Digital nomad lifestyle: daily routine in Bali

Digital Nomda lifestyle

Pictures of people on a laptop in a swimming people, incredible adventures and beautiful landscapes, the digital nomad lifestyle seems like a dream. But how is it really? What’s the day to day life when you are location independent and completely flexible? I think it’s really great but it’s not an eternal holiday as it seems…

Work is part of the digital nomad lifestyle

We might be very lucky to have a very flexible time, but this doesn’t mean that we’re on holiday. Some may have a passive income, but, unless it consists of shares of a successful business someone else takes care of or rent from a property they own, it all comes with hard work. Even the best affiliate marketers need to spend some time on their campaigns to keep them going. They might be able to do it in a couple of hours per week, but they had to put a lot of effort into it to get to that point.

Like many fellow nomads, I work on my marketing business every day. I can start when I want and take as much time as I want, but at the end of the day I have to deliver something to my clients. It feels really good not to have the pressure of someone checking what I do and knowing that I can do it at my own pace. I try to get everything done during the week, but it may occur that I have to finish something on the weekend. It all depends on how I manage my tasks and working hours.

We often work from co-working spaces, where we can meet new people who share the same experiences and values. We can actually make great friends there and find a community of people who support each other; they’re like co-workers but without being competitive since everyone is working on their own business.

digital nomad lifestyle

The tech expat life is healthy

An aspect I see I have in common with my fellow tech expats is the healthy lifestyle. Be it Bali and its positive energy, but I see that almost everyone does sports and cares about what they eat and how they live.

Something I noticed and that is probably related to local business activity regulations is that many people go to bed and wake up quite early. Of course, there are opportunities to party, drink and get wasted, but I have the feeling the ones who actually work, would do it less. People want to enjoy the morning hours to practice their sports. I am one of them, first thing I do when I wake up, is to go for a walk on the beach. For me, it’s the best way to kick off my day!

All the people I know here go either surfing or practice yoga or go to the gym. And they all do it regularly. Everyone eats healthy, of course you can find junk food and people do consume it, but it seems like they would do it less than elsewhere. Organic, natural, vegetarian, vegan, raw… the choice is really big and fosters your awareness on your diet. It might sound a little hipster but people here are not just going with the flow and doing what everybody else does, it’s more a conscious choice and preference.

Why so? I think because we have a good work/life balance, which leads us to the next point.

digital nomad lifestyle

Good work/life balance

I have the feeling we have a very balanced life, in which work is important, but it doesn’t take all our time and energy. First of all, there is no stress here in Bali. Even if the roads are busy and sometimes riding in the traffic is really annoying, it’s never stressful. I think it’s because the positive mind-set of local people has a very strong influence on our daily lives. Maybe this is because people who make such a choice like leaving a corporate job to travel the world are somehow able to let the negative and anxiety go quicker.

In a way, this is a very full life, where people take the time to do what makes them feel good. It’s not unusual to see people leaving the co-working space in the middle of the day to go surfing and come back renewed after a couple of hours. It might seem a waste of time, but I think this is just healthy: you take a break in order to focus more and better once you’re back. I have noticed how my productivity has improved with this lifestyle: I work less hours but I work better.

Another aspect of this full life is the deep and meaningful conversations I have with my peers. Sometimes people ask me what I do with my friends here in Bali. The truth is we don’t do anything special, but we spend quality time. And this makes the huge difference.

digital nomad lifestyle

Nature is part of our lifestyle

Nature plays a very important role in this general well-being and in our digital nomad lifestyle. This is especially clear in a place like Bali: a tropical island made of mainly small villages. It’s not a completely wild place, but it’s still not a big city with everything.

Riding by the rice fields on your way to work gives you a very calming feeling and you realize that you need so much less in your daily life. A walk on the beach is way more therapeutic than a shopping day as you see how reconnecting with nature makes you more centred. When the weather is fine, people gather on the beach to watch the sunset. It’s a magic moment, in its extreme simplicity. And it can give you so much.

The downside is that sometimes you miss the city, its services and being able to find everything. But Singapore is only a couple of hours by plane and sometimes it’s really nice to be back in the concrete…

 digital nomad lifestyle

As you can see, our flexible schedule is the key to our digital nomad lifestyle. If you’re considering getting into it, I’d recommend to start with becoming location independent.

If you’ve already taken this step, what’s your lifestyle? Do you fit into my description? Leave a comment below, would love to hear from you!

A weekend in West Bali exploring the essence of the island

 

My life in Bali is just made of incredible experiences and inspiring encounters. Last weekend was one of those times, when my co-working space Dojo Bali organized a trip to West Bali with the Five Pillar Foundation. I didn’t really know what to expect, I only knew that the area was a sort of hidden gem in the island, a place where tourists don’t go and locals still live the traditional way. What I immediately noticed when we got there is the immense beauty and dominance of nature: unlike the other densely populated areas I had seen before, this region of Bali seems more preserved and wild, with palm tree forests everywhere. I definitely had the feeling I was exploring the true essence of the island.

The Five Pillar Foundation supports rural Balinese communities in fulfilling their potential from an economic, social, environmental, educational and cultural point of view. On one hand, they help local entrepreneurs in getting a better exposure to the market, on the other hand, they have a very strong youth educational program to create jobs beyond hospitality and tourism.

They also build an international bridge by organizing trips to rural villages where the visitors can experience the Balinese traditions and values, while inspiring the locals with new business opportunities.

Banjar, community life

Our weekend was a full immersion into local knowledge, traditions and culture. Our guides were Wira, the co-founder of the Five Pillar Foundation, and Ngurah. Both young men are from West Bali and they are committed to preserving the island and its treasures. They told us how Balinese believe there are 3 types of relationship: with other humans, with nature and with the Gods.  This is no big surprise for this spiritual, peaceful and respectful society.

But one thing had already caught my attention at the tooth filing ceremony: the importance of community life, or banjar. For centuries, the inhabitants of the island have had a system of mutual help and compassion: in the busiest time of specific harvests the entire village assists the farmers, expecting the same in return when they need it. If a family has a joyful celebration or mourning, everybody joins and supports them. The ones who don’t take part to those activities become outsiders and lose the help from the banjar. It looks to me like a sort of idyllic community life and I hope the Balinese will be able to preserve it despite the modern times.

For what concerns the relationship with nature, we learnt about the Subak, the ancient irrigation system of the island that is still in place and distributes water coming from the mountains equally to all the villages. We also heard about challenges the farmers had to face and are still facing since the introduction of pesticides in the 70’s. The Five Pillar Foundation is also committed to preserve the traditional cultivation methods that are better for our health, as they are organic, and better for the ground, as they have been in place for centuries.

Meeting with inspiring entrepreneurs: between modernity and tradition

One of the highlights of those days was meeting local entrepreneurs that are part of communities the Foundation supports by giving them better exposure to a bigger market. The idea is to promote economic growth and development of the region by fostering the traditional jobs and productions.

It was like being part of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” when we tried to make chocolate bars in a chocolate factory and felt in heaven when a holy coconut oil producer gave each of us a massage. We heard the incredible story of how a very creative mushroom farmer got a message from a God in a dream that inspired him to invent a special water filter made of clay coming from 4 sacred areas of Bali. We tasted snake fruit directly from the trees in a plantation and we ate fresh fish in the most beautiful setting of all, facing a palm tree forest ending in the ocean at sunset.

Those entrepreneurs opened their homes, farms, factories and hearts to us, they told us about how they keep the tradition of their ancestors alive, how they follow natural cycles for their 100% organic, fresh and top quality products. It was really inspiring for me to meet them because they were all doing their jobs with great dignity, courage and humility. They felt so proud of their simple products and looked very happy in their uncomplicated lives. I think we have a lot to learn from them and I would really like to support this kind of projects by offering my time.

A true co-giving experience with the kids of the Five Pillar Foundation

The following day was in the spirit of co-giving: it was our turn to do something for the community. We went to the Five Pillar Foundation headquarter, where they have a recreation centre for the youth. The idea was for us to tell something about our lives, jobs and countries, to inspire approximately 50 kids between 15 and 25 and help them practicing their English. What I found really surprising was that, when asking what did they want to become, most of them said they wanted to get jobs in hotels in Kuta, one of the most touristic towns of the island. They didn’t dream big and didn’t think there could be so much more! This is why I think the Foundation has a very important role in giving them hope and showing them that another life is possible. If all the young people from the region worked in hospitality, there would be no development and all the traditions would get lost.

The kids seemed very excited to meet foreigners and get a different perspective, some of them were really shy and didn’t dare asking questions. Some of them even joined us for lunch and we all enjoyed the afternoon swimming in a river by a snake fruit farm. The atmosphere was so playful and joyful that it was a real shame it had to end.

The art of Canang, or the essence of Bali

We said goodbye to the kids but our day was not over, as we had the incredible opportunity to learn how to prepare the offerings, or Canang. If you have been to Bali, you will have seen that the women put little baskets with flowers, incense and some food in front of every door and crossroad. Those are the offerings they make to protect from the devil. But we learnt there is another type of offering, for the Gods in the temples. It consists of a similar basket made of an interweaved leaf and it only contains flowers and incense. A very nice woman taught us how to create and fill it with the right flowers. It was quite hard to follow her skilled hands when interweaving the leaves, but with some help we made it and we were then able to go to a temple and leave our offerings. We also got the blessing from the priest: holy water and some rice on our head, forehead and throat.

It was incredible because it is very rare that visitors have access to the most authentic spiritual aspects of Bali with the locals. Like when I went to the Kerambitan Palace, I felt very fortunate that I was able to experience such a moment.

During this weekend so many people opened their homes, farms and hearts to us, we felt strong connections most of the foreigners miss when in Bali. But what I think was the most important aspect was that I opened my eyes on the reality of the island. I realized that there can be no development without tourism, but it is also vital to respect and maintain those ancient values that made this place so special. The Five Pillar Foundation has a very important role in building this bridge between local and international and making a sustainable development possible.

To learn more about the Five Pillar Foundation and their activities or if you wish to support them, visit their website.

Funny facts that make you realize you settled in a new location

settle in

 

Starting in a new location is always hard and requires some time, as you can read in my past post. But after a while, you will finally realize you settled in your new place. I think there are some recurring funny facts that show you have found a new home away from home. I found 5 of those signs, do you know more?

 

You are actually using the local language more than you thought

The first signal that you settled in your new place comes from the language. If you speak the local one, you will one day find yourself thinking or dreaming in it. The first time it happens makes you feel really powerful and ready to rule the world. If you don’t speak it, you will still pick some expressions and start using them. And the same for your friends, so you almost create a new language with those few words you know.

When I arrived in Chile I hadn’t being practicing Spanish for several years. So, honestly, at first I was very shy showing my language skills and I felt like if I had forgotten everything. It was also quite hard to understand the people because I had studied in Spain and the accent in Chile is very different. But I still remember the morning when I woke up and found myself thinking in Chilean. I also realized this is how I had dreamt that night. It was a great confidence boost and from that point I started speaking only Spanish to all the South Americans.

 

When in Rome…

You know you now feel at home in a new place when after a certain time, you find yourself acting like the locals. Without even noticing it, something that looked so impossible and far from you, becomes usual and normal. You will just find yourself doing it. This feels weird but in a positive way, as you basically overcame your own limitation.

I learned to ride a scooter here in Bali. At first I was really scared: the traffic is bad, the rules are different, the drivers are crazy and the riders are so reckless. I thought I would only go very slow and respect all the rules like if I was in Europe. But this was only for the first days. It didn’t take me too long to realize I needed to do like the locals in order to survive. So, I now zigzag between the cars and go even on the pavement. Sorry mum, I know you don’t want to hear this!

 

settle in

Sooner or later, you will try to cook local food

After a couple of months in a place, you have adjusted to so many things, that you almost feel like a local. So, you think you are ready to cook some local food. It’s the ultimate sign that you are not a visitor anymore. Unless your friend’s grandmother taught you the tricks of their cuisine, your experiments will miserably fail. No matter how hard you try and how much effort you put, there will always be a little secret you need to know to make it really authentic.

When I was in Miami for my semester abroad, I had friends from all over the world. We wanted to celebrate Thanks Giving with a traditional dinner, since no one had family there. We decided it would be at a friend’s place and we all prepared something. The host was in charge of the turkey, of course, and I helped her because I love cooking. Neither of us had ever made a roasted turkey nor saw anyone doing it, but we thought we would just follow the recipe. Despite our really hard work, the outcome was not as good as expected: it was so dry we could barely eat it…

 

You buy something local at the supermarket that is actually not what you expected

In the first weeks when you are in a new place, you would go to the supermarket and buy food and brands you know. At least when you eat at home, you want to have something that makes you feel comfortable. But once you feel settled you think it’s time for you to try something new. You walk out the grocery store feeling really cool and can’t wait to try that local food that looked so amazing. What usually happens when you try it, is that you realize you bought something completely different and that what seemed like a dessert, is actually something more similar to a sausage roll…

I wanted to buy very simple crackers here in Bali. I don’t speak Bahasa and found a package that had a writing and a picture that made me think it contained wholegrain crackers. So, I got home, prepared a guacamole and was very happy to eat it with my crackers. Too bad they were cookies with a mix of sugar and some spice on them. Definitely not the best match for my dip! Lesson learned: always translate the writing on a package of a brand you don’t know.  No matter how settled in a culture you feel, you’re still a foreigner who doesn’t know everything.

 

The way you dress changes

When you feel at home in a new location, you also realize the way you dress has changed. According to your packing style, you brought fewer or more of the cloths you would usually wear, but every place has a different unofficial dress code. It doesn’t mean you will completely change your wardrobe, you will just adapt it to where you leave.

For Italian people, for instance, flip flops are just for the beach. You don’t wear them in a city and you especially don’t wear them at work. And I nestle thought I would never use them anywhere else. However, here in Bali everybody wears them all the time. Also, the co-working space I work from, is by the beach and I really like walking there when I take a break. The first days I used my nice shoes and sandals, but they turned out not to be the best option for sandy feet. Plus, the wet season is approaching and it’s raining very heavily almost every day. So, I felt defeated and started using flip flops to go to work. At my biggest surprise. I think this is the sign that I really settled in. When in Rome…

8 networking tips for digital nomads

networking tips

 

A large international network is vital for a digital nomad or freelancer, like I said in my video. Especially when you are new in a place, one of the first things you should do is meet new people. I personally find it very natural and easy, but I know for others it’s hard to approach strangers. It’s a matter of personality, confidence and experience. However, we all have to overcome our fears and do what will help us progress in life, as well as in our career.

So, this is why I am sharing my 8 networking tips that will work in any situation.

Be yourself

I think the ABC of networking tips is to be yourself. Don’t try to play a role that you think others will like because you will sound fake, weird and unpleasant. I am 100% me when I meet new people, even in business situations because I think at the end of the day what they will remember is the energy I was able to vehicle. And I can tell you, it pays off: people always say that what they like about me is that I sound very genuine, which makes it easy to be around me. If you say something just to impress, you’ll sound artificial and you won’t get to your goal. On the other hand, if you share your true passion, people will feel it and what you say will be way more memorable. A dance teacher once taught me “it’s never what you do, it’s how you do it” and this is something I apply to any situation in life. Also when meeting new people.

Don’t have an agenda

When you are in a situation that might be good for network building, it’s good to set some goals such as approach 5 people. However, don’t have an agenda when you talk. There is nothing worse than sounding desperately in need of someone’s attention and help. People around you will feel uncomfortable and will want to talk someone else. They might even avoid you during the entire event. I also don’t recommend to handle your business card right away or ask to exchange them. Especially if it you are talking to an influential person. It would look like if you had an agenda and nobody likes to be taken advantage of. Wait until you had a stimulating conversation and it will become natural. Always remember that if the aim of your conversation is to know the people without asking anything in return, you will have a more pleasant chat that will more likely lead to something useful. And this brings us to the next point

Try to help people rather than asking something from them

When you talk to people, listen carefully to what they say. Ask questions, show interest in what they say and try to find how you can help them. Maybe you can connect them with someone who might be useful for them or you can suggest a book. They will appreciate your empathy and effort regardless and automatically like you. They will also be keener to help you and connect with you. To me business relationships are like any personal relationship: you get what you give. This is why I always treat them as such.

Be open to people and never assume anything

Great networking situations can come out of the blue anywhere, if you are open to them. For instance, I made a great contact on my way to Bali, and it was not the first time that I expanded my network on the plane. How do I do that? I try to be friendly and talk to people, starting with a small talk, which sometimes turns into an amazing conversation. I also tend not to assume anything based on people’s appearance or role. You can never know who the person sitting next to you is, what they are doing, what they are looking for and who they know. Trying doesn’t hurt. But, of course, it only works if they are keen to having a conversation. Don’t be the annoying person forcing a conversation.

Smile

Sometimes we are very concerned about our appearance, what people might think about us etc. that we forget the basics: look genuinely nice. In a networking event, there is nothing more inviting than an authentic smile. Smiling also releases tensions from our nerves, making us look calmer and more at ease. So, smile before you enter the room and, especially, when you start a conversation. With a positive attitude people will be more comfortable around you and therefore, keener to chat with you. We all feel more attracted to a happy and calm person than to someone in a negative mood. So, if you had a bad day, leave it at the entrance and walk to the event with confidence. You have the power to turn it into a success.

Always remember a personal detail from the ones you talked to

When you are having a conversation, the person you are talking to will naturally mention something personal. For instance, that they can’t make it to the next networking event because their mother has a surgery on that day. When the conversation goes to a more personal level, you will become a little closer. This is a great opportunity you should take advantage of. Try to remember or write down that personal detail, because it can make the difference when you mention it in your follow up. Of course, don’t be pushy or intrusive. The person will appreciate your genuine interest and be keener to talk to you again or maybe help you.

Show up early and go to the buffet or bar

Especially when you are new in a place or you are planning to become a freelancer, you need more contacts and, therefore, you have to go to any possible event that will help you expand your network. Even for the most extroverted person it is not always easy to approach strangers, especially if they are already talking in groups. This is why I would recommend to show up early. It is very likely that you will spot somebody who is looking around hoping for someone to talk to them. I always tell myself to be the bigger person and break the ice. If you find it really hard, go to the buffet or bar and stand around them. I think it’s the best place to position yourself because it’s where everybody will eventually go. On the other hand, food or drinks are the perfect excuse to start a good conversation.

Follow up

If you had pleasant and interesting conversations with the people at the event, you will have naturally exchanged some business cards or contacts. I personally like to follow up with all the people I talked to. If we discussed something in particular, I would mention it in my message, to make it easier for the person to remember me. I also try to include the little personal detail they shared with me. But, most of all, if I said I would have connected the person to someone, I do it. I give myself 24 hours, but tend to do it right after the event. Sending an email only takes a couple of minutes, but it can make the difference. I think that especially if you are young and at the beginning of your career, you should be the one taking the first step. Never assume others would do it. Especially if you talked to a very influential person, have the courage to respectfully get in touch with them, they will always appreciate it. You might even impress them.

Now to you, what do you do in networking events? How do you expand your network? Leave a comment, would love to hear from you!

5 reasons why millennials decide to become a digital nomad

Digital nomad lifestyle

Are you a millennial wanting to become a digital nomad but you’re afraid of taking that risk? I talk to many people who want to take that step but don’t know how. For me it was something that I just did, for life circumstances and because I felt it, as you can see in my post on my story. I can’t really give you a way, but I know that first of all you need a very strong motivation. Leaving your comfort zone and having this life style is not easy nor for everyone. You will do it only if you are ready to do it.

What I also recommend is to have a plan. Whatever motivation you have, you can’t just give up everything without having an idea of what you will do in your new life.

I found 5 reasons why people make this choice, based on my experience. Every story is different, though, you might find yourself in more than one category. So, have fun placing yourself!

The Indiana Jones type: travel the world while working

become a digital nomad

I think one of the best thigs in life is being able to see places and discover the world. I know I’m not the only one thinking this way: research actually shows that millennial prefer experience over stuff. But here’s the problem. If you have a traditional job you have to wait for your annual leave to be able to travel where and how you want. If you work remotely, on the other hand, you can explore while being productive and, most of all, you can stay longer in the different locations to know and enjoy the local vibe. So, this need for adventure is what motivates the Indiana Jones type to become a digital nomad.

Some people choose just one location to stay there several months or years. I am in this category because I like being stable for a while and being able to really settle in the local culture. Of course, I travel to places nearby for a short time, but I then like to come back to my temporary home. Some fellow nomads, on the other hand, are on the move all the time. They stay just a couple of weeks in every place before moving on to the next one. Of course, they get to see more.

The Jerry Maguire personality: quit your job and find the courage to be freer

become a digital nomad

I don’t know about you, but I have many friends who are bored of their office life and want something more adventurous. I actually started reading about a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly popular among millennials: give up a traditional job, maybe even a pay rise, to be able to better manage their time and life. Millennials want to be free from schedules and from those working hours they perceive as limiting for their creativity and potential. Some people see it as an arrogant laziness, but research shows that it is just a different way to pursue career goals.

So if you are the Jerry Maguire type, you’ll find the courage to be free from those restrictions. However, society does not always accept this craving for flexibility and you’ll have to go against what people you admire and care about say. This happened to me with one of my biggest mentors when I decide to quit my job in London and go to Chile. It was really hard to disappoint him, but I also know I will proof him I am right. I am choosing the lifestyle I want and suits me.

Love story type: Cutting long distance in love relationships

become a digital nomad

The Love Story type is the one who is willing to go against all odds for love. In a world where distances become shorter, it is likely that you find your significant other in a different country or even continent. It can be an amazing experience on one hand, but on the other a long-distance relationship is hard. So, leaving everything to be with the person you love, is a very strong motivation.

Certain couples end up working remotely and travelling the world together. They definitely become a stronger team, even if they both have their own jobs. It will also be much easier for them to overcome the difficulties of starting in a new place. Of course, not everybody is willing to give up their lives to follow their hearts. I also know some situations where a digital nomad moved and settled in the partner’s country. This was possible thanks to the flexible schedule, but this was also the reason to end a nomad life.

Change life in order to accomplish something: The pursuit of happiness

become a digital nomad

I met many people who, at a certain point, need to change life in order to accomplish something. They don’t want to keep working for someone else’s dream but build something that belongs to them. I found 2 main reasons why they would not create their project in their home country:  cutting costs and educate themselves. Certain countries have quite high costs of living, but if you are creating a new business, you need to cut wherever possible. Moving to a cheaper location becomes a necessity, as well as a nice experience. Some people also want to learn and get inspirations from the working culture of a certain place. For instance, every person in tech dreams to end up in the Silicon Valley for at least a couple of months and absorb as much as possible.

Startup founders sometimes move to different locations because they are taking part to acceleration programs, where they get funding and mentorship. I was able to observe this phenomenon in Chile. For them, the company is their priority. So, it’s not them taking the business to the new place, it’s them chasing what’s best for their project. They are the Pursuit of Happiness type, and they’ll do anything to succeed.

Eat Pray Love: reflect on the past to change your future

become a digital nomad

When you live around the world, sometimes you meet people looking to find themselves, like in the movie Eat, Pray Love. They are typically from Western countries and just left or are still in a complicated situation, be it at work or in their personal sphere. So, they decide to take a break and move to a place where they can connect to their inner self and give meaning to what they do. As Bali is one of their favourite spots, I got the opportunity to talk to some of them.

Those people are looking back and reflecting on past decisions in order to make better choices. Society has given them a role that does not resonate with who they really are; so, they venture on this journey in order not to follow conventional norms. They usually have an online business to sustain themselves, but work has nothing to do with what they are really pursuing. I personally find their stories very inspiring, something you can learn from.

 

What do you think is your strongest motivation to become a digital nomad? If you already are one, what made you take this step?

Why starting a new life where you don’t know anyone will make you a better person

starting a new life

I just arrived in Bali and, for the fifth time in the past five years, I’m starting a new life. You would say that I have some experience, but I can tell you, it’s hard and scary every single time. On top of that, I’m completely alone.

It was the same when I moved to Miami and New York, and they turned out to be among the greatest experiences of my life… So, I’m ready for this new challenge.

Starting over in a place where you don’t know anyone has actually a lot of advantages. It is a priceless experience that will make you become a better person!

You can be yourself 100%

I think the greatest advantage of starting a new life where you don’t know anyone is that you can be yourself. You don’t need to wear your social mask because people around you don’t’ expect anything from you. As much as you don’t do it from them either.

You can sort of reset your past and move on. No-one knows about your mistakes nor embarrassing moments. You are a blank page you need to write. And the main character is going to be your true self.

You are forced to go out and meet people.

Unless you want to be lonely all the time, you have to make the effort. Being lazy on the couch is not an option plus you are excited to see the new place and all its cool offerings.

Honestly, it’s easier to start with other foreigners. As you might share the same feelings and experiences, you understand each other better. If you are both new, you’ll have found a great buddy to explore and do as much as you can. So, try and find out where the expats hang out. If you are a digital nomad it’s really easy, just go to a co-working space and talk to the people.

I tend not to stick with Italians too much because I like having friends from around the world. After all, if I wanted to be among Italians, I could have stayed in Milan, which would also have been much easier. So, I suggest to try to be with different people from different backgrounds.

Once you feel comfortable and settled, go to the locals. You won’t have the full experience of a place if you don’t’ mingle with the locals. How do you meet them? Usually the best place is work. When I was in London, I was one of the few foreigners of the office, so I mingled with my colleagues. Here in Bali I started with the driver that picked me up at the airport. I asked questions to understand the culture and also learnt a few expressions in Bahasa Indonesia. I also talked with staff from my hotel and the manager became my first friend.

Wherever you are, be creative and just talk to as many people as possible.

You will learn a lot about yourself

I used to be very shy and barely talk to strangers. And I thought this was an aspect of my personality that would never change. But guess what? Living around the world made me realize I was wrong.

New York was definitely a great place for that: people would approach me on the street for whatever reason, I made friends on the train or with the person sitting at the restaurant table next to me. I loved it and became like this.

When you are new in a place you’ll spend some time by yourself. I recommend to express all your thoughts and feelings in a diary. Even therapists say it’s beneficial!

I do it every time and read those pages months or even years later. It’s so interesting! I look back and see how much I’ve changed. And I often realize that what seemed a huge deal at that time turned out to be the best opportunity ever.

You become more tolerant.

Let’s face it, being alone in a new environment is damn hard! You have to make all the efforts and most of the times you don’t understand some behaviours. What looks normal to you is considered weird or maybe even rude in this new country and vice versa.

You get upset when people don’t understand you, are arrogant and impatient. After all, no matter how good you speak the local language, you are still a foreigner. You will also meet some great people that will guide you in this new culture, teach you some slang and give you some tips to survive. That’s just life, some people are open and some are not.

When you have been in these situations, you realize that in the past you might have been the arrogant one with people in need. I can tell you, next time you’ll become a lot more tolerant and nice. You’ll actually become the helpful person. Being alone in a new country has the power to make you better!

You can make new amazing friends

I think this is probably the best part of being alone in a new country. As you are forced to meet people, be nice to them and make the extra effort, there’s a big chance that you’ll make new amazing friends.

As a result of living around the world, I can say I know people almost everywhere and from anywhere. I have some very special ones from home, but I also have good friends from all my adventures.

What I observed is that sharing an experience will make relationships stronger faster. Even if you move on to a new place, the friends you previously met will usually stay, along with the amazing memories. It’s sort of an unbreakable bond and when you meet again, it will look like you haven’t seen each other for 10 minutes.

Sometimes you’ll realize that you get along better with fellow nomads than people from home. They understand you better and their personality is more similar to yours. This is normal. But this doesn’t mean you’ll lose your childhood friends. You just have to make the effort to involve them in your new life, keep in touch, tell them how you feel and how happy you are to be with them when you’re back. It’s not too hard nowadays, technology is on your side!

 

Starting in a new place where you don’t know anybody is hard, no doubt. Sometimes you are sad, lonely and wish you were in your comfort zone. But you just need to give yourself time to adapt and you’ll have the time of your life.

I listed a few reasons why I think that starting a new life alone is better. This is my personal opinion that I formed through my experience. But I wanna know about you. How do you prefer to travel/move to a new place?

Your life in a suitcase: 4 ideas on how to pack when moving to a new country

how to pack when moving

 

Packing is a big part of a digital nomad’s life, the most annoying one for me. I’m about to move to Bali and here I go again: I have everything in my head but just hate putting it into the suitcase and will wait to do it last minute.

Talking to some fellows digital nomads I found out that everyone has their own ideas on how to pack when moving to a new country.

I could divide them into 4 categories. Have fun placing yourself.

You never know

how to pack when moving

I used to be in this category but had to find a more efficient way. I need to be able to carry everything myself in case there is no trolley or I don’t have the right currency to pay for it.

People in this category have a lot of stuff and want to take as much as they can in more than 2 checked bags. They also leave a lot behind, usually at their parents’ place. Don’t assume it’s just girls, I know a couple of guys who take more than I do…

When they pack they’d typically say: “you never know” to sort of feel better for how much they’re taking. At the airport they need someone to help them carrying all their luggage.

The good thing is: they have the perfectly matching shoes for every outfit. The downside: they might end up paying a lot for extra luggage or overweight.

The delegators

how to pack when moving

Similar to the “you never know”, people in this category are actually very smart. They travel with a small bag, but ship the rest from home.

They have all the advantages of bringing everything, but don’t need a sherpa at the airport. Plus, cargo shipping is cheaper than getting extra luggage or paying for overweight.

The downside: they need to have an address in the new country where to ship everything.

They also have to pack some days in advance in order to get their stuff as soon as they are there.

Less is more

how to pack when moving

At the other opposite you have the minimal and super efficient ones. I honestly admire those people for how organized and simple they live.

They say that everything important they have can fit in a suitcase. They would typically buy the rest and sell it when they have to move.

Another aspect I find very interesting is that they don’t leave anything at their parents’ or someone else’s place. They have already sold or given away what they had before becoming digital nomads and just don’t have more stuff.

Besides being able to travel lighter, the other big advantage is that they take only the many things which are most meaningful. When you accumulate a lot of stuff, it’s much harder to care about the few wonderful things you want to keep around. That’s not a problem for the minimalist traveller.

The downside: what if the ambassador of their country invites them for a gala at the embassy and they don’t have proper cloths? They’d actually answer: “I don’t get those type of invitations that often, in case I’ll improvise”.  

The golden mean

how to pack when moving

It took me years but I finally found my ultimate packing style: take the most you can but optimize it for a solo traveller. I would say this is somewhere in between the 2 extremes.

Even though I live around the world, I love my stuff and especially my clothes and shoes. I don’t wanna be in the situation where I am wearing an outfit that would match that specific shoes and realize I don’t have them with me. I know, you can buy everything everywhere but you still wanna use what you want when you want.

So, I take the most I can and put it in one huge suitcase. This is super efficient for a person travelling solo. After all I only have 2 hands…

The downside? The big suitcase is always overweight. And the same scene repeats over and over again: I put the bag on the check-in scale and the employee at the counter usually looks at me and feeling very sorry says: “Miss, I’m afraid it’s too heavy”. And I smile and answer: “ I know, but I had no other option” and pay, actually happy that they would still accept it on the plane.  

 

Could you find yourself? Tag your nomad friends and let me know what is your secret on how to pack when moving to a new country!

 

I don't want realism, I want magic: how I became a digital nomad

Digital Nomad

 

It all started in August 2013, I was on the plane flying to the States for my semester abroad at the University of Miami. I just wanted to leave for a few months, come back to Italy, graduate, get a job and have a calm adult life in Milan. Like everybody else. But there was this feeling. Watching out of the window I told myself it was the last time I was seeing Italy with the same eyes.  I somehow knew the same Anna would never come back because this experience would make me a completely new person.

“I don’t want realism, I want magic”

And this is exactly what happened. A few days at an American university, and I opened my eyes. I started meeting people from all over the world, with completely different backgrounds from mine. And I felt so at home with them in such an environment.

On my way to school I passed by a construction site every day. On its fence there was written “I don’t want realism, I want magic”. It might sound very naive but I thought that sentence promoted a positive attitude I really liked and reflected what I was living at the time.

It didn’t take me too long to decide that after the semester abroad I would do an internship in New York. So, counting on my own strengths and little network, I got what I wanted and extended my stay.

Big city girl

New York is the capital of the world to me and my favorite city of all. It plays a very important role in my story because it is where I really felt I belonged. Its energy, vibes and the friendly people who would approach me on the street, on the train, in a restaurant just to chat for a while caught me immediately. I loved it! When I first arrived there I knew very few people and started to go out alone, even at night. I met people and made many amazing friends. Again, they were coming from everywhere and I absolutely adored it.

Being in New York and walking in New York are among  my favorite feelings in the world. When I was there for the internship I thought I found my home. So, after I got back to Italy for a few months to graduate, I left for the Big Apple again. This time I was on a mission: get a visa sponsorship to fulfill my dream to live there. I got it after a few weeks and I was really happy to start a training in a leading art pr agency in January 2015.

Life does not always happen as we expect and, after 9 months in this position, I realized it would have been very hard for me to find a sponsorship for a work visa. I had to take the hardest decision of my life: find a job elsewhere. The day I accepted a position in another top art pr agency in London I had to buy a one way ticket from New York to Europe. It took me 1 hour and many many tears. I just couldn’t leave.

I left a part of me in the Big Apple and I still love it beyond anything else. But I went on and started a new life in London. Any city after New York would have been hard and incomparable to me. I wasn’t satisfied with my life, my job and the place I was living in.

But life surprised me again and, this time, for the best. After almost a year in London, a friend of mine  asked if I wanted to join her in Chile, where her startup got into an acceleration program called StartUp Chile. I didn’t hesitate for a minute, quit my job and embarked on this life-changing experience.

My time in Chile or the world is my home

Working in a startup in Santiago de Chile was something new, and so exciting. I absolutely loved it. I was in a community of creative, smart and international people and felt so welcome. For once, everybody was living around the world, fulfilling their intrepreneurial dream. I wasn’t the crazy one, I was like the majority.

The startup mentality and environment were also really appealing. I was mainly doing digital marketing, putting into practice what I learnt in a very interesting online course I started during my time in London. I also felt a sort of entrepreneurial need myself.

It’s in my time in Santiago that I became acquainted with the “digital nomads” and everything made sense. I found myself there, with those likeminded people. It was a sort of epiphany: I realized I was becoming a digital nomad but didn’t know it before.

A digital nomad

Life circumstances made me come back to Italy after almost 6 months in Santiago. I felt a little lost in my hometown after almost 4 years around the world. What I missed the most was my international community. If you live far away, you’ll naturally lose some of your friends at home and the ones who stay do obviously have their busy lives.

After the first hard weeks, I got my life back together and started working on my goal to live as a digital nomad. I got my first digital marketing clients and begun to work for them. I knew my time in Italy was limited and decided that at the end of summer I would go to Bali. What attracts me are the digital nomad community and the yoga scene, because spirituality is also a very important component of how I live my life.

And here I am, about to embark on this new adventure…

Wish me luck!

 

Music is one of the global languages we all understand and relate to. We all have songs that remind us of certain times and situations. So I decided to add a song that makes sense to me to every post. For this first post I choose Wake Me Up by Avicii, first of all because it was popular during my semester abroad, and because the lyrics somehow reflect my life.

Listen to it! Doesn’t it talk about the digital nomads?