Balancing Work While Traveling Like A Local
Shaping Cultural Experiences
Travel has been an integral part of my life since I was a young child. I grew up in a multicultural, bilingual home in the Netherlands with a Polish mother and a Dutch father. My
Update & BBC News Link
A brief update: One interview video will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I believe the BBC News One-Minute World News provides well-balanced reporting of news, hence why I wanted to share it. Top stories on May
From Nigeria to Boston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNkCazT_T4&feature=youtu.be
When you first meet Oluwagbeminiyi Osidipe, you encounter a very vibrant, friendly, and unique personality. Oluwagbeminiyi or Niyi – as she shortened her name for simplicity – was named by her mother, who had a “very personal experience” when she had her, Niyi explained. Niyi is a Yoruba Nigerian transplant who arrived in the U.S. in 2006. As one of the most densely populated (West) African countries, Nigeria derives its name from the river that spans its land. To the South, it borders the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean. Originally colonized by the British, Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Its main ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, who speak English and their own respective languages, while major religions include Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs. Niyi shares her story, her views on politics, cultural differences she’s embraced with humor, and what we can learn from each other by expressing curiosity. Her message is simple: travel enriches us through its exposure to new cultures, and enables us to grow.
Mark Twain on Travel
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” (American author Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad).
Have you had the opportunity to travel (extensively, within your country, or even once abroad)? Can you relate to Twain’s sentiments? How does travel enrich us?
Pleasing The Taste Palate
Food has the wonderful quality of uniting us no matter where we are. There is nothing partisan or narrow-minded about food. It simply invites us to indulge, create recipes, and share with others. Two of my favorite Polish dishes (included in collage) are pierogies and barszcz czerwony – a beetroot soup – served on Christmas Eve in Poland. How does food bring us together? What are some of your favorite dishes and why? Can food trigger memories?
Stereotypes: Truth or Fiction?
DEFINING STEREOTYPES: “An idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation.” (Merriam-Webster). Stereotypes enable bias and preconceived notions to perpetuate, but can also reveal valid
Annual Human Rights Report
“The world changed immeasurably over the course of 2011. Across the Middle East, North Africa, and far beyond, citizens stood up to demand respect for human dignity, more promising economic opportunities, greater political liberties, and
Euro Crisis & Emerging Stereotypes
Brief Crisis Breakdown Since the onset of the global financial crisis, or Great Recession, in 2007, the Eurozone has feared impending growing global debt levels, as well as sovereign debt within European countries themselves. In
Remembering Tiananmen
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing, China. Inflation, a lack of career prospects, the fall of Eastern European communism, and political corruption, are all said to have fueled anger
Coffee's Uniting Power
A cup of coffee can bridge cultural gaps. At least, that’s what Gizem Salgicil White, founder of Turkayfe.org, believes. Her organization aims to create awareness of Turkish culture, particularly within America. Gizem is a Turkish native,
Today’s CultureTrav post is by Leigh Marcos
Adventurous, local, and personal. That’s the goal for many travellers including 80% of millennials recently surveyed by AirBnB. But, can you have this rich and meaningful type of travel experience while holding down a job? Travelling while working — either freelance, remotely, or with a work visa — is becoming increasingly popular. You may, however, be wondering if the expectations really match up to reality. How can you see the country, live like a local, and go-with-the-flow while spending your days working? Well, here’s how you can make most of your time in any country without taking time off work.
Balancing work: don’t work at home
When you’re in an exciting new country, you don’t want to be stuck working at home. Instead, put yourself right in the heart of the hustle and bustle of daily life by exploring the streets and working out of wifi-enabled coffee shops. You’ll soon get a good idea of the customs, etiquette, and tipping norms just by observing the people around you. You can even strike up conversation with staff and locals on breaks. If you need somewhere quieter to work, visit the nearest library or museum for a double dose of local culture and history.
Venture further afield on weekends
Obviously you can’t experience a country’s full diversity, beauty, and charm if you just stay in one place. Weekends off work are perfect for exploring towns and villages surrounding your local area. In fact, quieter villages and rural parts will give you a clearer sense of a country — including traditional food and local life — before the onset of globalization. You can leave on Friday after work and stay for the weekend, but even a day trip is a great way to journey further afield without skipping work.
Explore before you start a job
If you’re on a year-long work visa, schedule an extra few weeks or months to explore before or while you apply for jobs. So, you could spend two months soaking up the stunning scenery and wildlife in western Canada before travelling to begin work in Toronto, for example. Giving yourself extra time to explore a country will mean you won’t feel like you’ve missed out once you start work. Just make sure you’ve saved enough money beforehand.
Balancing work with fulfilling travel doesn’t have to be difficult. You’ll soon find how to make it work for you. There’s nothing more exhilarating than experiencing all of what a country has to offer while earning the money to fund your travels.
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