However, there is always a conundrum when people ask what Ian & I do when abroad. Ian's job teaching 2-10 year-olds English is pretty easy to understand.Trying to explain that I write travel guides, however, usually results in confusion. "Oh wow! So you get to go to all of these places?"
No, no, sadly no. These guides are simply the work of a lot of research and re-writing my friends. The company I work for, EasyExpat.com (plug plug), has me write behemoth guides to help the enterprising expat, like us, move abroad. This means about 50 small articles covering how to set-up electricity, shopping, and customs (plane/cultural). I have started to preface my job description with "I write travel guides...no, not the fun kind."
BUT I really do enjoy it. Do you know the similarities between scams pulled by the Brazilian and Mexican police? How the US visa situation actually works? How to buy a metro ticket in Auckland? Ok - I don't remember any of that stuff now, but I do remember it was pretty darn interesting when I was researching.
Currently, my city is Oslo. And while it doesn't have the drug cartels and samba of Brazil (my last guide), it is kinda quietly awesome. Besides the peace prize, no crime and lavish tax system, they have a pretty kickass film festival. I have been hearing from film critics about this unbelievable film scene and it appears the rumors are true. Even movies that should be awful ("Dead Snow" has zombie Nazis awoken to kill again) seem enchanting.
I am taking this as the minor victory that it is. Ian and I are alive (yea!) and employed in Berlin.
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