It only took about 7 months, but I finally got my legal identification card for Chile. With a “carnet” anything is possible. That RUN number you see under my name is the tax identification number you need to get anything accomplished: Internet, cell phone, bank account, etc. I picked it up last Thursday. I know I don’t have a very long time to enjoy the doors that it opens now, but on the bright side, I have a souvenir I can keep in my pocket…
There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever be seen.
There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter), yet the combinations of them produce more flavors than can ever be tasted. -Sun Tzu
I’m already addicted to reading, playing basketball and gummi bears, but I can’t stop working on learning new languages. With the world becoming increasingly small due to globalization, the possibility to expand your international horizons is as great as ever. This time last year, I never would have thought that I would be working in Santiago, Chile or London, yet I’ve been in Chile for the past 6 months (with two jobs) and will be moving to London in January to work for a Swiss publishing company. That’s right, a guy from the Dallas will be going to London to work for a Swisscompany. The demand for learning languages is increasing very rapidly.
Besides work, as I travel, I just find it rewarding to be able to communicate with people in their native tongue. I think it shows respect for their culture and opens so many doors, both professionally and socially. A good friend of mine, Naomi (whom I will give a Shout-Out to very soon), told me about LiveMocha, a social network for learning language. They offer courses in just about every language that you can imagine. You submit various assignments, and then the LiveMocha community will give you feedback and tips. Also, you can chat with people, send messages, and all the other good ‘ol web 2.0 stuff you’re used to. From what I see, LiveMocha has a very active community who is eager to offer their help. I’ve completed 4 assignments thus far and within minutes I had feedback from members telling me what I did right and how I can improve. This is an amazing resource for those trying to pick up additional language skills or want to help others. Furthermore, all of the necessary features are FREE. You can pay about $20 for additional features, such as the ability to download your assignments, but for me, it’s not necessary at this time.
For me, being able to get real help from real people is invaluable. Now, you don’t have to move to a country to immerse in the language. Also, a critical aspect for me is that because the community is global, you can learn regional differences in the language, which can be helpful if you ever visit different places that speak the same language. For example, the Spanish in Chile sounds very different from the Spanish in Mexico. Thanks, Naomi, for the heads up!
What do you get when you mix a love of art, skill, and a passion to make positive changes? Well, apparently, you get Dylan Hunt. Rewarding people with custom pieces of art for various acts of kindness, Dylan is taking a different approach to making a difference than most. Not only is he himself active, but he uses his skills in art to mobilize others to perform positive acts as well.
He started the Pay it Forward Austin blog so that he could feel more involved with his community through art. The theme of the blog is “Free collage Art for Random Acts of Kindness.” The premise of the blog is simple. People send a story of them doing something good for other people, he posts the story on the blog, and then sends the author a piece of art.
I can tell you from experience that reading some of these stories is a welcome change from what we typically broadcasted. They remind you that, in the midst of everything, there are people who, usually behind the scenes, are helping people cross the street, reading to children, or otherwise doing their part to contribute to helping others.
Thanks, Dylan, for doing your part to help others do their part. As you put it best, “tons of positive energy sent your way.”
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