Things You Should Never Do While Travelling as a Tourist

Things You Should Never Do While Travelling as a Tourist

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

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Travelling is one of the (if not the most) fulfilling things you can do in a lifetime. It's always amazing to be able to be out of your comfort zone, experience new things, try new food - basically just being in a new place will almost always give you a strong dose of happiness that you truly deserve.

A lot of times it gets too exciting that the only thing that's in our mind is getting to our destination and getting our itinerary done. However, there are still a few reminders of what we should never do while travelling.

Upload photos of your boarding pass

If you're one who does this regulary and never experienced any trouble with it, you might think that there's nothing wrong with posting photos of your boarding pass. According to this article published in The Sydney Morning Herald, "Private details, such as an email, home address and phone number linked to an airline account could be exposed and even give a cyber criminal the ability to change your travel plans"

Uploading photos of your boarding pass does not really change anything about people's impression, if that's what your concerned about, so I suggest not doing this for your own security.

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Asking the flight attendant to place your bag in the overhead compartment

A lot of people may not be aware but it is not the flight attendant's job to place your bags in the overhead compartment so do not treat them like they're your personal assistants or cargo personnel. Unless you are physically unable to place your bags in your overhead compartment due to an injury or disability, you should never ask any flight attendant to do so.

Never pack beyond what you can lift over your head comfortably.

 

When packing, practice holding your bag up against your head and lifting it up for a few seconds and see if this is something you are able to do. If not, then it makes a lot of sense to make your carry-on lighter until you are able to lift it up. It does not even matter if it does not reach the 7kg limit. It does not have to be 7kg if you cannot lift 7kg.

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Disrespecting or being ignorant of your destination country's cultural beliefs and practices

I thought this was already common sense but over the years I have seen influencers blatantly disrespecting a foreign country's cultural beliefs and even filming themselves doing so. This is why I thought it's important that we continue to spread awareness that this is not acceptable and there are no exceptions. 

For example, in Thailand, there are temples that you cannot show your buddha tattoo and almost all temples in Asia will require you to be in modest clothing. In the UK, it is not okay to stand in the way of the royal guards because they will not stop for anyone even your children. 

Being ignorant of your destination country whether you are travelling as a tourist, a worker or a student is not okay. With the power of the internet, it only takes very little effort to research about common faux pas in your destination country so it wouldn't hurt to have a look at it.

Littering

No matter how filthy your destination is or what kind of citizen you are in your home country, it is not right and sometimes even punishable by law for you especially as tourist to be littering. If there's not a trash bin in sight, keep your trash in your bag or pockets until you can find one. Being a foreigner does not entitle anyone to special rights in a country.

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Overstaying your visa or applying for jobs

A tourist visa or a visitor visa (as the name obviously suggests) entitles you to visit the country temporarily. For most countries, you can legally stay as a tourist for up to six months and apply for extension beyond that. However, you cannot apply for visa or try to gain the privilege of the residents and citizens in that country.

If you're wondering why as a Filipino it is difficult to apply for tourist visas for some countries, the answer is that too many Filipinos choose to ruin it for us by overstaying their visas. And there really are those who find no shame in doing this.

If you have a tourist visa, enjoy being a tourist in the country and if you want to stay permanently, apply for visas that will allow you to do as such.

Making locals feel inferior

Being a foreigner  does not give anyone the power to make locals feel inferior. Whatever your race is or how much spending money you have, it does not give you the right to just go around feeling like a king. If the locals have difficulty understanding your English, be patient. If they are respectful towards you, it is because they are naturally respectful or they chose to do so - not necessarily because they are hailing you for being a foreigner. 

I know there will be locals who find the idea of foreigners exciting but even if that's the case, it still does not warranty a superiority complex.

Happy travels!

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Solo Living 101: The Very Basics of Cleaning

Solo Living 101: The Very Basics of Cleaning

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

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Cleaning is probably one of the most basic human chores yet not everyone is gravitated towards it and this could be because of the concept of cleaning involves the dirt or they're just never taught at a young age so they're not used to it. It's also a physically exhausting activity so it does take a bit of willpower to achieve.

If you just moved out to be on your own and you're lost as where to start and how to clean in the first place, I am hoping that this post (like the 101 on cooking) will help make the task easier for you. Just like anything new, this is only more difficult in the beginning. It does take some getting used to.

I divided four "cleaning" area topics that could be covered by the very basics:

Floors and Surfaces

These can be furniture, home decor, floors, kitchen counters. For furniture and other "upper" surfaces, only need two things for this: wiping cloth and surface cleaner or disinfectant. For the floor,  you will need your broom-dust pan combo or a vacuum cleaner and a mopper. 

Upper surfaces do not really require daily cleaning unless you are living in an environment where dust piles up faster. Floors do not necessarily need to be cleaned daily as well, but as a personal preference I like to clean my floor daily because I just think they're a lot more exposed to bacteria than other surfaces. I also make sure that I use disinfectant on the floor rather than just fragrant liquid cleansers.

If you have a vacuum cleaner, it is much faster to go over all areas of the floor but a broom would do the same thing but only takes a lot more effort and time. A broom is also less accurate but mopping after always fixes that. 

Kitchen counters are a lot tougher to clean especially if you don't clean up after you cook. If you're cleaning up after cooking, a multi-use surface cleaner will be enough. Grease and grime can toughen up and this will require special kitchen or stovetop cleaners. 

I suggest surface cleaning more frequently because you'll almost never see dirt pile up which can be gross to clean up.

Laundry 

Laundry is also relatively easy with the help of machines nowadays. You just have to learn how to use the machine that you have access to, choose your appropriate laundry detergent for the machine and most importantly reading the washing instructions on your clothing. Some type of clothing are advised only for air drying (no machine dryers) so it will be helpful if you have somewhere to hang these type of clothing after throwing them in the wash. It is also smart to group laundry that have similar or the same wash requirements. You can have laundry hampers that have segregation or separate according to colour and wash instructions before you load them in the machine. 

Hand washing your laundry is another kind of art but the name is self explanatory. It is important when handwashing to make sure the collar, the end of the sleeves are well "scrubbed" before moving to the larger parts of the clothing.

Fabric conditioner is not necessary if your detergent already smells okay as it is. I have read that vinegar is a great substitute when using a machine washer but I have not tried that myself so take this with a grain of salt. 

When using a dryer machine, also consider the wash and dry instruction on your clothing label.

Dishwashing

If you have a dishwasher, there is not much to say but to pre-clean the leftover food and/or grease from whatever you want to load in the dishwasher and let it do its job. I know there will  be others who prefer handwashing, but I personally would choose this over handwashing (unless there's really too little to load) because a dishwasher cleans more accurately and efficiently and it does disinfect. Don't believe those who try to make you feel bad for wanting to use a dishwasher. You're not lazy, you just choose to be more efficient.

However, if handwashing is your only way, to make the chore easier and faster have a good lathering dish soap that cuts through grease and also a good sponge or scrub. Do not skimp on your dishwashing soap because this is your best chance at really cleaning without exerting too much effort. Also, never use the hard stainless scrubs on your non-stick pans.

Make sure everything is rinsed out well before drying them out.

Bath and Toilet

Cleaning the bath and toilet is probably the most exhausting chore and it will be more exhausting if you don't do this often. This can also be the least pleasant chore if you let all the grime build up over time. One of the most common misconception is that the bathroom or toilet always stay clean because that's where (well) people clean up - but I think that's the exact reason why it also needs much regular cleaning.

There's too much to say about this but the best way to get started is to get yourself some good cleaning tools like a bath scrub/brush, gloves and cleaning solutions for the toilet and tiles. It is important that the cleaning solutions disinfect the area. Also make sure to take out your toiletries and other accessories before cleaning.

I hope this helps!

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Opening a Bank Account in RCBC With Only One ID

Opening a Bank Account in RCBC With Only One ID

Monday, August 22, 2022

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Opening a bank account is admittedly an ordeal here in the Philippines especially if you’re like me who only has one valid ID. If you’re wondering why, it’s only because I am too lazy to process all the other IDs to further validate that my already valid government ID is valid. Those who get it, get it.

When we were looking for a bank to start this new account, we made enquiries to a few banks who ”advertise” on their websites that they only need one valid ID only to end up with the response that we need more documents other than the ID. We even went in line to a bank only to get rejected in the end. It was incredibly frustrating.

We were about to throw in the towel when we decided to give RCBC a shot. They do post on their website that they only require one valid ID and they have a list of IDs that they accept. I couldn’t contact their landline at that time so we had to take a risk and visit the branch.

The branch we went to was the RCBC in Banawa, across Paseo Arcenas since it has the higher rating on Google maps for the branches near our area. 

Opening a bank account with only one ID

Unlike other banks, RCBC does stay true to the information they have on their website. Only one valid ID per individual is needed to open an account. We presented our passports as our valid IDs, filled out some forms and gave our initial deposit. You can check the options for their savings account here. We had to wait for around 30 minutes to finish all the processing. 

You can also check for the valid IDs accepted by the bank here.

Banking experience 

Their requirement is true to what they have on their website. Their service is also very commendable. Even the security personnel who opened the doors for us were very friendly. We were assisted by a nice lady named Gladine and she was very helpful in all aspects of opening the account. There was no line for the new account opening desk but I don’t know if this is the same for all days. We went there on a Friday afternoon.

Mobile app

RCBC has a very good mobile application. You can make check deposits online and even forward your OTP to Viber if you are travelling abroad. There is also a cashless withdrawal option using the app if you have not gotten your debit card yet. This only works for RCBC machines.

You can ask for assistance in setting up the mobile banking account at the branch or opt to do it yourself at home. We had a problem initially with creating an mobile banking log-in because our mobile number was not recognised. Turned out, there was a delay in the uploading of our information in their system. If you chose to set it up at home and experience the same thing, I suggest trying again after 24 hours or contacting the branch.

Debit card

There are two options for the debit card, the generic one without your name which takes only around three days to process and the other which is a personalised card with your name which takes two to three weeks. They suggest to go for the personalised one if you’re not in a hurry.

If you’re looking for a bank to start a new account or your very first banking account, I highly recommend RCBC especially the branch in Paseo Arcenas. It has been the smoothest banking experience so far.

So far, we don't have any negative experience with the bank but we've only been with them for a few weeks. We will surely update if anything changes but RCBC has been in the banking industry for so long now that I am not worried so much. Hope this helps!

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A Few of My Favourite Things In My Small Apartment Space

A Few of My Favourite Things In My Small Apartment Space

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

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I live in a space that's just a little 30 sqm and I know that sounds like too little for some people considering that already includes the kitchen and the restroom, but it is actually just enough for one person (and maybe even two). 

When buying home stuff, one of the top factors that I consider is that if it or it does not consume too much space or cramp up the place. Over the past few months, these are some of my favourite things that I bought for my small apartment:

Water dispenser faucet

There really is no available space in a counter for a tabletop water dispenser and a freestanding dispenser also looks so "bulky" - I also don't want to have to constantly lift water containers for those. This type does not take additional space (not more than what the container is already occupying) but it is also very easy to replace and charge.

I found this one in Lazada. The shop where we bought ours from no longer sells this particular one but I also found this alternative that is very similar for only Php 345 which has considerably high reviews. We did try the cheaper one for less than Php 100 but it broke in a matter of days.

Alexa Echo Dot (3rd Generation)

I can say that one of the best things living in a small apartment is the fact that I only need one Alexa echo dot and this one is small enough to just sit on the corner of my dining table. I admittedly am very dependent to Alexa in ways much more than I thought but I find no shame in that. It's a very great device to have at home.

Mine is from Amazon for only $25 + tax but I believe you can also find this in Lazada for a low price. Just make sure to check the reviews to see if the device in the listing is authentic.

Kitchen Cabinet Door Hook

Because I live in a rental, I did not want to slap too many hooks just to ensure I get my deposit back. This only needs to be hooked over a kitchen cabinet door and you're good to go. This can also be used on closet doors. I am very limited in kitchen storage so this was actually one of the best purchases I made. Having my kitchen utensils hanging on the cabinet door instead of taking up space in the drawers has been a huge space saver. 

I got mine for only Php 28 in Lazada - it's extremely cheap, I know.

End table lamp

The main reason why we got this lamp is because I don't want to use the main ceiling light at night because I don't want to have to call maintenance so often just to have the bulb changed - if you think this is petty, it actually is. And besides, I like a much warmer and less bright light at night just to better relax. Having a tabletop lamp also does not take up additional space so it was definitely a good buy.

We got this at SM for around Php 300 and I am using a warm light bulb from Firefly.

Are you also living in a small space? What are your favourite buys so far? Share them below!

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Being a General VA: Essential Skills and Where You Can Learn Them (FOR FREE)

Being a General VA: Essential Skills and Where You Can Learn Them (FOR FREE)

Monday, August 15, 2022

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Virtual assistants (VAs) have speedily gained demand and popularity over the recent years. If you don't know this yet, it's an outsourced job that mostly comes from companies abroad that involves general admin tasks that can easily be done using a computer - thus the virtual part. I have been a virtual assistant for nearly seven years now and I can really say I would not have it any other way (at least for now). Working for a foreign culture is so much better than the local work scene in my opionion - but that's a story for another post.

My job is strongly targeted towards online marketing (no, not the spam communication one) but on these starter pack series, we will talk about the general VA work which means the general admin tasks like setting up appointments, responding to emails, research, customer relationship and the likes. I will share as much as I have learned and hopefully this would be of help to those of you who are thinking of going down this road.

As a general VA, although the work seems to be very predictable, there still are skills you need to learn that you might have not learned from school or just being in front of the computer for long hours. These are skills that you will have to have a good grasp on in order to make a good impression at interviews and acually excel at the job.

Here are the essential skills that I think every aspiring VA should learn before hitting the road and some free online courses you can take:

Basic Business English

Why it's necessary. This job is virtual so your main lines of communication are obviously through writing and calls. You will find yourself sending more emails and attending business meetings more than the usual and if your employer uses English as their main language, you will need to be able to express intentions accurately. Business English is a tad bit different than the casual ones we are used to and there are specific writing styles that you need to adapt in order to communicate well. 

Course recommendation. This online course by the University of Washington teaches the basic uses of the Englihs language for business. After the course, your goal is to have learned and improved your ability to speak, write and understand English in the professional world. Check out the online course here.

Practice tips. Just like any other language and casual English itself, Business English will take practice in order to get better at it. You have to use what you have learned. Start a journal or even just a plain old notebook and practice writing business emails in different scenarios. 

Creating Impressive Presentations

Why it's necessary. Having to create presentations is not always part of a general VA's job but it is still a good skill to have in handy just in case your boss asks and you can definitely impress. Powerpoint presentations in business settings vary from school presentations in terms of neatness and ease. Ideal business presentations are naturally less cluttered but definitely should not be boring. It is important to know the balance. 

Course recommendation. It is an advantage that business presentations are a lot neater and your audience is more interested in your content and what you have to say. This course by the Coursera Project Network covers the basics that you need to know and you can add in your touch of creativity once you get the basics done. Check out the online course here.

Practice tips. If you have access to a computer with Microsoft Powerpoint where you can practice, you can practice creating pretend presentations for companies. Try looking for business articles and news and create presentations out of them and have your peers or mentors review them.

Customer Service Management

Why it's necessary. General VA is not exactly the same as a customer service representative, but there will still be times when you have to deal with and manage customers. You will, of course, have to answer phone calls and respond to queries depending on your job description. It really does not take too much to give good service if you're naturally a good human being and have been decently raised. However, it is still essential that you have a good grasp of the systematic way of managing and dealing with clients because they do come in various "forms" and boy will they come at you.

Course recommendation. I found this brief course on Customer Service Fundamentals that leans towards IT support but I believe could also be helpful as an added skill across all fields. If you don't happen to work for an IT company, it is good to extract the basics of customer service out of this course. Check out the online course here.

Practice tips. This skill is best practiced on the job but it still wouldn't hurt to come prepared.

Critical Thinking

Why it's necessary. Being a VA means having to think quick on your feet whenever the situation calls for it. At the same time, it is also important to be able to make sound decisions independently (without having to constantly consult unless necessary) but still being able to consider the business as a whole. Critical thinking is an important skill that once you know and have good comprehension of the basics, it will become sort of a reflex once you are on the job. It's a good level of smart, to be honest.

Course recommendation. Critical thinking skills are basis of good decision making and when in a general VA job, it will help you excel and be perceived as a dependable part of the company. This skill focuses on critical thinking in application to decision making. Check out the online course here.

Practice tips. The best part of this skill is it does not have to necessarily be on the job for one to practice. It can be applied on daily life as well. The next time you have to decide on something, it would be helpful and would be a good practice to apply the critical thinking skills.

Hope this helps! This series will definitely be back with more recommendations.

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Brookies in Cebu City

Brookies in Cebu City

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

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They say a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand. And I couldn't agree more.

I have always been in the lookout for great freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies here in Cebu City but it wasn't only until recently when I found Brookies in Foodpanda. I checked their Facebook page and saw that they were one of Sunstar's bests for 2021 and I was intrigued. So I placed an order for a box of assorted minis and a box of matcha crinkles. 

Box of Minis

The box of mini assorted cookies costs Php 360 and it contains 12 mini cookies. My estimate is that each cookie is around 2-2.5 inches in diameter. The price is actually very good for what the amount of cookies that you can get.

There wasn't any note or label of what the flavours are which is really no big deal, so I just identified these based on what I found on their Foodpanda menu.

Here are the flavours I got in my box:

Chocolate chip cookies

They did nail the classic chocolate chip. This is a very chewy, buttery and rich cookie. If this is what got them the Sunstar award, I could say that it is very well-deserved. If you're going to try out the shop, I suggest you go for this flavour. It is a little bit sweet though but nothing overpowering.

Birthday cake cookies

The cookie I got was originally round but I did crack a bit of it off for the video before I realised I only had one of these flavours in the box. I was surprised that I loved this cookie flavour as much as I did. This taste like the birthday cake milkshakes you get at diners only in cookie form. 

Espresso cookies

Out of all the cookies I tried from this order, this would be the least sweet of them and I think I like that about it. The coffee flavour is very rich on this but there's a good balance of chocolate as well. 

Red velvet cookies

Just like the other cookies, the flavour is consistently great with this one. I usually do not like red velvet dessert if it does not have a "velvety" texture, but I'm willing to let this one slide. Even in cookie form, it taste like the actual red velvet cake and the white chocolate chip is just perfect with it. 

Double chocolate cookies

I did try my very best to try and make this look appetising so please don't judge this cookie by how it looks. It is actually very delicious as well. If you're a fan of double chocolate flavoured dessert, I think you'll definitely like this one.

Matcha cookies

Just like its buddy the double chocolate cookies, this particular one wasn't very easy to take photos of to make it look very appetising but boy, these are these heavenly. I like matcha flavour in almost everything and this was just really hard to ignore. It has a hint of matcha bitterness that I love.

Oatmeal with walnuts/almonds cookies

I got two of these in the box so it's either I got both the walnut and the almond flavour or I got two of either of one of those. Whichever it is, I didn't like this at all and I'm sorry. It is not Brookies' fault nor it is the oatmeal cookies' - I just really detest oatmeal cookies. I don't like the texture and I think the entirety of the oatmeal just messes up the flavour. I do eat the regular oatmeal I just don't like them in cookies form.

Cookies & cream cookies

This taste very similar to the chocolate chip with the difference, of course, this has cookies instead of chocolate chips. These are also really great though. By now you must be tired of me saying that these are good but really, there's no better way to describe it. 

Matcha Crinkles

Make way for the star of the show. I did save the best for last because these cookies deserve the recognition.

A box of six costs Php 260 and I think that's an absolutely good deal. These, in my opinion, is the home run. 

They are truly, truly delicious matcha crinkles. Although these are a really sweet and I like matcha a bit bitter and very earthy, I still very much love these ones.

They are filled with cream cheese and they're the most chewy and rich crinkles I have tried so far. In case you are not a matcha fan, they do have other flavours for their crinkles like red velvet, dark chocolate and mocha, The mocha intrigues me so I might try those next time as well.

Anyway, I love the cream cheese filling for these crinkles. They are also a little sweet so they don't do anything to "neutralise" the sweetness and if anything they do add to it but I am not complaining. If you're looking to balance and even complement these, I suggest beverages such as tea or black coffee would be the perfect pair.

These are regular sized cookies so they are obviously much larger than the minis. One cookie is filling enough and would be great as a snack.

In conclusion...

If you haven't tried any of their flavours yet, I think that the box of minis is a good way to taste and find out which ones you'd like best. Other than the oatmeal cookies, I am very happy with everything I got in my box. If you'd ask me for my top three, it would be the chocolate chip, espresso and red velvet. While I cannot immediately say that these have taken over the top spot for the best chocolate chip cookies I have tried, these are still undeniably worth it.

The Matcha Crinkles were my favourite for this order. They're really perfect in so many ways. They were delivered warm and I loved them that way so I might heat them up in the microwave before I eat them next time. I have a high tolerance for sweets and I still find these a little too sweet so I think that's one thing that is worth noting as well. Other than that, I have a strong feeling I will reorder these the next time I crave for some matcha dessert. 

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Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Friday, August 5, 2022

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Memoirs of a Geisha is not a new book, it was written by American author Arthur Golden and was published in 1997. The book was adapted into a movie released in 2005. It has been a long time since 1997 but I think this book is still worth the read in this day and age.

Memoirs of a Geisha is a fictional memoir of a geisha named Nitta Sayuri. In the book, Sayuri goes way back into her childhood as Chiyo when her mother started getting ill and poverty was just dawning on their lives.

She was acquainted by whom she thought was an honourable man named Mr. Tanaka who convinced their father to sell her and her sister off to Kyoto. They were sold in an okiya (geisha house) and a brothel. 

It is worth noting that the book contains depictions of verbal, emotional and physical abu$3 so be sure to consider that especially if you are triggered by those.

Sayuri did not live an easy life. She was too young to understand that Mr. Tanaka was not a very good man and this world was more cruel than we could ever hope. She came to Kyoto only to be more abu$3d by the geisha in the okiya named Hatsumumo who was incredibly jealous of her bluish grey eyes. Even in the early parts of the book, Hatsumumo just spent a great deal of her time being cruel to Sayuri.

Just when she thought her life was hopeless, she met a much older man whom they called Chairman who at the time not only gave her money and shaved ice but also a life purpose. It was the Chairman's kindness that planted the dream of being a geisha within Sayuri with the hopes that one day, she will be by his side. (She was only a teenager when she met the 45-year-old Chairman which I must admit was a little bit disturbing.)

The book then continues to tell the story of how the young and naive Chiyo turned into the most sought after geisha named Sayuri.

Book or movie?

I honestly do not like the idea of choosing over books or movies because they're two different things even if they're based on either one and we all have different preferences. 

Anyway, if you have seen the movie but have not yet read the book, I think you will still be able to appreciate the book a lot. There are differences to the story and it is easier to understand the whys behind the events with all the details. 

I have seen the movie and though it's a lot more fast-paced than the book (obviously), it is still a very phenomenal work. The actors, the cinematography, the storyline - they're just all so perfect. 

Therefore, if you like to read and watch films, I think you should go for both the book and the movie on this one.

 

In conclusion...

When reading this book, don't expect much rollercoaster of emotions but it does have its own fair share of intense moments. It is a bit of a lengthy read and it does take a bit of patience but I suggest look into how the traditional life of a geisha is. 

I am a huge fan of historical novels and this one surely did not disappoint. Although I imagined this book could have been much richer if written by a local, I still think Arthur Golden gave the storyline some good justice. 

I didn’t like that it is lengthy to a fault and there are many times that the pacing of the events just seemed very slow.

I would not recommend this to young children because of some content that may be inappropriate to some age groups.

If you haven't read Memoirs of a Geisha yet, I think this is definitely a book that you should pick up next time you are in a hunt for some good historical fiction.

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Signs You Are Ready for Your Own Dog

Signs You Are Ready for Your Own Dog

Monday, August 1, 2022

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Owning a pet looks really easy and appealing. For those who have not taken care of a dog before, it might seem like all rainbows, butterflies and a cuddly living plush toy. This misconception draws in a lot of people to think they are ready for their own dog at home.

But how can you really tell if you are really to take care of one or two (or maybe even more)?

Here are some of the telltale signs that I personally believe you should look out for:

You won't do it just for the 'gram

I know some people who just flash their dogs on their socials but behind the scenes, they're not really well taken care of. Dogs are not props nor are they show toys that you just take a photo of, upload with a caption of how much you love them and leave them off on their own after.

If you genuinely want your own pet, while taking photos and uploading them is completely normal, this won't be your main priority.

You have enough budget

Owning a pet dog no matter what breed it is, will take an extra amount of money. An aspiring pet owner should consider the amount needed for dog food, vet visits, vitamins (if necessary), toys, etc. The rule of thumb is if you cannot afford the basic needs then maybe you should hold off getting your own pet until you can confidently provide for it.

You have the time to spare

Dogs need some or a lot of your extra time to thrive. The first few months will need your time for training, bond forming and simply just paying attention to their needs and behaviour. You will also need the time to take them out to do their business if they are not yet housebroken and the time for play and walks. You are all that your dog has in this world and if they do not receive the time they need, they will be less responsive and generally just less happy.

You are willing to clean up after them

It is just a fact that the cuteness and cuddliness comes with the stinky and dirty bits. Dogs do not have the ability to clean up after themselves so it is up to you, their human, to do this for them. If you are willing to clean up the area that they have done their business in and you are willing to clean them if they do get dirty, then you can be confident to have your own.

You are not getting one just because you are lonely

Dogs have this strange superpower to take away stress and sadness away but it does not mean that it is okay to get one just because you are lonely. 

Getting a dog with pure intentions of taking care of them is one of the strongest signs that you really are ready for the responsibility. The benefit of having a cuddly companion is only just a plus. Why is this so? If you're getting a dog just because you are lonely, that greatly affects your willingness and ability to care for one. If you make this decision clouded with negative emotions, you will not be able to assess yourself if you are ready for it.

Get a dog when you are ready and when you can reciprocate the amount of love that they give you. Remember, it is another living being that needs equal love and attention that his human needs.

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