nap. Before I lay on the couch and watch TV in my robe and slippers.

Happy Monday,

Amanda