Bottle or Bag?

I missed a week.

It feels that way, too.

I've been a touch busy.

Along with moving in to a new place and suddenly having a packed schedule,

I've also had a few misadventures:

nearly blowing myself up,

and the cat attempting suicide - or trying to get high; I'm not sure which.

I've been in Belize for about a month and 10 days.

Slowly, I'm adapting and learning how not to look like an idiot.

It's going to be a while...

On Sunday, my roommate and I went to get some pop from the store.

As I was buying mine, she passed me a small plastic bag that was hanging beside the counter.

I found it a bit odd –

I hardly need a bag.

It costs $1.25 to buy a pop in a glass bottle, but there is a money saving trick:

if you return the empty glass bottle to the store right away, then it only costs $1.00.

The cashier only charged $1.00, 

but she had never asked if I was going to give the bottle back or not,

so I didn't think about it.

My roommate opened her pop, and proceeded to pour it into the plastic bag.

What are you doing?

A bit confused, and very clueless, I proceed to leave the store.

She reminds me that I need to return the bottle, and I finally clue in -

Wow, I'm an idiot.

“Have you ever drank pop from a bag before?”

“Nope, this is my first time.”

I'd like to say that I'm normally sharper, but I can't promise you.

What I can say is that

when the cat licks a poisonous frog and starts drooling,

I'm handy to have around.

I'll save that story for next week – The Cat and The Frog.

Online Work Options

Never Give Up, Never Surrender

If you haven't already noticed, that is very much my mindset.

Not to say that I always follow through – I wish that I did – but, I believe there is almost always a way to succeed, if you really want to.

'Wanting to' is the key. 

If you don't want something, you won't fight for it.

I'm now in Belize, 

and everything leading up to my arrival seems like a blur.

I certainly didn't do it on my own,
but what I did do is start saying that I would come.

A definite - the when and the where decided, with the desire to do it.

That's what I started with, and little else.

Certainly very little money.

I started the ball rolling,

and everything has been falling into place since then.

I did have the advantage of a free temporary living situation when I first arrived,

but after only a few days I was able to move in with a young woman engaged in the same volunteer work. She was looking for a roommate to help out with the rent, as well as for added safety,
and then I showed up!

After this month she returns to the States, but I already have a house sitting gig set up – rent free!

Can't beat that.

The next big thing is money.

I have some savings, but that will eventually run out...

ONLINE WORK OPTIONS

I've been researching different options for online work,

in the hopes that at least one will work out.

oDESK - 

I've looked into online freelancing websites before, and it was difficult to find one that was reputable, and not overrun with freelancers who were charging hardly anything at all. I got a bit disillusioned.

If you're not familiar with freelancing websites, they allow you to do almost any job that doesn't require your being there in person: data entry, social media advertising, e-mail management, customer service, etc.

On my second day in Belize, however, I heard about other volunteers like myself that have been able to make a living using one of these freelancing websites: oDesk.com.

“If it works for them...”

The website has lots of guidelines and safeties in place, to protect both the freelancer and the client.

I've since set up my profile, and applied for two job postings.

To increase your appeal to potential clients, oDesk has a number of tests you can take on a large variety of subjects. You are scored, and can then choose to post your test results on your profile. This allows the client to see if you really have an understanding of a certain field – Customer Service, for example.

I'll keep you posted as to my experiences with this website.

CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH –

I know many that have been able to make a living teaching English, either online or in person. Personally, I find the thought a bit daunting. And yet, in talking with these friends, I discovered an overlooked necessity these students have: practice partners.

Many learn English (or any language), but don't really have anyone to practice their new found skill with, aside from their teacher.

That's where I come in.

One website where students go to learn and practice English is BuddySchool.com. To have your profile on their site, you can choose to pay $1 per month, or $10 per year.

I have yet to set up my profile, but I hope to do so soon.

Once again, I'll keep you posted!

These are two of the primary methods I have in mind for earning money online.

Have you tried either of these?

Let me know your experiences!

Until next week ^_^

The Goal!

I've been trying to get the word out about the purpose of my shop: 

All shop profits go towards my goal of volunteering in Belize!

www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtOfWriting

To help me get the word out, I tried tweeting Maxwell Glick, who played Mr. Collins on The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. He was sweet enough to retweet my shop to his followers, and gave it a great review!  (https://twitter.com/maxwellglick ,

www.youtube.com/user/mrcheezypop , 

www.youtube.com/user/LizzieBennet‎ ,

 www.lizziebennet.com/ ,

www.collinsncollins.com/ ,

www.youtube.com/user/CollinsandCollins)