For my next trip to Italy I’m planning a southern route. I’m Considering Sicily. A friend recently recommended the 90 minute ferry from Sicily to Malta. I’ve never been. Apparently its a small island country that has MUCH to offer. Here is more info on these pint-size power-houses.

Monaco, 1.95 sq km

Image by Salvatore.Freni

If you want posh then you’ve come to the right principality. Monaco was established in 1297 when François Grimaldi seized the fortress that still dominates the area from a rival Italian faction. The 195- hectare independent state, which lies on an exceptionally picturesque, narrow coastal strip, has long been a tax refuge for the spectacularly rich and famous. Actress Grace Kelly, who married Monaco’s Prince Rainier, is buried in the cathedral in the heart of the wonderfully preserved Monaco-Ville old town. Exploration on foot is facilitated by public lifts and escalators to help overcome steep hills. Dress smart if you don’t want to stand out.

• Checkout the official travel links for Monaco (See ‘Member Resources’ below).

Grenada, 344 sq km

Image by Ruth L

This oval landmass, known as the Spice Isle because it produces vast quantities of mace and nutmeg, contains some of the Caribbean’s most spectacular natural vistas. From a narrow coastal plain, volcanic cliffs rise majestically through luscious rainforest to form Grenada’s mountainous backbone, now under the protection of the Grand Etang National Park. Grand Etang itself is a water-filled crater that, legend has it, is bottomless; few have the nerve to swim in the eerily tranquil waters. Spectacular interior hiking trails lead to wonders such as Concord Falls, while beachcombers should head for the Levera National Park.

• Checkout the official travel links for Grenada (See ‘Member Resources’ below).

Malta, 316 sq km

Image by bazylek100

You’ll never say there’s nothing to do in Malta. For its size, the tiny rock and limestone island puts on an inordinate number of festivals throughout the year, but particularly in summer. There’s the Mediterranean Food Festival, the Malta Fireworks Festival, as well as a Jazz Festival and, most fabulous of all, a two-day event put on especially so that attendees can help select the country’s entry into the Eurovision Song Contest. When you’ve had enough human interaction, head to a nearby uninhabited island to unwind, or wander into the interior to check out the megalithic ruins of the island’s conquered indigenous inhabitants.

• Checkout the official travel links for Malta (See ‘Member Resources’ below).

San Marino, 61 sq km

Image by fdecomite

Because of San Marino’s high altitude, the view when walking around this enclave of central Italy is a bit like looking out of an aeroplane window onto endless clouds and the spectacular snow-capped Apennines. Founded in AD 301 by a stonemason named Marino, the rugged city-state claims to be the world’s oldest republic. Steeped in medieval history, a visit here is not complete without trekking up to the three imposing tower-fortresses perched along the cliff tops, the oldest of which, the Rocca Guaita, dates back to the 10th century. Also check out the infamous torture museum, which uses diagrams to explain how the gruesome instruments were used.

• Checkout the official travel links for San Marino (See ‘Member Resources’ below).

Liechtenstein, 160 sq km

Image by Hellebardius

Despite being the butt of jokes told across its borders in Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein has much to offer the open-minded traveller. Within its 160 sq km are awesome ski-fields, centred on the enchanting hamlet of Malbun, that have produced 11 Olympic alpine-skiing medals for the tiny country. Cyclists of all levels can burn along more than 90km of trails in the Rhine Valley and around the Eschnerberg mountain..

• Checkout the official travel links for Liechtenstein (See ‘Member Resources’ below).

Marshall Islands, 181 sq km

Image by mrlins

Mums and feminists get an especially warm welcome when they visit this remote chain of around 60 coral atolls and islands in the Pacific. The republican population of just over 52,000 has retained the matrilineal traditions of original Marshallese culture, and at a young age children are taught politeness and respect for women and elders. The region is celebrated for its juicy coconuts, and as a world-class haven for divers, the crystal waters concealing WWII wrecks and endless reefs. Wotje Atoll is generally regarded as the most beautiful atoll in the world, with a lagoon filled with giant clams harvested by the islanders.

• Checkout the official travel links for The Marshall Islands (See ‘Member Resources’ below).

St. Kitts & Nevis, 261 sq km

Image by NASA Goddard Photo and Video

Comparisons are often made between the dual Caribbean island nation of St Kitts & Nevis and the lush, tropical paradises of the South Pacific. St Kitts, the larger of the two islands, is dominated by a central mountain range, with a dense covering of rainforest, above which rises the cloud-fringed peak of Mt Liamuiga, a dormant volcano. Natural preservation is a key government aim, with laws forbidding any construction above the height of the tallest palms. The beaches are pristine, as are the surrounding waters savoured by aquanauts from around the world. The country’s colonial past has also been preserved and makes for a revelatory visit.

• Checkout the official travel links for St. Kitts & Nevis (See ‘Member Resources’ below).

Maldives, 298 sq km

Image by YXO

As with most remote islands, some of the best adventures in the Maldives are to be had in the ocean. Particularly renowned are sunset cruises offered on most of the 200 inhabited islands (out of a total of 2000). Expect to find yourself clicking with joy as scores of dolphins put on an effortless natural display that you won’t find at any marine park. Another popular excursion is night fishing, where even the lamest landlubber can expect to reel in a snapper. During the day it’s a toss up between sunbathing or donning a snorkel and chasing angelic reef fish through corridors of coral.

• Checkout the official travel links for The Maldives (See ‘Member Resources’ below).

Tuvalu, 26 sq km

Image by mrlins

The nine low-lying atolls and islands of Tuvalu comprise one of the most isolated independent nations on earth, huddled together in an idyllic and unspoiled corner of the Pacific. Due to the high costs associated with getting there, Tuvalu is still rarely visited. The country’s total land area of just 26 sq km is formed by a curving chain stretching 676 km in length; it’s the gateway to tranquil reef diving, uninhabited beaches and paradisiacal weather (except during hurricane season). In this idyllic setting, dancing and singing is still the number one entertainment, with lively fale kaupule shows put on each night.

• Checkout the official travel links for Tuvalu (See ‘Member Resources’ below).

Nauru, 21 sq km

Image by sadie and maude’s place

The main purpose of a trip to the world’s smallest republic is education. Named Pleasant Island by its first European visitors in recognition of its lush vegetation and friendly locals, Nauru has since become a striking example of resource mismanagement. In just 50 years, a consortium of British and Australian mining companies has destroyed 80% of the island’s 21-sq-km land mass, an area known as ‘topside.’ Standing in the middle of this wasteland, mined for its valuable phosphates, is a shocking lesson of how greed can decimate ecosystems. It is not something you are likely to forget in a hurry.

• Checkout the official travel links for Nauru (See ‘Member Resources’ below).

Next Steps

• Read Our Considering Sicily for vacation post.
• Read Our Studying Italian in Italy post
• Read The Original Info from Lonely Planet
• Checkout the official travel links to each of the areas discussed in this article. Its a great time-saver! (See ‘Member Resources’ below).

Member Resources

When we pose the question “What is the meaning of happiness?” we are often referring to the esoteric search for happiness. We are looking for something bigger – starting a discussion more profound – like the discussion regarding our collective purpose in life. My question here is more simple. Quite literally, what is the dictionary definition of joy?

Perhaps you’ve heard the (trite) anthropological/linguistic example that Inuits of the coldest regions of Canada have “30 words for ‘snow’ ” in their native tongue. The idea that the more our life experience exposes us to something the more appreciation we have for its subtleties — an appreciate that comes with vocabulary. Conversely, one of the first insults purists will give insult and marginalize is a lack of distinction. Such as ‘rap music all sounds the same’ or ‘they all look identical. This lack of specificity is related to a lack of exposure.

Recognizing subtlety is part of appreciating something, part of respecting something, regardless if you agree with it or not.

Tangentially related to this stream of consciousness, I’m curious at the subtle differences between words like ‘joy’, ‘pleasure’, and ‘happiness’ and curious about how learning more will influence my relationship with the concepts behind the words.

The Meaning of ‘Joy’  (And many other Words)

The New Oxford American Dictionary has the following definitions.

So What Does All That Mean?

Many of these words seem to be interchangeable. I’ll think for a bit about this and revisit this post soon. Soon I’ll examine a few of the core differences.

What do you think? Please post comments below.

As a native English speaker with a history of learning Spanish, Portuguese, and French I was excited to learn Italian. In 2011, I thoroughly researched for best place to study Italian for 3 months. I ended up spending 6 weeks in Alghero, Sardinia (the big island west of the mainland), then 6 weeks touring the more common sites of Venice, Cinque Terra, Florence, Rome, and Tuscan Villages. It was a wonderful adventure.

I have a 90 day visa for Italy and now I want to go back to explore more – the food, the language, the people, and the natural beauty. I am considering Sicily.

The perfect scenario

It may not be likely that I can find my perfect scenario. If I had to describe what is perfect it would be to have an apartment of my own within walking distance or bus-ride to the beach. I would like to study Italian 3 hours a day 5 days per week. I would also enjoy cooking classes and on the weekends I would take the bus to visit other areas of the country. I would spend time cooking at home, eating at the homes of new friends, and enjoying local restaurants.

Let’s take a deep dive into Sicily and look at 5 cities to see how they compare!

Here is a short list of non-English words which carry such specific meanings that they cannot be translated into English. It’s a very interesting read.

Bakku-shan

Language: Japanese

Here is another great Japanese word with no English equivalent (though I am sure someone can come up with one in the comments). Bakku-shan is the word for a girl who looks pretty from behind but ugly in front. I can’t find out whether they have a word for the reverse situation, or for that other frighteningly common problem these days, where you think a girl looks good from behind only to discover that she is a he! Modern fashion has a lot to answer for!

Biritululo

Language: Kiriwani (Papa New Guinea)

It is the act of comparing yams (potato-like vegetable) to settle a dispute.

Cafuné

Language: Portuguese

The act of tenderly running one’s fingers through someone’s hair. (Altalang.com)

Dépaysement

Language: French

The feeling that comes from not being in one’s home country.

Duende

Language: Spanish

While originally used to describe a mythical, sprite-like entity that possesses humans and creates the feeling of awe of one’s surroundings in nature, its meaning has transitioned into referring to the mysterious power that a work of art has to deeply move a person. (Altalang.com)

Esprit d’Escalier

Language: French

That witty comeback that you think of moments after leaving the situation in which you might have been able to use it. The staircase is a reference to your departure from the scene. This is a dreadful thing to experience, and most of the time we don’t get a chance to say the clever thing we come up with. Now, someone just needs to coin a term for the person who is so clever that he always says the right thing, without fail.

Forelsket

Language: Norwegian

The euphoria you experience when you’re first falling in love.

This is a wonderful term for that blissful state, when all your senses are acute for the beloved, the pins and needles thrill of the novelty. There’s a phrase in English for this, but it’s clunky. It’s New Relationship Energy, or NRE.

Hyggelig

Language: Danish

The complete absence of anything annoying, irritating or emotionally overwhelming, and the presence of and pleasure from comforting, gentle and soothing things. It is especially associated with Christmas time, grilling Danish sausage on long summer evenings and sitting around lit candles on a rainy night.

Ilunga

Language: Tshiluba / Bantu (Southwest Congo)

A word famous for its untranslatability, most professional translators pinpoint it as the stature of a person who is ready to forgive and forget any first abuse, tolerate it the second time, but never forgive nor tolerate on the third offense. (Altalang.com) It’s the “three strikes and you’re out” policy. In 2004, it had the sole distinction of being chosen as the world’s most difficult word to translate.

Iktsuarpok

Language: Inuit

To go outside to check if anyone is coming. (Altalang.com)

Jayus

Language: Indonesian

A joke so poorly told and so unfunny that one cannot help but laugh. (Altalang.com)

Lagom

Language: Swedish

Somewhere between “just the right amount” and “enough.” It expresses a sense of balance and satisfaction with having your needs met without needing excess.

Koi No Yokan

Language: Japanese

The sense upon first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall into love. This is different than love at first sight, since it implies that you might have a sense of imminent love, somewhere down the road, without yet feeling it. The term captures the intimation of inevitable love in the future, rather than the instant attraction implied by love at first sight.

Kyoikumama

Language: Japanese

A mother who relentlessly pushes her children toward academic achievement. (Altalang.com) No doubt we are all familiar with the stereotype of Japanese mothers who push their children far too hard when it comes to schoolwork. Literally translated this means “education mother”.

La Douleur Exquise

Language: French

The heart-wrenching pain of wanting someone you can’t have.

When I came across this word I thought of unrequited love. It’s not quite the same, though. Unrequited love describes a relationship state, but not a state of mind. Unrequited love encompasses the lover who isn’t reciprocating, as well as the lover who desires. This phrase gets at the emotional heartache, specifically, of being the one whose love is unreciprocated.

L’Appel Du Vide

Language: French

‘The call of the void’ is this French expression’s literal translation, but more significantly it’s used to describe the instinctive urge to jump from high places.

Litost

Language: Czech

Milan Kundera, author of ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’, said about this word ‘I have looked in vain in other languages for an equivalent, though I find it difficult to imagine how anyone can understand the human soul without it’. The closest definition is a state of agony and torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery.

Mamihlapinatapai

Language: Yagan (Tierra del Fuego)

The wordless, yet meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something but are both reluctant to start. (Altalang.com) Oh yes, this is an exquisite word, compressing a thrilling and scary relationship moment. It’s that delicious, “on the edge” moment of imminent seduction. Neither of you has mustered the courage to make a move, yet. Hands haven’t been placed on knees; you’ve not kissed. But you’ve both conveyed enough to know that it will happen soon very soon.

Prozvonit

Language: Czech

This word means to call a mobile phone and let it ring once so that the other person will call back, saving the first caller money. (Altalang.com)

Qualunquismo

Language: Italian

Are you one of those people who really don’t care all that much about politics and issues in society? Then this word applies to you. The term came from a political party in Italy, in 1944, which promoted anti-political feelings and a mistrust of public organizations. The party was called the “Fronte dell’Uomo Qualunque” or the front of the ordinary man. Rather appropriate considering how many people obviously feel this way about politics as is evidenced by the low voter turnouts that we often see in elections.

Retrouvailles

Language: French

The happiness of meeting someone again after a long time. This is such a basic concept, and so familiar to the growing ranks of commuter relationships, or to a relationship of lovers, who see each other only periodically for intense bursts of pleasure. I’m surprised we don’t have any equivalent word for this subset of relationship bliss. It’s a handy one for modern life.

Saudade

Language: Portuguese

One of the most beautiful of all words, translatable or not, this word refers to the feeling of painful longing for something or someone that you love and which is lost. Fado music, a type of mournful singing, relates to this word. (Altalang.com) Another linguist describes it as a “vague and constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist.”

Schadenfreude

Language: German

Quite famous for its meaning that somehow other languages neglected to recognize, this refers to the feeling of pleasure derived by seeing another’s misfortune.

Tartle

Language: Scottish

The act of hesitating while introducing someone because you’ve forgotten his or her name. (Altalang.com)

Tingo

Language: Pascuense (Easter Island)

The act of slowly taking all of the objects you desire from the house of a friend by gradually borrowing all of them. (Altalang.com)

Torschlusspanik

Language: German

Translated literally, this word means gate-closing panic, but its contextual meaning refers to the fear of diminishing opportunities as one ages. (Altalang.com)

Toska

Language: Russian

Vladmir Nabokov describes it best: No single word in English renders all the shades of toska. At its deepest and most painful, it is a sensation of great spiritual anguish, often without any specific cause. At less morbid levels it is a dull ache of the soul, a longing with nothing to long for, a sick pining, a vague restlessness, mental throes, yearning. In particular cases, it may be the desire for somebody of something specific, nostalgia, love-sickness. At the lowest level it grades into ennui, boredom.

Uitwaaien

Language: Dutch

It means to walk in the wind, but in the more figurative (and commonly used) sense, it means to take a brief break in the countryside to clear one’s head. It is amazing that one word needs so many in English to make the same sense.

Wabi-Sabi

Language: Japanese

Much has been written on this Japanese concept, but in a sentence, one might be able to understand it as a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the imperfections of life and accepting peacefully the natural cycle of growth and decay.(Altalang.com)

Ya ‘Aburnee

Language: Arabic

Both morbid and beautiful at once, this incantatory word means ‘You bury me’. It is a declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person because of how difficult it would be to live without them. It’s the sickly sincere “How Could I Live Without You?” in Arabic.

Yoko Meshi

Language: Japanese

Taken literally, yoko means ‘horizontal,’ and meshi means ‘boiled rice.’ Combined, the sense is one of ‘a meal eaten sideways.’ This is how the Japanese define the peculiar stress induced by speaking a foreign language: yoko is a humorous reference to the fact that Japanese is normally written vertically, whereas most foreign languages are written horizontally.

Yuanfen

Language: Chinese

A relationship by fate or destiny. This is a complex concept. It draws on principles of predetermination in Chinese culture, which dictate relationships, encounters and affinities, mostly among lovers and friends. From what I glean, in common usage this word means the “binding force” that links two people together in any relationship. But interestingly, fate isn’t the same thing as destiny. Even if lovers are fated to find each other they may not end up together. The proverb, have fate without destiny, describes couples who meet, but who don’t stay together, for whatever reason. It’s interesting, to distinguish in love between the fated and the destined. Romantic comedies, of course, confound the two.

Zalatwic

Language: Polish

It is the use of friends, bribes, personal charm or connections to get something done. This was particularly useful in the days of communism, as it was easier to get something you wanted through guile as opposed to official means.

–

Sources:

The source for all of this post comes from these great sources.

• http://listverse.com/2010/09/23/10-words-that-cant-be-translated-to-english/
• http://listverse.com/2011/06/17/another-10-untranslatable-words/
• http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/20-awesomely-untranslatable-words-from-around-the-world/
• http://www.acclaro.com/translation-localization-blog/12-untranslatable-words-for-2012-244

While traveling in Cappadocia, Turkey in Fall 2011 I stayed at a hotel built into an old cave. The Cappadocia region is known for the early christian culture that made refuge from non-christian leadership by making their hidden homes inside carved rooms in the mountains. The landscape looks like a cross between drippy-sandcastles and the surface of the moon. Over breakfast in this scenic location, I found a book of interest in the book-swap shelf. Actually, I found 2. Conversations With God Books 1 and 2 by Neal Donald Walsch. I had heard of the books before, but wanted to know more. I swapped a few books of mine to pick them up and started reading.

The books are meant to be a ‘real’ conversations between the author and god. A conversation the author claims happened between 1993 and the few years that followed. He considered himself a christian, but the books cover a perspective that is decidedly non-traditionally christian, or not christian at all, depending on your point of view. The original 3 books covered here sold very well, as have some follow-up books by the author. More about the author can be found at his website nealedonaldwalsch.com.

I found CWG, particularly book 1, to be a refreshing take on religion. It is seductively easy to read, because it tells the reader what he wants to hear. That we are empowered to be anything we want, that heaven and hell do not exist, and that there is no sin and no judgement process.

Summary of CWG

Here is Sylvain Poirier‘s summary of Neale Donald Walsch’s doctrine as expressed in the Conversations with God book 1:

The goal of your life is to seek what is Truth and Love (according to God’s messages of feelings (and I do not remember what)) and to recognize, re-member, find, choose, create, become and make the experience of Who You Are and Who You Want To Be. You do not have to seek knowledge (because you  already have knowledge, as a spirit connected to the Whole), but you have to act to express Who You Are without worrying about the result, because the result is assured: nothing is bad, nothing matters, nothing does oppose the will of God or escapes Him, because God is all, accepts all and will be always there to recover us.

Nothing comes by chance, all is the expression of a will by oneself, others, or the totality of the spirits of the universe. One does not have to want something from outside (as to want it is the assertion of a lack, a negative thought which has the spiritual power to be realized as a lack thus pushing away its satisfaction) but if something that we undergo does not reflect our Highest Idea of the life, one must endorse one’s responsibility by recognizing our unity of spiritual nature with those who caused it, and change our choices in order to bring us closer this Idea that we want to reflect.

Decision Making

I created this diagram to outline the CWG perspective on decision making.

God’s motive for creation - In Walsch’s first dialogue, God notes that “knowing” and “experiencing” oneself are different things. Before creation there was only That-Which-Is, which cannot know or experience itself fully, without something it is not. It cannot know itself as love, since nothing exists but love. It cannot know itself as giving since nothing else exists to give to. It cannot experience itself in myriad ways because everything is one.

Some parallels we see between Walsch’s god’s perspective and other religions are;

• Souls reincarnate to eventually experience God-realization ([Hinduism]/’ ‘Bhagavad-Gita/Sikhism).
• Feelings are more important as a source of guidance than intellect (Rousseau).
• We are not here to learn anything new but to remember what we already know (Hinduism/Plato).
• Physical reality is an illusion (Hinduism/ Sikhism/Buddhism‘s concept of maya).
• One cannot understand one thing unless he or she understands its opposite (Tao Te Ching).
• God is everything. (Hinduism / Spinoza / Brahman)
• God is self-experiential, in that it is the nature of the Universe to experience itself. (Hinduism/Hegel, and process theology as first outlined by Alfred North Whitehead)
• God is not fear-inducing or vengeful, only our parental projections onto God are. Fear or love are the two basic alternative perspectives on life (Drewermann)
• Good and evil do not exist (as absolutes, but can exist in a different context and for different reasons as Nietzsche).
• Reality is a representation created by will. (Schopenhauer)
• Nobody knowingly desires evil. (Socrates)
• It’s just a ride. (Bill Hicks)

In Favor of CWG

Evita Ochel of EvolvingBeings celebrates the book. She says, “I personally consider this one book, and it is “the book” that has helped me remember who I really am, why I am here and the greater purpose of it all. This is the book that changed my life, and began a huge spiritual shift within me, as well as marked the start of a very special journey of awakening for me.“

Aaron says, “I don’t know if Mr. Walsh is talking to God or not. I don’t really care. What I have read in these books has caused me to ask questions about my own belief system and ask questions about my understanding of me, God, and the Universe. The real treasure with this book and this trilogy, is that we are asked to question our understanding of our Self. We are asked to do the unthinkable and question the validity of organized religions. We are asked to question the direction of our life and determine if that direction will define Who We Really Are.”

Against CWG

Professor Donald Mitchell says, “The main thing I would like to say in the beginning is that this book shares some elements with Christianity, but is certainly not Christianity of the sort that most people will recognize. So if you do not like to read books that are at odds with your version of Christianity, avoid this one. It will be a one star book for you.”

The most unexpected part of the book for me was that the voice of God (as described in the book) is a very colloquial and humorous one. It is hard for me to equate this God with the God of Moses and Jesus Christ. But that may just be my limitation. To give you a flavor, the language is much like that in the George Burns movie of many years ago, Oh God.

Blogger, JPH found poor Biblical exegesis here and there, but nothing solid or worth reporting.

Here are some highlights from each book

Book 1

Summary

From Amazon – Conversations with God Book 1 began a series that has been changing millions of lives for more than ten years. Finally, the bestselling series is now a movie, starring Henry Czerny (The Pink Panther and Clear and Present Danger) and Ingrid Boulting (The Last Tycoon). Produced and directed by Stephen Simon (producer of Somewhere in Time and What Dreams May Come) and distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films and Fox Home Entertainment, the theatrical release is set for October 27, 2006. The movie is the true account of Walsch (played by Cierny), who went from an unemployed homeless man to an “accidental spiritual messenger” and author of the bestselling book

Highlights

Here are some quotes;

1. “So-do you want your life to ‘take off?’ Begin at once to imagine it the way you want it to be–and move into that. Check every thought, word, and action that does not fall into harmony with that. Move away from those.”
2. “When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts–thoughts that negate your highest idea about a thing–think again! I want you to do this, literally. If you think you are in a doldrum, in a pickle, and no good can come of this, think again. If you think the world is a bad place, filled with negative events, think again. If you think your life is falling apart, and it looks as if you’ll never get it back together again, think again.”
3. “There is nothing scary about life if you are not attached to the results.”
4. “Choose, but don’t want. Think ‘I choose success,’ not ‘I want success.’”
5. “There is nothing you cannot be, there is nothing you cannot do. There is nothing you cannot have.”
6. “The most rapid way to change a root thought, or sponsoring idea, is to reverse the thought-word-deed process. Do the deed that you want to have the new thought about. Then say the words that you want to have your new thought about. Do this often enough and you’ll train the mind to think a new way.”

Book 2

Summary

From Amazon - In Conversations with God: Book II, Neale Walsch and God resume their discussion and move on to larger topics than the personal issues addressed in their previous dialogue in Volume 1. For an “unedited transcript” of a conversation, Book II is remarkably well organized and articulate, as if Walsch anticipatd our “but what about” questions before we asked them. The peculiar pair discuss time, space, politics, and even kinky sex, but Conversations with God: Book II isn’t here for just shock value. It is an honest look at some of the broad issues important to all of us on the planet, and a suggestion of how things might go if we are all willing to open our minds and have our own conversations with divinity.

Book 3

Summary

From Amazon - The dialogue expands . . . Conversations with God, Book 3 is the final book of the original three-book series. As was written in the introduction to Book 1, it deals with “universal truths of the highest order, and the challenges and opportunities of the soul.” In Book 3, the dialogue expands to include more about the nature of God, about love and fear, about Who We Are and who we may become, and about the evolution of the human species that is about to take its place in the universal neighborhood. Here is a profound dialogue about the culture, philosophy, and spirituality of highly evolved beings (some of whom we presently call “aliens” or “ETs”) in other realms of the universe, and how they have learned to view life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. By reading this book, you will begin to see life in a different way and begin to question the truth of what you have known on this planet: “And so I end this dialogue as it began. As with life itself, it comes full circle. You have been given truth here. You have been given joy. You have been given love. You have been given here the answers to the largest mysteries of life. There is now only one question remaining. It is the question with which we began. “The question is not, to whom do I talk, but who listens?”

Misc

There is a movie of Conversations With God, from 2006. It has an ‘after school special’ low-budget feel. I don’t recommend it.

As part of my 2011 Annual Review I set goals to define a professional mission statement.

Mission statements are “statements of the purpose, typically for a company or organization.” Against this, an organization (or individual) can weigh decisions and face new challenges while maintaining their original focus.

These are useful, as they give a framework against we can compare our goals and decisions.

I completed this post as part of my 2011 Annual Review. In addition to just a professional mission statement, I included some other ‘statements’ as well.

Statements

1. Life Mission Statement

Task:

Make a mission statement(s). Think holistically to include professional as well as personal.

Result: I’ve got 2 (is that allowed?)

• Possible: Only do what is a) an expression of ‘who i am’ or what is b) an announcement of ‘who I will become’.
• Possible: To expose myself to what I ‘don’t know’, to filter that into interests, and set/pursue goals to further those interests.

2. Professional Mission Statement

Task:

Make a mission statement encompassing my professional goals – specifically for my company RMC.

Result:

To deliver core services of software architecture, consulting, development, and training to top interactive companies specializing in Adobe Flash Platform development for games and applications. To champion proven architectures, best practices, and coding standards. Eager to travel. Prioritizing contract-based remote/hybrid engagements English and contract-based remote/on-site engagements in Spanish, Portuguese, & Italian-speaking countries.

3 Professional Role Responsibilities

Task:

Make a role description outlining my ideal responsibilities in RMC. Include exceptions (i.e. not-project management, not art)

Result:

RMC offers architecture, general consulting, development, and training. I enjoy all four services and will continue to offer them. To meet another goal of passive income, I’ll offer a ‘product’ as well (namely internally developing game and monetizing it for mobile) which I may do more of in the future. Typically my engagements step through – search, qualifying a lead, contract/presales, work, delivery. The work, depends on the service offered, but for development there are serveral facets; project management, personnel management (if a small team is assembled), and the actual coding.

4. Ideal Work / Life Balance

Task:

Set goal of X weeks at Y hours-per-week working. List purpose of the rest of time (vacation, travel&accommodations-setup, free-time, learning)

Result:

I surrender myself to what comes in life. If I have back to back great work opportunities, that is great. If I have a few weeks after a work engagement while I find the next opportunity, great.  An ideal would be 9 months of 4 weeks of 40 hours working (1,440 hours) and 12 weeks off of work each year.  The duration of contracts varies greatly (1 to 6 months). To reduce the involuntary downtime between projects, I must begin to job-search 1 month before my current project ends.

I had once decided that 30 hours per week is an ideal balance to contribute to my clients yet still experience the location where I am living. However it seems that clients expect 40 to 50 hours and will be satisfied with 40 hours, so 40 hours is my goal.’

5. Ideal Professional Client & Project

Task:

I am a software development consultant. Here I list the top technologies and job-qualities I want to look for in a prospective job.  e.g. PushButton, Scrum, etc..

Result:

• Teams working in my foreign languages of interest.
• Remote team with good management practices
• Agile, and other project management styles done with conviction and success.
• Mobile development (particularly Flash development which publishes to multiple platforms and/or devices.)
• App Development with Robotlegs framework
• Cutting Edge Flash Player 11+,  such as Stage3D and Starling Framework
• Cutting Edge AIR 3.0+, such as NativeExtensions, in-app purchases, in-app notifications

I travel and work, full-time. Not everyone does. I am a software developer and am very comfortable with technology. Not everyone is. As you plan for travels, the tools you use may be far different than mine.

Many things help me save time and be comfortable as a Location Independent Professional (LIP). Below is a list of the ‘tools’ I love.

Assumptions

I have no home and carry 100% of my annual needs in 2 bags. One is 20kg and one is 12 kg, give or take a few kg.  When I fly budget airlines, with baggage weight restrictions) I ‘wear’ some of the weight during the flight. Once I’m settle in a location, I stow my big bag and use my small bag as a day pack (water, snacks, computer, reading material, whatever…)

Philosophy

Long term travel generally ends for 2 reasons rather than when you want it to end; It ends because of time or because of money money.  Those on a limited budget will often take the long and cheap solution to solve a travel problem. Others will take the quick and more expensive solution. If you have no responsibilities which require you to return ‘back home’ and you work while you travel, then the trip ends for a 3rd reason – when you want it to end.

• Consume little, spend little. Lower your overhead and your negative affect on your surrounding. Two big advices; use cheaper dormitory hostels, avoid taxis, and watch your alcohol budget.
• Be generous, earn a lot. Increase your output. Put your ‘all’ into everything. If working, work smarter not harder.
• Be curious and patient.

Skills

Is your profession portable? Can you take your skills from the office to the road less traveled?

• Become a software developer. Learn the fundamentals here!
• Become a writer or one of 50 other professions fit for travel
• Do YOUR profession as you go! NowAndThere offers consulting to help you make leap. Analyze your current situation and plot a path to “Freedom In Business, Adventure In Life”. Contact N&T today for more information.

Baggage (Tips & Tips)

• 65 Liter Night-pack – Wear it on your back. You carry it to your next hotel/hostal/apt and then it becomes your ‘closet’.  Use TSA-approved combination padlocks for all openings.
• Day Pack – Wear it on your front or back. Comfortable, school-sized pack large enough for your computer.  Use combination padlocks for one (often hidden) passport compartment.
• Clothes – Flip-flops, hiking boots w/ 3 socks, 7 underwear, 2 short button-down with chest pockets, 2 t-shirts, 1 cargo shorts (convertible to pants), 1 jeans, 1 swimsuit.
• Toiletries - Shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrush, skin lotion, sun lotion, deodorant, good electric razor, hair gel.

Software / Services

• Electronic Calendar – Set a reminder 1 time per month to check all your banking/finances. Set other reminders too.
• 2 Credit Cards & 2 Debit Cards – with online banking. Use credit cards for purchases, connect all possible bills to be deducted from CREDIT cards. Pay monthly via checking accounts. Use debit cards for all ATM transactions. Having 2 of each is good for backup. Plan to call them before reaching new countries to authorize use.
• Mint.com (Free) –  Check your balances online easily.
• Paytrust.com (or Similar) – Accept and pay credit card bills here. Pay other bills, mail paper checks to people who need it.
• EarthClassMail.com – Premium service which provides a P.O. Box in your City/State of choice. They scan and email you with each pieace you recieve. They will open & scan upon request or foreward items to your physical location. It is fantastic.
  
• Xoom.com – Great for international direct deposit (bank to bank) payments. This service may only be needed by entrepreneurs paying subcontractors.
• 1 Work, 1 Personal, 1 Junk Email Address – Connect all to ONE email client (Mac Mail or similar) – When you must give an email to sign up to a website, use the junk address.
• Facebook.com – One location to mass-communicate and post photos.
• AwayFind.com – This freemium service allows incoming URGENT messages (email) which you deem most important (family, friends, partners, keywords, etc…) to be sent to your iPhone/Home phone/Email/Twitter/Etc… so you can resist checking your inbox incessantly.

Gadgets

• 15″ MacBook Pro – I like that screen size. MAC or PC is cool. Whatever you like. Buy insurance for all your gadgets.
• iTouch 32GB – For the MANY when you want to check email, watch videos, and listen to music without carrying your computer or for after your computer’s battery dies. I do not recommend an iPad. Its either an oversized iTouch or an underpowered computer depending on how you think about it.
• Amazon Kindle with Global, Free 3G (Black and White Screen) – Paper books draw less attention, but otherwise the kindle is far far better. Don’t read ebooks with an eye-tiring color screen.
• Cords – You will need at least an iTouch USB cable, Kindle USB cable, computer power cable, good earbud headphones, and a power adapter.

Staff

• Tax Accountant – Unless you enjoy filing taxes, find one person who is email accessible to file for you and handle any issues.
• Book Keeper – Unless you enjoy sending invoices and following clients, have someone do it for you. This service may only be needed by entrepreneurs paying subcontractors and being paid by clients.

When I was 9, my dad returned from a business trip in East Africa. Surprisingly he brought back someone. This is ‘Charlotte’, he introduced her, “She will be your new nanny.” For years Charlotte lived with us, as Nanny, and as his secretary and translator for business in Africa. This episode was the first influence I had at learning a foreign language.

French was the first language I studied.

FRENCH

Charlotte spoke 9 languages (or was it 7?). Her English was very good, as was her French. I learned a little French from her and from my dad. He had learned it through business and travel. At age 13, my school offered French. Typically in American high schools, 2 years of foreign language are required before graduation. I took French for 5 years, and then again at University. I did some limited travel to French-Canada, and much later to France and Morocco. In all that time my grip of the language, was good, but not great.

Learning a foreign language in your native country as high-schooler for 45 minutes per day, 5 days a week, is full of challenges. Often we lack the interest to invest in ourselves at a young age. Especially as Americans. Globally we are criticized for ‘never trying to learn another language’ or ‘always relying on English’. The stereotype has a kernel of truth.

The U.S. remains the only industrialized country in the world that has no legally mandated annual leave. In 2010, the average employed American worker took 18 vacation days, but only used 14 of those days, according to a survey by Expedia.com. Many Americans feel pressured (financially or otherwise) to work for some of those days. Many western countries offer mandated leave of 4-5 weeks per year, plus holidays. Also for Americans – travel is relatively uncommon, and international travel is even more rare. The USA is a large and diverse country, offering many types of travel, without leaving the country. For many, that is enough. Also we boarder only a handful of countries, and including the popular destinations in the Caribbean, many are English-speaking. With the language influences, and international world-view I had from an early age, I did better than most in my studies. But I wouldn’t have called myself ‘fluent’ in French, even at the height of my studies.

SPANISH

In the 2000′s I traveled through Europe and Central America. Returning from a trip to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, I decided to learn Spanish. I knew I’d get more out of travel with a foundation in the language.

I studied at home using the Rosetta Stone language program. I recommend the system. Its very polished and engages the user in reading/writing/speaking/listening without tedious grammar. I devoted 30 minutes per day for 4-6 weeks to complete ’1 year’ of the 3 year program. I hired a tutor for 1 lesson per week, and continued for months. In Los Angeles especially there are countless native speakers who can tutor you for cheap. However I strongly recommend choosing a tutor from an established school as I think they offer a much more comprehensive program.

After soul-searching that led to divesting in my employing company and starting a (more flexible life with a) technology consulting company, I brainstormed some travels. I stared at a map of Latin America. Choosing a language learning destination.

To be ‘near the beach’, I (foolishly) chose Buenos Aires. It is a fantastic city, with much to see and do, and a haven for Spanish-language classes. Its relatively affordable, and I booked 4 weeks of class. Between there and Chile, I completed 6-7 weeks of class in a 10-11 week trip. In less than 2 months of studying, my Spanish was stronger than my French (after 5-7 years of classes) ever was. Studying intensively, studying in a native-Spanish country, and creating the need to speak the language helped me greatly.

In Fall of 2010, my Spanish skills plateaued. I was inspired by Benny The Irish Polyglot and his demonstration video of speaking 8 languages. He has a great blog and an eBook on language learning on his website FluentIn3Months.com. I was excited by a new language but also afraid of ‘losing’ my Spanish. I had already forgotten a good amount of French, but perhaps that was only from lack of use, and not from the introduction of Spanish into my brain.

I had completed about 6 months of class spread over 2 years of Spanish-travel. I was speaking mostly Spanish day-to-day – ‘transactionally’ (eat food, buy stuff, book a hostel, etc…), and socially, but 40-60 hours each week was still in English. I was working remotely, creating software for various companies. Work-time is a substantial opportunity to gain (or lose) skills in a spoken language. I knew I had to accept a job in Spanish or change languages, to maintain interest in learning.

Most Spanish-language job opportunities for a software developer (games and applications for the web) are in Barcelona, Madrid, Miami, and Buenos Aires. Googling around for a while, all appeared to be either full-time or low paying (or both). As a consultant, project-based work allows for the flexibility of location, technology, and networking that helps me thrive. Unless I’d found something perfect, I wasn’t ready for a full-time job. I found nothing perfect, so decided to start a new language. Portuguese.

PORTUGUESE

I’d had 3 months in Brazil (Maceio, Recife, Praia Da Pipa, Rio, & Sao Paolo) in 2010. I went to speak (in English) at a conference, and traveled extensively. I chose not to study the language at that time, because I was concentrating on Spanish. Upon my return in January 2011, I was ready to start.

I had a potential work opportunity in Sao Paulo, so I chose to start in near-by Rio which I knew I loved. I used the Pimsleur MP3 program (20 lessons of 30 mins each) to get started, then enrolled in classes for 6 weeks. Between my knowledge of Spanish and the MP3′s I started at week #4 of the class and continued for 6 more weeks. After my Visa’s 90 days expired, I was fully conversational. My Portuguese after 3 months was about 70% of my Spanish. Spanish took me 2 years. My learning had accelerated.

Next, I went to Cusco Peru for 2 months. I took 4 days of Spanish class (private classes for 30 USD per 4 hour day). This was to re-acclimate me to Spanish. It was less about remembering Spanish, and more about forgetting Portuguese – purging it from my instinctive verbal responses. Both languages occupy the same part of my brain, I think.

Tricks To Learning

There are many tricks to language learning. Much of it depends on your personal learning style. In general you are told ‘do not translate into English’ as you learn. I’m not so sure that’s always appropriate. The most important recommendation to learn languages is to create the need to speak that language. Generally speaking this means to spend time in areas where English is not an option. Simply ‘trying’ to avoid speaking English around a group of English speakers is futile. Spend time with people who know less English than your Spanish. The best common language in a group is usually what everyone will decide to use. Hostels in every country I’ve visited operate in English. This is a blessing (convenient) and a curse (hampers non-English language learning). Tricks like this give me the confidence to continue to learn. I’d love to write more about such ‘tricks’ in the future.

So what language would I learn next? I was already familiar with #2 English (by population), #3 Spanish, #9 French, and #7 Portuguese . Here is an (outdated?) list of the 30 Most Popular Languages.

Rank – Language – Millions of Speakers

1. Mandarin – 1151
2. English – 1000
3. Spanish – 500
4. Hindi – 490
5. Russian – 277Arabic – 255
6. Portuguese – 240
7. Bengali – 215
8. French – 200
9. Malay – 175
10. German – 166
11. Japanese – 132
12. Farsi – 110
13. Urdu – 104
14. Punjabi – 103
15. Wu – 90
16. Vietnamese – 86
17. Javanese – 85
18. Tamil – 78
19. Korean – 78
20. Turkish – 75
21. Telugu – 74
22. Marathi – 72
23. Italian – 62
24. Thai – 60
25. Burmese – 56
26. Cantonese – 55
27. Kannada – 47
28. Gujarati – 46
29. Polish – 46

I decided. I wanted to learn #23 Italian next. I am interested in the country and the culture. The language sounded pretty (or so I thought at the time), and its related to art, design, and food – all things I love. I then completed level 1 of the Pimsleur language learning program (mentioned above) in Italian, but since I know learning on-site is best, I decided I wanted to spend the summer in Italy. I was unsure where to study, but I had ideas on what I would look for in a location and I had I had an idea about what I wanted in an Italian language school. Three months later, in Summer 2011, I arrived to start my classes.

ITALIAN?

What Italian location did I choose? How did I pick my school? Can my brain hold a 5th language? Stay tuned…