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lcnelyones · 4 years

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here’s oli!

「 alex saxon. cis male. he/him. 」 — is that OLIVER ‘OLI’ ARTIS i just saw in thornhollow? word around is that they’re a THIRTY-TWO year old HUMAN, but i doubt that’s true. they’re pretty CHILL from what i know, but i’ve heard a rumor that they can be LONELY too; must be why they’re a DINER OWNER & COOK. they kinda remind me of WORN JEANS WITH A NOTEPAD TUCKED IN THE BACK POCKET, ON OLD GUITAR GATHERING DUST ON THE WALL, A WARM SMILE & A KIND HEART. ( ooc ali. she/her. 27. est. )

— basics;;

NAME : oliver artis ALIAS ( NICKNAMES ) : oli AGE : 32 SEXUAL ORIENTATION : pansexual GENDER IDENTITY : cis male ( he/him pronouns ) SPOKEN LANGUAGES : english OCCUPATION : cherry’s pies ( a local diner ) owner and cook FAMILY : eleanor artis nee hanson ( mother, estranged ), ian artis ( father, estranged ), cherry rose hanson ( grandmother, deceased ) PETS : a golden retriever named bowie who frequently hangs out at the diner POSITIVE TRAITS : chill, confident, hardworking NEGATIVE TRAITS : sarcastic, lonely, guileless

— a look deeper;; ( trigger warnings: parental abandonment, alcoholism, parental figure death )

full disclosure: i’ve played oli before so this is structured by what the old bio is so i’m gonna give a few quick points followed by the full thing!

oli was born and raised in thornhollow. his parents both lived and worked in town until oli was around twelve when his father left their family, and his mother was never the same. she was a workaholic under the best of circumstances, but after his father left, she couldn’t handle being his mother as much anymore so he was essentially raised by his grandmother ( also a thornhollow native ) after that.

left for college, but came back when he found out his grandmother needed extra help, especially at the diner that was her pride and joy. his mother had since moved out of town for “bigger and better things.”

tried not to be bitter about his parents leaving him, but it was hard. his grandmother showed him unconditional love though and he was forever grateful to her. she passed away a couple months ago, and he’s not entirely over it yet.

he did take the diner over after her passing, but the bills are beginning to pile up, and he’s not sure if the diner is going to survive.

personality-wise, he’s pretty chill and easy going. oli’s kinda a go-with-the-flow person who doesn’t have time for drama or manipulations. he’s more focused on making the diner successful and frequently is found working on something even when he’s not technically scheduled to be there.

does not know specifically about the different species around town, but does know that there are weird things that happen in thornhollow. pretty open-minded about it all. operates under a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ sort of policy.

A boy of six sat cross legged on the ground in front of his father watching with a bright and eager smile. His father had his own eyes closed, humming softly along with the melody he strummed on his favorite guitar. Oli wanted to bounce in rhythm with the music, to cheer, or even sing along. But he knew that was not allowed, not while his father was practicing. And because he wanted more than anything to be considered a grown-up, old enough to sit in and listen, he kept himself quiet and still until his father had finished and it was time to clap. It was this time that was precious to him, the time he had his father all to himself. His father might not acknowledge his presence other to bask in the boy’s love, but this time was still infinitely valuable to the child. He knew when his mother arrived home from work and sent his nanny home for the day, she would whisk his father away on some adventure he was too young for. He didn’t mind, really. Oli knew that people just felt better after being around his father so he couldn’t blame her for wanting him all to herself for a time. But it did make this time more important than ever. And he had always been his father’s biggest fan.

It didn’t matter to Oli that his father rarely had time for him outside of this. That he only wanted someone to play an adoring audience. Even when his father screamed at him for making too much noise during his song. Even when his father threw the glass of bourbon against the wall, shattering it into a million pieces. None of that mattered to the boy. He understood then at such a young age that his father just wanted everything to be perfect. “I’m going to be famous one day, Oli,” he would say, his words slurred. And of course, Oliver believed them. After all, what father would lie to their son?

ii.

Oliver knew something was different from the moment he arrived home from school. There was something not entirely right. Some spark that normally resided in the house seemed to have gone out. He almost didn’t notice his father’s prized autographed picture of David Bowie was missing from its spot on the wall. He almost missed the pitying look his nanny ( that he was far too old to have now that he was almost out of middle school) gave him as he walked towards the stairs. He almost missed the low sobbing that seemed to be coming from above him where he knew his parents room to be. But he didn’t.

He sprinted up the stairs, though it seemed to take ages to reach the top. Instead of racing towards the crying he knew belonged to his mother, he went towards his father’s studio instead. He hesitated before pulling the knob, already knowing what he would find. Or not find. He let out a soft gasp at what he saw anyways. Empty.

“This was your fault,” a voice behind him said, thick with rage and heartbreak. He turned to see his mother, clutching one of his father’s shirts, tears streaming down her face. She already looked as if she regretted the words, but they could not be taken back now. They were already in the world, waiting for everyone to hear and know.

Oli was sent to his grandmother’s the following week.

iii.

Oliver looked too much like his father. Acted too much like him as well. A carbon copy if ever there was one. That was one of the reasons his mother didn’t like to see him. He knew that even if she insisted it wasn’t true. More and more of late, he had skipped out on holidays with his mother, finding the silence too loud and the house too empty. It had lost its spark the day his father left them. Instead, he spend the time with his grandmother baking far too many sweets for the two of them and delivering the extras to their neighbors. It had stung far more than he ever wanted to admit. He loved his grandmother, appreciated everything she’d done for him. But holidays had been difficult since his father had left, and his mother had essentially stopped seeing him on a regular basis. But now, Christmas Eve, he felt more in the holiday spirit than he had in a few years. He’d already done the obligatory phone call to his mother to wish her a happy Christmas, so he had the rest of the day to himself to binge watch Netflix and eat more sweets than any one person should be able to while his grandmother visited some of her friends who didn’t have any family left. At least, he had that free time until she came home, and it was time for their dinner. It was this night he found out why his father had left them.

He had never really liked social media. Far too much of it was just people pretending to be the ideal versions of themselves. He much preferred reality. Nevertheless, he was a member of a few sites as most teenagers his age were, though he did rarely use them. It was on one of these sites that he saw the message from his father. Already it was a week old and Oliver was torn between anger at himself for not checking sooner and wanting the satisfaction of deleting it without reading. But his curiosity won out as it normally did.

It was short, barely a few lines. It told of his success in music. It seemed he had finally found a band and it looked like they might get a record deal with a big name company. He invited Oli to a show sometime. It was full of excuses instead of explanations. His father had a dream that he just had to see realized. A dream that didn’t involve being a husband or father even though he had been both. But his father never once apologized. And Oli never responded even though the child inside wanted nothing more to have his father back in his life once more.

iv.

He was just out of college when he got the call from his grandmother. He was almost expecting to hear her tell him something had happened to his father or mother, that the alcohol had finally killed him, or the combination of a broken heart and being a workaholic had done her in, but instead she was just talking about things around the house and the diner. She didn’t mention anything was wrong, but Oli could hear it in her voice. It took a while to break her down, but she finally admitted that she hadn’t had a good visit with the doctor. She was getting older and couldn’t move around as easily as she could when she was younger. That and her bad habit of smoking had finally caught up with her. She wanted her family to be around instead of strangers in her home. Although she didn’t ask him to move home, Oli knew that was what his grandmother needed. It took him a few days to consider choice.

Oli had a job offer in the city, a good one that would set him up for life. He’d break free of the pattern of either being a deadbeat like his dad or a cold, workaholic like his mother. He had worked hard to graduate with honors from the university, getting his master’s in accounting and finance. He had looked at a few apartments and had found one he was sure would be perfect. He had a life planned out ahead of him that he was sure would be successful, one that would put his parents to shame.

Instead of following that path, he moved home and began helping out at the diner he’d spent his teenage years working at.

Oliver was thirty-two when his grandmother died, leaving him everything she had ( the house, the diner, no savings, and bills that were piling up ). He’d been living with her for nearly a decade, working at the diner and taking care of his ailing grandmother as she got progressively worse. She hadn’t been entirely truthful when she’d called him; she hadn’t mentioned that her mind and body were both failing faster than she could really keep up with. But Oli did his duty as best as he could, was hailed as some sort of hero by those around him. Instead of living his life, he was at a sort of standstill. One that didn’t end even after her death. He knew he could have tried to get a job in his field, but he couldn’t really muster any sort of enthusiasm for the life he’d once planned. He felt like it was a dream long since gone. Instead, he was content operating the diner that his grandmother had loved so damn much. He liked his quiet and simple life, working and coming home to his dog, Bowie. Maybe it wasn’t the fame-filled one his dad had been searching for or it wasn’t typically successful like his mother, but it was something that was his.

— connections;;

would love some employees at the diner

maybe some friends who he can chill with

exs? currents? idk

#thornhollowhqintro #✶ history. | forever younger growing older. | oli artis.

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tangodancerxxxmumu · 4 years

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meet... ember tekin

age: 27

pronouns: she / her

birthplace: queens, new york city, new york

species: witch

sexuality: homosexual

occupation: bookkeeper for a few local businesses

faceclaim: melisa pamuk

&. “loneliness is the anchor / you’ve always carried with you” -- lisel mueller, from “voyager,” second language

under the cut are multiple triggers, including ( tw homophobia, tw parental neglect, tw death, tw anxiety )

ember was born to a witch mother and a human father, but her mother died in childbirth. her father didn’t know her mother was a witch before she passed, and thus, ember had no clue until weird things started happening around her. a lot of broken mugs that no one was near, a few flowers changing colors, but the majority of what she noticed was more subtle than that. she was always able to find the last sock, any missing paperwork.

to most people, living in nyc would be a dream, but ember found it suffocating. there was something about the sleeplessness of a bustling city that never set well with her. she always felt the need to get up and do something, anything productive. always felt the need to leave her little apartment, often unaccompanied, even though she was young. she felt like she didn’t have time to stop and breathe.

apparently, her father felt the same, because he was practically never home. the only time she knew she would see him at a consistent time was each friday when he would take her to their local mosque. they’d pray together before dinner, if he was able to make it to dinner at night, but fridays were a given. she wasn’t allowed to miss their visit for any reason whatsoever. religion was very important to her father, and thus, it became very important to her.

she was thirteen when she realized she was a lesbian. all of her friends were chatting about their crushes on guys at their local school, and honestly, she only had eyes for her best friend, ada. they’d give each other private little smiles, and while ember could never bring herself to make a move on her, she did dream about a place where they could hold hands and kiss. those dreams, however, only existed when she was alone, because all she could feel when she saw her father was guilt for having these feelings. guilt for betraying allah and her own beliefs, but try as she might, she couldn’t supress them.

it was around the same time that she finally realized that she was the one doing all of the strange things around her. a friend’s mother pulled her aside and told her that she thought she knew what was going on with her. ember was terrified that she was going to know she was gay, but instead, she had another moniker tacked onto her--witch. ember was offered a grimoire, but with all that her friend’s mother had going on, she was on her own to learn how to use it. so she did. she utilized her time alone at home to master some easier spells, working her way through this book and finding a sort of confidence as she went.

when she was eighteen, her father found her grimoire in her belongings and demanded that she explain herself. and, by that point, she was tired of hiding from her father, so she told him everything. “baba, please, i need help,” she’d begged, desperate to finally connect to a man who’d never been around for her. but he shut her down. he told her that he found her disgusting, that he didn’t raise such an insolent, sinful daughter. she stayed with a friend that night, and the night after, and only came to pack a small bag three days later when he was at work. she had saved up some money working odd jobs, and while she’d planned on going to a local community college with them, she instead booked a flight across the country, someplace quieter, and put down the first and last month’s rent on an apartment

it was lonely to be in a new place, but then again, she had always felt a little lonely. she only tried to call her father once, to let him know that she was safe. he told her that she was no daughter of his, and to delete his number... so she did. she fell out of touch with herself, with her religion, with her magic for quite a few months. slowly, however, she started to put the pieces of herself back together. she enrolled in online school and got an accounting degree. though her father didn’t consider her his anymore, he’d given her useful tips about picking a career--do something useful. she started helping local businesses manage their finances, bookkeeping for some, which helped her mesh into the community more.

her magic was something she decided to use sparingly, and not to help her outshine her community. she wanted to help her community. so it was little things. for her neighbors, she’d give them soups when they were sick that held potions to help them get well. her magic would clean the dishes while she prepped and cooked the food. she helped locate a missing cat, just “by chance.” magic was something that she felt needed to have a reason, didn’t need to be exploited. to this day, she’s terrified of a human finding out about her.

it was only when she began to mesh with the community that she truly accepted her sexuality, and while she’s only had one or two girlfriends, she does hook up from time to time with other women. she’s still getting used to being seen in public and feeling safe.

all in all, she’s a homebody. can be a little serious at times, but she has a good heart. exercises to help with her anxiety, but feels more at ease in a small town anyways. the type of woman to drink wine in a bar, she’s not a party girl.

#;; & intro : ember #;; & character : ember tekin #tw homophobia #tw parental neglect #tw death #tw anxiety

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iconiceyesedinburgh-blog · 5 years

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What Skills Do You Need To Work For Blizzard Entertainment As A Graphic Designer?

Though going to university can help you pursue the artistic profession of your desires, setting you up with the correct set of skills and skills, it isn't for everybody. Graphic design is great coaching for design work in lots of fields, which is why you will find graphic designers working in areas of specialization ranging from print design (books and magazines), to identity design (logos and branding), to product design, packaging design, Web design, and more. For while many people have been right about the best way all this pres- entism would have an effect on investments and finance, even expertise and media, we had been completely fallacious about how living within the now” would find yourself impacting us as folks. There was additionally a dialogue as to when the patroller may start doing their job-it was agreed upon, based mostly on the advice by Mr. Maduna that they should start immediately(although few days left that they need to receives a commission- and amongst the residents. Beneath particular questioning, he replied that the Colored Proteas could play towards the Rugby Springboks any time.6 November, The executive committee of the Worldwide Soccer Federation (FIFA) rejects an Ethiopian proposal to expel South Africa. With the coming of "Nyaope", which is decimating and wiping many generations of the African People, as has been witnessed first-hand here in Orlando East, and have posted articles written about it by the locals and some already banned FB'ers, that, the folks have now begun to work and build up on the street committees, and they're taking shapes from a pair or single household giving their sons and associates an obligation to patrol the streets and certain space-boundaries(small areas but strategic. This point can be dealt with a lot in-depth to debate the unknown civilization of Mzantsi that can be dated way back to 200,000 years ago(with pictures to present it a much more significant South African African historical structure and reality. Aimed at the impartial-minded, Find out how to be a Graphic Designer, Without Dropping Your Soul addresses the issues of young designers who wish to earn a dwelling by doing expressive and significant work and avoid changing into a hired drone engaged on soulless initiatives. Listening carefully and totally to the video, it does shed some gentle concerning the ancient ruins, but it lacks the historical, oral and customary views of the Africans, and these might be found amongst the folks themselves. Till the day we Africans of Mzantsi stop thinking of and for our particular person selves only, till they day we Africans of Mzantsi say sufficient is enough; and, until we come to our senses and go and see for ourselves what I'm speaking about or everyone seems to be writing about what these medicine are doing to us, our individuals, relatives and communitiesNation, we are going to forever be in our cocoons and do nothing, and we are clearly dealing with something extra harmful than HIV AIDs(Which is still battering and wiping the core of our communities), we'll ultimately taken-snuffed by the genocide we at the moment are facing. Graphic Designers design (or create) graphics to fulfill particular industrial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, logos, or imagery for print and digital uses including banner adverts, social media posts, web site graphics, journal advertorials, and many others. It's about time we stopped aping and emulating ineffective and different cultures foreign to us(though we must always understand international cultures) however we can't be the folks of international cultures as a result of they don't seem to be ours and they are not us. Most researchers, writers and authors agree that they got here seeking gold to restore the environment across the synthetic planet they called Nibiru, what some call Planet X. Our Galactic historical past, that many on our world are only now accepting as legitimate, was influenced to a terrific diploma by many off world Alien races and this has contributed a terrific deal to all kinds of social, religious and even physical, issues our current civilization endures, to at the present time. What's hanging about his cloning of humans in the purported lost civilization are improbable machination and creativeness on steroids as a result of this lis clear in that, throughout the talk, the Africans of South Africa are not even talked about, considered, nor their culture not attached or used so as to perceive the traditional ruins and so forth. A convergence of historical circumstance and a rise in innovative cellular applications may make Africa the first publish-PC continent, as a result of the vast majority of Africans would not have the posh of laptops, iPads, Kindles and the like (Wanjiku, 2011). Above I have been attempting to establish the human origins of mumanity from the nation of Mzantsi (South Africa), and have but to talk about about the acutal History, Culture, Customs, Traditions, Oral Traditions and history, Scared Rites Practices, languages, music, dance an traditional garb. Blue IQ had identified tourism as a serious progress space for funding, and its market research confirmed that for tourists visiting South Africa, a big part of the attraction is the ANC's world fame for having triumphed over oppression. No matter our understanding of the varied ways through which European methods of education sometimes failed African individuals, Africans proceed to be depending on the European method; an method that carries no high expectations of us. In local web designers iconiceyes.co.uk edinburgh , the European system relies largely on assumptions that we lack the intellectual and cultural capacity for thigh ranges of feat. I then worked as a pc-know-how journalist and PR author for about 15 years… writing for (and generally enhancing or managing) magazines like Well-liked Computing, Networking Management, Infosecurity News, Lightwave, Leaders, and the Harvard Business Review. Graphic designer employment is anticipated to grow by 4% (or eleven,000+ new jobs) from 2016 via 2026, slower than the 7% common progress price for all occupations, however this statistic could be very business dependent; for instance, graphic designers in print media (newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and so forth.) is predicted to shrink by 22%, while the job market for digital designers (web sites, computer systems and functions, and many others.) will develop by 20% over the same decade. On this explicit case in his travels in Botswana and Zimbabwe, we look specifically at his sojourn in Mzantsi."The word Boer merely means "farmer"and in the minds of the Africans it means a foreign "trekker', and is not synonymous with our word 'boor'. There are someplace round 300 totally different universities, postsecondary colleges, and unbiased establishments which can be accredited by the Nationwide Association of Schools of Artwork and Design Any of these can provide you with the necessary qualifications to get a job ready with the graphic designer job description. The image we get at the moment of Africa in past ages from the historical past taught in our schools is that Africans were savages and that, though Europeans invaded their lands and made slaves of them, they assert that they were in a method conferring an important an excellent favor on them; since they dropped at them the blessings of Christian civilization. If a graphic designer is part of a advertising or growth team, they often work inside a studio with other creative talent Some firms have a number of graphic artists resulting from their specialties in areas like video animation, images, or illustration. Understanding how to hire a graphic designer and ourselves prior to now and in actual time is of prime importance right here: the Present future, would require us to pay attention to ourselves and the way we conduct or live our ways of life: Tradition, and so forth. Just like with planning a business, it's essential to perceive who your online buyer is. There are lots of factors that will play into the way you design your website based on who you create it for. James Sofasonke” Sofasonke Mpanza, a neighborhood chief and advocate for higher housing for African folks residing in Johannesburg'. It was a really enjoyable expertise which explains why I decided to change my main from Information Technology to Graphic Design. By the point you might be completed with studying this information it is possible for you to to talk in regards to the internet development course of competently and never get taken advantage of by among the less than principled web designers out there. When you've got the flexibility to take easy product packaging and elevate it to the level of artwork, you might be a graphic designer in the making. The graphic designer's job is to successfully talk the meant message of the undertaking at hand visually to a specified audience. Graphic designers create and affect branding, which can help to promote services to 1000's - sometimes millions - of shoppers from all all over the world. The only recommended training to be able to full the duties within the web designer job description consists of a bachelor's diploma in net design. In-home graphic designers work in an organization's advertising and marketing or creative division. For example, some create the graphics used on retail merchandise packaging, and others may go on the visible designs used on ebook jackets. As a contract graphic designer, you might be your individual boss, set your individual schedule and pursue your individual initiatives. Many professional graphic designs speak of the satisfaction of making one thing visible or constructing a brand identity that can be seen by 1000's, if not hundreds of thousands of people. Photographs of designers reflect this and have a tendency to contain them looking at designs or their pc screens.

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statecrop48-blog · 4 years

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How to Choose the Right Lawyer

Content

The Keys To Making Online Law School Successful.

Advocaten In Nederland, Alkmaar.

Law Institution Professors.

Lawyers Workplace Appelman Alkmaar

The Keys To Making Online Law School Effective.

Make certain that the lawyer will certainly be able to provide you an estimate on how long the process will certainly take and what the anticipated result will be. If you have concerns concerning these matters, you need to understand how to contact him or her.

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Advocaten In Nederland, Alkmaar.

Selecting the Best Lawyer Alkmaars If you need a lawyer, there are many lawyer Alkmaar companies you can pick from. These lawyers can be extremely reliable and also as a consequence are likely seasoned as well as knowledgeable in handling your situation. Numerous legal experts in North Holland concentrate on a particular sort of legal issue. The primary area that a number of them specialize in is bankruptcy law and other similar locations.

How much does the average lawyer make in Australia?

How much does a Lawyer make in Australia?CityAverage salaryLawyer in Sydney NSW 111 salaries$114,643 per yearLawyer in Melbourne VIC 135 salaries$108,637 per yearLawyer in Brisbane QLD 48 salaries$107,459 per yearLawyer in Perth WA 37 salaries$99,556 per year1 more row•5 days ago

When you need to hire a lawyer in Alkmaar, there are a number of aspects to take into consideration. It is very important to take some time and get a few quotes to make sure that you are obtaining the most effective deal feasible.

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She or he will certainly be straightforward as well as open about your circumstance and the legal process. Along with the qualifications that are detailed on a lawyer's website, it is additionally crucial to check out the situations that she or he has actually handled. Ask for instances of what they did during the program of your situation.

After that ask if they have experience with issues like: divorce, occupant and landlord conflicts, household law, criminal law, personal bankruptcy law, organisation law, injury, and so on . As the claiming goes, "you obtain what you pay for" when it involves working with an attorney's company. The most effective lawyers have a wealth of experience in their areas of law. They are additionally the ones that are known for being fair to their customers. If your state requires you to hire a lawyer who has a license to practice, you may not be obtaining the best possible lawyer.

Who is the best lawyer in Canada?

The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2019David Fraser – Information Technology Law (Halifax) Fae Shaw QC– Banking and Finance Law (Halifax) Joseph A.F. Macdonald QC– Mergers and Acquisition Law (Halifax) Marjorie A. Van Penick– Natural Resource Law (Halifax) Jeffrey Hoyt– Securities Law (Saint John) Denis Mahoney – Labour and Employment (St.

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They are quite possibly knowledgeable in assisting their customers to make the appropriate decision. Alkmaar is a city on the west shore of Netherlands, situated in the province of North Holland, and is thought about as one of the leading cities in the nation when it comes to the legal system. When it comes to the law, it is likewise one of the most seen cities. It is currently referred to as the Netherlands' largest city as well as the 2nd largest port city in the country.

You'll be able to stay clear of making several typical mistakes if you can locate a certified Alkmaar lawyer. With every one of these suggestions to assist you choose the appropriate lawyer, you'll be much more most likely to locate the ideal one for your instance. Lawyer Alkmaar clinics will be really highly knowledgeable and also extremely successful at ensuring that your life is much more comfy and easier in future. The lawyers of the center are well-experienced as well as are experienced as well as qualified in different fields such as civil, industrial, and also criminal law.

When it comes to take a trip within the Dutch territory, Alkmaar is likewise considered as one of the best areas. There are lots of lawyers practicing in this city, as well as they have an excellent online reputation and also experience within the lawful system in this city. This results from the reality that Alkmaar is the only city in the Netherlands that is totally inhabited by foreigners. There are more than 60 various languages spoken in Alkmaar, so it is feasible to communicate with the lawyers and also obtain the most effective possible lawful advice from them.

Lawyers are educated as well as experienced at what they do and have all the needed qualifications. In this article I will describe several of things that are important when you need to employ a lawyer. First of all, you need to try to find a lawyer in Alkmaar who has experience in the court system in Alkmaar.

Some internet sites also provide all the lawyers by name, so you can choose the one closest to you. Fill up out the type to be able to employ them as well as allow them understand specifically what you want as soon as you locate a reliable lawyer.

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Your lawyer might have calls that have managed a similar instance in the past and also can provide you some beneficial details. One more thing that your lawyer can do is to make sure that all your paperwork is finished properly. If you have any kind of questions, you can go to the clerk of court in Alkmaar as well as review them with them. If you want, you can likewise speak to an experienced lawyer Alkmaar and also discuss the situation to them.

You ought to additionally locate a lawyer in Alkmaar that has the required expertise as well as skills to help you via the procedure of the court procedures. You should additionally locate a lawyer in Alkmaar that has a background of winning the cases that they have actually serviced. This will certainly make it much easier for you to obtain your situation via the court system in Alkmaar. The lawyer should additionally be prepared to describe the guidelines and also regulations of the court system as well as have some knowledge of the lawful process itself.

What is the best paying lawyer job?

The following are some of the highest paid legal jobs, for your reference:Intellectual Property Lawyers. Members of Congress. Trial Lawyers. Tax Attorneys. Judges. Real Estate Attorneys. Law School Professors.

Lastly, if you want a lawful representative in Alkmaar who has a global on-line credibility, you might wish to think about a law firm called Sunclash.

You need to ensure that you truly feel comfortable taking care of the law office.

This law office was started in 1994 in Alkmaar and focuses on worldwide lawsuits.

In making your choice, you must understand every one of the facts surrounding the law practice.

If the lawful representative has really not consulted with you directly in addition to has not include a pointer of you, it is best to locate an additional firm.

They are all experienced in representing their own kinds of situations. Before working with a lawyer in Alkmaar, it is necessary for you to comprehend what they are using and also what kind of costs you can anticipate them to charge you. It would be advisable to request references as well as to read the fine print on their agreements before accepting their services. Some individuals work with lawyers without understanding the complete prices that will certainly come along with the contract.

You will certainly wish to discover a firm that is well valued by their customers, so you can rely on that the company will handle your instance efficiently. How To Find A Wonderful Lawyer Lawyer Alkmaar business are generally extremely successful and also seasoned at making your life much better over time. Lots of lawyers in North Holland concentrate on a certain area of law. If you are considering getting a lawyer, consider what area of law they focus on, and their background because area.

There is no factor in using a lawyer Alkmaar firm that will refrain everything they can to help you out, specifically if you are a business owner. It is your instance and your cash, so take all the necessary actions to ensure it is managed in the right way. It deserves noting that lawyers Alkmaar is only able to help you with matters that connect to your business and that they can not offer legal advice.

Have a look at what qualifications your possible lawyer possesses before picking him or her to manage your situation. A great source of details about lawyers is your local telephone directory. If you can not acquire neighborhood lawyers, you can constantly try searching online, however you won't really recognize how much experience a lawyer has in your location until you speak with one. If you want a lawyer, you can go on the internet and look for the state where you want to function.

When you believe of a lawyer in Alkmaar you immediately think regarding lawful representation, how to Locate a Lawyer in Alkmaar. When it comes to picking a lawyer in Alkmaar is that it is not just any type of lawyer that will be ideal fit to assisting you, the first thing to know.

Look in other places for a lawyer if you feel like they are lacking in specific areas of expertise. https://pastebin.fun/qYMRPz2fUD will certainly have the ability to answer any inquiries you could have concerning just how to finest aid you. The last point a great lawyer will certainly do is make the most of you.

The people in Alkmaar are extremely valuable, eager and polite to assist you. There are many lawyer Alkmaars that operate in this city, as well as the law practice that remain in the city are popular and also can be easily accessed.

Law College Professors.

Who Is World's Best Lawyer?

1. Jerry Brown:Xi Jinping: Mr. Megyn has worked at some of the biggest law firms in the World. John is a former Secretary of State of the United States of America and a Boston College Law alumni. The man who has been labelled as the most powerful person in the World ranks number 9 on our list. More items•

A lawyer's website ought to likewise consist of information about the sort of law that they focus on. This ought to allow you to understand what type of legal actions you are more than likely to be associated with. You'll likewise require to request information on whether they have experience dealing with the kinds of instances that you are dealing with.

You will certainly have the ability to see precisely what lawyer Alkmaar solutions are readily available to you in Holland as well as this will enable you to make the most effective selection for your lawful demands. The best component of hiring a lawyer Alkmaar is that they are offered night and day and you can contact them as soon as your instance ends up being complex. There is no reason to let your legal matters destroy your service or your individual life. The appropriate lawyer Alkmaar can offer you every little thing you require to put your economic problems back on course. All you need to do is locate an Alkmaar lawyer who can aid you in your time of requirement.

This will certainly assist guarantee that you obtain the most effective feasible recommendations from someone that comprehends the local lawful system. When looking for a lawyer in Alkmaar is the experience of the lawyer, one of the points that you ought to also locate out concerning. While this is a subjective matter, you must check out the success rate that the lawyer has had with a details local court systems in Alkmaar.

For instance, if you have questions regarding your legal rights, you should discuss this with a lawyer Alkmaar that will direct you through all the legal networks readily available to you. There are some instances where the company will offer legal representation, however this is just for instances where you require it. One of the most important thing to think about is just how your case will impact your service as well as your individual funds. If the firm you owe money to is not able to pay, you will need to consider your alternatives before you make a decision which technique of action to take.

Likewise, make sure that the lawyer has all the skills and also qualifications that you require to handle your case as well as to ensure that they have a great attitude. For instance, do you wish to choose a lawyer that is in Alkmaar only or do you want to have him operate in any type of territory? Will you require him to represent you at the nationwide or regional level of the court or will he function locally?

In Alkmaar, there are a lot of lawyers that offer a great deal of assistance. legal suggestions and also support, as well as can assist you find an escape of any kind of issue. If you have been charged of any type of crime, you need to obtain the most effective feasible lawful help offered in order to safeguard on your own as well as combat the situation. A lawyer is your best choice at winning a lawsuit, because he or she recognizes what the legal system is like and how to get your situation settled. Because they can offer you the finest possible lawful aid and also support if you need it, one more factor why it is important to locate a lawyer Alkmaars is.

This is specifically vital when it concerns criminal situations, as the lawyer has had the possibility to exercise their abilities in court and understands exactly how the proceedings can go. When it comes to civil matters, your lawyer ought to have experience with the court in Alkmaar. They should additionally have actually the called for qualifications in order to represent you in the civil court.

It is very easy to discover just how much lawful help you want or require to acquire without needing to spend cash on seeking advice from a lawyer. With this sort of help, you can always obtain a suggestion of what's associated with a particular instance, as well as you will certainly recognize just how to come close to the scenario to get the best possible outcome. You can locate numerous methods of obtaining lawful help from your lawyer. You can seek advice from a local legal adviser in Alkmaar or most likely to the regional courthouse to speak with a clerk concerning the various solutions that are offered.

A lawyer specializing in home law will normally be listed as Alkmaar in their website. It is very important that you discover which kind of building law the lawyer concentrates on to see to it you are obtaining the best person for your instance. Once you have found a lawyer, you can begin taking a look at the credentials that they have to see if they are an ideal prospect for your scenario.

Sometimes, you might also have the ability to make a deal to pay a lump sum to get the creditors to drop your insurance claim and also leave you in a better financial circumstance. To guarantee that all your lawful issues are managed appropriately, you ought to always employ a seasoned lawyer Alkmaar to help you. It is crucial to have a well-informed specialist functioning for you when you have lawful concerns that are made complex. If you live in Holland, one of the best means to locate a lawyer Alkmaar is to consult a directory site of lawyers in your area.

If you are not familiar with local courts, you ought to seek out some suggestions from those who are. This is specifically vital if you can not find any kind of references of people you understand that have used the lawyer in Alkmaar before.

The web is a fantastic device that can be used to locate a good lawful method. It is very important to find a qualified lawyer Alkmaars so that you can get your case fixed asap.

A lawyer Alkmaar will charge you a flat price based on the variety of hours they will certainly benefit you and will certainly not require a percent of what you resolve your instance for. Some lawyers work specifically for a certain set of individuals. For instance, a lawyer Alkmaar focusing on commercial law deals only with companies and also individuals that have actually opened a shop, restaurant, or a workplace on an industrial facility. This type of lawyer will certainly most likely charge reduced fees than a lawyer in Alkmaar that deals with situations of injury and also medical malpractice.

#advocaat alkmaar #advocaten alkmaar #advocatenkantoor alkmaar #advocatenkantoren alkmaar #advocaten in alkmaar #advocatenbureau alkmaar #jurist alkmaar #advocatenkantoren noord holland #alkmaar juristen

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t-baba · 4 years

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How to Make a Career Transition Into Web Development

Over the past ten years, there has been an explosion of interest in web development.

The 2008–09 financial crisis caused millions of young adult workers to lose their jobs and rethink their entire careers from scratch. From the ashes of this crisis, web development has become the darling of the job market.

An increased number of companies, small and large, have turned to the wonders of web development to disrupt or adapt to the new “web 2.0” environment. These companies know that without a web presence, their businesses are doomed to be ignored.

The spike in interest in web development has led to millions of young adults thinking of it not just as a skill to learn, but as a career to adopt. But for those who have already gone through college and spent a life worth of savings to get their degree, switching their careers to web development seems like a tough proposition.

If you’re in this position, the questions are hard. Do you have to start all over again, taking expensive and lengthy classes to learn the skills? Or can you jump ship from a traditional career to web development and still make it until you get a well-paying job?

The answer is, no, you don’t have to go back to college to become a web developer. And yes, you can transition to web development if you prepare yourself for it.

People from all backgrounds have been able to switch to a career in web development. Their advice will shine a light for those who want to do the same without having to sacrifice everything in the way.

Choose the Right Self-education Path

To say that it is possible to become a web developer through self-education may have seemed like alchemy 20 years ago. In 2020, self-education appears to be the rule rather than the exception.

The 2016 StackOverflow annual survey found that almost 70% of its respondents considered themselves as “self-taught.” Whether they learned to code entirely on their own or partially is something the survey left out. However, it still shows the relevance self-education has for professional web developers.

For someone who wants to become a developer, learning on their own is more of a pragmatic obligation than a moral one. Without a formal degree, self-education is the only path to acquire the skills necessary to launch a web development career.

The question, however, shouldn’t be focused on whether self-education is a good idea or not. What truly matters, according to several developers, is to pick the right language and put all energies available into mastering it before focusing on a specific framework. It seems, unlike what the business saying goes, that it’s better to put all the eggs in one basket than to spread them out.

For Lexis Hanson, a former finance professional turned developer, mastering a programming language first — one based on her needs — and focusing on frameworks and libraries second was critical to her self education.

[Mastering a programming language first] forced me to stay focused on getting extremely comfortable with vanilla JavaScript before diving into frameworks, which made that next step significantly easier.

Putting language over frameworks may be the smart decision, but it still doesn’t help to pick the right one. One solution that can shine a light on the issue is to pick a personal project. The specific technical needs required to fulfill your project will guide your choices better.

One self-taught developer who’s in favor of this approach is Avi Flombaum. Instead of picking the first language that pops into a Google search, he explains:

Beginners shouldn’t care about the languages they’re using. They should care that their chosen language matches their goals, if they’re getting expertise and depth and in it — and, of course, if they love using it.

A personal project will foster your passion for programming, and it will help you decide on the language you should consider to build it. Some common ideas include:

a static website

a basic app, like a to-do list

an automation script

If you’re short of ideas, you can check the r/DailyProgrammer subreddit, which posts daily projects with a detailed background, challenges, and inputs to use.

Another vital aspect to consider before settling on a specific language is to think about your natural problem-solving methodologies. How do you break down problems? How do you think about their solutions?

In the case of Hanson, she wasn’t sure whether to choose a language based on object-oriented programming or functional programming. But instead of going with the wisdom of the crowds and picking a popular language, she thought about the way she solved problems in general. Based on that introspection, she chose the programming paradigm that best suited her (which happened to be JavaScript).

Functional programming resonated with me (you might have other preferences), and I challenged myself to approach problems from a “functional-first” perspective. In my opinion, this forced me to think more flexibly about programming and how functions and components should “compose” with one another.

As you learn the basics of a language, consider reading its documentation, especially if you’re already toying with a specific framework. At first, this may seem hard, but the more you practice your skills, and the more you read the documentation, the more sense it will all make.

Vinicius Brasil recommends using GitHub to find and read production code in the language you’re learning. He adds, “If you are confident to contribute, that’s even better.”

Whenever you get stuck, don’t panic. Web development is a friendly skill whose practitioners share solutions to common problems. Stack Overflow is the most popular place developers go to ask questions and share advice. And when you can’t seem to find a solution, remember: “Google is your friend.”

Among the many challenges self-educated developers often face is getting accustomed to the rather strange way of writing code. Many experienced developers will tell you that the way you write a string of code is as important as what that code is meant to do. The truthfulness of such a statement is a discussion of its own, and it has its merits, but for a beginner developer who’s learning on the side and with their own resources, writing perfect code is more of a luxury than a necessity, at least in the beginning.

Such is the case of Jeremy Gunter, whose “learn first, clean later” mentality became the greatest boon to his confidence during the early days of his self-education. His methodology consisted of using pseudo-code to make his code work and then Googling how they are supposed to be written.

Instead of going mental trying to remember method names, I focused on what action I needed to perform. When I wanted to add an item to the beginning of an array, I found it easier to google the phrase “add item to beginning of array JavaScript” than to try and use my own memory to differentiate between shift(), unshift(), and pop().

Any experienced developer will probably grind their teeth at the idea of using pseudo-code over syntax. Still, for the self-educated folk, Gunter’s approach resembles more to Mark Zuckerberg’s “learn fast and break things” mantra than to Tim Peters’ “beautiful is better than ugly.”

All in its time, Mr. Peters, all in its time.

Build a Network

College education is often seen as a mechanical process where a student acquires all the required knowledge to become a professional in their chosen field. Under this mentality, anything that doesn’t imply studying and memorizing technical concepts is secondary.

This simplistic idea leaves a significant advantage that college-educated developers have over self-taught ones, and on which the latter must work if they want to be in an equal position to the former. That is, the professional network college provides to its students.

A professional network is built upon a web of mentors, professors, job seekers, and classmates. Some of these people will eventually become colleagues, and some will act as referrals and references for job prospects, both critical elements to succeed in any professional career.

To dismiss the importance that a network like this has over web developers is to undervalue one of the most prominent advantages colleges bring to their students. Thus, anyone who is considering switching to a career in web development must prioritize building this network while they develop their skillset.

As a self-educated developer, you may not have professors or job seekers around you. The work, then, should be focused on building strong relationships with those developers who may help you in your journey.

To start, you need to consider participating in local development events and meetups. Whether these meetings are general or language-specific isn’t important. What matters is that you proactively meet other people and become a part of the community.

Nnena Ndukwe, a college dropout and former tanning consultant, explains the usefulness of attending meetups throughout her self-education journey:

Having these conversations about tech with people in the field helped me gain more knowledge about opportunities for work, organizations to volunteer for, and tech or social events to attend that would be fulfilling. One opportunity always leads to the next via networking.

To prove her point, Nnenna says she got her first development job through a bootcamp she heard about in one of the meetups she participated in. Whether meetups generate jobs directly or indirectly isn’t relevant. The point is that they compound the opportunities available for switching to a web development career.

The most popular site to find local meetups is Meetup.com, but you can also use Facebook events and Eventbrite. A quick search in any of these sites will bring you dozens of meetups in your area.

Just like Google is your friend when it comes to learning to code, you can also use it to find events in your area. You can use a general search query like “web development” plus your city, or a more specific one like “Python” (or any other language or framework you want) plus your city, and you’ll get many events close to you.

You can both participate as an attendee and use the networking available to meet others who can help you, or you can give a talk on your self-taught process.

Most attendees will be surprised and glad to meet someone who’s trying to make the switch without a degree. You may even meet others who happened to achieve your career switching goal and who can give you feedback and support on your journey.

Another option to build a network is to participate in online communities. There are dozens of Slack chats for developers, and these will provide you with a great deal of information about the latest news, ideas, and people to connect with. You can even search for developers in your area you can meet for a coffee.

These events and meetups aren’t just useful for meeting colleagues. As Nnenna Ndukwe attests, they are also effective for meeting potential clients or employers as well.

Continue reading How to Make a Career Transition Into Web Development on SitePoint.

by Ivan Kreimer via SitePoint https://ift.tt/2UVFCDo

#CSS3 #HTML5 Branding #HTML5 Weekly #HTMLl5 demos #Javascript Branding #Javascript Weekly #Mobile #Mo

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whereintheworldisbella · 4 years

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Spelunking in Russia

-- Disclaimer -- This story is from summer 2014. I wrote the beginning shortly after it happened, and never penned the rest until just now, six years later. So sadly I can’t remember a lot of the small details, but I try to recount the story to the best of my recollection. Here goes nothing...

Hi all, sorry it's been so long since my last post, but I promise this story's worth the wait.

So last week was the final week for the students on the 4-week program. To celebrate, we all went to a bar on Friday night and I tried a vodka milkshake. I'm not sure if I liked it..I think I would have preferred just the milkshake.

Then I walked home with some friends and was finally out late enough that I got to see the city "at night" - I say this in quotes because at 1 or 2 AM the sky still wasn't completely dark. St. Petersburg at night is absolutely beautiful.

When Marie and I got home (Marie is the other student who lives with the same host family as I do), we went into the kitchen for water and a snack. Alexey, the father of the 3 small girls who all live with us, comes into the kitchen and prepares himself a meal (remember, this is about 2, 2:30 in the morning). He starts talking to us pretty quickly (well, normally I guess, but to us it seems fast) and we nod along, even though we don't understand what he's saying.

Then his father-in-law, Sasha (a diminutive for Alexander), comes into the kitchen and asks us if we understand. We admit that we don't and he gets annoyed that we didn't say anything, but to be honest it's late and we're pretty tired. Sasha explains that Alexey and Julia (his wife) met in a cave. "Ahhhh" we say, as if that explains the entire 5 minutes of talking we just heard. Then Alexey, speaking slower, goes on to explain something to us. All I am able to distinguish is: "forest," "photographs," "festival," "you will get dirty." He asks us if we want to come with him. Marie passes but I, feeling adventurous, say I would like to.

The next day (well, technically later on the same day), on Saturday, I finish my homework and wait for Alexey to return. **Now writing in retrospect, 6 years later, based off memory.** I’m clad out in a new pair of hiking pants and some sneakers. When Alexey returns he looks at me and asks if that’s what I’m going in, because it looks too nice to get dirty. I feel self-conscious and say it’s fine. He packs some bags and we head down the old staircase to his old jeep and take off.

The car ride is bumpy to say the least. As a typical driver in St. Petersburg, Alexey zooms in and out of traffic in his very used, very noisy jeep, the safety of which is questionable. At one point the car stalls. Russian music plays on the radio as this stranger that I’ve known all but a few interactions drives me toward the outskirts of the city and beyond, out into the country where the roads are narrow, without shoulders. Since he doesn’t speak English and I barely know Russian, we don’t hold a conversation.

After about 45 minutes or an hour, he pulls over the car and informs me that we’ve arrived. I look around. All I see are fields and forests. Still, I’ve been to a huge music festival in Denmark before that’s held in the middle of farms, so I go with it. I get out the car to help him unload the trunk but he just changes shoes and says to get back into the car, that he’ll go another way. Confused, I get back into the car and Alexey starts driving off the road and into the forest. There’s no road, but Alexey weaves between trees, as he did in traffic, the car bouncing so violently that I picture the screws falling out and the whole car just going to pieces.

By this point, I start to get a little worried. Why did this man take me out to the middle of nowhere? Surely I can’t be in any danger because the school program know him, right? I mean, they are letting me live with him and his family. Yet I can’t help wondering…

Then he stops suddenly - trees are blocking the way. He backs up, driving just as fast in reverse as he was going forward, weaving through the trees backward. Stops. Forward again. Then we’re there, and I see a bonfire and some tents. Relief washes over me. We set up a small orange 2-person tent a bit away from the others and Alexey tells me to follow him through the woods. Despite the signs of other people, I don’t see anyone.

We leave our stuff in the tent and walk a few minutes until we get to a crater in the ground with a small hole at the bottom, like a tunnel. We’re close to the roadway - I hear a truck go by. Alexey starts speaking quickly in Russian. He hands me a flashlight, motions to the tunnel in the crater and says “You go first.”

I’m starting to suspect that there’s no music festival, after all.

I climb down, turn the flashlight on, and enter the cave. Alexey follows behind me. The space is small, dark, and damp, and every time a truck passes on the road the earth trembles. Alexey motions for me to follow and we venture further into the cave, at some points squeezing through narrow spaces to get into the next “room.” I feel extremely claustrophobic. Some water drips on my head, or is it slime from bats? I don’t like caves one bit, I conclude.

Alexey starts speaking to me. I think he’s explaining different types of rocks, but I have no clue what he’s saying. I try asking what the caves are used for. I think he mentions something about bunkers in the wartime. Makes sense, I think.

Then, much to my relief, Alexey motions back to the single entrance and we exit the cave. Nearby is another crater - in fact, they’re everywhere. Now I hear voices. We enter another hole and it’s like some sort of art exhibit, or the private meeting place of a secret society. Candles are lit, figures are drawn on the cave walls, and a small group of Russian boys and men are drinking and talking in the cave. Alexey greets them and introduces me.

I’m embarrassed when he says I’m American and they all are suddenly fascinated. They start asking me questions, practicing their broken english, and laughing. I have a sinking feeling that they’re laughing at me and slinging some insults. I try my best to respond, and not feel self-conscious. I spout my rehearsed intro about myself and why I’m in Russia - to learn the language because I think it’s a pretty language. They offer me alcohol but I decline.

When we get outside, we head to the tents, where others have now gathered, among them women and children. I start speaking with them and we eat dinner (I think some sort of hot dogs and beans? Though I can’t say I remember). We talk about Russian novels, and poems, and music. I’m embarrassed that I don’t know more but they’re impressed with what I do know, and I feel a bond. Vodka is passed around. Then someone breaks out their guitar and the whole camp - about 10 of us maybe - starts singing together.

We stay that way for a while, until the sun finally disappears and night falls. I get to know a young mother (Irina) and her young son, and another girl from Moscow, Natasha, who’s about my age (I will go on to visit them each again, twice, during my stay in Russia. I’m still friends with them on Facebook and Vkontaktya).

I feel much more at ease now that I have made some female friends. Then someone picks up a shovel, yells “Davai!”, and heads off into the darkness. Everyone follows with flashlights, still singing and strumming the guitar. We get to another crater and two men jump in and start shoveling, one of them now shirtless. The music continues and the shovelers swap out. I think they’re trying to find an entrance to another cave. (I don’t remember if they actually did, but I don’t think so.)

It seems like hours pass like this before people start heading back to camp for bed. It was starting to get light again, but because it was summer (white nights), it was still the middle of the night. Alexey and I made our way to the small, orange tent and, exhausted, fell asleep. I slept in my clothes, next to my host-brother, and though we each had our own sleeping bag, I felt quite weird about the situation. Anyway, he snored, and the next thing I knew it was morning.

We ate some kasha or bagels and cheese (I think) for breakfast and packed up. I guess the cave exploring was over (thank God). I swapped telephone numbers with Irina and Natasha, and made plans to go to the beach along the Baltic with them later that day. Then Alexey and I drove back home.

The beach we went to was close to Irina’s dacha, out in the country. We had to take a train and then stand on a hot and overcrowded marshutka to get there. Many locals spent their summers at their dachas, or traveled there on weekends, which was the case for my host-family. On the train I could see travelers hauling bags of freshly picked mushrooms and berries from the countryside back into the city.

By this point, my Russian improved a lot and I was able to have pretty meaningful conversations with Irina and Natasha about the differences between the US and Russia, especially around finances. Sadly, Natasha had to return to Moscow the next day, and although we met up when I visited Moscow one weekend with the school program, we haven’t kept in touch. I feel like we would have become friends if she lived in St. Petersburg.

Irina did live in St. Petersburg, in the outskirts, and I did visit her for dinner one evening. Because I was super late, I didn’t have time to buy any food or housewarming gift. I know is considered rude to show up empty-handed, and I tried to explain that I didn’t want to be more late than I was already, and apologized many times, but honestly I was too embarrassed to hold close contact with her after.

Overall, spelunking in Russia was the craziest thing I did there. I was uncomfortable the entire time, but I’m so glad I impulsively decided to go. I can’t say that anything tangible came out of if (lasting friendships, hard skills, or even photos because I was too nervous to take any), but this memory sure does make for one hell of a story, and I’ll never forget it.

#studyabroad #spelunking #stpetersburg #russia

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studylifeusa · 5 years

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Yvonn Myren from Trondheim, Norway is majoring in Communication at Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbra, California

Why did you decide to study in the USA?

I decided to study in the US because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and experience a new culture. Coming from a relatively small city in Norway, I got tired of doing the same routines and following this “expected path of life.” I have always loved travelling and meeting new people, so I thought: “Why not start over in a brand-new place where nobody knows me?” It was a choice originating from the longing for a fresh start. The reason I chose California in particular is because I was fascinated by how open-minded people seemed. I wanted to be surrounded by positivity and encouragement, so I decided to experience this place for myself, and fell in love.

Why did you choose this particular college or university? What attracted you about your school? Please mention such factors as location, reputation, courses offered. What is special about your school and its location?

When I was doing my research- which lasted for approximately 5 years- I very much focused on factors like courses offered, location, and safety. I wanted to study marketing and communication, and Santa Barbara City College offered a variety of interesting courses in those fields. My favorites so far have been Interpersonal Communication, Public Relations, and Online and Mobile Marketing! The location is rated as one of the best ones in the country; it’s right on the beach, which was a big plus for me. Even after nearly two years here I am stunned every time I walk to class over how beautiful it is. The last thing that brought me here is the safety. SBCC really does a lot to make their students feel safe, and they have security on campus that will follow you home at night if you are walking by yourself. This is such a relief when you are moving to a new country all by yourself.

What do you like best about your program or university?

The thing about SBCC that is so incredible is how dedicated the professors are. I have met so many amazing and caring professors the past two years. It has been an eye opening experience for me. They have sparked my interest in learning and educating myself outside of school, and for that I am forever thankful. My college experience would not be the same without the support and care they have shown me, both academically and personally.

What do you miss most about home?

Whenever I am homesick, the first thing that I miss is my little brother and sister. I make sure to spend a lot of time with them whenever I am home to make up for the events I missed during the school year. However, I try to shift my mindset and look at it as something positive. They are my motivation to do well in school and accomplish great things. I want to be a good role model for them, and I believe following my dream and getting my degree will contribute to that.

What was your biggest surprise about U.S. life and education?

The biggest surprise about the American college culture has been the importance of getting in to the best school when transferring. (When you go from a two-year community college to a four-year university) Back home we do not focus as much on which school we attend, but rather what degree we will earn. Here, it is mostly about prestige and getting into the very best school in your area. For me, this has been an adjustment, because I simply did not care in the beginning, and wanted to settle with the first and best school I found. After a while, I realized that it does matter where you graduate here, and I need to work hard to get into a school that will provide me with the best education possible.

... your biggest disappointment?

My biggest disappointment must be facing the harsh reality that not everyone you meet is supposed to be your friend. I learned the hard way that if your circle of friends does not want the best for you, you should remove yourself from the situation and accept that you might be better on your own. Finding close friends might be harder than you realize, and personally, I don’t think you should settle until you find those who bring out the best qualities in you.

How have you handled:

... language differences?

The language difference has never been a problem for me, because I’ve studied English back home since second grade. However, it did take a lot of practice and positive self-talk to be able to be confident talking to locals. Being an international student, you automatically find yourself surrounded by other international students, which is not the greatest way to practice your English skills. My suggestion is to connect with as many locals as you can on a daily basis and challenge yourself to take small steps every day towards your goal. It has helped me a lot, and it makes it easier to engage in class as well.

... finances?

Being an international student in general is not easy, because you will not have the same economic freedom as back home living with your parents. However, there are usually resources on campus that you can use for your own benefit. At SBCC you can apply for grants, scholarships, and financial aid, which all help your finances. When I entered my second year here, I decided to get a job to get some work experience, and of course, earn some money. I ended up being hired as the Social Media Marketing Intern of SBCC’s International Office, which was the perfect fit for me taking my interests and my educational path into consideration. It has helped me a lot financially, and it has led me to new friendships and new skills.

... adjusting to a different educational system?

Adjusting to the American educational system was a challenge because they require very specific courses to be able to transfer. For example, in California they have “University of California” schools, such as UCLA and UC Berkeley, but they also have “California State” schools, such as San Diego State University and San Jose State University. When I came here, I had no clue what the difference was, and no idea where I wanted to go next. I was uneducated about the different requirements, which led me to only being able to transfer to California State schools. Therefore, my biggest tip for international students is to do a lot of research even after you get here! Meet with an academic advisor and find out which classes you need to take to be able to transfer.

What are your activities? (clubs, sports, student associations, travel, homestay programs, special activities or trips sponsored by your program)

The last year has been very fun and hectic because I wanted to get more involved in the campus community. This has led me to such great things, and many new friendships. Recently I founded the SBCC Women’s Empowerment Club. We meet every other week, do fundraisers, and volunteer at local nonprofits. Clubs are so fun, and a great way to meet likeminded people. I also decided to join the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, and the Sigma Chi Eta Communication Honor Society, where I am the head of public affairs. I highly suggest joining honor societies because it will give you leadership experience, volunteer opportunities, and it will introduce you to many new people with the same interests.

How easy or difficult is making friends in the USA?

Finding friends can be harder than you think moving to a new country. Luckily, Americans are usually super outgoing, and easy to talk to. It just depends on how fast you meet the right people! This is why it is so important to put yourself out there! Go to events, join clubs, and have a positive mindset. You will not establish new friendships by simply sitting in your room. My best advice for finding good friends is to be true to yourself. You do not need to dress or behave a certain way to fit in. Be yourself and approach people with an open mind. You never know when you will find your new best friend.

What are your career goals? How is your U.S. education relevant to your personal goals and to the needs of your country?

My career goal is to start my own company one day, preferably related to communication or marketing. I know that my academic experience and the personal relationships I have formed over the last two years will make a big difference on how I approach that goal. Adapting to a new culture is such a great learning experience, and you discover sides of yourself you didn’t know you had. For instance, I have found that I am capable of planning and leading projects, setting up social events on campus, and connecting likeminded people! It has made me more confident that I am able to make a difference in the local community and that I should keep nurturing my entrepreneurial sides.

What is your advice to other students from your country who are considering a U.S. education?

If you are considering studying in the US, please do not hesitate. You are your own biggest critic, and I promise you that you can do whatever you set your mind to. It might seem frightening at first, but we are so adaptable. It doesn’t take long to feel at home. For me, this has been a life changing experience, and I am so entirely happy that I decided to study here. I have established lifelong relationships, learned so much about myself, and discovered my path for the future. It was definitely the best decision ever made.

Yvonn Myren

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wiseabsol · 7 years

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Excerpts from a Prompts Project

For those of you who read my Pokemon fanfic “The Phoenix Rose Saga” back in the day, here is the first of three excerpts showing what a re-imagined version of it would look like.

Prompt #1: Creation, featuring Aaron from “TPRS”

Creation:

As far as creations went, the second of their mew clones (or the third, if he decided to count the prototype, which he generally didn’t) wasn’t much of a success.

Perhaps Aaron shouldn’t say that. The clone, who his assistants had named “Neva” for her snowy white pelt, was alive and healthy. That was more than most of their early clones could boast. They had died while they were growing in their gestation tanks or shortly after their births. Still, there wasn’t much else that could be said in Neva’s favor. Her albinism, while unusual among pokémon, wasn’t as rare or valuable as the “shiny” coloration. The vulnerability of her eyes and skin to sunlight, thanks to her condition, didn’t help either. If they weren’t careful, she might eventually go blind or develop skin cancer (which was another reason why confining her to the lab was for the best).

Yet compared to her other flaws, her albinism could be overlooked. Her being deaf and psychically disabled were much more serious problems.

The deafness could be worked around. Neva’s primary caretaker, Dr. Rosenberg, knew several languages, including the local version of sign language. In addition to her other duties, Dr. Rosenberg was adapting that version into a three-fingered one that Neva could use. She’d given Aaron reports on how Neva was progressing, along with the growing list of signs that Neva had learned, but he’d only managed to skim through them. Neva’s “sister,” Morgan, interested him more than her less capable sibling. Most of his time was spent going over her medical reports and her battle analyses instead. As long as Dr. Rosenberg was confident that her pet project was going well, he felt safe entrusting her with the second clone. Until he found a use for Neva, her time could be spent in language lessons.

What else was he supposed to do with her? She didn’t have a wisp of psychic power, nor any hint of the others, despite the lineage she boasted. Mew was said to be able to learn every move a pokémon could learn, he thought, rubbing his temples as he waited for his coffee to brew. And this creature can barely use Scratch.

Cloning pokémon was always a gamble, of course. His colleagues back on Cinnabar had stressed that time and again as they’d sifted through fossilized remains, looking for the most promising samples. Even the best-preserved ones, though, captured in ice and amber, would have holes somewhere in their genetic codes. Using stem cells from dittos could fill in only so much of what had been lost. For the rest of the gaps, they had to splice in genes from other pokémon and people, which threw all sort of variables into the mix. No doubt that had been what had brought about Morgan’s blue coloration (due to the vaporeon genes in her genetic cocktail) and Neva’s disabilities. That or her mew fossil had been from a flawed specimen, which was entirely possible. Aaron had hardly expected to find one set of mew remains, let alone two, so of course he had made clones from them both. That was more than Dr. Fuji had accomplished!

It niggled at Aaron, though, that Dr. Fuji’s prototype had been practically perfect. Its psychic powers alone could have leveled mountains. Such a shame, really, that its temperament had been so foul….

Even if Aaron’s creations weren’t as strong as their predecessor, at least they were under his control. Certainly, Morgan was a handful. She was eager to test herself in battle—she was rather like the prototype that way (if only, if only he could capture Mewtwo as well and use it as a stud. The offspring would no doubt be priceless). But she still obeyed them and adhered to the rules and restrictions they’d laid out for her, and all because he’d taken the time to sit down with her and answer her questions. He’d be careful to treat her like a person, even though she wasn’t one, and that had made the difference. His lab was still standing and he and his people were still alive. That put him well ahead of Dr. Fuji, as far as Aaron was concerned.

But the question remained: what was he supposed to do with Neva?

Euthanizing and dissecting her was out of the question (unless her body started breaking down like some of the others had, in which case his intervention would be a mercy). They’d sunk too much money, too much time, too much labor and energy into making her. He couldn’t waste the investment. He hadn’t been able to back when she was gestating, when her pure white fur and her biopsies had told him of her condition. Mew samples were too hard to come by, and even a flawed sample couldn’t be discarded because the result was imperfect. But if she couldn’t be used for battle or for contests—or for activities that the League didn’t sanction, but his financers pursued—what else was left?

Breeding, the answer came to him. She can be used for breeding. If nothing else, she could act as a surrogate for her sister’s offspring. That way, Morgan can remain in the arena and won’t be injured by any pregnancy complications. The mew clones, after all, were essentially chimeras. Delivering might be harder for them than for their purer ancestors. Especially if they had litters.

It would have to be carefully done. They had gambled with the genetic cocktails that had brought the sisters into being, but they could not take the same risks with the offspring (if the sisters were even fertile. They might not be. Most pokémon were and could breed across species lines, but there were a select few who were more restrictive. The mews could have been one of those, regardless of their supposed “ancestor of all” designation). Fortunately, both sisters had a readier supply of gametes than Aaron had of fossilized remains, so he could do more with the genes he’d be mixing. Maybe he could increase the claw length in the offspring…maybe tweak their coloration…definitely expand their move sets if he could…yes, there was a lot he could experiment with.

After mixing a tooth-aching amount of sugar and a dollop of cream into his coffee, he left his office and went to the training center for the clones. Morgan was making good progress on converting her psychic energies into electric attacks and was making short work of her opponents. She seemed restless, but he supposed that was to be expected when none of her challengers were putting up a good fight. They would have to increase the level tier again and see how she fared then.

Neva, in contrast, was practicing signs with Dr. Rosenberg. They were in the botanical lab today. Dr. Rosenberg was teaching Neva the names and medicinal uses of the plants there, as if she would have any use for that knowledge. But he supposed they had to improve Neva’s communication skills somehow, and keeping her in a stagnant environment like her pen would hinder her in that. If only she had half of her sister’s innate empathic abilities. Then she would be fluent in their language already….

“Dr. Rosenberg,” he called through the doorway, feeling the moist, sticky heat of the lab against his face. “A word?”

She nodded and made some quick signs to Neva, who nodded and started working clumsily on a project. She was getting dirt everywhere on the floor. Dr. Rosenberg removed her gardening gloves and joined him. “Yes?”

“I wanted to run something by you.” He explained the breeding idea to her. To his surprise, she looked uncertain about it. “Is something the matter?”

“Sir, it’s just…the sisters might be physically mature, but psychologically, they’re far from it. They need more time to learn and develop before—I’m not saying that we shouldn’t consider it,” she added hastily, seeing his annoyance, “but maybe we should wait a year or two for their minds to catch up to their bodies.”

“That would be fine, if we didn’t have Ms. Stoneson breathing down our necks. But we do, and while she’s pleased with Morgan’s progress, she’s starting to see Neva as a waste of resources.” That had come up repeatedly in their last meeting. “I’m not sure how much more she is willing to spend on a failed investment.”

“Neva is not a failure!”

Gods protect him from scientists who grew too attached to their experiments. “She is in the eyes of our employer,” he explained, with rather more patience than Dr. Rosenberg deserved. “But that could change if we find a use for her. I’m open to alternative suggestions.” When the now red-faced Dr. Rosenberg seemed at a loss, he added, “If you think of any, let me know. Otherwise, inform Neva that this is where things are heading. We might start her on a hormone regime as soon as next month.”

As he was turning away, Dr. Rosenberg reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Aaron, she’s a child, you can’t—”

“Would you rather she be a dead child? Because that’s another option our dear employer has mentioned. Using Neva for samples and spare parts certainly would put an end to the drain she’s being, even if it wouldn’t give us back a fraction of the fortune we spent on making her.”

Dr. Rosenberg paled at that. Aaron nodded. “I don’t want that either, but I might not have a choice if Neva doesn’t prove her value somehow.” He looked past her, at the creation, who had buried her muzzle into the roses. “Take a day to think about it,” he told Dr. Rosenberg, then left.

They had to find a use for the clone somehow. This was the only way he could think of.

Better this than the dissection table, he thought. I’m sure even Neva would agree.

But he would never ask her that. He would become like Dr. Rosenberg if he did—too involved, too close to keep perspective like he should, when they were working for people who had no patience for such softheartedness. He had to keep his distance and keep in mind what the sisters were: creations. Products. Property. Not pokémon. Not even people.

No matter what Dr. Rosenberg might say, Aaron couldn’t allow himself to lose sight of that.

#WiseAbsol #My Fanfiction #The Phoenix Rose Saga #Prompts Project #Pokemon

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norafinds · 7 years

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ATWWV - Laila Shalimar

Third post of the Around The World With Vintage and I cannot be more excited for you to read this. Today I would like to introduce you to the Australian-Pakistani pin up Midcentury Mermaid aka Laila Shalimar. I was really excited when I discovered Laila as she is definitely the perfect person to feature on this series. I started this series because I wanted to talk to vintage wearers about culture, nationalities, and identities. Laila has the most fascinating stories growing up in Pakistan and moving to Australia at 16. I thought it would great for me (and you) to learn about Pakistan and its history. I asked her about the Westernised Pakistan that I've seen in vintage photographs as well as her views on being a Desi woman and a pin up girl.

Hi Laila, tell us a little bit about you!

My name is Laila Shalimar. I am a twenty something tattooed pinup of colour from Western Australia. When I am not working one of my two reception jobs, you can find me in the library of Edith Cowan University where I am a student of Criminology and Counter Terrorism. I am passionate about writing and the art of storytelling. Being able to speak 2 languages other than English, linguistics have always been a source of comfort for me. The written word has been a source of solace during some of the most isolating and vulnerable moments of my life and I am grateful to be able to share my experiences with others through the power of writing. I have had some of my pieces published by magazines such as Adore Pinup Magazine, Retro Vintage Review, Damsel Magazine, Dircksey and I hope to continue writing for as long as my mind will let me tell stories.

What is your racial and cultural background?

Because I don’t have an Anglo Australian accent, I often get people asking me where I am “really from”. This is usually after a long and embarrassing guessing game where every country but Pakistan is thrown in as a possibility. I dread these kind of interactions because it makes me feel like my accent, name and appearance prevents me from being considered “Aussie” and also because I never know how people will react to my “identity story”. For one thing, I never know whether they are asking about my ethnicity/race or where I have lived before I moved to Australia. First and foremost, I consider myself a Desi Australian. I was born in Peshawar, Pakistan to a Muslim Pashtun father and a mother of mixed Indo European ancestry. I grew up between Karachi, Islamabad, and Peshawar. I have also lived in the UK and briefly in some parts of Europe. Because I went to an English Grammar school for most my life and was practically raised on American cable, I have a very American sounding accent. I moved to Australia with my family in 2013 and have lived here ever since. Because I was sixteen at the time, I never managed to pick up an Australian accent.

People make the mistake of assuming that “Pakistani” is a racial or ethnic identity when it is merely a nationality. Pakistan is a small country that only came into existence in 1947. Prior to that it was part of the Indian subcontinent and fell under the British Raj. My father’s generation was the first generation to be born in Pakistan. My grandparents were born in British India as it was called. Pakistan hosts a multitude of races and ethnicities much like Australia does and many of us refer to ourselves as Desi or “of the motherland/subcontinent”. I like to think of myself as a Desi Australian because I have a very mixed ethnic background, most of which can be traced to the Indian subcontinent. I value all these beautiful aspects of my ethnicity and often wonder what stories lie hidden in my genes. In my appearance I see a kaleidoscope- as time progresses and my features change, I cannot help but wonder about the ancestors in the obscured and missing branches of my family tree.

First prime minister and first lady of Pakistan during their US visit. The two have been credited for the Pakistan Movement that gained the country its independence. Photo by unknown, provided by US Department of State as part of the album "Visit of his Excellency Liaquat Ali Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, to the United States of America, May 3 to May 26, 1950." (Missouri Digital Heritage) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Tell us about your family and your childhood

My mother was 25 when she had me. She had only been married to my father for a year and they lived in a teeny tiny little studio apartment in Peshawar in a “not so desirable” part of town. My mother said she spent a lot of her pregnancy reading and eating tropical fruits. The day I made my entry into the world, she had been reading Valley of the Dolls and eating pomegranates and rock melon. It was a scorching 39 degrees and they had no air conditioning in their apartment. I was born on the 12th of June 1987, in the middle of a heatwave, in a small maternity home at 3pm in the afternoon. My parents did not know they were expecting a daughter and in a society that valued a male heir so strongly, my birth went largely unnoticed outside my immediate family. I was given an old Persian name that I wish I could share with your readership because it has the most delicate sound when pronounced correctly. I was raised in a household full of books, laughter, kitchen table science experiments and the concept of a Ubiquitous but loving God who didn’t care whether I prayed to him in the customary Arabic or my mother tongue of Pashto. I was raised to ask questions and my parent’s ensured they always answered truthfully and to the best of their knowledge.

I was soon joined by two siblings, a brother and a sister and we lived a pretty happy and carefree life amidst the political turmoil of Pakistan’s 90s. I grew up worshipping The Spice Girls, swooning over Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys, having slumber parties with my schoolmates where we watched movies like Clueless and Never been kissed over and over while painting our toenails bright blue. Summer vacations were spent finding inventive ways to stay cool during ”load-shedding” (where an entire suburb loses power for a week at a time), trips to the British Council Library in Islamabad to borrow books like Matilda and the BFG, eating gola ghanda (local shaved ices) with the other neighbourhood kids and going on long road trips to see our grandparents in Peshawar. And in the background of my childhood and early teens governments were sworn in, governments were kicked out. Each party made promises it would not or could not keep before being replaced in some kind of political ousting. Sometimes there would be Union strikes that would result in school being called off for a few days and we would grow bored and restless indoors waiting to get back to our schoolyard and our friends. Pakistan in the 90s was the best bits of the west and the east tossed together like Chaat Masala on fries, coca cola with Naan Kebab, and Friday prayers after the Power Puff Girls marathon. Had I known what was to follow in the years to come, I would have committed more to memory.

I feel like my life can neatly be divided into two parts: pre and post 9/11. The collapse of the Twin Towers on September 11th and the so called “War on Terror” that followed had a major impact on the world I lived in. While Pakistan has by no means known peace and tranquility in its short existence thanks to our politicians, our military and our religious right, this time the instability was coming from politicians in an office more than 12,000 KM away from us. In war, they say, it is children that become the first casualties of damage physical and spiritual. The thing that will haunt me for the rest of my life are the tired eyes of small Afghan children attempting to sleep in strange doorsteps on freezing winter mornings. It was October when they first started piling into Peshawar, children no older than 5 or 6 unaccompanied by parents in the back of trucks huddling together like chickens roosting. The local hospitals were full of children with injuries from shellings, shrapnel embedded in limbs that often needed amputation, sometimes with very little anaesthetic. Often times the littlest ones would perish due to chest infections left unattended. Our country did not have the finances nor the infrastructure to take on the sheer volume of refugees that were making their way across the Khyber Pass once more. Aid arrived from the UN at a snail’s pace and the US happily wrote off these people as “collateral damage” forgetting that they were the children and family of the men and women who fought the Russians for them in the 80s.

My mother and grandmothers helped where they could by organising “khairaat” (charity food) but there was never enough food to stave off hunger just as there would never be enough comfort for children displaced in the middle of the night. I remember hearing a doctor ask an Afghan boy of maybe six what he wanted to be when he grew up in an attempt to distract him from the tetanus shot he was about to receive. The boy with big fat tears rolling down his cheek replied that he wanted to be “a grown up” and look after his mother who was still “back home”. Things like these hurt to think about even a decade later. I was 15 then but when I look back I feel as if I was watching the world with old eyes. I feel younger now than I did then somehow. Perhaps it is because I am now watching the same things happen from far away, on a television set that I have the luxury to switch off. Some nights I think about that boy and his mother, and other children I saw on my way to my grandmother’s house or our in Baara Market. I can switch off the Tv but the human mind refuses to co operate in the same way.

How did your family decide to move to Australia? How was the experience like for all of you?

Shortly after my 15th birthday I fell into a deep and unshakeable depression. It manifested itself in very violent and angry behaviour. I got into numerous physical fights, refused to hand in assignments and spent most of my time in the school library reading instead of attending classes. I remember thinking of the futility of education when it was likely that we would all end up dead at the flick of a button. What was the point of calculus, social studies and human biology in the event of an all out World War like they kept talking about on TV when I went home every evening sulking, writing terribly morose journal entries in my diary and crying myself to sleep. I could not eat because of constant anxiety and made several attempts to end my own life when it got out of hand. My parent’s sensed that the environment I was in was causing me great distress. They were also extremely worried about the political circumstances in Pakistan and what it meant for my father’s job and our futures. My parents had applied for American, Canadian, Dutch and Australian visas. The interview processes were often followed by months of silence and then rejection letters. In January 2003, I was 6 months shy of my 16th birthday, due to sit my O level exams and had completely stopped attending school altogether. My parents were frantic. What future was there for a woman in Pakistan especially if she didn’t even have a basic high school graduation? They tried over and over to talk to me about my poor performance at school and my lacklustre behaviour at home but to no avail. I was not living, merely surviving day to day, waiting for something to drop on my house or hurt someone I loved. It was an awful time for me.

On the 11th of March 2004 at 2pm in the afternoon, I was at home with my father who was reading a newspaper in the living room. I remember every detail of this day because that was the day the mailman brought the one envelope that changed the rest of my life. I cannot remember if it was from the Australian Embassy or whether it was from my father’s colleague who had ties to the embassy but I remember him opening the envelope, reading its contents several times before looking like he was going to throw up. “As of tomorrow” he said “I want you to start considering options for your future. Australia is a very competitive country with very intelligent people and you’re going to need to be on top of your class to go to their Universities”. That was it. We were moving to Australia. My family had been granted a 5 year multiple visa and with it came the option of residency and citizenship. The only catch was that we had to be in Australia by the 5th of May. We had little under 2 months to move across continents and start a new life.

With a suitcase and a backpack each, we said our final goodbyes to family and relatives at Peshawar Airport. One of my father’s work colleagues accompanied us to the terminal gates. They had been friends since college. I heard from my mother several years later that he had been assassinated. Rumour was that someone from a rival political party had decided to take a hit out on him to ensure a district election win. The more I think about things like this, the more I take comfort in the workings of Australia’s political and legal system. It is by no means perfect but the safety it offers those of us who are lucky enough to yield it is comforting.

Does your love of vintage stem from your cultural background?

There is a Pashtun saying that our home comes alive in our stories. That is to say our histories and therefore our cultural identity provides us with a sense of belonging or home and this really resonates with me. My family moved to Australia on such short notice, with such little time on our hands that there was never any closure. We barely brought anything with us to the new country to remember it by. I never got to say goodbye properly to my life, my family or friends. I was under the impression that our move was temporary and that I would one day return to my life as I left it. Nearly 14 years have passed and I have not visited “home”. I have lost grandparents, schoolmates, and relatives. Shops, restaurants and parks I went to as a child have been reduced to rubble or ruin. People have moved on. The Pakistan I felt safe in, the Pakistan I grew up in is like a little figurine in a snow globe, a place frozen in time, in a little bubble of reminiscence. There is no reclaiming it nor will I be able to return to those carefree and happy times.

We have seen numerous articles about how Westernised Pakistan was before the 1980s. Is there a lot of vintage now in Pakistan? Do people hold on to those memorabilia or were they destroyed?

One of my favourite pieces of furniture back home was a chest of drawers that my mother had as a teenager in the 1970s. The drawers were part of an old deco set that my maternal grandparents were given as a wedding gift. In the topmost drawer, underneath some very “groovy” 60s lining paper was a little peace symbol, “Janis Joplin forever” and my mother’s initials. When I inherited the bedroom set at 13, my mother showed me this little bit of graffiti and said “When I was a teenager, i wrote this in the drawer to piss your grandmother off”. I was equal parts mesmerised and weirded out. My mother was once a teenager who liked scribbling on furniture to make her mother angry. When I recounted this story in my year 12 drama class, my classmates attempted to discredit me. In their minds it was impossible to believe that a teenager that lived in 1970s Pakistan had ever heard of Janis Joplin. The Pakistan they had heard of in pre social media 2003 was the one overrun by the Taliban and women in blue burqas. It was hard for them to comprehend the Pakistan my parents grew up in.

My father fondly recounts stories of his American Hippie friends whom he met in Peshawar restaurants en route to Kabul. They had been traveling from India and wanted to visit the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan. Pakistan was an important destination on what was called the "hippie trail" – an overland route taken by young western backpackers between 1967 and 1979 that ran from Turkey, across Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, usually ending in Nepal. Numerous low-budget hotels and a thriving tourist industry sprang up (in Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi) to accommodate these travellers. The hippie trail began eroding after the 1977 military coup in Pakistan, the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran and the beginning of the Afghan civil war (in 1979).

My father delighted in telling me stories of discos and cinemas in Kabul and how he and his cousins would go on weekend trips to buy the latest in American style fashion from the markets there. I have seen photos of my mum in smart embroidered Kaftans wearing ridiculously wide bell bottom trousers topped off with big round sunnies. Like many teenage Pakistani girls of her time, my mother’s fashion choices were influenced by the 1974 box-office hit Miss Hippie. A cautionary tale of sorts, the film depicted the "effect hippie lifestyle and fashion were having on Pakistani youth" but ironically this movie seemed to draw more and more youngsters into the hippie fashion scene. When my parents and my relatives talk on skype its not long before the conversation turns to “the good ol days in Pakistan” and if I had not seen the photos with my own eyes I too would have thought they were lying to me. Live music, great food, lots of booze and dancing were the hallmarks of the scene in cities like Karachi and Lahore. Sadly, a lot of the amazing venues and attractions they spoke so lovingly about were closed down by Military Dictator Zia Ul Haq’s government in April 1977.

[Hippie trail into Aghanistan] - By Karte: NordNordWest, Lizenz: Creative Commons by-sa-3.0 de, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Link

Is there any Pakistani vintage piece that you covet?

There are 3 pieces that I hold very dear to me that I managed to bring with me from Pakistan. The first is a pair of gold earrings my grandmother wore at one of her wedding events in the 50s. My mother wore the very same earrings to her engagement party in 1985 and I wore them as part of my day wear for Miss Pinup Australia 2016. The second is a pair of italian leather shoes my grandmother pestered my grandfather to buy her from Bata Shoes in the late 60s. The number of times they have been cobbled and resoled is incredible! I still wear them in photo shoots from time to time. The last and most important piece to me is my grandmothers rosary. My grandfather had bought her the rosary when he went to Mecca to pay pilgrimage in the early 60s. They are made of a strange kind of early plastic that glows in the dark. My grandmother would constantly be clicking the beads of the rosary, passing each through her nimble calloused fingers, reading short passages from the Quraan. She was hardly ever seen without them. The last time I saw her, she was sitting in front of an old gas heater all misty eyed with her rosary in her hand. When I sat next to her tying my shoelaces, she looked at me and said “i want you to borrow this rosary from me for now but remember to bring it back with you from Australia”. My grandmother passed away two years ago. The rosary has been on my night stand for 14 years, i never got a chance to return it to her.

Are there many Desi women in the vintage scene?

I think there have always been a number of us interested in vintage in some form of the other but the problem has always been exposure to our history and one another. With the advent of social media platforms such as instagram and facebook, we have started becoming more visible. It has become easy to find treasure troves of images, articles and videos from the bygone days showcasing our unique cultures. I know of several vintage loving Desi women that I met on autonomous Women of Colour spaces but wouldn’t have otherwise met because they are self conscious of how they look in vintage. The fact that the presentation of vintage culture and pin up culture is so euro and anglocentric makes a lot of pinups of colour, particularly darker skinned and more ethnic looking pinups feel too self conscious to put themselves out on social media. They often feel like they are “doing it wrong”. Our features and even our vintage ethnic fashion don’t readily fall into the already pre ordained and celebrated vintage or pinup look. An example of this is how coveted pale and almost snowy white skin is in the vintage community. Darker skinned Desi women are already maligned in their own communities for their complexions, and yet are indirectly made to feel unwanted and unattractive in their beloved subculture as well. It is harder for Desi pinups to gain visibility and popularity on social media because history has never placed us in a position to be thought about or considered desirable or conventionally attractive.

Do you find it difficult to be a Desi woman in the pin up industry? Do you think people are surprised that Desi women can and want to be sexy?

I remember when I raised the issue of the lack of diversity in Pinup and vintage publications in Adore Pinup Magazine last year. There was a slough of accusations thrown at myself and the magazine. I was labelled everything from a “reverse racist”, to “a toxic negative nancy”, to a “jealous and ungrateful pinup” all for that one article that discussed the need for change in the Australian vintage scene and the global pinup industry. Apparently, if you are a Desi woman, or a woman of colour, you are expected to be grateful for the one or two token pinups of colour a magazine publishes a year. God forbid you raise hell over the lack of diversity you see in the vintage scene or if you attempt to claim an autonomous online space to celebrate women like yourself. I was lucky that the editor of Adore Pinup Magazine, Brianna Blackheart, addressed the issues I discussed in the article publicly on all of Adore’s social media platforms and backed me up in my arguments. I don’t think I would have continued writing about these issues without her support so early on in my writing.

As far as creating Desi and PoC representation in vintage and pinup goes, the conservative desis in the community feel that I am too racy, too vocal and too sexual to “appropriately” represent Desi femininity while the conservative non PoC feel that I am trying to create a “racial divide” by working on projects such as Pinups of Colour that exclusively celebrates racially and ethnically diverse pinup communities. There is no winning! I feel like people want women like myself to pick a very narrow and carefully constructed box and sit in it very quietly. Every now and then a nice whitewashed hand will come in and either grab my ethnic outfits to be appropriated and if I am VERY good and quiet I will be paraded around like a ventriloquist's dummy parroting phrases that implying (non existent) diversity in the scene. I am sorry but I cannot do that. I refuse to shrink myself to make other people feel comfortable by helping to maintain a status quo and it is just as well as I find it impossible to follow guidelines in order to fit into these boxes anyway!

Staff and students of St Patrick's Teachers' Training College, Karachi, 1956. You can see that for some time during the 1950s-1970s Pakistan strongly adopted Western fashion and culture - Source - Wikimedia Commons.

How did you start wearing vintage? Have you been back since? How do you think you will be accepted there with your tattoos and your look?

I will be honest, I spent my teenage years riddled with insecurity and self doubt because I was one of the few ethnic Desi girls in my predominantly white high school. I stuck out like a sore thumb and at a time where there was a growing mistrust of people from Muslim countries, I was either isolated by my peers or ostracised by them. Vintage clothing gave me a way to feel comfortable with a body that at times felt like a battlefield. As a new migrant whose parents didn’t have much of an income, op-shopping was equal parts necessity and thrill! Much like vintage fashion, tattoos have helped me embrace my body. I wouldn’t say all my tattoos have stories behind them but a vast majority of them were inspired by moments in my life where I felt something move me to my core. I view my body as a passport and see each tattoo as a little stamp for moments in my journey, from my darkest moments to the happier ones.

Tattooing in the Indian subcontinent is not unheard of but it isn’t as common as it is in Australia. This is partly due to conservative culture in countries with little separation between church and state. Tribal facial tattoos were common among the early pagan Pashtuns, however, my ethnic group gave up these customs upon the advent of Arab Islam in the 12th century. While some tribal women in Pakistan’s far north still practise stick and poke facial tattooing, a manual method involving charcoal pigment being inserted into the skin using hand fashioned bone needles, tattooing as a Pashtun art form is almost non existent these days. When our tattooing history is brought up in conversations nowadays, our people refer to that period in our history as the “dark ages” and dismiss the practise as uncivilised. As I haven’t visited Pakistan since starting my body modification journey, I really don’t know how people would react to my body art or style of dressing. I suppose it would be no different to how tattooed ladies got treated in the 20s and 30s in America or Australia!

What is the one thing you want people to know about you?

I am one of those people who is passionate about social justice issues, particularly issues pertaining to the representation and rights of people of colour. Sometimes this passion is severely misread as spiteful. I am angry. Of course! How can you not be angry in this day and age when women, especially women of colour, receive the short end of the stick? My anger derives from hurt, from isolation and from the yearning to have my identity recognised as valid. It is frustrating to be denied representation in the subcultures I love. It is disappointing to be overlooked on the basis of appearance. It is heartbreaking to be denied a space in my own ethnic and cultural group because I defy convention. I am angry but I am not doing it to be spiteful. I am doing it because nice women seldom make history. There are some people who have the luxury to stand by idly and watch the world plummet into darkness. I do not have this luxury. It’s not in my nature nor is it in my favour to do so. Besides, I would much rather be a cactus than a wallflower any day.

#norafinds #around the world with vintage #atwwv #interview #series #blog #pakistan #pakistani #australian #australia #pin up #midcentury mermaid #laila shalimar

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maritzaerwin · 4 years

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Experts Advice to Find the Right Opportunities in the Pandemic

As of July 16, 2020, 1.3 million workers in the USA filed for unemployment according to the Labor Department. The UN’s labor agency says that nearly half of the global workforce is at risk as job losses increase due to the ongoing pandemic. While things seem pretty bleak for new graduates, people in the informal economy, and those that have lost their jobs, there are several companies and organizations that are working to help such individuals. I reached out to experts across the globe to get their advice on the current job market and what someone could do to find the right opportunities in the pandemic Everyone unanimously agreed that freelancing was the best way forward.

10 Things You Can Do to Find the Right Opportunities in the Pandemic

1. Try Freelancing

This is possibly the best time to dip your toes into the gig economy. Jane Flanagan, Lead Project Engineer at Tacuna Systems, commented on how freelancing has witnessed a steady growth over the years even before the pandemic-induced unemployment. In 2019, freelancing contributed $1 trillion USD to the United States economy. So if you’re recently laid off or a young graduate, you might want to consider freelancing. The easiest way to get started is to sign up on websites like Fiverr, Upwork, or Guru. However, these websites are geared towards experienced freelancers and it can be difficult to leave your mark as a novice. 30hours, a brand new freelance marketplace, is set to change all that. “Whether someone is new or experienced, the marketplace is committed to creating an environment that ensures everyone thrives,” Lawrence at 30hours. So, which are the most highly sought after freelance skills? Content writers, coders, social media marketers, sales, and graphic design lead the way. Even if you don’t have any of these skills right now, you can build towards them by completing courses on Udemy, Coursera, SEMRush Academy, or EdX. If you’re less inclined towards learning a new skill, you can still work with what you have. Anna Barker, personal finance expert founder of LogicalDollar says, “Things like online tutoring can be a great way to earn some money – and it doesn’t even have to be exclusively targeted at school or college students. In fact, you’ll often find that people are willing to pay to learn how to do almost anything, so if you have a particular skill or area of expertise, consider offering your services through one of the online platforms that provide for this.” Matt Erhard, the Managing Partner at Summit Search Group, warns that it is not a great choice for everyone. “The hours and workload can be erratic, and building a freelance career takes a lot of work—more than you probably want to do for a short-term solution.” The easiest and most sought after freelancing gig is content writing. If you have a knack for it and can guest post on websites, clients that care about SEO are willing to pay handsomely. Link-able is a marketplace that connects authors and clients that you can sign up on for free. Syed Usman, Digital Marketing Executive at PureVPN shares, “Content writing continues to grow and is worth more than $300 billion. This job doesn’t desire too much.

All you need is good language skills, an original tone, and a target audience whose problems you can solve with your knowledge and research. In addition to that, you also need SEO knowledge that is now accessible to everyone. You can access free courses online using HubSpot Academy to learn the basics as I have found that to be very user friendly.”

2. Focus on Specific Industries

If you’re in need of immediate work, the general recommendation is that you focus your search on specific industries. Delivery executives, truck drivers for shipping, the staff at local stores, and subs at schools are some of the growing segments. Anna Popova, Head of HR Development at DDI Development, says, “If you have a car or a scooter, a bicycle, it is reasonable to consider a courier job. I have faced many examples when former waiters, cruise liners staff, or office managers maximize their earnings by delivering food from restaurants to the customer’s door.”

Lauren Gast, Chief Marketing Officer at Truck Driver Institute, a truck driving school with eleven campuses across the United States, explains, “Despite the unemployment crisis caused by Covid-19, major trucking companies such as KLLM, Schneider, and Werner Enterprises are currently hiring new drivers to fill the driver shortage in the industry.” Similarly, the pandemic has caused staff shortages at local stores and taken regular teachers out of the rotation. If you are in a position to hold out for a new job, you could look at industries with high demand or jobs that require rare skills. Kenny at NetBookNews adds, “Programming and web design skills are also in demand since a lot of businesses are looking to create online shopping websites for their businesses. So if you have these skills, then go pitch your services to local businesses who lack a proper online ordering system.” Rare skills that could land you a job include AI, blockchain, and cloud computing. Reuben Yonatan, Founder & CEO of GetVoIP, urges job seekers to analyze the market and retrain in soon to be in-demand skills.

“Cloud practitioners and cloud architects, for instance, are about to become hot commodities. Many businesses shifted to the cloud hastily to adjust to the shelter-in-place requirements. Once they resume, they will want to do it right with the help of professionals.” Alternatively, you can learn skills that never go out of demand like sales. Austin Wolff, Director of Research at Novus Anti-Aging Center, shares, “If someone is looking for a job, one thing all businesses need more of are “rainmakers,” like salespeople or damn good marketers. I started off as a salesman and became in control of my income after that. I recommend everybody out of a job to learn sales. Get good (you don’t even have to be great) and you’ll have a job for life.”

3. Leverage Your Network

Your network is probably the biggest weapon in your arsenal. Before you share your resume, with your network on LinkedIn, WhatsApp or Facebook, it’s best to update it. Professional resume writing services like Zip Job can really help to set you apart in this regard. They have various templates that you can use to create your own resume as well. The difference between getting a job and getting rejected given the high unemployment rates right now comes down to how you present on paper. 3 ways your network can help:

Recommend you to jobs that are a good fit.

Write recommendations for you.

Connect you to folks that are hiring.

4. Get on Online Job Portals

The easiest way to set filters and scour for jobs is by landing up on job portals. If you’ve exhausted LinkedIn, Indeed or Monster.com, don’t fret.

Cindy Makita, Career Strategist & Coach at Hired Institute recommended: – Candor Hiring List and JobScan Ultimate Hiring List

If you’re looking for something a little more advanced, try WorkThisWay – a product of a partnership between HR tech startup ThisWay and fellow category-defining AI startup Maslo. Angela Hood, CEO of ThisWay, describes the platform as “an empathetic, AI-enhanced emotional support in the form of everyday check-ins, resume building, job search reminders and more to ensure millions feel supported during these unprecedented economic times.”

5. Become a Reseller or an Affiliate

Jack Wang, CEO of Amazing Beauty Hair, stressed how important it is to pursue something practical that will give you quick results. Becoming a reseller or an affiliate is one way to go about that without having to invest a ton of time or capital.

6. Become an Online Content Creator

You don’t need millions of followers to become an influencer. Even 1000 followers can allow you to leverage your online platform as a niche influencer. Since the pandemic has everyone locked in, you can try your hand at creating content on TikTok, Reels, or YouTube. TikTok and Reels are the easiest way to get started with little to no investment required. YouTube is still amenable for creators that have invested in the right and often expensive equipment.

7. Join Facebook, Slack, and Whatsapp Groups for Professionals

If online job portals don’t do the trick, Facebook, Slack, and WhatsApp still have plenty of opportunities for you. Each of these platforms has niche groups for various professions that can help you either find a full-time job or a freelance gig. Jennifer, Editor at Etia.com also recommended that you use these groups to build out a presence to attract the right attention so that when the hiring freeze is over, you are considered first for open positions.

“It is especially useful for those in the technology sector or people looking for entry-level jobs.”

8. Find an Internship

This is especially geared towards those that are graduating into the coronavirus economy. An internship – paid or not – can be a great stepping stone in the industry that you want to work in. Matt Erhard says, “Internships give you real-world experience working in a field or career that you have an interest in. It is often unpaid, but it’s better to have an unpaid internship than to be unemployed. You could offer to help out a local small business as many organizations are using this downtime to get some administrative work done.”

9. Invest in Yourself

If you’re able to take up paid online courses or spend time pursuing free courses, this is the time to do it. Try LinkedIn’s Lynda or Udemy or MasterClass for a thorough course that you can leverage later in your job search. Vanessa Gordon, Publisher at East End Taste Magazine says, “This may also be a great time to hone in your skills, refresh and learn new skills and improve ones you already have. Take an online course, take some time to join webinars, and YouTube can be a great resource for self-learning.”

10. Get Creative

If you have no qualms over doing something completely 180, get creative with your job hunt. Laura Handrick, a contributing HR Professional at Choosing Therapy, shares her advice, “Now is the time for all of us with job skills to get creative. Restaurant owners need delivery drivers, homeowners need people to help them with yard work, working moms need in-home childcare.

These may not be high paying jobs but they can put food on the table while we are waiting for the economy to recover. As an HR professional, I have been able to eat out a few hours assisting small businesses with their human resources needs during the pandemic.

Those with finance and accounting experience may be able to assist small businesses to get PPP or EIDL loans. Hairdressers can offer in-home services for those who fear going to a salon.” Think about microservices that you can offer either online or at home while adhering to social distancing norms. If you’re unsure where to start, Anthony at Interim CFOs has some great advice. “Use the skills and experience you already have to create new opportunities. Here are five steps to help you create your own recovery:

Assess your skills. Find out what you’re good at.

See what skills are transferable. Look at how you can shift.

Pick ONE strength. When you answer the question, “What is your strength?,” you’re also answering the question, “Where do I start?” 4) Ask yourself, “How far are you willing to go back?” Some transitions require additional schooling and/or training. However, if you have transferable skills you don’t have to start at Square 1.

Ask yourself, “How far are you willing to go back?” Some transitions require additional schooling and/or training. However, if you have transferable skills you don’t have to start at Square 1.

Ask yourself, “Are you ready to be an entrepreneur?” Events like the coronavirus make entrepreneurship almost imperative. Entrepreneurship can be risky but for those looking for independence and more income, this is a viable option.”

Recap

To quickly recap all the things you can do right now to navigate the job market are:

Try freelancing.

Focus on specific industries.

Leverage your network.

Get on online job portals.

Become a reseller or an affiliate.

Become an online content creator.

Join Facebook, Slack, and WhatsApp groups.

Find an internship.

Invest in yourself.

Get creative.

It is also a wise idea to always have additional revenue streams either through freelancing, part-time jobs, or returns on investments. This ensures financial stability until you tide over.

The post Experts Advice to Find the Right Opportunities in the Pandemic appeared first on CareerMetis.com.

Experts Advice to Find the Right Opportunities in the Pandemic published first on https://skillsireweb.tumblr.com/

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