Guy proposes to girl in 28 countries... (wait, wait, it gets better!)

So,

I came across this video (while I was supposed to be working).  Given the theme,  I deemed it blogworthy to this site (theexpatgirl).

So, this guy Jack likes a girl (who I guess remains nameless).  On their FIRST DATE he decides that he wants to marry her.  So he devises a plan which takes 4 years in the making--the ultimate proposal video, spanning 28 countries and I'm sure thousands of dollars in airline tickets.

'It's so sweet and thoughtful,' you say. ' What a nice guy,' you think.  Maybe this video invokes the jaded cat lady in me but I have a few problems with Jacks's strategies:

1. Firstly, he decides ON THE FIRST DATE he's going to marry this girl!  What if she's just not that into him.  What if she just wanted the free coffee or company for a walk.  Just reading this sentence makes me want more space (from everyone).
2. It sounds quite thoughtful, but he has the oddest timing.  Think about it.  Jack is on vacation with his homies, sitting on a balcony while all of his friends are probably in the background drinking beers.  He on the other hand has his Nikon out, lip syncing a pseudo-obscure 90's tune.  Maybe it's just me, but I say +100 for everyone else in the room.  -5, Jack.
3. Above actions happen 27 other times for four years.  I am not sure I want to plan any trips with Jack.
4. So, apparently these crazy kids stood the test of time.  Their relationship lasts the duration of their University experience.  They've made it to graduation day, which is probably one of the busiest, stressful, insane days of their lives.  Wait...Jack has decided not only will he compound Nameless Girl's anxiety levels by showing a slideshow of their relationship to people who were probably were quite content watching the other two PowerPoint presentations on their successes with academia, but he's also included the WORST pop quiz EVER as its conclusion.  Of course, there is only one way to answer this correctly.  Otherwise, epic failure and public humiliation will be endured by both parties.

Granted, I sound like such a pessimist.  This is not the case at all.  I love love.  Romantic gestures are greatly appreciate (in limited, feasible quantities of course).  However, I'm a staunch advocate for evaluating and assessing the timing and location of your activities.  I think, in theory (like in film or a Stephanie Meyer novel) this could have been a well executed and greatly appreciated plan.  In real life, I am having doubts.

If there are any guys travelling throughout Europe (or New Zealand, or Southeast Asia) and want to make a video for ME (because I am ever so inspirational), I prefer a nicely choreographed number to the songs of Mr. Timberlake.

Thanks in advance!

--TheExpatGirl 

So...you wanna be a freelancer?

You've finally decided that trying to swim upstream with the fishes just wasn't for you.  You are bright, talented, motivated, and have some sort of skill that sets you apart from everyone else.  Let's face it, you've been doing your job for so long that you could do it with your eyes closed.  In your sleep you think about how to improve X, Y, and Z.  You decide one day while driving to your office (or walking, or taking the tram) that you don't need the overhead or micromanagement.  Quite frankly, wearing pants while you work is overrated anyways.  So, you do what any self respecting person your age would do.  Leave your firm.  Henceforth, you shall be known as Freelancer.

Lies! Lies! Lies!

So, you knew a guy who's brother's girlfriend's aunt does the SAME EXACT thing that you do.  She never has to worry about a paycheck.  She takes three week vacations yearly and her clients are happy.  She has never had a question about her taxes and she still has time to have dinner ready when her partner comes home.  No way! Sorry, but someone is a bold faced liar.  Freelancing, especially the first year, is difficult.  That my friend, is what we call in English, an understatement.

Crickets...

If you don't already have your client-base in tact, then you have to work to find one.  My personal rule of thumb is for every hour that I should be working, I need to be looking for work.  So, if I work for 8 hours in a day, I will be spending 8 hours doing something productive that will lead to my generating leads or promoting myself (and not spending a dime while doing so).

There will be days when you are under-worked.  Take advantage of the downtime but also don't forget about the "do you" time.

Friends With Benefits

Having a special friend is great.  Having a special, talented friend is even better.  Being that special, talented friend is the best thing in the world.  Every smidgen of talent and bubbliness that you have dies the second a friend asks for your opinion or advice regarding the field that you are in.  Never work with friends.  If you do decide to ignore this warning, think about all of the consequences before you sign on any dotted lines.  What if your friend doesn't like the quality of work that you produce.  Everyone knows that friends are supposed to stroke your ego, not stomp you into the ground.  Are you prepared for the criticism?  Will you do the 2nd, 3rd, and 15th draft without cursing his name and banishing his unborn children to hell?  What if your friend had an emergency and can't pay you for services rendered?  Raincheck?  Great!  But wait, how did she get money for those new heels???

Remember that you started freelancing for a reason.  The demarcation between constructive criticism and presumptuous opinions and advice are very fine once you add a personal relationship into the equation.

Which leads us to the next topic...

Hi, Haters!

When I tell people that I am freelance Writer and Language Consultant, the conversation usually shifts into one of the following scenarios:

• "Don't you wan't a real job?  How are you going to survive?"
• "I would do that too, except for (fill in the blank)
• Wait, so like, people really pay you for that?  No, really...what do you do?

This goes back to the age old theory of people hating things that they do not understand.  Yes, I sit at my computer for eight hours a day.  No, I'm not playing Angry-Birds or looking at sites that are typically blocked in a normal working environment.  Unfortunately, the general public tends to negate all of your hard work and ambition because of the fact that you don't have to get up and go to a brick and mortar building every day.

If you are just starting out and you  your bank account is looking slightly anorexic, whether you are "truly working" or not may be questioned when you pass up events due to time or money constraints.

Everyone will have an opinion about this and offer their suggestions.  Stay strong and focused.  Or, better yet, have the naysayers shadow you for a day.

Oh, My Ego...

Then there are the mornings that you wake up after an almost all nighter, check your emails and see the message from a client who says that your work was  not what they expected, not up to standard, not what they envisioned at all.  If you  are a perfectionist and pride yourself on your work, you are in for a ride.  If your self worth is dependent on your successes and your professional life, then just stop now.  Everyone gets these messages and letters at least once in their career.  You are not immune to it.  Your brain realises this, but you also start having thoughts of becoming a ditch digger or paper boy.

There will also be the days when you think that you are the ultimate Rock Star.  You keep getting new clients, you finish your projects on time, there is tangible evidence that you are successful (money!).  Don't let it go to your head.  Be careful and cautious.  Remember that there is a balance to everything.  These days, no matter how awesome they may be, cannot last forever.

At the end of the day, it's all you.

Don't get me wrong, freelancing is a wonderful opportunity.  Not only is it a test of your drive and ambition, but at the end of the day, everything that you do is for you and by you.  So, have fun with it.  Enjoy your independence, and don't forget to get out of your pyjamas every once in while for those video conferences.

What Role Will You Take As A Citizen of the World?

As a citizen of the planet, you are held responsible for yourself, your home nation, and to everyone around you.  Not everyone sees themselves as such.   Many people pledge allegiance to their nation only and refuse to acknowledge or educate themselves.  Typically these people fail to ever venture outside of their own backyards.  If they do, they are usually hit hard with a wave of culture shock or alienation upon their arrival to anywhere new.   If you can identify the roles that you must fulfill as a citizen of the Earth, you will not have the same problems or issues as someone who only has a nationalistic viewpoint of life.

Diplomat of Cultures and Ethnicities

We, the people, owe it to ourselves to be conscious diplomats of cultures and ethnicities.  Holding yourself in a respectful and tactful manner should be innate.  Any disrespectful or uncouth behavior will be remembered as a reflection on your nation, not yourself.  Sometimes, stereotypes are perpetuated by the acts of one person who is known as “the American” or “the Italian” or whichever nation that they are representative of.  

Whether you want to or not, you have lost your individual identity and are known henceforth as “America” or “Italy” in the eyes of anyone who is not your brethren.  Choose your words wisely and pick your battles, as what you say or do in haste can influence the decision of others about one of your countrymen in the future.

Not only are we national agents, we are also ethnic ones.  You may find yourself in situations where you are the ethnic minority.  Don’t be alarmed by the curious stares and inquisitive nature of those around you.  Yes, they may ask to touch your skin or hair.  Yes, they might ask intrusive questions that you may deem offensive and downright rude.  You must remember however, that not everyone has had the life experiences or exposure that you have had.  For many, the only knowledge of people outside of their neighborhoods, cities, and country may be through a television set or a webpage. 

Guardian of the Environment

Global resources are depleting.  Because of this, many countries are currently in an economic crisis and seeking help from stable allies.  When thinking about the environment, you have to remember that you can waste and destroy your own backyard then move to your neighbor’s territory.  After so many moves you will have no more clean land or resources.  Because of this, looking at environmental issues as a collective one will extend the life of these valuables.

Humanitarian

Humanitarian issues such as human trafficking, and sex slavery are not thought of as problems by some citizens of some first world countries.  Or, they are overlooked ones.  Countries you may not be able to pronounce or locate on a map are usually what is thought of when thinking about these topics.  There is a secret and prevalent issue of human trafficking and sex slavery in the United States and Europe.   Funding and education for prevention in lands that are “far away” is available.  Having the resources for prevention and detection in places like the United States and Europe are not as customary as raising awareness of these things happening in other areas of the world.  Accepting the fact that these situations bleed into each other and become a global issue may help to detect and stop these types of criminals at borders that are not typically suspected.

Transformer

Poverty is viewed differently depending on where you live in the world.  In some parts of the world, high poverty rates have become the social norm.  The average day consists of hunting and scavenging and attempting to make do with what they can find in order for sustainability. 

Other parts of the world address poverty by setting up national welfare systems that are not stigmatized or frowned upon.  For example, in many countries of Europe, new mothers are given money for each child until that child becomes an adult and they also receive free parenting classes, and supplies for the child’s first year of life.

Then, there are the countries that feel shameful for having visible homeless people and try to blanket the problem.  Having reintegration programs for these people that are substandard or come with cyclic contingencies for admittance does nothing but waste funding and increase the ratio of people who need help.

One way to remedy the issue of poverty is to take a look at systems from various parts of the world and merge aspects of each of these to build one universal system that can be adapted, based on the needs of each country, to increase its feasibility and efficiency.

As a citizen of the planet, we must look at all of these pieces through the eyes of an outsider.  Until we do so, we will continue to face the problem of not being able to relate to one another, thus causing conflicts to or lack of empathy for other nations.  These roles are not easy to play.  Then again, who said that life would be.