Remote Working Guides – Books and Bao https://booksandbao.com Translated Literature | Bookish Travel | Culture Fri, 19 Apr 2024 13:06:16 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://booksandbao.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Logo-without-BG-150x150.jpg Remote Working Guides – Books and Bao https://booksandbao.com 32 32 How Phones Allow the Freedom to Work From Anywhere (Phones Are Good) https://booksandbao.com/phones-travel-freedom/ Tue, 03 Dec 2019 14:26:34 +0000 https://booksandbao.com/?p=8522 What would we do without our phones? Where would we be? How would we function in day-to-day life? Technology, as it has rapidly advanced over the last ten years, has opened up so many doors in terms of communication and work options. Many of our jobs can be done from anywhere and phones have played a massive part in allowing us this freedom.

We can communicate with people across the world for free and, I’m sure, if you can remember the days of counting how many texts you had left for that month in your plan, you’ll never take this amazing ease of communication for granted.

phones are good

My phone certainly does a lot for me and not always in ways I would have expected. It has transformed the way that I work, travel, stay close to friends, and build my career. Here are a few ways my phone has helped me professionally and personally.

How my Phone Helps Me Professionally

I know that I’m incredibly lucky these days. I get to work outside an office – from home, a cafe, a park bench, wherever I desire – but there’s no arguing that this lifestyle wouldn’t be at all possible without the incredible support of my phone.

As a freelance writer, my phone allows me to do so much while on the go. If something special and unmissable crosses my path while I’m travelling, I can capture it in a photo or in HD video to look back on later, add to an article, or share online to inspire others.

It’s a moment that would otherwise be lost forever but, thanks to my phone, I now have it with me always. Even more practical than the use of the camera is how my phone helps me work. As a writer, I can take notes at any time.

On press trips, you’re given so much information at once so having somewhere to write notes at a moment’s notice is so valuable. There have been moments when using my phone as a voice recorder has allowed me to capture immediate and important information that I’ve been so grateful to have come article-writing time.

I’ve even recorded the words of people who inspire me at conferences or who have provided me with valuable tips and insight that I’ll need later. Taking notes on a phone is also far more practical than using a notepad and pen, especially if you’re on foot.

using a phone for work

Read More: How to Get Started With Freelance Writing.

I can send pitches to magazines and newspapers at any time while out and about, and from anywhere at all, whether it’s walking in the park or while riding the bus. I can answer messages on Slack, set up meetings, and even edit photos and proofread my writing while on the go.

Because I work primarily for companies in the US and Japan (but live in the UK) I have to be available most of the time — that wouldn’t be feasible at all without my phone. Working remotely has never been so easy, thanks to our phones.

The kinds of apps available are astounding, from editing photos with lightroom to creating videos or downloading an app to keep me productive. My phone manages my life from professional to personal with ease.

Read More: Learn How to Edit Photos and More With Our Handpicked Creative Classes.

How My Phone Helps Me Personally

Here’s a personal story of how my phone became the only way of communication with my friends and family at one point. I’ve lived abroad for many years in several different and disparate countries but, before moving to China, I knew the censorship of popular communication and social media sites was going to be a major issue. This is thanks to what we call the Great Firewall of China.

My usual ways of communicating with friends and family (like using Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype) which had served me fine while living in the UAE (still all on my phone) would suddenly be useless in China thanks to the firewall.

travel phone

What was I to do? Well, I had my friends and family download the Chinese communication app Wechat – the Chinese version of Whatsapp. Wechat is only accessible on mobile phones and is an app that is completely allowed within China – being that it is Chinese.

It was amazing not to have to worry about this issue while starting a new life in another country; I could let people know we were safe and happy and chat just as easily as I would have at home, and for free. Without Wechat, I would have been potentially cut off from friends and family with absolutely no way of contacting them. Every method of communication would have been blocked, and only Wechat on my phone could save me.

Of course, I made plenty of friends in China, and later in Korea and Japan, and communication apps like Kakao in Korea and Line in Japan all opened new lines of communication and friendship along the way.

Read More: Teach Abroad in China, Korea, or Japan. Honest Pros and Cons

How has your phone helped you on your professional or personal journey? Let me know in the comments below.

This is a paid partnership article with Three, a mobile phone supplier in the UK as part of their Phones Are Good Campaign. Three believe that phones have been getting too hard a time recently. Far from bringing the end to humanity, they think they bring people together.

These pocket rockets help us plan our social life, find love, build relations, run businesses and make memories. They also keep us connected on the go, including 71 destinations worldwide with Three’s Go Roam proposition. As part of the paid article, Three asked me to share my personal experiences on why phones are good. These opinions, stories and images are my own.

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5 Awesome Blogger Houses in Europe for Content Creators https://booksandbao.com/awesome-blogger-houses-europe-content-creators/ https://booksandbao.com/awesome-blogger-houses-europe-content-creators/#comments Sun, 28 Jul 2019 11:24:48 +0000 https://booksandbao.com/?p=6015 Residences for bloggers and content creators are a relatively new concept in the tourism world, and they’re a testament to the tourism boards and brands who recognise the value of working with content creators to reach audiences they wouldn’t otherwise.

They each provide incredibly diverse and immersive experiences in their host cities and they foster a scenario where the creator can produce top quality content with the support and expertise of someone who knows the city and surrounding areas well.

As far as I can tell, this idea seems to be particularly growing in Europe, so here are five of our favourite blogger houses for content creators.

Estonia, Tallinn – Storyteller’s Nest

For a start, what a romantic name! It sounds like the kind of place you’d struggle to leave – luckily they give you lots of incentives to get out and explore. Storyteller’s Nest in Tallinn offers a three or five-night stay in the heart of gorgeous Tallinn.

We fell in love with the city ourselves recently so would highly recommend a visit to Tallinn, blogger house or not! They also provide a car with fuel, restaurant vouchers, and personalised tips so it’s a wonderful opportunity to see more of the country. They trust you to know where and how you produce your best content and let you get on with it.

You can find out more about the Storyteller’s Nest here and find their application form here.

Estonia Tallinn

Lithuania, Vilnius – Tinggly Blogger House

We had such a great experience with Tinggly and very much identify with their brand’s philosophy of ‘give experiences not stuff‘ so we were off to a good start the minute we met the team and arrived at this beautiful house.

Vilnius is another of our favourite cities and a huge part of that was thanks to Tinggly, who provided local tips and some exciting tailored experiences. They even picked us up and drove us to one of the nearby towns: the medieval captial of Trakai.

The house is beautiful and set up with everything a blogger could need, from studio lighting, big open space to work, and a massive projector (ok, maybe not conducive to blogging but certainly conducive to watching the newest season of Stranger Things in style).

Find out more about the Tinggly Blogger House.

Vilnius

Finland, Helsinki – My Helsinki Residence

Helsinki is a beautiful city with so much get up to in the city and nearby. The Helsinki tourism board was one of the first to get involved with the blogger residence and offer an amazing package for lucky content creators.

They offer a 4-7 day residency in modern, beautifully-designed accommodation, local tips, and a survival guide which includes transports passes etc. And even flights to and from Helsinki! You’re all set to explore Helsinki’s diverse city and nearby natural delights with all the support you could need to create great content.

Find out more about what My Helsinki Residence offer.

Helsinki Blogger House

The Netherlands, The Hague – Blogger House

We’ve had a great experience with the tourism board in The Hague; they’re seriously the friendliest bunch of people. Taking part in their blogger house experience means staying in one of their amazing sea chalets and enjoying one of the best-kept secrets of The Hague: the city’s gorgeous 11km of beach.

They invite a sizeable group of bloggers every year (since 2016), provide housing, transport, and activities to get up to. Since they invite a mix of bloggers, vloggers, and photographers it’s a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and potentially create more than you ever could alone.

Find out more about The Hague Blogger House.

the-hague-hotels

Italy, Emilia Romagna – Blogville

This blogger house experience is created by Emilia Romagna Region Tourist Board together with the influencer network iAmbassador.

Once a year they host a group of bloggers and show the best of the Northern Italian region, including the local small towns, art and architecture, and local food. They’re currently closed for 2019 but you’ll be able to see the content each of the creators contributes on their site.

Find more information about Blogville here.

Italy House Content Creator

What do you need?

Each one of these blogger residences has its own method of application but they all have some things in common. Much like working with tourism boards and brands in general, you’ll need:

  • your website and social media channels
  • facts & figures about visitors/reach; interaction and conversion of your channels
  • Why you want to stay and are particularly interested in that city
  • why they should choose you above other applicants
  • What you’re planning on creating while you’re staying there

What if I can’t fina a blogger house in the city I’m interested in?

Since spaces are limited in these residences and it’s still very much a new concept in general, there are other ways to enjoy free accommodation in a city and still be in a great position to write about you’re getting up to. Here are some of our favourites.

Housesitting

Our method of choice since we love animals so much and like a comfortable environment to work in. Housesitting is very popular now and is the perfect way to spend a few days or a week (or even longer) in cities that would perhaps be too expensive to stay in other ways.

It’s particularly ideal if you want to travel Western Europe, USA, Australia, and New Zeland. Although, you do find good ones in East Asia and the Middle East during the school holidays when teachers take a trip.

Read our guide to housesitting. Or head straight to our favourite housesitting platform and get 25% off.

Workaway

This is definitely something we’ve considered but haven’t tried it ourselves yet. We’ve got plenty of friends who have and it’s an ideal set-up if you don’t mind helping out as you travel.

Typical workaways involve helping out at a hostel for free-board but there’s some farm work, housesitting, NGO work, and it’s also an ideal way to build up some skills in areas you want to as places often need helps with marketing, web design, and photography in exchange for free accommodation.

This is ideal if you want to get off the beaten track, meet locals, and pretty much have your choice of the world to stay in.

Find out more about Workaway here.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a brilliant way to meet new people and it’s particularly useful if you just need a night or two of accommodation, don’t mind sharing someone’s else’s space, and would love a local person to help point you in the best directions.

The community gives as much as it takes and most hosts will prefer if you’ve hosted before and have some reviews. It’s not impossible without reviews though, just make sure you put a bit of effort into your application.

Find out more about Couchsurfing here.

Teaching Abroad

Not really a short-term solution (although you can find particularly lucrative summer contracts in some countries) teaching is an amazing way to have a base for a while, earn a good salary, and actually dig into the culture. We don’t miss teaching as such but we definitely miss the interactions we used to have with young and adult students in terms of what they’d teach us about their country.

Read more:

Why Teach ESL?

Should I Teach in China, Korea, or Japan?

If you work online and are looking or some great writing opportunities, check out our ‘guide to online writing jobs‘.

Awesome Blogger Houses For Content Creators | Books and Bao
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Five Proactive Ways to Give Your Mental Health a Boost https://booksandbao.com/five-ways-mental-health-boost/ Sat, 08 Jun 2019 10:28:19 +0000 https://booksandbao.com/?p=5271 As the old proverb goes, ‘sunshine all the time makes a desert.’ When it comes to our feelings and emotions, none of us can feel happy all the time and, actually, periods of sadness, anxiety, and other perceived negative emotions can help us appreciate the good moods when we have them.

As humans, we have a wide spectrum of feelings and it’s perfectly normal and healthy to feel all of them from time to time, but if you’re in a slump and unhappy more often than not, it’s a sign that there’s a problem.(Check out our own mental health story)

If you’re suffering then do speak to your GP, but if you want to try to give your own mental health a boost by yourself then here are a few things you could try.

Read More Books

Books are good for the mind and good for the soul, there’s nothing nicer than curling up with one and getting lost in another world (we can attest to that).

They’re a great way to relax while still actively using your brain, making them much more beneficial than, say, watching TV. Reading can improve your vocabulary as well as your writing skills, and in older adults it’s been shown to ward off dementia.

Books are a great way to relax before bed and can help you fall asleep much more healthily than staring at a bright phone screen which has been shown to interrupt sleep hormones and the process of drifting off. Reading opens the door to all kinds of magical and incredible worlds and places.

You can get to know characters as though they’re real people and, if you’re stressed and want to lose yourself in another reality for a while, then this is a safe, productive and fun way to go about it.

Reading has also been shown to increase human empathy, allowing us to better know our own minds and those of other people. Make the effort to read more books; if you enjoy one then look for others in the same genre or see what others the author has done. From there you can branch out further and further.

Reading

Related: Books That Might Help Your Mental Health

Write for Fun

Reading is a great way to learn new language and writing styles, and it helps you to understand how a story is put together. But writing your own pieces allows your creative juices to flow, to use what you’ve learned and put your own spin on it.

Writing a novel or even a short story can be daunting at first, so maybe start a blog and work on some articles at first? Write poetry, or keep a journal. Expressing yourself creatively or even just getting your thoughts down on paper can be great for your mental health as well as building your skills.

Being able to write fluently is always going to be beneficial; we live in a digital age and much of our communication in our work and personal lives is done through the written word. Expressing yourself creatively is a major key to a good mental health boost.

Journal Writing

Travel

Travel really does broaden your horizons – it helps you to understand more of the world. It’s one thing to see it on TV and in photos but quite another to experience it for yourself.

Travel teaches you about different places and people that have grown up completely differently to you. It lets you explore culture, history and customs of places, you can try the food and understand the ingredients and cooking techniques.

Not only is it a great learning experience but travel is fun, too. It’s important to give yourself a break; our daily routines can become so mundane that it feels like being trapped in a groundhog day. A week or two of sun and sea, exploring a city, attending festivals abroad or sailing boats on the ocean could be just what you need to refresh your mind.

Best of all, travel doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think. If you’re flexible with where you’re prepared to go then you can snag some great last-minute deals. Sites like Groupon and Wowcher also have travel deals that can save you heaps of cash.

Exercise More

We all know by now that exercise isn’t just good for the body but the mind, too. And there are so many reasons for this. First of all, exercise releases endorphins into the body giving you a ‘natural high’ and making you feel good.

It also helps to regulate hormones which can affect mood and sleep, leaving you feeling better rested, more energised and happier. Exercising and improving your shape can increase your self-esteem, and setting and achieving your fitness goals is also highly rewarding. Exercise is the fastest way to see a real mental health boost, often immediately.

There are so many reasons to include regular activity into your week, you’d be mad not to. If you’ve not worked out in a while it can feel like a real slog at first and you might find yourself wondering how anyone could possibly find it enjoyable.

But stick with it, once you have that foundation level of fitness you can start pushing yourself and going for the burn. Aim to incorporate cardio, stretching and resistance exercises into your routine. You can even do some of these right from your home.

For example, you could look into where to buy resistance bands (UK) and do some resistance training in your living room or garden on a sunny day. You could get a skipping rope or a trampette and give yourself a cardio workout.

Exercise

Get a Pet

Of course, getting a pet is a huge responsibility and something that you’d have to sit and consider before going ahead. Can you afford it? Do you have the time for it, and do you have the space?

If you answer yes, bringing a new friend into the household could do wonders for your mental health. If the pet is a dog it can encourage you to exercise as you’ll be going out on walks; you could join dog walking groups and meet new people in the process. But other animals, like cats, rabbits, birds, and even rodents can be incredibly rewarding.

Pets have been shown to help individuals with depression – it can give meaning to your life when you have responsibility for taking care of this little creature, therefore something as simple as a bunny can be a real mental health boost. Pets make you smile, and stroking a cat or dog has been shown to lower blood pressure.

Have a think about the pet that would suit you and your lifestyle, and take the plunge if you feel that you can be the best pet parent possible! You could even try housesitting, get away and take care of someone else’s pets!

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Travelling with Anxiety and Depression: Our Story https://booksandbao.com/travelling-with-anxiety-depression-our-story/ https://booksandbao.com/travelling-with-anxiety-depression-our-story/#comments Wed, 15 May 2019 16:25:14 +0000 https://booksandbao.com/?p=4482 The world is changing, and conversations around both travel and mental health are changing with it. In the West, openness about depression and anxiety is ever-increasing for women and men – right now, 3.4% of the world’s population have been diagnosed with depression, but that number is likely to rise as more and more of us are willing to discuss our mental health.

By that same token, travel is becoming a way of life for many people, with 4.8 million Americans identifying as digital nomads in 2018. All this being said, how does travel impact our mental health? Does taking yearly vacations help alleviate stress? Is being constantly on the road good or bad for our mental strain?

While we may not have the answers, we do have a few stories that may shed some light on the blending of travel and mental health issues. What you’re about to read is personal – we don’t do many of these. Books and Bao isn’t about us; it’s about books and authors, travel and culture. But if you are interested in us or want to know how travel and living far from home can affect your mental health – both positively and negatively – then read on.

My Pre-Travel Life

When graduation day started to loom overhead like the moon from Majora’s Mask, threatening to destroy this happy student life I had carved out over three good years, I realised that a degree in theatre would do me little good, and I also didn’t want to go get a nondescript office job.

I wanted a career that would be exciting and also something I could be proud of. And so, after graduation, I became a high school English teacher. I spent a year training and having a hell of a lot of fun doing so. Soon enough I graduated, got a proper job, and moved to Surrey.

depressed high school teacher
This is what a depressed high school teacher looks like.

Depression sank in within months. The pressures of the job, the spitefulness of the kids, my own immaturity and lack of preparedness. Being away from my university friends, my family, living in a county nobody else I knew was even close to.

All of these things contributed to the onset of crushing sadness and loneliness, bouts of crying and screaming. I developed insomnia and I would often hit myself as I grew frustrated with the planning, the marking papers, the discipline. I lost my temper daily. I would wake up at 6:30am and immediately start to cry. My morning bouts of tears became a daily occurrence. I suffered through this for two years, and then I met Jess.

Moving Abroad

I had recently decided to quit and look for another job at a school closer to my hometown, believing that’s what I needed at the time. At an interview in a small English village, I met Jess as a fellow interviewee. Neither of us got the job, but we got each other. She confessed she had applied for a job in Abu Dhabi, and that I could apply as well – the school needed teachers. Six months after meeting, we moved abroad.

Now, did moving abroad cure my depression? Or did finding love? I don’t know. What I do know is that I was no longer depressed or anxious. I was excited, confused, on an adrenaline high for weeks.

We ended up leaving Abu Dhabi after six months, simply through a lack of a love for the culture and the school we worked at. The UAE is bloody hot, it turns out. Next move: to Shanghai. This time, as EFL teachers. A less stressful, easier, simplified job that pays just as well.

Culture Shock

It was in Shanghai that the complexities of not only my own mental health, but Jess’ as well, became clearer. Shanghai can be a stressful place to live. If you compare it to the relatively polite England I’d spent my life in, people in China can be far louder, more abrupt, and ruder. There’s animal cruelty everywhere, and people are constantly spitting.

I’m not saying this to be mean to China – I love China – I’m merely pointing out the culture shock I suffered and how it affected my mind. I began suffering severe bouts of anger and anxiety, and this caused my mind to close off the world around me. I ignored Jess a lot of the time, to the point that we were living two different but parallel lives. Her own depression and anxiety worsened as a result. It was a hostile life we were living for much of that year.

anxiety in china
This is what anxiety abroad looks like (I got very fat – food was my vice).

So here I had first-hand evidence of living abroad, away from home, nestled deep inside a culture far different from the one in which I was raised, and having my mental health deteriorate. This is the first bit of real advice I can give: despite what you learn and gain from another culture, culture shock can negatively affect your anxiety.

A busy place with too many people, full of pollution and things you don’t enjoy seeing or feel comfortable around, can cause your mental health to deteriorate. After a year in Shanghai, we broke up. For a little while. The state of our collective mental health was too much, and our relationship fractured.

I moved to Tokyo for a few months and Jess moved to Bristol, UK. During my time there, we reconciled, and I flew home to be with her. We got a new home, new jobs (in high schools), and settled back home before becoming restless again within months.

Relationship 2.0

Looking back at our time in Bristol, we were both happy. We were healthy, happy people. We cooked dinner at home, exercised regularly, got better jobs, and furnished a gorgeous little house full of bookcases and strange antiques.

We risked all of that to go chasing the travel bug once again. This was a risky move, without a doubt. And to this day I miss that house. I miss Bristol. But making that blind leap led us here, to this life.

happy couple
Stronger together the second time around.

We moved to Seoul. We lived there for a year and worked for the worst company I’ve ever seen. The job brought back my anxiety in a big way. It became a real problem. But something was different this time. Our relationship was different. Jess and I were in Relationship 2.0, and we were stronger this time around. We leaned on each other for support.

We took trips together and stayed closer to each other, rather than drift apart. We started this blog as a hobby, in order to feel like we were building something together, shared our love of literature and travel. We’re not interested in marriage or kids, but we wanted to make something together. To share a hobby and a passion. That’s what kept us together and kept my anxiety at bay.

From Korea we moved to Japan – together this time. Then we left teaching behind and began a life as digital nomads, freelance writing and working on our blog. My anxiety is still there, and travel stresses make it flare up. But living with anxiety and seeing what triggers it has led me to the belief that it’s caused by a lack of control. I can’t control kids very well, so they make me anxious. If I don’t know where life is going, I get anxious.

What reduces my mental health issues is Jess and this thing we’ve built together. Controlling my life, making decisions to better it, building something I can be proud of and being in control of that – these are the things that aid my mental health.

happy couple in korea
Lean on each other.

What to Take Away

Travelling is stressful. Being a digital nomad is stressful. But the two things that alleviate that stress are being in control and being a partnership. Jess and I work together as partners in every sense of the word.

Learning to lean on her a little has helped immensely. Being open and discussing our plans, our future, and choices – these things have helped. Travel becomes less scary if you do it with someone. And anxiety gets chased away by self-assuredness and feelings of security and understanding.

I still get anxious. So does Jess. We both have our down days; our sad days. But being in full control over my life is the thing that has helped me. Not working for a corporation or a school or a government you don’t approve of. Carving my name into something – forging a new path, a new career, a new life. Those are the things that have helped rebuild my mind.

gladstone's library
Build something to be proud of.

If you take away one thing from reading this, it should be this: take control of your life, in whatever manner that entails. Don’t be at someone else’s whim. When we lived in Bristol, our friends would stress us out with constant nudges to go out and drink when Jess didn’t want to. It wore her down. When we worked in Korea, the corporate corruption wore us both down.

So take control. Say no to the things you don’t want to do. Try your best to choose things for yourself – things that are good and healthy for you. Your best life comes from your own decisions and the things you build because of them.

Have a look at these Seven Books About Mental Health That May Help and these Five Proactive Ways to Give Your Mental Health a Boost before you go.

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4 Ways to Start Learning A New Language from Home https://booksandbao.com/4-ways-to-start-learning-a-new-language-from-home/ Wed, 08 May 2019 10:45:22 +0000 https://booksandbao.com/?p=4344 Learning a new language is equal parts exciting and daunting. Exciting because it gives us access to new cultures, makes travelling more fun and less stressful, and it exercises our brains better than pretty much anything else. And daunting because it’s time-consuming, stressful, and can cost a lot of money.

The best way to alleviate most of the negatives of language learning is to make it cost-effective, comfortable, and flexible. We all learn differently, and each of us requires a different kind of learning environment, discipline, and structure.

But, speaking from experience, the best way to make new language-learning effective is to do it from home. No expensive classes and scary classrooms. No worrying about not getting along with your teacher or your peers. Just focus and comfort and full attention. (If you’re interested in learning a foreign language from home, you may also consider teaching English from home in return.)

4 Easy Steps to Start Learning a Language From Home

We have spent the last few years living in several different countries, and by using cost-effective from-home studying, I’ve managed to get beyond beginner level Chinese, German, and French, and intermediate/conversational Japanese. How did I — and how can you — achieve this? Well, there’s no one right way, but here are some methods and resources that suited me and may also suit you.

1. Apps

I honestly thought this was a no-brainer until I started meeting other Chinese and Japanese language-learners who were struggling through archaic textbooks and confessed they’d never considered apps before. Apps will become your best friend when it comes to language study. You can turn to them when you’re at home, at the office, or on the train.

You’ll find that ten minutes per day with an app will help with retention, keep you invested and entertained, and show real, quick progress. Which apps do we recommend?

Duolingo

This is where many people start, and with good reason. This app covers all the world’s major languages, features frequent updates, has a colourful and user-friendly interface, and tests you in fun and challenging ways. Duolingo lessons start at the logical beginnings – with alphabets, numbers, pronouns, question words – and builds in grammar as you go.

duolingo language learning app

Lingodeer

This is a newer and lesser-known app, but, in my honest opinion, it is essentially Duolingo but better. Lingodeer initially started out as a way of learning only Chinese, Korean, and Japanese (which is what initially drew me to it) but has since expanded massively.

The app uses very similar methods, but its topics, examples, and methods of learning/memorisation are a little more refined and sensible. It’s also totally free.

lingodeer language learning app

MindSnacks

This app is best for learning vocabulary rather than grammar. MindSnacks a great place to start if you want to just get your mouth around new ways of speaking. It uses really fun, engaging, varied, and challenging games of speed and reflexes to challenge your retention skills. It’s seriously engaging and so much fun it can become a bit of a time-sink (in the best way possible).

I’ve only used it for Japanese, but it alone helped me to memorise the names of twenty different animals, as well as hours, days, months, meals, and household objects all within a few days.

mind snacks language learning app

2. Language Trainers Online

As I mentioned, flexible study hours, no classmates to butt heads with, and complete focus and attention are key to feeling real progress. Language Trainers offers this.

They have one-on-one classes which are tailored to you, and you have the option of having a private tutor visit your home or office, or to have those same one-on-one lessons via Skype (which is a cheaper option).

They’re a UK and Ireland-based company, and their face-to-face classes start at £29/€39, while Skype classes go from £19/€22. They offer classes from Arabic to Vietnamese, with a fully-trained native speaker. This is absolutely the most comfortable way to learn a new language with a qualified instructor.

3. Books

When I was studying Japanese, I didn’t have a lot of fun with the most prestigious textbooks (Genki and Japanese from Zero). This left me immediately disheartened, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be the same for you. It’s simply a lesson in taste. I’ve got friends who whizzed through the Genki books and were ready to take the JLPT official Japanese language test within a few months.

japanese from zero

I had to give up on those, though, and instead, I turned to Speak Japanese in 90 Days by Kevin Marx. I downloaded this book onto my Kindle and spent an hour a day in a café pouring through it, using a notebook and post-it notes to practice. I was amazed by his approach to studying, starting the book with question phrases, greetings, and general niceties (please, thank you, have a nice day etc). It was transformative.

As was Chineasy when I began studying Chinese. This book uses mnemonics to help you get to grips with the at-first-daunting Chinese characters. Chineasy also offers flash cards to help you learn quickly and simply. If you’re interested in learning Japanese, there are multiple flash cards and games which take a similar approach.

So, the lesson here is in perseverance. There is absolutely a book out there for you. It may be a textbook, a guide, or even a dictionary. Whatever it is, it’ll transform your language study once you find it.

chineasy language learning

4. Language Exchange

This phrase gets thrown around a lot if you live as a foreigner in a non-English-speaking country. It simply means a meet-up with a friendly group of mixed native and foreign people who want to learn each other’s languages.

You can join a website or a Facebook group in your local area, agree to a meet-up (usually in a pub or café), and make some new friends. You share conversation and stories in a mix of English and whatever the other language is, and you all benefit! There’s no cost involved, and you’re guaranteed to make some new friends.

It can be a little scary at first, but that fear almost immediately slips away when you start seeing progress, making friends, and realise that helping someone else with their English is as fun and rewarding and getting better at a new language yourself.

Whether you’re learning a new language from home or you’re a foreigner in a new land, you’ll find these language exchanges everywhere. If you’re thinking of teaching English abroad, you might enjoy our ESL guide to teaching in Japan, Korea, and China or why we think you should teach ESL (TEFL) above other options.

Learning a language from home
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So You Want to Date an Oppa? Guide to Dating in Korea https://booksandbao.com/date-an-oppa-korea-dating/ https://booksandbao.com/date-an-oppa-korea-dating/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:30:00 +0000 https://booksandbao.com/?p=1054 With the rise of tour sites like Oh my Oppa and the huge surge in the popularity of Kdramas, the idea of dating a Korean has become idealised. However, it’s handy to know that there are some key differences in dating styles between North America and Korea. As always, what may seem normal in one culture may seem strange in another.

At the time of writing, I have lived in Seoul for about six months. I’ve had my fair share of dates – good, bad, and humorous. Here, I will share some tips on dating in Korea based on my personal experiences as well as those of my friends. However, everyone’s experiences are different and yours may vary as well.

Cick here if you’re interested in seeing how it went on my Oh my Oppa date!

Everybody is different

If you assume that all Korean guys are cute, friendly and thin like K-pop idols, you will be sorely disappointed. Koreans come in all shapes and sizes. I’ve gone on dates with tall, short, thin and muscular Korean boys. I’ve gone on dates with good boys and bad boys.

Some guys were confident. Others were very shy. Some spoke perfect English. Others barely knew any. Some were rude and weird. Some were nice. Don’t assume there is one “type” of Korean guy, and certainly don’t base your expectations on idols!

Where Do You Meet an Oppa?

In North America, it’s very common to meet your significant other through friends, bars, parties and online dating apps such as Tinder. In Korea, the most common way that Koreans meet each other is by introducing them to friends. In fact, it’s common for friends to set each other up on blind dates called sogeting (소개팅).

Unfortunately, unless you have a Korean friend, this is not the way that most Koreans meet foreigners. There are some Korean dating apps you can try, but they are written in Korean, so unless you are fluent in the language they will be confusing to use. (I tried some of these apps, and even with Google translate I was overwhelmed).

Currently, the most popular way for foreigners to meet Koreans is still Tinder. Depending on who you ask, Tinder can be heaven or hell – especially in a foreign country. Some people in Korea will use Tinder as a way to hook up with foreigners (read: they think you are an easy ‘white horse’). Others have serious intentions. I have gotten many dates from Tinder, and I have dated Koreans through the app.

Beware that you don’t get used as a free English tutor. Your date should ask about you. If your date keeps asking about your hometown’s culture, people, food, music, dating and anything else related to your hometown, there is a high chance they are using you for free English lessons. If you want to practice your Korean and he insists on speaking English, make sure you don’t get taken for a ride.

Read More: The Ultimate 3-Day Seoul Itinerary

Your First Date With an Oppa

If you do have a date with a Korean, congratulations! Koreans are known to be very fashionable, so dress well! It goes without saying that you should not wear any low-cut shirts, but miniskirts are okay.

Koreans work hard and play even harder, so you may find yourself going from place to place on your date. Koreans love to eat, so bring your appetite! It’s not uncommon to go to two restaurants in one night. You may also end up singing your heart out at a noreabang (karaoke room), bar or 24-hour coffee shop.

TIP: In North America, it’s normal to hold hands and even kiss on the first date. In Korea, it’s not normal to hold hands or kiss on a first date. A guy may want to hold hands, but kissing on the first date is a big NO. In Korea, it’s frowned upon to kiss in public. If he tries to kiss you, don’t be surprised if he tries to take you to a love motel afterwards.

dinner date seoul

First Three Days of Dating

At the risk of sounding like a school textbook from the future, in North America a guy would wait three days before he messaged a girl he met. This was to show that he was busy with other things in his life.

In Korea, the opposite is true. The first three days are crucial in showing a person you are interested. So, if a guy keeps messaging you right after you met and you ignore him or take way too long to reply, he may think you are not interested and move on. So, get your fingers typing!

Who Pays?

Korean guys tend to pull out their wallets and pay for every date. Having said that, some younger couples may alternate. The guy will pay for bigger things like dinners, and the girl will pay for smaller things like coffee.

Messaging Koreans

Koreans message. A LOT. The most popular way to contact people is through the Kakao Talk app, so if a guy asks for your Kakao this is what he means. If a guy is interested or if you are dating, he will message you every day or almost every day. Almost every guy I’ve dated in Korea has asked me two questions on Kakao. What are you doing? and Did you eat?

Even if nothing changes in your daily life while you are working, they still want to know about your day. Similar to China and Hong Kong did you eat or have you had breakfast generally signifies that they care about your wellbeing and is most similar to us asking how are you?

korean coffee

Relationships in Korea

A guy may give you a “confession” (confess his feelings for you) on the first date and ask to be exclusive. Don’t be surprised if this happens. It’s up to you to use your judgment on if you want to be exclusive with him right away or not. If you want to get to know him more, feel free to say no. If he likes you he will respect this.

On the other hand, I’ve dated guys who never “confessed”. Were we exclusive? Weren’t we? It is a safe assumption that if a guy constantly messages you and you go out on dates that you are exclusive. However, if you’re not sure, ask! Personal story: When I was dating my first Korean boyfriend, at the time I wasn’t sure about our “status”. So, when we went out I casually asked him, Hey, are we boyfriend and girlfriend? Are we exclusive? He told me we were. 

Read More: The Best Day Trips from Seoul

Breakups in South Korea

This is something I wish I knew before I came to Korea. Koreans are notorious for ghosting. It’s a safe bet that even if you are seeing someone, if they suddenly stop replying to your messages and leave you unread on Kakao that it’s over.

If you’ve had a few great dates and they suddenly stop messaging you, you can also safely assume that you’ve been ghosted. Personal story: I’ve been ghosted a few times in Korea. One time, I had a great date with a guy. He said he’d drive me to the grocery store and help me carry my groceries to my house (bags are heavy!).

Needless to say, I showed up to E-Mart at the time we agreed, but he was nowhere to be found. I called and messaged him a few times before I realized that for whatever reason, he wasn’t going to show up and help me.

Read More: Check out our guide to using the Jimjilbang here and my experience with Oh my Oppa. a new kind of tour.

Buyers Beware

Whatever your feelings and intentions may be, Koreans may not take dating you seriously. In their eyes, you are in Korea for a short time before you go back to your home country.

If you don’t speak any Korean or show interest in knowing or learning his culture, this may also show them that you are not someone to be serious about.

Of course, many foreigners have married Koreans and stayed in Korea. But, don’t expect this to happen. Koreans also work the second-longest hours in the world after Japan! I’ve dated guys who worked 12-hour days 6 days a week. Needless to say, we didn’t see each other often.

When we did, they were very tired. If you’re someone who wants to see your significant other more than once a week, you may have a better chance dating foreigners.

commute seoul

Final Words on Dating an Oppa

Don’t be blinded to have the intention of only dating Koreans. If you are open-minded to date people from your country (or other countries), you may be surprised. You will also be less disappointed than if you only stick to one nationality. Whoever you end up dating, remember to have fun and keep an open mind!

Got a TEFL and interested in teaching in Korea? It’s an easy way to meet local people and enjoy the culture. Check out our guide to teaching in East Asia.

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A Complete Guide to Living and Working in China https://booksandbao.com/guide-to-living-working-china/ https://booksandbao.com/guide-to-living-working-china/#comments Fri, 12 Apr 2019 12:36:41 +0000 https://booksandbao.com/?p=4161 China is a wonderful place to live and work for so many reasons: its extensive cuisine, deep and alluring history, fascinating language, thriving economy, unparalleled natural beauty – the list goes on and on. It’s also a difficult place to live, politically speaking, but that shouldn’t necessarily stop you from moving there.

Is living and working in China for you, though? And are you for China? Moving to another country is like entering into a relationship — will you and China work well together? Are you an ideal match? Having lived, worked, and travelled extensively in China, we’ve taken our experiences, and those of others, and compiled a guide to help you decide if moving to China is the right step for you.

Living and Working in China

Who China is For

There are two kinds of people who thrive in China: those who seek the freedom to make of themselves whatever they want and enjoy a cheap and fun-filled life along the way; and those who have a real adoration for China’s language, food, history, and culture.

If you really care about China and take an interest in learning its language and reading about its history, China will love you back and give you a good life. You can be living in China and working in Chins with glee and an easy time. Similarly, if you have a business idea and enough savings, China gives you the opportunity to start your own business cheaply and easily (more on that later).

Living and working in China is also a lot of fun. Beer is cheap; you can eat out for every meal and still save money; you can even affordably take a taxi to and from work. It’s also big, and every town is vastly different from its neighbours. If you like to travel, and want a single country that has everything from metropolises to mountain villages, lakes to rivers to mountains, and everything in-between, China is the country for you.

Living and Working in China Xi'an

Who China is Not For

Though it might sound harsh to say, China is a fairly rude culture, at least as viewed through Western eyes. Chinese people frequently spit, scream, push, and shout on the streets and in the stores. There is also animal abuse that you will bear witness to on the streets and in the markets.

It’s a place that can induce real culture shock and some upsetting frustration. It’s also rife with political corruption that goes very deep and very dark. If you’re someone who can’t acclimatise to a little rudeness and a lot of political corruption, living in China and working in China is not for you.

China also has a firewall which blocks the use of the following sites and apps: Google, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WordPress and most reputable Western news sites. This can be overcome with the use of a VPN, and there are many to choose from, but they do slow down, and they do fail, and this can be frustrating. Before you decide to go living in China or working in China, you’ve been warned.

Job Opportunities

Of every country in East Asia, China probably has the biggest amount of job opportunities. In the big cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen, English is fairly widely spoken, and a lot of good jobs can be found for English-speakers.

This is especially true if you’re a teacher (more on that below) or if you’re a scientist, engineer, chef, or journalist. We have personally known people in all of these professions working good jobs in Shanghai. So if you’re a high-end professional with a job that’s sought-after, living in China can be hugely rewarding and opportunistic!

The best thing about working in China is the ease with which you can open your own business there. In Korea, most foreigners who want to open a business must physically invent a brand-new device that can help the economy – no joke. In Japan, there’s so much legal red tape for those wanting to, say, open a bar or a café.

In China, however, rent is incredibly cheap, laws are lax by comparison, money moves quickly, and you can have your own business – complete with a strong visa – open within months. If you were so inclined, you could move to China as, say, an English teacher, save for two years, and be ready to open up your own barbershop, deli, or juice bar in next to no time.

Living and Working in China Shanghai

Teaching in China

Teaching English is how most people begin their time living in China. We’ve already made an extensive guide to teaching English in China, Korea, and Japan, but here are some details for the budding teacher looking to escape to China.

The big cities in China are almost overloaded with great teaching opportunities, and most of these big companies ask for nothing more than a bachelor’s degree. You can have your pick of age groups, with companies like EF focussing their attention on teaching English to local kids, and the likes of Wall Street English teaching exclusively adult clients.

These jobs usually have an afternoon/evening work schedule (great if you’re not a morning person), and they often ask you to work weekends but offer you another pair of days off in exchange – such as Monday and Tuesday, or Thursday and Friday. It’s average money for back West, but that pay goes much, much farther in China. Even in the big cities.

We, for example, worked and lived in the heart of Shanghai, managed to live a fairly luxurious life, and also came away with a lot of savings. When you look at it that way, you can’t go wrong living in China and working in China.

The Great Wall of China

There’s also high school and university teaching. The big cities have a wide range of international schools (in the western suburbs of Shanghai, for example, there is a school exclusively for French and German expats). These schools pay extremely well and often provide apartments and long vacations. It’s not unlike working for a private school in the UK. These are good jobs, if you can get them. Best of all is the low bar for university teaching.

A lot of teachers –  TEFL and school teachers alike – dream of working as a professor. In China, you actually can, with relative ease. A little experience goes a long way in China, and you can end up with a university job within just a year or two of teaching. Especially if you’re willing to live in a tier-2 or tier-3 city. Speaking of…

Where to Live in China

This one is not as complicated as you’d think, even given China’s enormous size and population. The big cities have no shortage of jobs and apartments available and are still absurdly affordable with regards to rent, bills, food, and transport costs. If you want to live in the Chinese equivalent of Times Square or Covent Garden, you can.

Conversely, if you’d rather a slightly quieter life, and want to get stuck into learning the language, befriending the locals, and exploring the countryside, China’s smaller cities are still full of things to do. Even its smallest cities usually have a working subway system, which is amazing for convenience and speed. Cities like Hangzhou and Suzhou are of a manageable size, have less pollution, and are a short train ride from Shanghai.

Choosing where to live really comes down to what you want out of life, so here’s a handy list: For the city slicker who wants fried chicken at 3 am: Tier-1 cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen For the countryphile who wants to see the ‘real’ China: Tier-2 cities like Hangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, Kunming, and Nanjing

Each of the above cities has something unique to draw you in. For example, Chengdu is a modern, hipster city and is where the pandas live; Xi-an is a walled city and the ancient capital of China – it also has the Terracotta Soldiers.

Do a little research into each city and see what best suits you. Each one has a wildly different cuisine, different architecture, even often a different local language or dialect. China is fantastically, dizzyingly diverse, and you can see all of it. Picking the right hub is key, though.

For a little personal advice, we lived in Shanghai and if we were to move back and settle somewhere, it would probably be Chengdu for the countryside and the pandas, Shenzhen for the easy access to Hong Kong, or Xi-an for the deep cultural history.

Living and Working in China Chengdu

How to Live (Rent/Bills/Phone/Internet etc.)

For a country with a lot of oppressive laws and regulations, China is surprisingly lax and carefree on the ground level. Most of the landlords are private and accommodating (ours was a friendly Shanghai police officer). Paying bills is easily done by hand at the nearest convenience store. The same is true for phone bills. Living in China is ridiculously free and easy.

Here is a personal story to give an idea of how it might work for you after arriving in China:

When we first began our own adventure working in China, our company put us up in a hotel and gave us five days to find an apartment. We had to accomplish this in the evening after our daily training (which finished late). We used the website/lifeline Smart Shanghai (if you move to Shanghai, this site will be your guide to everything from apartment-hunting to finding the best karaoke bars and restaurants).

The site gave us a frequently-updated list of new apartments for rent, as well as the contact info for the agents and/or landlords. From there, we made appointments and had a few viewings. Once we had decided, we drew up a contract and were good for a year.

For utility bills, they arrive in the post and you simply take the fax-paper-looking document down to the nearest convenience store and hand it over. They’ll ask for the required money in cash, and you pay it. Done until next month.

For phone bills, most convenience stores have a little touch screen/ATM thing placed in one of the corners. With this (it has English options) you can pay your phone bills and top up. For internet, it’s best to ask your landlord to help you set that up. They should be accommodating and helpful. If not them, you may be working for a company who can guide you.

Dos & Don’ts of Living in China

The ‘don’ts’ for while you’re living in China and working in China are big and important and easy to avoid:

  • Don’t stage a protest
  • Don’t bad-mouth president Xi Jinping in public
  • Don’t discuss the independence of Taiwan or Tibet with local people

As for the ‘dos’ when it comes to living in China almost anything goes. There are smoking laws everywhere, and they are universally ignored. Every street corner has a store or stall selling good quality fake CDs and DVDs. Feel free to buy as many as you want. There really isn’t much, legally, that you need to worry about. For all the lack of freedom China has, it paradoxically gives so much freedom.

Living and Working in China Beijing

What to Expect When Applying for a Chinese Visa

The cost of a working visa changes from country to country, so think about where you’re from and google the cost of your nationality’s Chinese working visa.

The application process for working in China demands a private health check. For people with universal health care, like the UK and Canada, this means going to a private doctor, paying out the nose for a full physical check-up, keeping the receipt, and eventually being reimbursed by your company. When you arrive in China, they’ll give you a second health check just for funsies.

The process is also pretty long and drawn-out. We were stuck in the UK for three months while our visas were slowly processed broke and bored, so make sure you have a place to stay and a bit of savings, or a job to tide you over back home for a few months before you head over to China.

Final Note

If you are planning on living in China and working in China, it’s a country with incredible culture, a diverse and fascinating language, and an incredibly exciting and tumultuous political history. We highly recommend you do a little reading on China before you go, as we all should before we visit any new country. So, check out our recommended list of five books you should read before travelling to China. You should also read these books regardless because they’re all excellent reads.

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Why You Should Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) https://booksandbao.com/teach-english-foreign-language-efl-tefl/ https://booksandbao.com/teach-english-foreign-language-efl-tefl/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2019 20:16:16 +0000 https://booksandbao.com/?p=3716 When we enter university at the age of eighteen, most of us fall into one of a few categories: some of us know what job we want and how to get it, and study accordingly; many of us follow a passion and see where it takes us, hoping for the best; and an unfortunate amount of us take up a subject we care about and wind up in a generic office job at the age of twenty-two.

An increasing number of people are travelling after graduation, taking a year out to see the world, only to then return and take up that generic office job, only now we’re twenty-three and a little more tanned.

Is Teaching EFL for you?

There’s also the option to move abroad for a longer time period – maybe a few years, maybe even permanently. The easiest and most popular method, if one wants to experience life in a non-English-speaking country, is TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language). Is this the right step for you? Probably, yes. And here’s why.

teaching efl tefl
Jess with some of her students in Korea.

Who can teach TEFL?

TEFL is achievable for anyone with a bachelor’s degree. This instantly means that your degree is not a waste, even if you worry that it might be (I personally studied theatre at university with little interest in pursuing it as a career – I simply enjoyed acting and writing).

Most TEFL companies out there (and there are a lot of them – here’s our favourite) will take you with a bachelor’s degree alone. With this qualification, you can also get a job teaching English online from home, which is another great option. You may be offered a higher salary with a master’s, and the choosier companies might demand a TEFL certificate (which is cheap and easy to obtain).

A handful of the top-tier TEFL jobs do ask for a CELTA or DELTA (a kind of master’s degree in TEFL teaching), which takes a month to obtain and is a very intensive course (and rather expensive, particularly as you can’t really work at the same time). The original point stands, however: thousands of good TEFL jobs the world over demand nothing more from you than a bachelor’s degree.

Who should do TEFL?

So now you know that you can teach English as a foreign language. But why should you? EFL teaching is very much a gateway to the world beyond your borders. It is sought after in almost every country, which means if there’s a culture that interests you, even a little bit, you can go and teach there, earn good money, live amongst the locals, and learn/explore to your heart’s content.

I mentioned good money, and this is very much true. Compared to the vast majority of jobs that freshly-graduated twenty-somethings fall into, EFL teaching is comparable, if not better-paid, and if you choose a country whose average income is lower than yours, you’ve already got a leg up.

For example: I used to teach EFL in China, where the average wage is low, but my company knew that it could only attract teachers by offering a salary comparable by that offered in the US or UK, therefore I was on an average UK wage which is way above the national average where I was actually living and spending my money. It meant I could save in a way I never could before and not have to twice before buying something I wanted.

For the millennial generation, the term ‘settling down’ holds far less water. Many of us have come to see it as a confusing, even frightening term. The world is infinitely accessible to us in the twenty-first century, and as cheesy is it might sound, it is absolutely worth exploring.

EFL teaching can be demanding, and some companies are really cruel when it comes to time off and vacations (check your contracts carefully folks), but even if you wind up with a stingy company, you’re still thousands of miles from home, working alongside people from other nations, and stood in front of students with unusual perspectives that you can learn from.

You’re also in a country where your skills are valuable and transferrable, and there are other jobs you can suddenly apply for that don’t exist back home. There are people I know personally who have gone out to Japan or Korea to teach EFL for a few years, and before they’ve turned thirty they are suddenly working as engineers, journalists, professors, researchers, and even actors.

The degrees they thought were useless are suddenly found to be sought after in a new country. It’s a once you’re in, you’re in kind of thing.

Teaching EFL TEFL

EFL Teaching is Better than School Teaching

At this point, it’s worth mentioning more traditional forms of teaching. More and more graduates, especially in the UK, are turning to primary and secondary school teaching as a viable career option, but the number of teachers who quit the profession entirely within the first five years is also rising annually. I am within that statistic (and so is my partner).

I left university with a drama degree, trained for a year to become a high school English teacher, fell into depression, and quit within two years to move abroad and become an EFL teacher, where I was happier, healthier, less stressed, and earning a better wage. Again, my income was only that of a first-year teacher in the UK but I was living in a country with a far, far lower cost of living.

If you want an honest opinion for a moment, EFL teaching might arguably be less fulfilling (whatever that means) than traditional teaching, but it allows you to travel and see the world, pays equally well, demands far less of you, and offers far more in terms of what you can learn, given that you’re now shoulders-deep in another culture with its own language, cuisine, history, politics, religion, and more to unravel and understand.

Read More: What is a Virtual Coworking Space (And is it Right for You?)

Why You Should Teach EFL
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Travelling as Partners: How to Be Stronger Together https://booksandbao.com/travelling-as-partners-how-to-be-stronger-together/ https://booksandbao.com/travelling-as-partners-how-to-be-stronger-together/#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:16:32 +0000 https://booksandbao.com/?p=3473 Teamwork can be a challenge. Even those who revel in it and find the most satisfaction in it can fail, come to blows, and end up walking away. This is true in sports, construction, design, even writing. When it works, however, it’s gratifying and makes the journey more fluid and less frightening.

In travel, many people opt to go it alone, but those who travel with someone else will find peaks and pitfalls, and the peaks soar above the pitfalls.

Our Story

Jess and I have been travelling and living abroad together for five years, and we have disagreed, fought, parted ways, and even broken up over it. But, if I might be so bold as to say, we are stronger for it all.

us 6travel tips together traveling
Our first teaching job in Abu Dhabi five years’ ago. We left a month after we met, much to the shock of friends and family…

During our time living and working in China, and later in Korea, Jess and I were more than once approached by older expats who had moved abroad single, met a local man or woman, and settled down; they would loudly exclaim their surprise at a couple who had decided to move abroad as a team, apply for the same job at the same company, and share everything as equals.

That had instinctively been our philosophy from day 1: do the same work, get equal pay, travel and explore together, save the same money, spend the same money, move on once we had both agreed it was time. This was where we have fallen time and again, however: when, exactly, was the right time to move on?

travel tips together traveling
The China year, where much personal (and hair!) growth happened.

Our year in Shanghai had taken a harsh toll on both of us. Jess was dealing with one of her worse bouts of depression brought on by work stress, pollution, and me. I had developed serious anxiety and anger management issues.

As much love as I have for China and its people, our differences were affecting me badly. Spitting on the streets, public animal abuse, and aggressive behaviour were all things that had me shaking. This, in turn, exhausted Jess.

I had become poisonous, and when we both agreed to leave Shanghai after a year, we also agreed to break up, and I moved alone to Japan. I lasted three months in Japan before returning home to be with her, and we’ve been stronger ever since.

travel tips together traveling
Back together in the UK where we stayed for a little while before heading to Korea.

That single year in Shanghai was the biggest lesson I’ve ever received. In that year I learned so much about Chinese politics, history, cuisine, social rules, family values, language, fashion, and more. I also learned the value of working as a team. We had stopped working as one unit, and we had fallen apart as a couple and as individuals.

After spending a few months apart, we refused to do let that be the end of everything we’d built together, and after mending the tear between us, we set off for Korea together (where Books and Bao was born), and then Japan. For now, we live a fairly nomadic freelance life which comes with new issues, namely keeping each other motivated when you could be doing anything other than working…

Our travel ethos can be divided in half: pre-breakup, and post-breakup. Pre-breakup, we worked as individuals who convinced the other to follow them.

For example, Jess would say, ‘We should take a trip to Beijing.’ I would disagree, say that the pollution was high this time of year, and then I’d cave and off we would go. This happened in equal measure for two years, until we broke up.

Post-breakup, we share every little idea. We phrase our questions differently; we build our plans together from the ground up. Travel, to us, is a house. Some partners build houses, we build travel plans.

travel tips together traveling
The Winter Olympics, one of our many highlights in Korea.

How to Travel Together

So, what can be learned from all of this? That travel and love are harmonious, if you allow them to be. A couple who travels together stays together. That is, as long as you adhere to certain rules:

  1. Understand your partner’s mental health

We all have mental health issues. We all get sad and scared, at least. Therefore, you must know what your partner is scared of and don’t push them out of their comfort zone if it’ll only lead to fights and a ruined trip.

  1. Build savings together

You must be equal. A partnership is just that. If one relies on the other, it breeds resentment, guilt, and secrecy. Work hard together, save together, and spend together in equal measure.

  1. Share the load

This is physical and mental. What you pack should be useful for both of you. Pack the same amount of clothes, the same kinds of clothes, and tech that you can both make use of. We both have a Kindle, a laptop, a phone, and a pair of headphones.

As for the mental, look for flights together, book hotels you have both looked into and agreed upon, plan out your itinerary on a scrap of paper together. Share the pen.

And stop packing eighteen books in your suitcase when you already have a Kindle, Will.

Final Word

Equality is key in travel, and in love. Be the Samwise to the other’s Frodo, and share the load. You’ll learn more about yourself and your partner than you ever could in another situation.

You’ll learn more on the road together, or crammed together on a bus, a plane, or a train, than you ever could sat together on the sofa each night. Travel opens your mind, and love opens your heart. If you can love and travel all at once, you’re the strongest people you’ll ever know.

travel tips together traveling
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Home Comforts in Shanghai – A China Guide https://booksandbao.com/finding-home-comforts-in-shanghai/ https://booksandbao.com/finding-home-comforts-in-shanghai/#comments Thu, 01 Feb 2018 12:10:04 +0000 https://booksandbao.com/?p=505 We move away from home for any number of reasons. Some of us want to learn about a different culture or try a new cuisine or language.

Many of us have to work. But for all of the new, there’s always at least some old, some home comforts, that we often crave. These are different for everyone, but here I’ve compiled a list of home comforts that can be found in Shanghai for any expat considering a move to the Chinese capital of industry.

Check out our complete guide to living and walking in China.

travel

Shanghai is the city most popular amongst Western immigrants, and the Chinese government typically makes it very easy for foreigners to open a business there from scratch. During my time in Shanghai, there were two non-food places owned by foreigners that I loved :

Doc Guthries:  a barber shop in Jing’an, with classic men’s styles and shaves offered, whiskey to drink while you’re being seen to, and some great Victorian aesthetics and décor.

A tiny hole in the wall near People’s Square: owned by an Italian guy who served traditional Italian juices and smoothies.

These foreigners just up and landed in Shanghai, opened the kind of business that would have failed in Europe, and lived the life of Riley. And I loved them for it.

Where to Find Western Food in Shanghai

Some similar stories that also managed to quench an expat’s hunger for home cooking are:

Co. Cheese

Owned by a very chill American dude, and located just east of Jing’an Temple, Co. Cheese is a tiny bar that sells nothing but grilled cheese sandwiches. With a menu that keeps on growing, Co. Cheese offers sandwiches filled with a great range of meats, vegetables, and sauces, but all with a healthy amount of cheese.

Chinese people typically hate cheese, so it can be very hard to come by. In this instance, Co. Cheese has you covered. The guys in there are lovely; you get some very eccentric customers; and no. 10 on the menu, what I called the Christmas Sandwich is to die for.

sandwich

Munchies

Opened by a couple from the US and typically run by local Chinese employees, Munchies is a proper greasy, tasty, wonderful burger place. It serves burgers of every kind, including veggie options, as well as burritos, hot dogs, fries, and the single best milkshake I’ve had to this day: the peanut butter chocolate shake. Munchies is cheap, convenient, and very easy to become reliant on if you begin to miss home food more and more. There are currently two locations: one in Jing’an, and the other in People’s Square.

burger

Mr. Harry

As a Brit with zero national pride, I happily concede that British food is rubbish. This is why our national dish is Indian curry. However, after six months in Shanghai I can’t deny my glee at finding Mr. Harry, a British gastropub located above American Eagle Outfitters on West Nanjing Road.

This place does traditional Sunday roasts, and offers a good range of beers and ales in pint form. And it’s good, too. Like, when you would argue with your mates at school about whose mum made the best Yorkshire puddings or toad-in-the-hole. Well, we were all wrong. Mr. Harry does it best.

british roast dinner

 

English Books in Shanghai

Since Mao’s Cultural Revolution, China’s relationship with literature (especially foreign) has been both fascinating and heart-breaking. Only fifty years ago were people exclusively carrying around copies of Mao’s Little Red Book and owned not a single other book save for occupational requirements, such as medical texts.

Today China’s doors are open to literature, with a few exceptions. One interesting exception is that the sale of science fiction novels depicting, or themed around, time travel, are strictly forbidden. Perhaps this is to steer people’s thoughts away from the idea that the past can be altered.

bookshops

Foreign Languages Bookstore: This multi-floored shop can be found on Fuzhou Lu (Road), which starts across the road from Exit 3 of People’s Square Station. The bookstore is a five-minute walk down this road, and contains a very disorganised hodgepodge of books in English, from old fantasy novels, to classical literature, to business guides, and even a few comic books.

Read our full review of the Foreign Languages Bookstore.

The store does a fairly decent job of stocking the latest bestsellers, so long as they are government-approved. Just make sure you go in there with an hour to spare, since alphabetising is certainly not a concept they are familiar with; and though the books are separated into genres, they have taken a few liberties with how these genres are defined.

Think of it as a treasure hunt, though, and you’ll come away with some gems you weren’t expecting to find. They also do a good job of mixing the UK and US covers.

I can’t deny taking covers quite personally (I always insist on getting the UK covers of Murakami novels if possible, but beamed when I saw how many US-published Bantam Classics the store had available). So when you get to the door, take a deep breath and dive in.

Related: Books to Read Before you Head to China.

DVDs/Blu-rays in Shanghai

It’s well-known that China’s laws when it comes to making political statements and trying to use YouTube are strict and impenetrable. But when it comes to literally anything else, China makes life very easy. Want to start your own business with only a penny to your name?

You’ll find a way to do it in China. Want to buy genuine Blu-ray copy movies in believable fake packaging for the equivalent of $2? You’ll find those in every district of Shanghai.

Big Movie

This chain of DVD and Blu-ray stores is everywhere in Shanghai. I had my own local one in Jing’an, but I’d also often take a taxi somewhere out in the wilderness of Pudong and spy another one. Big Movie stocks the latest films that have only just been released in cinemas, already presented in quality packaging.

They also, depending on which one you pop into, occasionally sell CDs and even vinyl. To this day I’m not sure if they were genuine or fake. And, if you can’t tell, it hardly matters. Here are a few Big Movie locations:

  • Xinle Lu, Xuhui (Closest subway station: Shaanxi South Rd, Line 1)
  • Jiaozhou Lu, Jing’an (Closest subway station: Jing’an Temple, Line 2)
  • Hongmei Lu (Closest subway station: Longxi Rd, Line 10)

Video Games in Shanghai

As an avid gamer my whole life, I love video games as much as I love travel. In fact, when I moved to Shanghai, and then to Tokyo, I took my PS4 with me.

Buying games in Shanghai proved to be a challenge; they were in fact banned from being sold within mainland China until 2014. Fortunately, Shanghai’s world of industry transforms in the blink of an eye, and when a gap appears in the market a million stores open to fill it.

toys

Beijing Lu (Behind Jing’an Temple): The heart of Shanghai is cut open by Nanjing Lu (Road) which runs from the Bund in the east of Puxi, through People’s Square, and west beyond Jing’an Temple.

Running parallel to West Nanjing Lu, and tucked just behind the golden Jing’an Temple, is Beijing Lu. And smack in the middle of Beijing Lu, directly behind Jing’an Temple, is a modest video game store with a not-so-modest sign that reads ‘PLAYSTATION’.

In there you will find games for every console, accessories, limited edition copies, and Amiibo; plus, the games are available in English, Mandarin, and Japanese.

The owners are an ageing Chinese couple, clearly not game-lovers themselves, but nonetheless very friendly and approachable, and they never pull the marketplace trick of trying to rip customers off and force you to barter when you simply want to pay a reasonable price for a thing and leave.

Larger-sized Clothes

By this I mean two things: western brands, and large clothes for large people.

For the former, you’ll want to visit West Nanjing Road (or Nanjing Xi Lu). Here you’ll find western brands galore. West Nanjing Road is a long and busy neon-lit stretch of road between People’s Square to the east and Jing’an Temple to the west.

Along here you’ll find classic stores, three+ storey high, such as: H&M, American Eagle Outfitters, UNIQLO, Zara, Forever 21, Sephora, and (for the Brits) M&S. While I have found these stores to all be more expensive in Seoul, Shanghai’s stores’ prices remain exactly in line with what you’d expect going in.

clothing

The Underground Market at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

This space was originally going to discuss the Fake Market also found on Nanjing Xi Lu, but unfortunately it has been closed down (RIP). But the next best thing (and better in some respects) is the underground market found beneath Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (subway line 2).

The highlight of this market for me were the tailors. Several stalls and shops down there have incredible tailors who will custom design and make you a suit of genuinely excellent quality for a quarter of the price you’d pay in Europe or the US. Scepticism is to be expected, but trust me. Many tourists make sure they drop by here to grab a new suit before flying home.

street in china

Other fantastic things on offer here are: larger shoes for men and women (my partner is a tall woman with EU size 43 feet, and China is not kind to feet of this caliber), as well as some excellent quality jewellery that make for great gifts, and a great range of suitcases and luggage (again, at far cheaper prices than you’d find back West). Much like the bookstore on Fuzhou Lu, here you must take an afternoon, and just wander.

Haggling works, and you can even pull a dramatic walk-away-angry-and-watch-them-chase-you.

This is, by no means, a definitive list of the home comforts which expats can find in Shanghai, but if you’re someone like me, someone who wants to uproot, see the world, embed themselves in a different culture than that you grew up in, but you also want to bring your PlayStation with you, and be able to easily grab an HD copy of the latest Marvel film, then this list should help you get started.

Living in Shanghai and need a break from the city. Visit:

Or check out our guide of things to do around Shanghai.

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