Archive for April, 2008
Tips For Communicating With The Locals When You Can’t Speak The Language
Image by assbach
Editor’s note: This is a post by the other original Location Independent Professional - Jonathan - who’s been elusive and mysterious on this blog until now. He’s an artist not a writer (or so he says), so go easy on him!
When I get nervous I tend to speak faster and my voice seems [...]
Image by assbach
Editor’s note: This is a post by the other original Location Independent Professional - Jonathan - who’s been elusive and mysterious on this blog until now. He’s an artist not a writer (or so he says), so go easy on him!
When I get nervous I tend to speak faster and my voice seems to raise by a few octaves. I just about manage to get away with this when I am conversing with a fellow English speaker, but how can I expect someone with limited English language skills to understand me?
Not only that but I’m one of those people who feels rude and embarrassed about not being able to speak their language - which makes me even more nervous, even higher-pitched and even less understood!
Unlike Lea, I don’t pick up languages after just a few lessons and since becoming location independent 18 months ago I have had to really think about how I communicate with other people when I can’t speak their language and they have a limited understanding of mine.
These are a few of the things I’ve learned about how to communicate when you’re both speaking a different language…
Some Useful Things That Can Help You Create A Location Independent Lifestyle.
I often get asked to mention, promote, advertise or feature things and sometimes I want to but I’m aware that people don’t always like to be advertised to, especially in a place where they usually don’t find too much of it…so if you’re one of those people, skip this post and wait for our next [...]
I often get asked to mention, promote, advertise or feature things and sometimes I want to but I’m aware that people don’t always like to be advertised to, especially in a place where they usually don’t find too much of it…so if you’re one of those people, skip this post and wait for our next article on Monday 
However, if you don’t mind being exposed to some things that are actually very useful for creating your Location Independent life, then read on…
5 Things That Will Help You Settle In Quickly When You Lead A Nomadic Lifestyle As A Web Worker
Photo by MumbleyJoe
With our arrival in Thailand last week, it is the 8th place we’ll have lived in during the past 14 months for a period of 4 weeks or more. You might say we’ve become accustomed to hitting the ground running, sussing out our new surroundings and getting used to a new way of [...]
Photo by MumbleyJoe
With our arrival in Thailand last week, it is the 8th place we’ll have lived in during the past 14 months for a period of 4 weeks or more. You might say we’ve become accustomed to hitting the ground running, sussing out our new surroundings and getting used to a new way of doing things!
It’s figuring out the simple things that can prove a challenge - things like…
- Figuring out how to fill up with petrol - self serve or not? To tip or not?
- Working out how supermarkets work - weigh fruit & veg before checking out? Handing in handbag/other shopping bags to security before you enter the store?
- Checking out the TV channels and working out which ones have the best movies on.
- Figuring out the driving rules and whether tooting your horn is rude or friendly.
Moving round as a modern nomad can be unsettling and stressful - you begin to crave routine, you seek out the familiar and you find yourself constantly comparing one place to another. Achieving a sense of feeling settled might be the very thing you were trying to escape when you left home - and yet it may well be the thing you find yourself constantly striving for whilst you’re away.
(No, I’m not feeling homesick - nor unsettled - but it struck me recently that no matter how well this lifestyle suits us, it can be pretty stressful when it comes to moving on!)
There are a number of things however, which will help you get settled in and accustomed to your new surroundings more quickly… Read the rest of this entry
Review: Earth Class Mail - Receive Your Postal Mail Online
I’ve seen a number of lists around the blogosphere recently from other LIPs, web workers and modern nomads who’re catching on to some of the more essential tools to replace the conveniences of having a permanent base.
I’ve mentioned Earth Class Mail before - it’s the mailing service we’ve been using for a year or so [...]
I’ve seen a number of lists around the blogosphere recently from other LIPs, web workers and modern nomads who’re catching on to some of the more essential tools to replace the conveniences of having a permanent base.
I’ve mentioned Earth Class Mail before - it’s the mailing service we’ve been using for a year or so now to help deal with snail mail whilst we’re overseas. In fact, Earth Class Mail (ECM) also promote the fact that having an ECM address is ideal for other things too, including:
- People who move house frequently and don’t want to keep changing their address with numerous services (that would have been us even before we became LIPs!!!).
- RV fans who live on the road with no fixed address.
- Business travellers who don’t get home frequently enough to check the mail.
Having used it for a while now I thought I’d post a brief review and a description of how the service works, for those of you who are looking for a service which lets you get your mail from anywhere.
