Friday, March 22, 2024

8 things you need to start swimming

five lanes of female swimmers and the title

I started swimming again at the age of 39. Why? In March 2023 I severely injured my leg. I earned myself a grade 2 quad tear attempting to run up a pyramid in Oaxaca’s Monte Alban. I couldn’t walk. I used a cane for months. Competitive swimming--my favorite activity at age 9--was key to staying active during my long recovery.

The most difficult part of starting a ‘new’ sport as an adult was not knowing what equipment to buy. I searched the internet for a list of basic equipment you need to start swimming. I specifically wanted info on quality brands available in Mexico. After trial and error, I have a setup that I am confident enough to recommend. Here are eight things you need to start swimming, including prices and where to find them in Mexico.

1. Swimsuit

I’m sure you already guessed that a swimsuit is one of the first things you need to start swimming. The pool I joined requires a solid color one-piece sporty swimming suit in either blue or black. While shopping for an athletic swimming suit, I developed a resentment for the activewear industry, but eventually found a suit I was happy with. 


When swimming for fitness, you can choose either a racer-back or scoop back design. For fit, go with something that is tight, as it will loosen slightly in the water. I chose a suit with two layers of material to prolong wear. Also look for chlorine-resistant materials like 100% polyester that contains PBT (polybutylene terephthalate). A chlorine-resistant suit can last up to 10 times longer than a regular swimsuit. If you swim more than twice a week, get two or more suits.


My pick: I chose an Arena suit from Marti. My exact suit (MX $900 or €50) is no longer available, but here is a similar one: Traje de Baño Arena Natación Bodylift Chiara Mujer.

2. Goggles

The three main things you need to start swimming are a suit, goggles, and a swim cap. Let’s talk about the goggles for a second. Before buying, consider what kind of swimming you plan to do. For pool swimming, you can choose inexpensive clear goggles. For open waters you’ll want mirrored lenses to block the sunshine. You might also want to go larger on surface area for a better view. 


In general, you want goggles that suction comfortably over your eyes without leaving pressure marks, don’t fog, and don’t slip out of adjustment. What you need to start swimming is to focus on improving your stroke–not to constantly mess with your goggles.


My pick: TYR Women’s Black Ops 140 EV Mirrored Racing Goggles (MX $560 or €31). I chose these because Katie Ledecky, the most gold-medal decorated swimmer of all time (yes, more than Michael Phelps!), is sponsored by TYR. She swims the 1500m free in 15:08.24 and is my hero. I used to have a pair of Nike goggles that cost the same amount, but my TYRs are better quality by far. 

3. Swim cap

Beyond a suit and goggles, what you need to join a swimming pool is a swim cap. A cap keeps your hair out of the way and prevents the community pool from being full of stray hairs (yuck). Though your swim cap does not keep your hair dry (that’s a myth) it does make you more streamlined as you swim. It helps you go faster while expending less energy with each stroke. Pretty cool for a thing that makes you look bald in photos.


When it comes to the equipment you need to start swimming, there are two main styles of swim cap on the market. The traditional swim cap is made from a single-piece of flexible silicone. Choose a bright color if you plan on open water swimming. The other option is a Silitex or three-piece fabric cap. This fabric is meant to be gentle on long hair and some people find it easier to put on.


My pick: I like the old-school Nike silicone cap (MX $230 or €13) from Innovasport. Note: Swim caps have no gender, so don’t be afraid of wearing a cap marketed “for men”, like I do. Same goes for nearly all sports equipment.


4. Sandals

What you need when you join a swimming pool is a pair of sandals or pool slides. Go with an all-plastic pair that rinses off easily after walking around a mucky locker room.


My pick: I have the classic green & yellow Brasil logo Havaianas (MX $400 or €22). I already owned these.


5. Towel

What you need to start swimming is a towel or a robe. You use it to walk from the locker room to the pool, stay warm after practice, and dry off after your post-swim shower. A nice towel is one of the main things you need to start swimming if you want to be comfortable at the pool.


You have three options. First, a regular terry cloth towel or robe works. It may be heavy, but it does the job. Your second option is an inexpensive microfiber towel like this from Decathlon (MX $150 or €8.28). This will be portable and light in your gym bag, but may not absorb water the best. Your third option is a more expensive microfiber towel. 


My pick: I bought a Sportia microfiber towel (MX $500 or €27.61) at a triathlon in Acapulco. This brand is both lightweight and absorbs a ton of water. Every time I get my legs truly dry before sliding on my jeans after swim practice, I thank myself for the splurge.


6. Anti-fog spray

If you’ve read articles about things you need to start swimming, you may be on the fence about anti-fog spray. Some say it doesn’t work. Contrary to what everyone told me, I love my anti-fog spray.


People swear by alternative liquids for anti-fogging goggles. I’ll admit I’ve tried my own spit (!)  but it doesn’t last a full 1-hour practice and it's gross seeing people lick the inside of their goggles during practice. Others swear by a dry application of dish soap. I don’t like contaminating the pool or my own eyeball with detergent. 


My pick: I use this Japanese brand View Anti-Fog Spray (MX $200 or €11) that I bought from Articulos Deportivos Jr. in downtown Mexico City. A good anti-fog spray should last at least 2 swims without reapplying.


7. Toiletries

You might not think of toiletries among the things you need to start swimming, but having a minimalist shower setup helps me get in and out of the locker room quickly.

Shampoo

The best option is either solid shampoo (see the travel tin below) or refilling your own travel-sized shampoo.


My pick: I use this We Bare Bears Travel Bottle Set (MX $130 or €7.18) from Miniso. For the pool I take only one bottle for shampoo plus my soap. When I go on vacations, I use the other bottles for conditioner and lotion. They don’t leak.

Soap and travel holder

I shower with bar soap. I hate slimy, single-use camping leaves so I chop up a regular bar of soap into cubes (I call my invention “soap dice”) for the pool or travel. 


My pick: I store my soap dice in a leak-proof metal travel tin from LUSH Cosmetics (MX $105 or €5.80).

Leave-in conditioner

Though I always rinse my hair in clean water before putting on my swim cap, the pool chlorine still leaves my hair dry. To keep my gym bag light, I towel-dry my hair at the pool and keep my leave-in conditioner at home.


My pick: I like this light spray from Maui Moisture Hair Styling (MX $194 or €11). Once a week I use a thicker formula Aveda Botanical Repair (MX $260 or €14.36).


8. Gym bag

When you get all the equipment you need to start swimming, you have to carry it back and forth to the pool. I use a regular plastic bag to put my wet items after every practice. This bag goes inside my gym bag. When I get home, I place my sandals, towel, suit, cap, goggles, toiletries, and the upturned bag in the shower to air dry. 


My pick: I bought a gym bag from Chilean brand Xtrem back in 2015. I have my Tía Marisel to thank for a Samsonite gift card that Christmas. The one I have is similar to their current QUEST 3XT model (MX $420 or €24). It’s lightweight, has mesh pockets, and a separate wet storage compartment. When my swim stuff dries, I can re-pack this bag quickly for next practice. It’s an ideal swim bag, but also super durable and can double as a travel duffel on weekend trips.

Your health is worth it

Though there are quite a few things you need to start swimming, all eight items in this list have lasted for a year without replacement. Even if I didn’t previously own any of the equipment you need to start swimming, it would have realistically cost me MX $3,289 or €181 to start from scratch with the basics.


Beyond money, remember that swimming for fitness is an investment in your health. In my case, the recovery of mobility makes it worth every peso. Now I can swim over 2km any day of the week. I won 2nd place in a triathlon relay in December 2023. I can jog a 5K or ride my bike daily again. My next competition is a 2.5 km open water swim in May 2024. Whether it’s for recovery or to try out a brand new sport, I hope this list helps you set a budget and prepare to start swimming at your local pool.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

8 Best Work Cafes in Guadalajara, Mexico



Are you a digital nomad headed to Mexico? Do you need a Guadalajara work café where you can do remote work on your laptop?

I lived in Guadalajara for 2 months in 2021. While exploring the city's best birria and mezcal, I also managed to work during the day. There are hundreds of top work cafes in Guadalajara, but these were my favorite 8 choices specifically for work. 

It took me awhile to find quality work cafes in Guadalajara. Most expat lists focus on locations in Providencia, Americana, and other expat-friendly colonias in Guadalajara. From my apartment in Santa Tere (short for Teresita) these are the places that I found the most convenient and pleasant.
  • walking distance from Santa Tere (no driving)
  • decent coffee & tasty snacks
  • comfortable seating
  • plugs available for charging your laptop
  • open-air seating or large doors/windows for fresh air

With that in mind, here is my list of the 8 best work cafes in Guadalajara, Mexico.

1. Caligari Café

photo from Facebook
Located here on Juan Manuel, this café is a heavy hitter. Excellent kitchen for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and work days. Plenty of vegetarian options for your crunchier work buddies. The quirky retro pop art décor from around the world will keep your eyes entertained on screen breaks. Meanwhile the drinks menu takes you easily from work to party. Seriously, get a vermouth to ride out that last hour on your laptop.

2. La Arepiza Bistro

photo mine
Located here near the border street Avenida Mexico between Santa Tere and Colonia Americana, this restaurant is more than just a café. Enjoy Venezuelan food on work breaks like empanadas and arepas ricas, plus imported sodas like Frescolita. Welcoming staff. 

3. Cafetería MUSA

photo from website
Located here, the coffee shop attached to the Museum of the Arts of the University of Guadalajara is all about the view. The outdoor patio faces the Universidad de Guadalajara historic building. If you love the white noise of traffic (hey you are downtown in a city of 4 million) then you will enjoy working here as much as I did. Fantastic exhibits to see on work breaks as well. Order a large drip coffee and get a free refill to fuel your longer hours.

4. Howm

photo mine
Howm is located here, beneath the Selina hostel chain's Guadalajara outpost. Stylish, dark, and spacious, here is where you can put in serious hours. The coffee menu isn't too exciting, but feel free to order a tonic and espresso to mix your own "shakerato" espresso tonic at your table. 

5. Cafetería d'Vico

image from Facebook
Locared here in Santa Tere, D'Vico was my work café of choice in Guadalajara. It was the nearest to my house and had everything I needed. The owner has a tía living in Gilroy, CA so enjoy the cute California-style vintage décor. This café feels small and bright, with its natural wood tables. They have ok coffee and very nice pan dulce sweet pastries to choose from.

6. Panadería de Barrio

photo mine
Located here in Colonia Americas on the east side of Chapultepec, this spot has very good bread and coffee. Despite uncomfortable stools in the front room, explore further to find two large communal tables in the rear. Ideal for co-working meet-ups. Also "panadería" means this is first-and-foremost an artisanal bakery. Don't skip out on a cardamom pear pastry or the special of the day. The best part? Puesto Ambulante micro-brewery's taproom is right across the street. Perfect for post-work happy hour.

7. Livin Cafe

photo mine
Located here on the edge of Parque Revolución, I stumbled across this café on the way to MiBici public bike offices in el centro one day. The spot is cute and welcoming. The waffles are decent, good espresso, and the location is convenient if you have business downtown.

8. Como Si Fuera Domingo

photo mine
Located centrally here just off Chapultepec, this café sticks out in my mind as a place where the staff left me the most alone. The second floor loft full of plugs is hidden from the rest of the world. It's a good place to hide out and fire out a few reports. Nice shakerato (espresso tonic) with rosemary and orange zest.

Best work café in Tlaquepaque: Del Corazon de la Tierra

photo mine
Bonus: If you spend the day in the nearby pueblo mágico of Tlaquepaque and need a work cafe, this place is a solid option. I stopped here for a coffee and wished I had brought my laptop. Serving Käjkape brand coffee from the nearby roaster (check their café out too) this unorthodox coffee shop sits in the middle of an elegant gift shop. What a peaceful oasis from the busy tourists filling up the roads. Relax here with an interior courtyard, complete with a fountain. Great coffee as well. 

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So that's it. My top 8 best cafe work spaces in Guadalajara plus one in Tlaquepaque.


How about you? Do you have any recommendations for work cafes around the world?






Winter 2021 Update

 

Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

It's nearly the end of 2021. I haven't posted an update on here in ages (what's new). I am trying to build an amazing life. Bit by bit things continue to come together. It's the journey not the destination, right?

Here goes.

Work

Work is going well. My solo SEO content & copy business AlisonMac took off. In Thailand in 2017 I was beginning to stand on my own two feet, moving away from volume ghost-blogging contracts, acquiring my own clients. From 2019 in the Czech Republic until now in Mexico, my clientele has grown. The demand for Spanish content also called for a larger team. 

I've since trained select writers and editors in best practices for SEO and brought them onboard. With our current team of 4 based out of San Francisco and CDMX we have found our stride. A smart team means things run smoothly. We work with tech clients with marketing campaigns or web launches that need to outsource content. I handle client management and have stepped away from the writing desk completely. 

What's in store for the future? Not content to remain small, I am in the middle of managing a re-brand and market shift. Fueled by conversations in my NGO networks in Latin America, my hope is to move into impact work and pick up all those RFPs I see floating around. AlisonMac will still exist, I think

A new business, Archer Impact, will launch in partnership with Stacy in 2022. Our focus will be SEO content/copy and impact M&E-related work. Our target clients will be NGOs in Latin America. We want to improve the quality of communication and impact in the global development field, especially in the dynamic of US-funded projects. 

A website is in the works. Our business plan is 25% done. We know our break even point and are doing financial projections for 2 years. We are networking to find partner agencies who have effective services in these areas. There is plenty of research work to do before the launch, but we are both excited about this next move. 

Volunteering

By the time Biden/Harris won the US presidential election in 2020, I was completely burnt out on US politics. I remain a member of the Democrats Abroad Hispanic Caucus but I stepped down from the executive committee. I've helped on one campaign since, an effort to remove VA-issued obstacles for GI benefits to be applied at higher education institutions abroad. 

In the Red Cross, we had a saying when people asked how they could help. "Give your money, your time, or your blood." I couldn't give any more time so I switched to being a regular donor to the ACLU.

Social Media

@LasSaboritas is silent. We reached over 700 Prague-based restaurant and bar reviews and 730+ followers. I stopped contributing when I left Prague in 2020. Ana stopped when she moved to Seattle this year. It was a fun project. We even enjoyed a regular food column in the English-language expat newspaper for awhile. What a cool experience.

Grad School

I graduated! I now have a master's degree in International Economics and Geopolitics from Univerzita Karlova or Charles University in Prague. I finished my thesis during the pandemic and defended it successfully. I passed my state exams in September 2020 (Economics) and February 2021 (Politics). It was a grueling ending and anticlimactic in a thousand ways, but it's over. I am, as the young people say, #OneDegreeHotter. 

The UK faculty informed me they have zero contacts in Latin America. Before committing to the business, I was a bit frustrated with my study decision. I realize now that what I came out with was a fascinating look at geopolitics from a Central/Eastern European perspective. It's unique to study geopolitics while living in one of the smallest countries in a major world region. This part of my education will serve me well. The Czech language I learned "dvakrát tmavé pivo prosím" will not serve me in the future, but was extremely useful at the time.

Now

Now I've been in Mexico for over 1 year. Moving here was the first time since 2013 that I lived in a country where I could speak and understand the language from day one. What a welcome break for my brain. The original goal was to head to Colombia for work, but the pandemic and politics changed things.

I am back in CDMX for the long haul after spending time in Nayarit and Guadalajara. To sum things up I am happy to be back in a bustling, cosmopolitan, multicultural, capital city of the world. 

Those are my life updates. How about you? I'd love to hear somebody else's life update.

Saturday, November 7, 2020

Paternoster lifts you can ride in Prague

A paternoster lift is an elevator that moves in a loop without stopping. Some people call it a "death elevator" but the name 'paternoster' is Latin for "our father" referring to the rosary-bead-like track of the elevator compartments. It's easy to understand, but scary in practice.

Like I said, they aren't made anymore due to safety reason, but there are still 70 reported paternoster lifts operating in the whole of the Czech Republic. Here is my list of reported paternoster lifts with public access.

9 paternoster lifts in Prague that you can ride*

  1. Praha 1 - The offices of České dráhy, the national Czech railway company.
  2. Praha 1 - Dům U Nováků is the Novak house building that houses a casino next to Lucerna.
  3. Praha 1 - Famous art nouveau passageway Palace Lucerna supposedly has one. *I've never found it myself.
  4. Praha 1 - The city government building at Škodův palác near the Lítačka transportation card services office has one that is easy to access.
  5. Praha 1 - Palác YMCA near the Náměstí Republiky metro has a paternoster lift and a cute café too. 
  6. Praha 1 - Nová Radnice is the Prague City Hall building. *After appearing in an Honest Guide video about secret places around Prague, it became popular and was closed to tourists for a short while.
  7. Praha 2 - The headquarters for Český rozhlas, a radio station production studio with headquarters in this Vinohrady building. *I couldn't find the lift myself, so it may be an area with employee access.
  8. Praha 6 - Poliklinika Pod Marjánkou is a medical clinic in Břevnov with a paternoster lift. 
  9. Praha 7 - Územní pracoviště pro Prahu 6 a Prahu 7 a SFÚ are the municipal offices of Prague 6 and 7.


To find them, check out my Google Maps list of paternoster lifts in Prague. Have you ridden one before? I am both frightened and fascinated every time I get on one. Thus far, I'm too afraid to ride it on a full loop, but I hear it is safe. Drop me a line on Twitter and tell me which ones you have ridden!

Craft beer shopping in Prague

Prague is famous amongst travelers for beer. Even lifelong Prague residents spend their time going from pub to hospoda drinking beer on a daily basis. It's a national obsession after all. 

So what happens if you don't like Plzeň? The Pilsner Urquell brand of beer, invented in 1842 and brewed in the Czech town of Pilsen, is served at every pub in town. I have a shocking confession though: I don't like it. Though crisp and clean, Plzeň beer is on the bitter side for my taste. I can drink it, but it's not my favorite. 

Never fear, there are other Czech beer options in Prague. Besides my go-to commercial favorite Kozel dark lager, there is plenty of Czech craft beer by the can or bottle from micro breweries around the country. If you are having a summer picnic and need a place to grab some pivo, here are 6 locations by neighborhood where you can buy Czech craft beer in Prague for takeaway.

beer delivery from Pivotoč to Riegrovy sady park

Praha 3-Žižkov

My neighborhood in Praha 3-Žižkov has a couple beer shops focused on Czech craft beer. Pivotoč is more of a beer refill station than a bottle shop. They have rotating taps from Czech micro breweries that you can purchase in 0.5-L, 1-L, or 2-L bottle sizes. It's a favorite of mine because they also provide delivery for a fee. Next is BeerGeek Pivoteka which is probably the most well-known because of it's high-visibility location near the JZP metro stop. BeerGeek has two shops in the neighborhood. The other one is a hang out spot while this is more of a pick-up bottle shop. They carry a lot of imports but have Czech microbrews in stock at decent prices too. Finally there is Pivní Rozmanitost way out east near Vozovna Žižkov tram stop. This beer shop has a couple of taps to taste and a plentiful selection of Czech and international craft beers.

Praha 6-Dejvice

Base Camp has a bunch of imported bottles as well as carrying seasonal bottles from the most well-known micro breweries around the Czech Republic. Sample their huge assortment on-site when the weather is good.

Praha 8-Karlín

Pivní Mozaika is a liquor store and bottle shop offering a diverse selection of specialty beers from around the world. This place has coolers and room-temperature storage, plus a few tables where you can sample the degustační beer list of the day. Closed on Sundays. Beershop.cz is still in Praha 8 but it's more Libeň neighborhood than Karlín. This shop is well-stocked, well-organized, and has a ton of bottles and cans in every size. They also sell craft limo or lemonade, which was hip for a moment.

For my 2.5 years in Prague, I lived in Praha 3-Žižkov. The shops I know best are in the three neighborhoods that were convenient for me to shop near home. I'm sure there are more options in other neighborhoods. Do you know of any grocers that specialize in Czech craft beer in Prague?

For more info on Czech craft beer in Prague, check out craft beer reviews from LasSaboritas.

5 Best Work Cafes in Prague, Czech Republic

Are you a digital nomad headed to the Czech Republic? Do you need a Prague work café where you can do remote work on your laptop while you are in town?

I lived in Prague for 2.5 years. While I chipped away at a master's degree, I worked remotely. Outside of quarantine, most of my time was spent in Prague work cafés. There are hundreds of top cafes in Prague. Surprisingly few of them are work-friendly. Many don't have wifi, lack electrical outlets, or simply discourage laptops and customers that linger. If you are like me, avoiding Czech stink-eye is a priority.

It took me years tofind solid work cafes in Prague, especially places I could sit down and finish assignments under deadline. For a Prague work café, it needs to be accessible by public transportation, have reliable hours of operation (you'd be surprised), not be overrun with students, and non-touristy to boot. In no particular order, here is my list of top 5 best work cafes in Prague, Czech Republic. 

Kavárna Liberál



Located in Praha 7-Holešovice, Kavárna Liberal is the epitome of Czech pub-slash-café. They have tons of outlets and plenty of tables. They also have fairly inattentive service, so staff will leave you alone while you work as long as you order coffee every once in awhile. Plus? It's open late. It's a cool hangout after work hours too, so call your friends after deadlines and celebrate remote happy hour together.

Cukrárna Myšák


Located in Praha 1-Nové Město near the Můstek metro stop, this elegant dessert café is the place to nibble the best Czech pastries in town while you work. The interior is beautiful, the customer service is impeccable (a rarity in Prague), and the coffee is good. What most people don't realize? The upstairs is nearly always empty and quite cozy for laptop work. If you have a sweet tooth, go to work early and grab breakfast.

Andělská Cukrárna


Located in Praha 5-Smíchov, this is another spot with plenty of free tables every day of the week. Thanks to large windows, the interior is bright and the daylight will keep you from falling asleep at your laptop. I'm also a fan of the carrot cake.

Barley Café Gallery


Located in Praha 1-Nové Město near the I.P. Pavlova metro stop, this café is a hidden gem. The few times I worked from here, it was completely empty. I loved the comfy seating, the staff were so bored they almost seemed friendly by checking on me, and the coffee size was large enough to merit lingering quite a long time. Barley Café also doubles as an art gallery so you can take breaks and browse the exhibits to get your brain working again.

Národní 38


Located in Praha 1-Nové Město near the Národní třída tram stop, this café is hidden away in a pretty courtyard. The décor is cool, the front area is good for meetings, the rear part of the café has large tables with plugs, and the owners are an all-around nice crew. Besides having good Vietnamese coffee and supporting local charity causes, this place is also a decent brunch spot

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So these are my top 5 best work cafes in Prague, Czech Republic. There are a lot of blog posts on this topic and after reading the suggestions from people who clearly came through town for a week, I hate to think of the unwelcome reception some of their readers will get. My list doesn't have any of the tourist-famous or IG-friendly spots, but these are work cafes in Prague where you can actually get something done. Have you worked remotely from Prague? What are your recommendations?

For a full list of Prague café reviews based on coffee, food, & ambience check out Prague café reviews from LasSaboritas.


Monday, September 2, 2019

Free Keyword Research Tools

9 Free Keyword Research Tools

9 Free Keyword Research Tools (That CRUSH Google Keyword Planner)

Found this article on The Ahrefs Blog while I was looking for alternatives to the paid SEO tools I had access to on my previous team.

It's basically a short-list of #SEO optimization tools for #copywriters without a corporate budget. Some of them are kooky (hello Keyword Sh*tter) but together, they weave a decent net.

Any other tech copywriters out there? Which tools do you use?

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Side-Stepping Eurocentrism in Wine Tasting

A new generation of wine lover: Faelnar, de Leon + Cailan

What if you want to be a wine expert but you don't have the eurocentric flavor references necessary to impress The Court of Master Sommeliers?

This article takes a look at three guys with ties to the Philippines who are making a big impression in the U.S. Jhonel Faelnar, Miguel de Leon + Anthony Cailan are forging a new path by approaching wine with a distinctly Southeast Asian palate.

"They had jackfruit, fish sauce and hibiscus seared into their memories from a young age, but no honeysuckle, pear or blueberry."

Miguel de Leon laments never grasping the proper notes of gooseberry while working at Chez Panisse in Berkeley. He goes on to say he now detects tamarind seed in a Loire Valley Chenin Blanc. As I read, I'm imagining the sticky seed of a tamarind after it has been scraped across your front teeth.

This article takes us from the first taste of wine for many Filipinos and Fil-Ams (first communion in the Catholic church) to a modern age of descriptors including hints of dried mango, ensaymada cheese buns, turon, champoy, bitter melon, and Milo. Yes Milo, the powdered drink mix.

As a Latina, I learned about expensive European ingredients from my exposure in French restaurant kitchens starting at the age of 17. With a Chilean mother there was always wine around, but the colonial history of Latin America meant that even Chilean wine was treated with classism and eurocentrism. I've never heard of a wine from Valle de Colchagua described as having hints of chirimoya or lúcuma. Have you?

The way the guys in the article describe wine is immediately accessible. Check out the full article at Wine Enthusiast. Sommeliers that shun eurocentrism by using references native to a formerly colonized country? How refreshing. #hereforit

Friday, July 19, 2019

Summer Update

It me. 

It's the middle of summer. I haven't blogged for myself in ages. 

Time for an update.

Work
Still copywriting and editing a ton. My current client load includes e-Procurement, fintech for the mortgage industry, a CCM/DXP integration specialist, the same ECM developer in Thailand I've had for 2 years, and travel/food content for a regional intergovernmental org.

To make extra $$$ over the summer, I picked up blog work for a language learning app from Germany and an F&B branding firm from New York. I can fit one more client into my summer schedule, so if you need anything check my LinkedIn and drop me a line. Tech, F&B, and NGO content are all fair game.

Volunteering
Still volunteering with Democrats Abroad. I'm hosting podcasts for the Hispanic Caucus (listen here) and getting the word out to fellow expats about how easy it is to Vote From Abroad. The news from the U.S. is a daily onslaught of political and humanitarian chaos, but voting is what? Fundamental.

Social Media
My friend Ana and I are having success with our Prague restaurant reviews. Some of the big names in the local food scene are interacting with us & we love any reason to eat out more often. Learn about Czech food + more on Twitter @LasSaboritas.

Grad School
It's a 2-year program so I'm halfway done. Looking forward to my thesis on MFI fintech adoption. If you know anybody else working on tech in microfinance, please pass along their info. I will make a real effort to connect with program people, especially in Latin America, later this year.


Those are my life updates. It's been 13 years since I was last on summer break and it's exhilarating. Despite a heavy workload, it feels like sunshine + holidays for me until October.

How about you? What are you working on this summer?

Image: Pixabay