I am taking a poll:
The next country that Sam should try her luck in on a semi-permanent basis should be:
A) Spain
B) South Africa
C) Argentina
D) Italy
E) Brazil (or Brasil, if you're actually from there)
As you can tell, I am more favoring the Latin-speaking nations, but I am by no means reserved solely to these options. I am open for any suggestions my readers might have...Even if my readers do only consist of my parents, and they opt for me to stay in California...
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Game Plan
I am motivating myself to save. I would like to say that there was more depth to this statement, and that perhaps, I was even aiming to "save" in the more philosophical or metaphorical sense...whatever that might mean. But really, I am just trying to make those Numbers go up - or at least rest steadily where they are. No more of this depletion nonsense.
I always loved making money growing up, putting it in the bank account, and watching the numbers rise. I have had a summer job, every year since the age of 14, and all through university. I have never spent even half of what my earnings were, and so have been fortunate in knowing that there was always this little nest egg waiting for me to cash it.
First, it was saving for a car. Then the car came as a surprise, conveniently, right as I started driving.
Then it was for university. I was fortunate enough between financial aid, student jobs, and some savings my family had tucked away for me, that not even this effected the balance of my savings by much.
Graduation came, and I decided, it was now or never. I had been dreaming of Australia since I saw The Little Mermaid, and proceeded to become obsessed with the ocean. I wanted to have the ability to breathe underwater, or at the very least, become a marine biologist. Needless to say, I have done neither. I did, however, fly myself to Australia, and did a pretty fantastic job (if I do say so myself) of touring the East Coast over the course of 6 weeks.
Since my return, I have been working 24/7, and have not see the light of day. That, my friends, is what is known as "whiplash".
So here's the game plan I am instituting with the aim in mind of planning a rather fabulous and exotic trip out of the country. I will do it in the year of 2008. This is my promise.
Step 1: no superfluous spending.
- No designer coffee. My travel mug and homemade brew does me just fine. = a savings of $5 per craving.
-Bring my own lunch to the office. = $10 per meal (at least).
-No going out on the town, unless on a weekend - or at least, no spending on the town.
-Drink at home. I hate to say it, but I can pretty much pay for an entire bottle of wine with what it costs to have a single glass at a shwanky bar in the city. I am going to save such occasions for, well....occasions.
In using this Plan, I am confident that even my poverty-level income will garner me a vacation.
Now, who's on board????
I always loved making money growing up, putting it in the bank account, and watching the numbers rise. I have had a summer job, every year since the age of 14, and all through university. I have never spent even half of what my earnings were, and so have been fortunate in knowing that there was always this little nest egg waiting for me to cash it.
First, it was saving for a car. Then the car came as a surprise, conveniently, right as I started driving.
Then it was for university. I was fortunate enough between financial aid, student jobs, and some savings my family had tucked away for me, that not even this effected the balance of my savings by much.
Graduation came, and I decided, it was now or never. I had been dreaming of Australia since I saw The Little Mermaid, and proceeded to become obsessed with the ocean. I wanted to have the ability to breathe underwater, or at the very least, become a marine biologist. Needless to say, I have done neither. I did, however, fly myself to Australia, and did a pretty fantastic job (if I do say so myself) of touring the East Coast over the course of 6 weeks.
Since my return, I have been working 24/7, and have not see the light of day. That, my friends, is what is known as "whiplash".
So here's the game plan I am instituting with the aim in mind of planning a rather fabulous and exotic trip out of the country. I will do it in the year of 2008. This is my promise.
Step 1: no superfluous spending.
- No designer coffee. My travel mug and homemade brew does me just fine. = a savings of $5 per craving.
-Bring my own lunch to the office. = $10 per meal (at least).
-No going out on the town, unless on a weekend - or at least, no spending on the town.
-Drink at home. I hate to say it, but I can pretty much pay for an entire bottle of wine with what it costs to have a single glass at a shwanky bar in the city. I am going to save such occasions for, well....occasions.
In using this Plan, I am confident that even my poverty-level income will garner me a vacation.
Now, who's on board????
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
She works hard for the money
...dun-uh dun-uh....so harrrrd for it honey!
Sorry, I had to complete the verse. So good good news people. After a little over 6 months since their opening, and 3 months to the day since I have been with them, my company just signed their first job! This comes at the best time possible, since I have been sitting here wondering if it was time to move on, and if my bosses were going to have to call it quits. The job pays nothing, which is the only downside. The hope is that work begets work, and now that we have this, the momentum will build on itself. It is with a rather large company, so there is also the possibility of future (remunerated) work if all goes well and all are pleased at the end of this job.
The most important improvement that has come with this, is the suddenly cheery and productive mood of my employers. They are suddenly focused on more than just me, and I'm hoping this is a trend that will catch on. I still am in no way convinced that I will want to stick around here any longer that I would have to, but if this atmosphere continues for longer than 24 hours, it will make it a heck of a lot more bearable to be here.
On that note, the bosses have yet to show up today, so whether or not yesterday was a fluke is still uncertain. The jury is deliberating. I will report the verdict in a few days.
Oh, and DON'T think that I have in any way forgotten my wanderlust. In my spare time I have been checking travel recommendations and flight prices to various Central American destinations for the times surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas. The flights are more affordable during Thanksgiving, but there is the potential of having more days off around Christmas, as well as the more likely possibility that I will be able to find someone(s) to accompany me. Right now, the easiest seems to be Costa Rica. And while this would not have been my first choice, due to it's over-touristification in recent years - who am I to complain?? If I have more than a week off, I could easily hop a border or two, and I would still be able to cross another country off the list of those left unvisited.
So I'm totally serious, readers. Tell me what you're thinking. I know it's unconventional to spend one's Christmas holidays away from family (or at least it is for me), but one must take what one can get. My family still only live about 3 hours drive from me, and I see them regularly. If they want, they too can hop of the Costa Rica bandwagon, and we will eat, drink, surf and be merry!
Sorry, I had to complete the verse. So good good news people. After a little over 6 months since their opening, and 3 months to the day since I have been with them, my company just signed their first job! This comes at the best time possible, since I have been sitting here wondering if it was time to move on, and if my bosses were going to have to call it quits. The job pays nothing, which is the only downside. The hope is that work begets work, and now that we have this, the momentum will build on itself. It is with a rather large company, so there is also the possibility of future (remunerated) work if all goes well and all are pleased at the end of this job.
The most important improvement that has come with this, is the suddenly cheery and productive mood of my employers. They are suddenly focused on more than just me, and I'm hoping this is a trend that will catch on. I still am in no way convinced that I will want to stick around here any longer that I would have to, but if this atmosphere continues for longer than 24 hours, it will make it a heck of a lot more bearable to be here.
On that note, the bosses have yet to show up today, so whether or not yesterday was a fluke is still uncertain. The jury is deliberating. I will report the verdict in a few days.
Oh, and DON'T think that I have in any way forgotten my wanderlust. In my spare time I have been checking travel recommendations and flight prices to various Central American destinations for the times surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas. The flights are more affordable during Thanksgiving, but there is the potential of having more days off around Christmas, as well as the more likely possibility that I will be able to find someone(s) to accompany me. Right now, the easiest seems to be Costa Rica. And while this would not have been my first choice, due to it's over-touristification in recent years - who am I to complain?? If I have more than a week off, I could easily hop a border or two, and I would still be able to cross another country off the list of those left unvisited.
So I'm totally serious, readers. Tell me what you're thinking. I know it's unconventional to spend one's Christmas holidays away from family (or at least it is for me), but one must take what one can get. My family still only live about 3 hours drive from me, and I see them regularly. If they want, they too can hop of the Costa Rica bandwagon, and we will eat, drink, surf and be merry!
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