This might not be the typical expat blog, written by a German expat, living in the Philippines since 1999. It's different. In English and in German. Check it out! Enjoy reading!
Dies mag' nun wirklich nicht der typische Auswandererblog eines Deutschen auf den Philippinen sein. Er soll etwas anders sein. In Englisch und in Deutsch! Viel Spass beim Lesen!
You plan to move to the Philippines? Wollen Sie auf den Philippinen leben?
There are REALLY TONS of websites telling us how, why, maybe why not and when you'll be able to move to the Philippines. I only love to tell and explain some things "between the lines". Enjoy reading, be informed, have fun and be entertained too!
Ja, es gibt tonnenweise Webseiten, die Ihnen sagen wie, warum, vielleicht warum nicht und wann Sie am besten auf die Philippinen auswandern könnten. Ich möchte Ihnen in Zukunft "zwischen den Zeilen" einige zusätzlichen Dinge berichten und erzählen. Viel Spass beim Lesen und Gute Unterhaltung!
Visitors of germanexpatinthephilippines/Besucher dieser Webseite.Ich liebe meine Flaggensammlung!
On a hot summer day, there’s only one solution to keep yourself cool throughout the day. An ice-cold glass of lemonade! It’s such a simple recipe any child can follow it. The entrepreneurs can even start their own lemonade stand for some extra cash. Here’s a handy lemonade recipe to get you started:
Ingredients: ● Four lemons ● Water ● Sugar ● Mint (optional) ● Spirit of choice (optional)
Procedure:
1. Slice the lemons and squeeze the lemon juice into a pitcher. You can slice up parts of the lemon afterward to include in the mix to maximize zest. 2. Add the desired amount of water to the pitcher. More water means less zest. Place in the refrigerator to cool down. 3. While the lemon water settles, add a cup of water to a pan and let it boil. 4. Add sugar to the boiling water and stir until the sugar dissolves to create a simple syrup. You can add mint to the mix if you’d like it to have a stronger taste. 5. Let the simple syrup mix cool down. 6. Add the desired amount of simple syrup to the lemon water depending on how sweet you want it. 7. Adults out there looking for an extra kick can choose their spirit of choice for the drink. Vodka, gin, or tequila works best. Mix it all using a shaker.
When one thinks about the tech industry, often the big names that pop up are the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Sundar Pichai. Without a doubt, the world of IT has been painted as a male dominated industry. However, that hasn’t stopped women like She Loves Tech co-founder Leanne Robers from making an impact in the tech world.
Leanne hails from Singapore. Together with Virginia Tan and Rhea See, she co-founded She Loves Tech. She Loves Tech takes pride in being the world’s largest startup competition for women and technology. Through their collective efforts, She Loves Tech has paved the way in creating a network of women on a global scale, banding together world-class investors to close the gender funding gap. They also provide boot camps based on experiential learning, peer coaching, and mentorship for women worldwide. Hoping to encourage others about the importance of empowering women and letting the thrive in any industry, Leanne shared her story at SM’s International Women’s Day Celebration: Investing in Equality Toward Gender-Inclusive Prosperity in SM Aura. Here are some key takeaways from her talk.
Inclusivity is key
Upon being asked about the inclusion of transwomen in women’s spaces, Robers highlighted how inclusivity and achieving a diverse workplace is key to running a successful business. By having people from all walks of life present, you are presented with different perspectives. This allows you to approach all possible angles and expand your reach in the market. Plus it ensures your workers feel safe and cared for in their workspace, in turn making them more effective in their work. According to Robers, the beauty of technology is that it doesn’t discriminate based on gender. This means anyone with the right drive and proper mindset can succeed in the tech industry.
Curiosity is vital
Curious minds and a willingness to learn will always help push you forward. Robers openly admits how at first, she had little to no knowledge about technology, having taken psychology in college. She shares how it was her openness to learn and familiarize herself with the world of coding that led her to where she is today. Robers also warns of people falling victim to the ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) mindset. These are the negative thoughts that play endlessly in anyone’s mind, discouraging them from trying harder in fear of failure. By submitting to these thoughts, many fail to achieve growth and learn from their experiences. To avoid falling victim to ANTs, Robers recommends being around others who can lead you to your fullest potential via guidance, support, and encouragement. Ensure that these same people are never afraid to point out any mistakes you make along the way, providing constructive criticisms to help build up your character.
Robers also shares how a willingness to talk about one’s achievements can help propel them further in the business world. “Everything that makes us a woman, makes us powerful,” remarks Robers. Rather than being shy and hesitating to share them in fear of showing off, Robers encourages women to be proud of what they have done.
Burnout is your worst enemy
As Robers points out, women tend to tackle many challenges in the professional setting due to them having to deal with other roles and responsibilities. She notes how women are often expected to be the nurturers, caregivers, and emotional support systems around family and loved ones all while being expected to strive in the professional world. As admirable as multitasking and resiliency are often painted in the work setting, this can also lead to burnout. “When we are burnt out, we are depleted. Empty. Unmotivated and unable to cope with the demands of our daily lives,” shares Robers. She notes that recognizing the signs of burnout and taking steps to prevent it is crucial. For her, this entails setting up boundaries and learning to say no when needed. She emphasizes that self-care is essential in achieving productivity.
Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for. — Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the many contributions of women to our society. It’s also an important day for shedding light on gender equality and women’s rights. One of the best mediums to do so is through film, if only because it is accessible to many. Here are 10 movies that center around women and why they make the perfect watch for International Women’s Day.
Little Women (2019)
By now, Greta Gerwig is considered a household name for moviegoers after the success of her Barbie film last year. While Barbie makes for a good watch for empowering young women, Gerwig’s take on Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel Little Women works just as well. It’s a faithful take on the story with a star-studded cast including Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird, The Lovely Bones), Emma Watson (Harry Potter), and Florence Pugh ( Midsommar, Oppenheimer), to name a few. In the film, Ronan takes on the role of Jo March and shows much of what women had to deal with in the 1800s.
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
If young men have Robin Williams’ Dead Poets Society, young women have Julia Roberts’ Mona Lisa Smile. The film centers around Katherine Ann Watson who teaches art history at the prestigious women’s university Wellesley College. It takes place in the 1950s, just as Western feminism was about to hit its second wave tackling gender norms and what it means to be a modern woman. As Katherine takes on her teaching role, she challenges her students to aim for something more than just marriage.
Mean Girls (2004)
No, we’re not referring to the new musical movie based on the same film. Mean Girls centers around Cady Heron (played by Lindsay Lohan) as she navigates her way around high school after being homeschooled for most of her life. After befriending two social outcasts, the newly–formed trio plots against the high school’s popular girls’ clique known as the Plastics by having Cady infiltrate their squad. But, as Cady finds herself climbing up the social ladder, she starts to find herself in too deep after ending up as the new leader of the clique. The film does a good job of balancing the humor and tackling the many issues young women are likely to face during their high school years, making it so fetch as the coming-of-age staple for many.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Audrey Hepburn’s role as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s is referred to by many as the original Manic Pixie Dream Girl (a term used to refer to quirky female characters that serve only to provide support to the male leading role), but to call her character such would be a disservice. While her eccentric traits and unusual antics tick off the trope’s checklist, the film focuses more on Holly rather than leading man Paul Varjack (played by George Peppard). It shows how Holly goes through each roadblock in her life as she tries to let go of her impoverished past for one of glamour in New York City. As we follow her story, we get a glimpse of a woman defying the gender dynamics of the time and taking charge of her path. Perhaps the only flaw in this film sticking out like a sore thumb would be Mickey Rooney’s severely outdated and racist portrayal of a Japanese man.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Elle Woods (played by Reese Witherspoon), a fashionable sorority queen, is dumped by her boyfriend after he decides to date a law school student instead. Hoping to win him back, she enrolls in Harvard Law School. Unfortunately, many of her peers view her as nothing more than the “dumb blonde” stereotype. Despite this, she rises through the ranks to prove them wrong and ends up interning for one of the university’s most respected teachers. Watching Elle Woods go past the stereotypes lumped against her and ultimately making a name for herself makes this a powerful watch.
Gone Girl (2014)
David Fincher is a master of creating spine-chilling thriller films and Gone Girl is one of his best. Rosamund Pike assumes the role of Amy Dunne, the wife of writer Nick Dunne, played by Ben Affleck. On the night of their fifth anniversary, Amy goes missing, leading many to question if Nick had murdered her. As things unfold, we uncover more about their marriage through Amy’s point of view. It’s a compelling watch that keeps you glued to your seat. As we watch Amy power through and plot her next move, we get a sense of her struggles that are similar to what some married women face in their daily lives.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
The Devil Wears Prada makes for a beautiful watch for fresh grad women still looking for their place in the world. It revolves around Andy Sachs (played by Anne Hathaway) as she tries her best to be the assistant of a notorious editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep). Although things start rough for her, barely able to keep up with Miranda’s demands, she slowly learns the ropes and manages to adapt.
Birds of Prey (2020)
Birds of Prey makes for a fun watch as we follow DC’s Harley Quinn (fantastically played by Margot Robbie) in her newest adventure. Joining her on the adventure are other iconic DC heroines like Huntress and Black Canary. Together, they must protect a young pickpocket named Cass after she steals a precious diamond from the notorious crime lord Black Mask.
Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
Who said women can’t be badass? Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 1 stars Uma Thurman as The Bride, a former assassin part of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad led by her former lover Bill. After deciding to settle down with a newfound lover, her wedding is sabotaged by her former assassin colleagues. She seeks them out one by one to wreak vengeance upon them. It’s Tarantino at his finest, delivering a (literally) bloody good action flick.
Lost in Translation (2003)
We end this list with a film by Sophia Coppola, an icon for women in cinema. Her accolades through the years have been many, having scored an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Cannes Film Festival Award, to name a few. Lost in Translation follows Bill Murray as Bob Harris, a Hollywood star who arrives in Tokyo to film a series of Japanese commercials. He strikes up a friendship with Charlotte, played by Scarlett Johannson, the wife of a celebrity photographer. Together they pass time and bond, finding ways to enjoy their stay in Japan. What makes this film so touching is how much Coppola put herself into the story, as it invokes much of the fear and uncertainties she felt before her career took off. She also channeled much of the feelings she had felt in her strained relationship with her former husband Spike Jonze. Overall, a beautiful passion project that makes for a pleasant watch.
Take only memories, leave only footprints. — Chief Seattle
Summer season is just around the corner! Most of you have likely started mapping out all your dream destinations for the year. But before you book those flight tickets, consider thinking about the environmental aspect first. When planning your trip, it’s best to opt for locations that follow sustainable practices. Here are some of the reasons sustainable tourism can benefit both the traveler and the destination.
A deeper understanding of the culture
For travelers to understand the beauty of a destination, it’s best to immerse themselves in the community’s local cultures. By seeking out authentic cultural experiences, travelers will find a better appreciation of the area. Visit areas locals frequent and try dishes the destination is known for. Perhaps one of the best ways to experience this is through visiting tourist attractions handled by indigenous people. After all, indigenous folk act as the protectors of our ancient rituals, keeping traditions alive while caring for the environment around them. We can also show our support by purchasing from local artisans rather than buying from tourist trap establishments.
Preserving the natural beauty
When traveling, always consider if the destination has sustainable practices in place to ensure the natural beauty of the place is kept un- touched. For instance, when island hopping, do the boats you ride have containers for trash to ensure no waste is left on the islands? Think about the impact you have in the areas you visit. When going on a hike, always bring containers to take your trash with you. For beach lovers, think twice about collecting any sea shells you see in the sand. By taking these home, you are also taking away potential homes for crustaceans residing on the beach. Opt for activities that encourage wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and minimized carbon emissions.
Boosting the quality of life for residents
Sometimes tourism can act as a double-edged sword. It can promote the beauty of the area, bringing in more crowds to help boost the economy and improve the quality of life for locals. At the same time, it brings the lurking danger of over-tourism. One need only look at the effects over-tourism had on Boracay that led to its sudden shutdown back in 2018. Conditions on the island worsened to the point that an algae bloom, which researchers claim is a sign of pollution and water deterioration, took over the island’s once pristine waters. To avoid over-tourism is simple, take the road less traveled by. Rather than visiting the usual destination hot spot, seek out adventure by going to lesser-known areas that are welcoming visitors. Who knows, you might even find the next Siargao or El Nido just waiting to be discovered!
