#;; and then i have . . . four hour onsite with a different company later this week . . . and it's bleeding into two days with another hour

[kaerinio]

crawls in from three hours of back-to-back interviewing for my virtual onsite. IT'S GOING WELL! but ya girl is tired, and i still have one more interview to go. i'll be around tonight to work on things and chat and scream!

[charllieeldridge]

Taking A Bridge TEFL Course: The Complete Guide

When I talk to other people who teach English as a foreign language, it’s pretty clear that Bridge TEFL is one of the top TEFL certification programs.

Everyone seems to rave about them, and after researching their TEFL course offerings in-depth to create this post, I understand why. 

I teach English online and am very glad I took an online TEFL course to help my chances of securing a job. Not only that, but it helped me understand how a classroom runs, how to plan a lesson, and enabled me to earn an income from anywhere in the world. 

If you’re looking for a company with a variety of in-person and online course offerings with high student reviews and robust job opportunities, Bridge TEFL might be the best fit for you. 

This guide will cover everything you need to know about the Bridge TEFL certification program.

Why Would Someone Need A TEFL?

A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certification will allow you to teach abroad or teach English online for most companies. If you hope to travel while teaching in some capacity, getting TEFL certified is a smart idea. 

As you explore the Bridge TEFL website, you might notice some other acronyms used to describe courses, like IDELT, CELTA, and TESOL.

While these are all similar programs that prepare you to teach English abroad, there are a few differences. 

TEFL (Teaching English As A Foreign Language) – This certification will allow you to teach English to students in a foreign country, either abroad or online. This is one of the most common foreign teaching certifications. 

TESOL (Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages) – Like the TEFL, a TESOL certification will allow you to teach English to students in a foreign country. The difference is that you can also teach foreign-language speakers who are in a native English speaking country. 

CELTA (Certificate In Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages) – This course is similar to the courses above except that it was created by Cambridge University. CELTA courses are sometimes perceived as more prestigious, and the price tag usually reflects this.

While there are a lot of companies that offer TEFL and TESOL certifications, the CELTA is more standardized since it follows the Cambridge University curriculum. 

IDELT (International Diploma In English Language Teaching) – This prestigious certification was developed by the Bridge company with their partner school, the Metropolitan State University of Denver. Once completed, you’ll receive a certificate from the university and Bridge to add to your resume. 

Why Choose Bridge TEFL?

Bridge TEFL is accredited by both ACCET and ACE CREDIT. They offer a wide variety of in-person and online courses, as well as specialty courses that can take your teaching to the next level.

Bridge TEFL has a long history (over thirty years!) of training teachers, so you know you’ll be in good hands.

They also are the creators of the IDELT certification, which is perfect for those who want to go above and beyond a standard TEFL certification.

The Cost of Bridge TEFL

The cost of Bridge TEFL courses varies depending on the number of hours and the type of class.

In-person, higher hour courses will cost you more than the shorter online courses, but remember that you’ll need at least a 120-hour certification to qualify for most jobs abroad. 

These are the current prices for Bridge TEFL courses. 

For the month of May, many of the courses listed below are offered at a discounted price.

Cost of Bridge TEFL Online Courses:

40-hour Basic Certificate: $210 USD Now: $153

60-hour Educator Certificate: $320 USD Now: $235

100-hour Professional Certificate: $420 USD Now: $307

120-hour Master Certificate: $497 USD Now: $390

150-hour IDELT Online: $995 USD

Cost of Bridge TEFL Classroom and Blended Courses

140-Hour IDELT Certificate: $1995 USD

Cambridge CELTA: $2495 USD

Cost of Bridge TEFL Speciality Courses

In addition to the internationally recognized online and in-person courses listed above, Bridge TEFL also offers several specialty courses.

These courses offer a closer study of specific teaching strategies and styles, such as teaching English online and teaching English grammar. 

The Bridge TEFL specialty courses start from $110 USD.

click here to learn more about bridge tefl course costs

Types Of Bridge TEFL Courses

With Bridge TEFL, you get many options for the types of courses you can take. 

1. Bridge TEFL Online Courses

Bridge TEFL offers several attractive online courses. Students can choose between widely recognized international certificates and more basic foundational certificates. 

Online Bridge TEFL course offerings include: 

40-hour Basic Certificate

60-hour Educator Certificate

100-hour Professional Certificate

120-hour Master Certificate

150-hour IDELT Online *Recommended*

180-hour Teaching English Online Certification 

If you’re serious about teaching TEFL abroad or online, you should opt for a certificate with at least 120 hours of coursework. Otherwise, you might find yourself unqualified for more competitive teaching jobs abroad.

click here to learn more about bridge TEFL online courses

2. The 150-Hour IDELT Online Course

The 150-hour IDELT Online course is a unique course to Bridge TEFL and a great option for driven teachers. This course is fully online and lasts for 12 weeks.

Even though it’s conducted remotely, students will follow along with an instructor and complete assignments on a schedule. This course is not self-paced, though you will have more flexibility than you would with an in-person course. 

In this online course, you’ll cover: 

The foundations of teaching and instruction

Teaching methods and effective instruction for a multicultural classroom

Lesson planning

Teaching speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation

Teacher professional development

Because the IDELT course is taught with a rigorous curriculum by high-level professors, students can actually use this course for graduate-level credits if they choose to do so.

Bridge TEFL has a partnership with several online graduate programs that accept the IDELT course as six university credits. This can save you time and money if you decide to advance your teaching credentials at a later time. 

click here to learn more about the idelt online course

3. Bridge TEFL In-Person Courses

There are two main in-person courses offered by Bridge TEFL: The Bridge IDELT and the CELTA.

140-Hour Bridge IDELT International Diploma in English Language Teaching

You can take the Bridge IDELT in-person course in Denver, Colorado; Santiago, Chile; or Buenos Aires, Argentina. During this course, you’ll receive 140 hours of classroom and practical training in how to be an English teacher. 

If you’ve dreamed of studying while exploring the Rocky Mountains, getting your IDELT certification in Denver, Colorado might be a great fit!

With small class sizes and several hours of practice teaching with real students, this four-week course leaves students feeling prepared for the classroom and ready to take on the world. 

If buzzing Buenos Aires is more your style, you can also choose to get your certification while living in the heart of the city.

Small group IDELT courses take place in the city center, and students have the option to live with a homestay host or in a nearby hotel or hostel. 

Students can also choose to get certified in sunny Santiago, Chile. This four-week program allows students to study, teach, and explore on the weekends.

Like with the Buenos Aires course, students have the choice to live in a homestay arrangement or in a hotel or hostel nearby. 

120-Hour Cambridge CELTA Course

Another in-person course option available through Bridge TEFL is the 120-hour Cambridge CELTA Course. The course lasts four weeks and while it’s rigorous, you’ll leave with advanced certification and hands-on experience. 

CELTA courses are offered by Bridge TEFL at their training center in downtown Denver, Colorado. 

4. Specialty Courses

Online specialty courses range from 20-hours to 60-hours. These specialty course add-ons cover information such as:

Teaching young learners

Teaching teenagers

Business English

English grammar

Designing your own courses

Teaching practicum experience

Bridge TEFL also has specialty courses focused on Teaching English Online. Students can take a 60-Hour Foundations in Online Teaching course, a 60-Hour Advanced Online Teaching course, or both!

If students take both courses, they will leave with a 120-Hour TEFL Certification that will make them prepared for the online ESL teaching market. 

Students can also take a 180-Hour Teaching English Online certification that includes a practical teaching component. Specialty courses start at $110.

click here to learn more about the specialty certificates

Pros and Cons of Bridge TEFL

As with anything, there are both pros and cons to the Bridge TEFL certifications. 

Bridge TEFL Highlights

Bridge TEFL offers a well-organized and professional curriculum. Plus, they’re highly recognized as one of the top TEFL companies, having been around since 1986.

Students in online classes have access to the Tutor Feed, which allows you to chat with a tutor. This tutor will also give you feedback on your assignments and projects, allowing you to improve as a teacher.

Students in the onsite courses have the guidance of an experienced teacher as well. 

The online platform is sleek, easy to navigate, and is available on any device. Click here to see a preview.

If you choose to take one of the Bridge TEFL IDELT courses (either online or in-person), you might be able to earn graduate university credit for your studies — which is a huge bonus.

Because the IDELT courses are accredited by the ACCET, they can be considered for 6 hours of elective or practicum credit at over 1,500 universities. 

Finally, students can download a copy of their certification immediately after finishing the course.

This is great if you want to start job hunting straight away. Bridge TEFL also sends students a hard-copy of their certification in the mail with official stamps and seals. 

Bridge TEFL Downsides

While this could be seen as a positive or a negative, Bridge TEFL offers a huge variety of courses on its website.

For someone new to the online teaching world, it can be overwhelming to choose between all the different acronyms, course durations, and specialty course ad-on options.  

If you decide to take the Bridge TEFL IDELT online course, be aware that it is not self-paced like many other online TEFL courses.

Depending on your learning style, the structure might be a good thing for you. But it means that you will have a set schedule of activities, assignments, and coursework you’ll need to keep up with for the duration of your course. 

Bridge TEFL Courses also come at a higher price tag than some other TEFL courses, but you’ll definitely be receiving an exceptional education.

What Else Does Bridge TEFL Offer?

Apart from great in-person and online TEFL courses, you’ll find these programs and assistance as well.  

1. Free Learning Resources

The Bridge TEFL website is a rich resource for people who want to teach abroad or online.

They include guides for finding jobs abroad and extensive how-to manuals for teaching online. They also have an active alumni blog where you can read about real teaching experiences. 

2. Practicum Add-On

Bridge TEFL offers a Guided TEFL Teaching Practicum as an optional course add on. This 20-hour hands-on practice experience includes online preparation and tutoring, classroom observations, and practice in a real English classroom. 

This additional practice could help make your application stand out to future employers and make you feel more confident as you prepare for your first English teaching job. 

3. Job Placement Assistance

Courses also include job placement assistance and the ability to communicate with a job search advisor. Students will receive a lifetime of access to the Bridge TEFL Jobs Board as well. 

4. TEFL Internship Programs

If you’d like to take your TEFL education to the next level, you can do that with a Bridge TEFL internship.

Most of these bundled Bridge TEFL internships include your TEFL certification, job placement, housing, visa help, travel insurance, a teaching salary or stipend, and much more!

If you choose to participate in an internship, you’ll have help from Bridge TEFL every step of the way. You’ll either take your TEFL course online before leaving for your placement, or you’ll complete it onsite when you arrive.  

This internship program is perfect for aspiring teachers who don’t have any experience in the classroom.

It can be daunting to get certified and try to find a job in a foreign country all alone, but with the internship, Bridge TEFL takes care of all the heavy lifting so you can focus on teaching.

The following TEFL internships are offered:

Chile: Get TEFL Certified in-person when you arrive and interview for jobs once you’re in the country. The program costs $2995 USD (including the TEFL certification course and the job placement assistance) and participants can expect to make $500-$1200 USD per month.

To qualify for the Chile internship, teachers must be a native or near-native English speaker. A bachelor’s degree in any field is preferred, but not required. 

China: Complete your TEFL certification online before arriving and Bridge TEFL will arrange your job before you go. The course and job placement assistance cost $497 USD and teachers can expect to make $1500 – $2000 USD per month. 

To teach in China through this internship, you’ll need to be an English speaker from a native English speaking country. You must be between the ages of 23 – 55 with a clean background check and a bachelor’s degree in any field.

Thailand: Students in the Thailand internship will do their TEFL course online and have their job arranged for them before arrival. This program costs $1800 – $1900 USD and it includes the course, job assistance, and accommodation while living in Thailand. Teachers can expect to make around $800 USD per month.

Interns must be native or near-native English speakers from English speaking countries. You’ll also need to have a bachelor’s degree in any field. 

Vietnam: Like the Thailand internship, students interested in teaching in Vietnam will do their TEFL course online and receive a job placement before arriving. The Vietnam program also costs $1800 – $1900 and that includes the online TEFL course, job placement assistance, and accommodation. Teachers make approximately $700 USD per month. 

To qualify for the Vietnam internship, teachers must be between the ages of 20 – 35 with a bachelor’s degree in any field. Applicants must also be native English speakers from English-speaking countries. 

Who Can Take The Bridge TEFL Course?

Bridge TEFL courses are open to students who are proficient in the English language and willing to work hard for a high-quality certification. 

Students must be 18 or older to enroll in the CELTA course and 20 or older to enroll in the Bridge IDELT classroom course.

If you’re not a native English speaker, you must meet the following guidelines to enroll in Bridge TEFL courses:

IDELT, CELTA, or any onsite courses: C2 (Mastery)

IDELT Online course: C1 (Advanced)

Other Bridge TEFL online courses: B1 (Intermediate)

How To Sign Up

You can sign up for your TEFL course by visiting the website here.

Click on “TEFL Certificates” in the top menu to see a list of all the courses available, and Click the link for the course you’re interested in taking.

On each course page, you’ll see a button where you can “Learn More”, which will provide you with more details on the course you’re interested in. 

Once you’ve found the right course to fit your needs and goals, you’ll be on your way to new adventures and opportunities around the world as an English teacher. 

The post Taking A Bridge TEFL Course: The Complete Guide appeared first on Goats On The Road.

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[floraexplorer]

Where to Stay in Svalbard: Longyearbyen’s Best Hotels, Hostels & Camping Spots

Where are the best hotels in Svalbard?

When I decided to spend a week in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, I didn’t think too much about where to stay. Like I do when planning most trips, I just assumed there’d be a lot of places to choose from.

Not so much.

Svalbard sits at the end of the world, and the main settlement of Longyearbyen is officially the world’s northernmost town. It’s not a big place, though. With a population small enough to be outnumbered by the island’s roaming polar bears, there are only a dozen or so accommodation options – which also means that beds up here can get pretty expensive.

After doing some hasty research I chose to lay my head at the cheap and cheerful Gjestehuset 102 hostel for the duration of my stay in Svalbard – but thanks to doing a lot of walking in Longyearbyen, I also managed to investigate plenty of the other Svalbard hotels, guesthouses, hostels and even a couple of campsites.

So if you’re looking for decent places to stay in Longyearbyen, hopefully this article will help you make your choice.

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This article contains affiliate links. Clicking through may result in a small commission at no cost to you, but which helps me with the running of this site.

Accommodation in Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Choosing where to stay in Longyearbyen is one of the biggest potential expenses of your Arctic trip. There are expensive hotels with all the bells and whistles, mid-range guesthouses where quirky design is more of a focus than having a private bathroom, and hostel dorm rooms with bunk beds and communal kitchens.

Alternatively, you can try your luck with Airbnb rentals (sign up here for £25 off your first booking!), or you can even choose a more adventurous sleeping spot and pitch up a tent at the camping grounds close to the airport.

Whatever your budget, there’s an option to suit it – although it’s worth bearing in mind that ‘cheap’ in Svalbard still feels a lot more expensive than elsewhere in the world.

Also an important quirk to remember about life in Svalbard: once you enter any hotel, guesthouse or hostel, you’ll be expected to take off your shoes. This tradition dates back to the old coal mining days where residents wanted to avoid spreading coal dust everywhere; now, you’ll see a big shoe-rack inside virtually every Svalbard business’s doorway. Unlace your boots and get used to wandering around in your socks!

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My top tip? Make sure to book your accommodation in Svalbard as early as possible. Not only will rooms be cheaper, there’s also the possibility that hotels and hostels will sell out months in advance, particularly in the summer.

High-end and luxury hotels in Longyearbyen

Tourists arrive in Svalbard either by air or sea, so the fanciest hotels are right in the centre of Longyearbyen, close to the port. These properties all have restaurants onsite, employ concierges who will happily organise all your tours and activities around the island, and will essentially take very good care of you.

The Radisson Blu Polar Hotel

The only hotel run by an international chain in Svalbard is the Radisson Blue Polar Hotel. A lot of travellers automatically choose the Blu Polar if they’ve already used and enjoyed Radisson hotels elsewhere in the world, and it’s also the base for many of the tour groups passing through Svalbard.

Now, I’ve never stayed at a Radisson (my backpacker budget doesn’t allow for it!) but when I visited the Blu Polar I was happily surprised at its lack of ‘uppity’ attitude. The hotel is stylish and modern, with low slanted roofs, warm ambient lighting and a gorgeous interior. I spent a happy afternoon at the Radisson Blu Polar with some friends from the expedition ship: we sat in the hotel bar watching sports (not my choice!), eating pizza and drinking beer.

Check availability at the Radisson Blu Polar Hotel | Prices start from £134pp 

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The Funken Lodge (formerly the Spitsbergen Hotel)

The Funken Lodge hotel was originally constructed back in 1947 as accommodation for employees at ‘Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani’ (a Norwegian coal mining company). After a big refurb in 2018 it’s now a tastefully designed place which looks a little like a Swiss lodge from the outside, and sits on a little hill – the height of which provides fantastic views!

I paid a quick visit to the Funken Lodge when a tour bus I was on dropped some passengers here, which gave me a chance to wander into the Funktionærmessen restaurant and gaze through the full-length windows to the snowy mountains beyond. There were guests sipping hot chocolate and it felt like a really cosy place to stay; especially as it’s set a little bit away from the main town, so it feels like you’re in a secluded spot.

Funken Lodge has a conference space for business guests, as well as a gym, sauna and library – but it’s apparently also really kid-friendly. Top marks go to whoever thought up serving fresh waffles to the guests every afternoon!

The Lodge is set back from Longyearbyen town centre, but there are shuttles which transport guests there and back. Alternatively it takes about fifteen minutes to walk.

Book a room at the Funken Lodge | Prices start at £130pp

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Hotel Svalbard | The Vault

The Vault hotel is right in the middle of town, a stone’s throw from the Kroa restaurant and close to the red-roofed Svalbard Kirke church. It opened in February 2018 so The Vauilt is a new edition to the Longyearbyen hotel scene. It’s simple, sleek and efficient: 35 compact rooms (mainly doubles, but there are a few single rooms too). They offer a breakfast buffet each morning and there’s a sushi restaurant in the basement.

Hotel Svalbard The Vault is inspired by the Global Seed Vault situated just outside of Longyearbyen (a huge cold storage vault where the world’s seeds are kept). The hotel has lots of information about the vault for guests to read.

Another lovely feature at The Vault is a video display which, throughout the four month darkness over winter, shows the number of days, hours and minutes until the sun comes back!

Book a room at the Hotel Svalbard | The Vault | Prices start at £130pp

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Mid-range guesthouses in Longyearbyen

In Svalbard, ‘mid-range’ accommodation should be taken with a grain of salt as they’re still pretty expensive. However, the places in this section have more of a unique and individual atmosphere.

Basecamp Trapper’s Lodge, Spitsbergen

Basecamp is an homage to the historical trapper’s lodge it’s built in: the hotel features furniture made from driftwood and it’s decorated with old sealskins, artwork and maps from Arctic history.

The sixteen rooms are each decorated individually, and they can accommodate forty people in total. In keeping with the trapper lodge theme there are no TVs – but the ‘Cognac Attic’ has a glass ceiling for guests to view either the northern lights or the midnight sun, and there’s a pub and restaurant just next door.

The Basecamp Trapper’s Lodge is run by ‘Basecamp Explorer’, a company which operates five different eco-lodges in Svalbard including ‘the North Pole Camp’, a tented camp which changes location; a trapper’s old teepee hut amongst a hundred husky dogs; and the Isfjord Radio Hotel (mentioned later in this article).

Book a room at the Basecamp Trapper’s Lodge here | Prices from £120pp

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Mary-Ann’s Polar Rigg

From the moment you walk towards the wooden boat which fronts Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg, you know you’re heading somewhere unique.

These atmospheric apartments are located inside three rigs surrounding a courtyard. There’s the mining rig, with standard single and double rooms inside; the transportation rig, which houses both luxe rooms and the spa and sauna; and the luxury rig, home to the ultra-fancy Polar Suite (£657 a night, year round).

The Polarrigg’s common area has an open fire burning, comfy sofas and thick patterned rugs and carpets everywhere. Just outside, there’s a smoking shelter in an old red miner’s bus (and the outdoor hot tub is close by too!).

[Image: Bernt Rostad]

Breakfast in the Shang Po-lar dining room each morning includes waffles and a typical Norwegian spread of meats and cheese and breads (140NOK). Check out the museum-like artefacts on the walls which come from the early mining days in Svalbard.

But it’s dinner at the Polarrig which gets everyone talking. The gorgeous Vinterhagen Restaurant feels like you’ve stepped into a conservatory: there’s plants hanging everywhere, underfloor heating and full glass windows and roof! They serve Thai dishes as well as more locally inspired Norwegian and Arctic meals like reindeer steak, Arctic trout, cod tongue and whale tartar…

Like all the other hotels in Svalbard, the on-site restaurant isn’t just reserved for guests – so if you don’t book a night’s stay at the Polarrigg you can still enjoy an evening at Vinterhagen.

Book a room at Mary Ann’s Polarrigg | Prices start at £75pp

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Budget hostels in Longyearbyen

The budget options in Longyearbyen are the Coal Miner’s Cabins and Gjestehuset, both in a little area called Nybyen which is 2km from Longyearbyen’s centre (so it takes about half an hour to walk).

There’s plenty of transport available in Svalbard, although no public transit system. Instead, there are taxis and bus pick-ups for all tours, and a shuttle bus which gets you to the airport before your flight, or which drops you at your hotel from the airport.

Coal Miners Cabins

These two-storey buildings used to be barracks for the coal miners, but they’ve now been renovated into seventy bedrooms with eight shared bathrooms along the corridors. The hotel also has a main unit where the reception, restaurant and bar are all located.

The Coal Miners Cabins is a simple, clean hotel with a Norwegian breakfast buffet on offer every morning. The Coal Miner Grill is open to the public for lunch and dinner – it’s the original mess hall and was probably my favourite place to spend my evenings (they have delicious burgers and plenty of locally brewed beer on tap too).

One of the regulars at Coal Miners Grill is a stuffed polar bear named Nanook who props up the bar and hangs out with guests at their tables. Buy him a drink if you spot him!

If you’re trying to stick to a budget, the Coal Miners Cabins also has a kitchen with utensils, fridge and oven. There are travellers of all ages staying here as it’s probably the most reasonably priced place for what’s on offer!

Check availability at Coal Miner’s Cabins | prices start at £67pp

Gjestehuset 102, Svalbard

Opposite the Coal Miner’s Cabins is Gjestehuset 102, Longyearbyen’s only official hostel, which is also built inside a miner’s cabin. There are shared bathrooms and sixty one beds in total, spread throughout single rooms, double rooms and a few four-bed dorms: I stayed in a dorm and had plenty of space to store my sizeable suitcase, along with a sink and a mirror.

The price includes breakfast in the communal kitchen each morning – a lovely spread of cereals, toast, meat, cheese and salad – and there’s free coffee and tea available all day and night.

When I first arrived in Longyearbyen, fresh off my expedition ship, it was only 10am and I couldn’t check into my dorm room until 2pm. Luckily Gjesterhuset has a little communal room with a TV and comfy chairs where I happily hung out for a couple hours and caught up on all the internet I’d missed over the last week!

Gjesterhuset 102 is Longyearbyen’s cheapest accommodation option, but it’s a perfectly adequate place to stay. For meals you can either buy groceries in the local supermarket and store them in the fridge, or head to the Coal Miners Grill just opposite.

Book a room at Gjesterhuset 102 hostel | prices start at £40pp 

Camping in Svalbard

Most people visiting Svalbard choose to sleep indoors – but for some hardy travellers, camping outside in these stunning landscapes makes total sense.

You can open up your tent each morning to see reindeer grazing, terns swooping and the occasional Arctic fox scampering past. Just don’t forget your eye mask to block out the midnight sun!

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Longyearbyen Camping Ground

About 300 metres from the airport car park and down a steep track is Longyearbyen Camping. It’s effectively ‘on the tundra’: there’s a lagoon beside it which is popular with nesting Arctic terns, and reindeer and Arctic foxes both roam the area too.

This is Longyearbyen’s original camping site, set up in 1976 just after the Svalbard airport was opened and people began to wild camp in the area. The local government built a toilet and shower block plus a fully equipped kitchen and an outdoor fire pit for grilling, and it’s been popular ever since. Facilities are only open to the public when there’s no frost on the ground, but you can still theoretically camp here year-round – just bear in mind there’ll be no access to running water or electricity in that case!

You don’t have to lug all your camping gear to Svalbard, either— the site rents out tents, sleeping bags and insulation mats for use. Tent rental is 180 NOK (£18) per night, and it costs 150 NOK (£15) per person to stay at the site (children under 13 stay free of charge). There are also bikes to rent so you can cycle into the town centre.

Perhaps most wonderfully, anyone who stays at Longyearbyen Camping is also able to hang out with the Arctic Naked Bathing Club. If you want an official certificate and your name in the logbook, rules state that you have to both take a swim and dive into the Arctic sea without your clothes, and a staff member at the camping site has to watch you do it.

I did my own Arctic plunge in Svalbard and can guarantee it’s just as freezing and exhilarating as you’d imagine!

NB: If you’re planning to hire a tent, you’ll need to reserve it before arriving (just visit Longyearbyen Camping’s website for info). The camping site only accepts cash, but there are ATMs in Longyearbyen town centre if you need them.

Other places to stay on Svalbard

If you’re keen to explore the Russian side of Svalbard, Barentsburg and Pyramiden are fascinating places.

Both Russian mining settlements, they differ significantly: Barentsburg is home to around 500 Russian and Ukrainian coal miners and their families, while Pyramiden is effectively a ghost town – it was hurriedly abandoned in 1998 and the buildings have been left to the Arctic elements ever since.

Strangely enough, both settlements have two accommodation options on offer despite their differing populations. Pyramiden has the Hotel Tulpan and the Pier Hostel, while Barentsburg has the Hotel Barentsburg and the Pomor Hostel.

[Image: Kitty Terwolbeck]

Hotel Barentsburg

It’s cheaper to stay in Barentsburg than in Longyearbyen, so plenty of tourists find themselves at Hotel Barentsburg, a comfortable place (albeit a bit old-fashioned) with 43 rooms throughout the building’s four storeys.

There’s an onsite restaurant with a great view of the Grønfjord bay to the north and views of Olaf Mountain to the south. They serve up both European and Russian cuisine for breakfast (100 NOK), lunch (200 NOK), and dinner (150 NOK).

The Barentsburg Hotel is a great place to base yourself while exploring the Russian mining settlement. Tourist favourites include the Orthodox wooden church (recently restored), the famous Lenin statue (second northernmost in the world, as the top spot goes to a similar bust in Pyramiden), the Pomor Museum, and a small smattering of street art.

In the evenings, there are Russian shows in the theatre with folk songs and dances, and live music on the weekends – or the bar at Hotel Barentsburg has Russian cognac and vodka on offer.

Check for availability at Hotel Barentsburg | Prices start at £75pp

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Pomor Hostel, Barentsburg

Pomor Hostel is housed inside another classic-looking Soviet building. There are thirty rooms with seventy two beds in total for pretty reasonable prices: a twin room costs 600 NOK (£55/$70) and a triple room is 800 NOK (£74/$93).

Guests share bathrooms and shower cabins which are dotted along the corridors, and there are washing and drying machines which can be used for free too. There’s a kitchen attached to Pomor Hostel, but if you don’t fancy cooking then the Red Bear Pub & Brewery across the road serves meals and drinks.

Check for availability at Hostel Pomor | Prices start at £53pp

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Basecamp Isfjord Radio Adventure Hotel

Welcome to the most isolated Svalbard hotel of all: the Basecamp Isfjord Radio Hotel.

As you might expect from its name, the Isfjord Radio Hotel is built inside a radio station which once linked the inhabitants of Svalbard with the Norwegian mainland. It’s 90km from Longyearbyen and extremely remote – but although it still looks rough on the outside, the Isfjord has been totally transformed within.

There’s a sauna with a panoramic view of the ocean, a library filled with Arctic literature, and restaurant which serves beautifully prepared food caught by one of the few remaining trappers in Svalbard. If you’ve ever wanted to re-live Svalbard’s traditional trapping days, this is where to do it.

The ‘adventure’ aspect of this luxury boutique hotel lies in the difficulty required to reach it: there’s no road connection, so you arrive either on dog sled in the winter or by boat in the summer (there are daily boat trips from both Barentsburg and Longyearbyen).

The Basecamp Isfjord Hotel also offers a weekly adventure program with expert guides who take guests on birdwatching expeditions and wildlife spotting trips – searching for seals, whales and even polar bears.

Check for availability at Isfjord Radio Hotel | Prices start at £209pp

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The Tulpan Hotel, Pyramiden

Have you ever wanted to spend the night in the northernmost ghost town in the world? If your answer is a resounding, “YES!” then you’re in luck: Pyramiden’s original Tulpan Hotel is open to guests from March to October, and it’s one of the few operational buildings left in Pyramiden, Svalbard’s abandoned Russian mining settlement.

The Tulpan Hotel has 24 twin rooms – some in a modern design and some more Soviet-style – and guests can stay for full or half board. There’s a restaurant on the first floor which serves breakfast (150 NOK), lunch (250 NOK) and dinner (200 NOK).

As you might expect in an abandoned town with less than a dozen residents, the hotel bar is open until 2am – and they have a LOT of vodka.

Prices from £75pp for a Soviet-style single room | Check for availability at the Hotel Tulpan

Read more: exploring the abandoned Arctic town of Pyramiden

The Pier Hostel, Pyramiden

For Pyramiden visitors on a tighter budget, there’s a rudimentary accommodation choice at the Pier Hostel,  just beside the port. Inside three cabins they have twelve bunk beds on offer, along with a shower, toilet and electric stove. The Pier Hostel is probably akin to sleeping inside a shipping container, but still has the necessities – and the location offers a stunning view of the fjord and the Nordenskiöld glacier in the distance.

For 300 NOK you’ll get a bed with included bed linen. Tip: It’s better value to book the whole cabin! If you stay at the Pier Hostel you can order your meals up at Hotel Tulpan (a 10 to 15 minute walk away) but you’ll need a gun to fend off unexpected polar bears (seriously – it’s the law).

Book a room at Pier Hostel | Prices start at £28pp

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[kennethmjoyner]

Why I’m Signing Off the Podcast I’ve Done for 13 Years

Thirteen years ago this week, in 2005, I sat down in a recording studio in front of a fancy boom microphone, donned a bulky pair of Sony headphones, and waited for the cue. Then I was connected to my new cohost, Newport Beach, Calif., lawyer J. Craig Williams, and recording the first episode of our new podcast. Little did I imagine we’d still be doing it all these years later, making it the longest continually running podcast in law and one of the longest running of any kind.

Last night, after 586 episodes (by my count) of that podcast, I recorded my final one, even as I launch a whole-new podcast of my own, LawNext.

We originally called the show Coast2Coast – both for our west coast/east coast split and for our divergent political perspectives – but later, due to the little matter of a cease-and-desist letter from the eponymous paranormal radio show, we changed it to Lawyer2Lawyer. (Hey, at least we were getting noticed.) Our first show was posted on Aug. 31, 2005. Our guests for that first show were Mike Greco, who had just taken office as president of the American Bar Association, and Erwin Chemerinsky, then a professor at Duke Law School and now dean of the University of California, Berkeley, law school.

The idea for the show had come from two Boston-area veterans of broadcast news, Lu Ann Reeb, a former TV news director and producer, and Scott Hess, a news photographer. They had founded the Legal Talk Network to record video and audio interviews with legal professionals and proposed that Craig and I – who both then blogged for the now-defunct Law.com Blog Network – team up to host a weekly podcast about current legal events and news.

Podcasts by lawyers were rare then. Among them were Denise Howell’s Bag and Baggage (the predecessor to Howell’s This Week in Law), Evan Schaeffer’s Legal Underground, Evan Brown’s InternetCases, and rethink(ip). But, as I recounted in a 2015 post, podcasting by lawyers took off between 2005 and 2007, only to hit a spell of inertia around 2007. (We interviewed some of these “pioneers of legal podcasting’ in a 2010 show.)

My favorite episode was recorded in a Denver brewery.

I kept at it for one simple reason: It was fun. I never made a penny from podcasting. But every week (and later every second week) I got to have interesting conversations with fascinating people about issues and events that were at the forefront of the news. The Supreme Court. School shootings. Terrorism. Animal rights. Privacy. Weed. Sports law. Better Call Saul. Gender rights. Immigration. Uber. Revenge porn. Lawyer depression. The billable hour. It’s hard to come up with a topic we didn’t cover. Probably my favorite show was about open source software and beer — not for the topic so much as for the fun of recording it onsite in a Denver brewery.

And the guests. From Bryan Garner to Boups the Beerman. From consumer advocate Erin Brockovich to tobacco whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand. From Making A Murderer lawyer Dean Strang to Joseph Salvati, a man who spent 30 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Former 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Alex Kozinski was on our show at least four times before he retired amid allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct.

In one show alone, we had four legendary trial lawyers: Mike Papantonio, Howard Nations, Thomas Girardi and Fred Levin. Another legendary trial lawyer, F. Lee Bailey, was on our show three times (on cross-exam, Whitey Bulger, and Roger Clemens). Still another trial-lawyer legend, Gerry Spence, pronounced on our show, “Lawyers disappoint me.” Five of the top Supreme Court reporters appeared on our show: Marcia Coyle, Lyle Denniston, Amy Howe, Tony Mauro, and David Savage. We even had a lawyer who, at 101, was still practicing law. I could go on and on and on.

Possibly the only time Craig and I recorded in the same room together.

In 2013, the Legal Talk Network changed hands, sold to legal marketing and software company Lawgical. CEO Adam Camras, CTO Trent Carlyle, Executive Producer Laurence Colletti, and the rest of the top-notch Lawgical team have continued to expand the network with new shows and industry alliances. They even talked me into picking up cohosting duties on a second show, Law Technology Now, with my good friend Monica Bay (which I am also now leaving).

The anchor, the keel, the workhorse, the rock of our show over the years has been Kate Nutting. She came on board as our producer just months after we started, and she remains our producer today. She makes sure we have top-notch guests, juggles everyone’s availability to scheduling recordings, researches each topic and prepares discussion points, and generally holds it all together. Without Kate, this show would never have survived this long or achieved the quality it did.

By now you’re probably thinking, “OK, Bob, if it was all so good, why are you leaving?”

The short answer is: To start my own podcast, LawNext. And why did I want to do that? Several reasons:

My interests evolved. My greatest interest these days is innovation in law, law practice and legal technology. My new show is laser focused on innovation and entrepreneurship.

There are only so many hours. Time would not allow me to both start my new podcast and keep doing the old one.

I wanted to be nimbler. If news breaks today, I want to be able to record a podcast this afternoon or tomorrow morning and have it posted within a day.

I wanted to be more hands-on. The Legal Talk Network people are great – so great, in fact, that they do all the work. I wanted to get my hands dirty, to get a better feel for the production and marketing, in addition to the recording.

I wanted to make some money. After 13 years of podcasting pro bono, I wanted to see if I could make a little money from it, selling advertising and sponsorships.

I wanted to own it. I’m really not sure who owns Lawyer 2 Lawyer. But it had long ago slipped away from feeling like something I had ownership of. With LawNext, I have something I can take ownership of.

I wanted to work with my son. Perhaps the best part of my new podcast is that I’m working with my son, Ben Ambrogi, who is my producer and engineer.

Even after 13 years as a podcaster, this new podcast is very much a learning experience. We’ve had to test any number of recording applications, research hosting sites, and figure out the best equipment. And even then, we’ve had glitches I’d rather not discuss. But we learn from each mistake, and we’ll get better over time.

But most of all, it’s fun. With each new episode, we watch the stats to see how many listens we’ll get. It’s a bit addicting, and there’s certainly a rush when the downloads spike. The Legal Talk Network folks say Lawyer2Lawyer was their most downloaded show. It will be a long time, I suspect, before I get this new show to those numbers. But I’m committed to trying.

I can’t sign off the Legal Talk Network without expressing my deep and heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of that over the years. I thank Lu Ann Reeb and Scott Hess for getting me into this in the first place and for remaining good friends over the years. I’ve already said my thanks to Kate Nutting. I thank Adam Camras for convincing me to stay aboard after he bought the company. And no praise is enough for Laurence Colletti, a tireless and talented lawyer-turned-producer who makes LTN run day in and out.

And there’s Craig Williams, my partner in podcasting. Surprisingly, I’d never met Craig before we started the show and have met him in person only a couple times since. But I can’t imagine having been paired for 13 years with a better cohost.

Although our starting premise was that we came from different political persuasions, we agreed far more than we ever disagreed. As in any long-term relationship, there were times when he irritated me – injecting a question that seemed to throw the discussion off kilter or taking the conversation in a direction away from where I wanted it to go. But that unpredictability was a big part of what made the two-host format work. While I came at it with the background of a journalist, he was ever the trial lawyer, insightfully challenging and prodding. Over time, the 3,000 miles between us disappeared and our styles somehow synchronized.

Both Lawyer2Lawyer and Law Technology Now will continue on quite ably without me. Meanwhile, I look forward to this new chapter in my own podcasting life. I hope some of you who followed my former shows will continue to follow me at LawNext.

from Law and Politics https://www.lawsitesblog.com/2018/08/im-signing-off-podcast-ive-done-13-years.html via http://www.rssmix.com/

[josephkitchen0]

Rent a Goat, Build a Career!

Jax Taylor’s rent-a-goat business started with heartbreak.

Discharged from the Army, she searched for job prospects so she wouldn’t have to rehome her goats. The result morphed into a successful franchise creating environmentally-friendly land cleanup across Tennessee. For Taylor, however, the past year took her on a real-life roller coaster ride. She pushed through challenges that changed and shaped her life.

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“It was a long way getting here,” Taylor illustrated. “I had just been told I was no longer medically qualified to be in the Army, and I was crushed. I had six goats then … I remember going to the barn and crying. I decided I wanted to do something I enjoyed, and the goats made me happy. I looked into dairy goats, I looked into skin care. Then I saw information from Tammy Dunakin, who owns and founded Rent-A-Ruminant in 2004, so I wrote her and said, ‘I’m going to do whatever it takes to bring this to tenancy.’”

Within four months of leaving the Army, Jax Taylor gave birth to her son in April 2017. One month later, she and her husband launched the Rent-A-Ruminant Tennessee franchise based at their goat farm in Clarksville. Taylor says they’re also immersed in a partnership with the national chain Costco for their protection ponds. “We’re changing the culture which says that everything has to be done with loud machines. Goats are biologically designed to eat vegetation, and … we can do things peacefully.” Taylor’s “Giddy Biddy Goat LLC,” which started as a hobby farm and is now doing business as Rent-A-Ruminant, is all about hauling her goat herd to projects across the state.

Taylor was an Army administrator for medical evacuation in aviation. She says, “I didn’t want to give up my herd when I got out of the Army, just because my paycheck was going to stop. I love to learn about animals, and I want to have the knowledge and resources to give my goats the best life possible.

“In summer, Rent-A-Ruminant is all I do. It’s the only national franchise in the world doing it. Although there are other, smaller outfits doing similar work, the company is the only one with a national contract,” said Taylor, who hauls her goats to help people manage vegetation through “loaning” (renting out) the grazing goats for onsite use. Taylor stays with each goat project to oversee it. Projects can range from a few days to a couple of weeks.

Taylor enjoys her 60 weed-eating goats and notes that the herd number changes as often as the goat’s location.

“Keeping them on the move is actually the best thing to prevent parasites by having them digest their food (and empty their stomachs) in a different place than where they eat. We take them around to virgin ground every six days, even if it’s just ten feet to the left.”

Jax will never forget the nightmare flash flooding resulting from Hurricane Harvey’s torrential rainfall in August 2017. She got a call from the Sheriff’s Office at 4 a.m. that their fences were down. In the dark night, they ran to the jobsite — but the goats weren’t there.

“You don’t even think … you just react. The water was up about six inches to about a foot, the creek was at the top, my fences were broken from the water pressure, and —” Jax paused. “I’m about to cry…”

The Taylors lost seven goats. They were swept away.

“It was and still is tough when I talk about it. They were part of the family.”

Taylor and her husband spent hours in the dark, thrashing through rapidly rising water, pulling 80-pound goats out of a dangerous culvert. “The goats were fighting me all of the way, because they were scared being in that culvert. We got them out and blocked off the culvert. I spent the next two days doing health checks. I called my vet and listened to their lungs, as they got water in their lungs, and we gave them an antibiotic.”

The heavy emotional aftermath continued. “I was so depressed; I was numb for about a week or two. Emotionally, that scar will always be there … but the herd moves on. I think they’re more resilient than I am.”

The goats recovered and Taylor’s year improved.

In their final job of the 2017 season, Taylor and her husband hauled 60 goats through the tightly winding roads of the Great Smoky Mountains to a zip-line attraction in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

“The people (in this particular project) reached out to us, as kudzu was literally overtaking the mountain and drowning out the trees.” Kudzu is a rapidly climbing plant with reddish-purple flowers, used for erosion control. It has become a pest in the southeast. “The trees are why people go zip-lining, but the kudzu would slowly destroy their attraction if action wasn’t taken. They wanted to expand their attraction and build a new zip-line, but they tried herbicides with no real results.”

Jax and her husband in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for the kudzu job. Photographer was Johnnie Welbourn.

By the end of that job, the goats had eaten down 12 acres of kudzu in about three weeks. The owners were pleased. They’d never seen their mountainside like that, and the goats added value to their guests’ experience over those weeks. Said Taylor, “In my experience, I’ve found that goats are more effective than herbicide.”

Getting the modern goat farming business in full throttle was a process, like anything worth pursuing in life. “In the beginning, I just had a few jobs, and now, after word of mouth, I go right from one job to the next. Since this new year 2018 began, I’ve had four email requests for jobs.”

Although still in the Army, her husband helps out on weekends. Taylor, meanwhile, is also a college student, studying agribusiness at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. After her semester ended in May, she packed up and headed to jobs across Tennessee.

This was the flood in Hendersonville. Jax Taylor photographed this picture.

Taylor’s herd now has their own 12-month calendar, available for sale. “We’ve got a photo page of a goat with a Sprite and other interesting pages. The 2018 calendar is out, and we’re partway through working on the 2019 calendar.” She’ll travel for a photo shoot to New York state, where their photographer is based.

For the calendar, Jax was seeking a good “Goat in the City” look. That’s why they went to the Pedestrian Bridge in the heart of Nashville to capture the human/animal connection, and the elegance and confidence of a woman and her livestock. Photo by Todd Steere.

Taylor also sells pet milk specifically for orphaned baby goats and kittens in Tennessee, where she’s licensed.

For fun, Taylor hosts “goat yoga” classes on Saturdays. “While people are doing yoga positions, they also get to socialize with my goats, as the goats romp on top of them. It’s more about fun than just doing yoga.” The goats are just there to have fun and get fed.

Goat yoga class. Photo by Jax Taylor.

Renting a goat, traveling to help make it happen, and offering goat yoga is a life full of zest and the love of her goats. “It’s exciting!” said Taylor. “I’m much happier with this career path than any others. I can’t wait to see where it goes.”

Contact Jax Taylor at jt@rentaruminant.com

Find out how to rent a goat or start a franchise at Rent-A-Ruminant: http://www.rentaruminant.com

Rent a Goat, Build a Career! was originally posted by All About Chickens

[ploychompu]

  I’ve been writing here and there but it’s been five years since my last post on this blog. Let me tell you that I’ve had the pleasure to meet a few readers over the years, in many locations all over the world, and it’s been really great. I think it’s about time I started this blog again.

If we time-jump back to 2013 to the 22 year-old me − someone who had just left a job in Japan not knowing what the future holds, things are very different now–in a very good way. From fall 2013 to 2014, I spent time, quite literally days and nights, working on my master’s degree in Bristol, UK. It was one of the most difficult times of my life. Thinking back , I was a bit daring to have gone to pursue a degree in something that I had no solid background knowledge in. It was daunting but not impossible. I could only hope for the best but if anything, experience has taught me that good efforts will always be rewarded; I graduated with Distinction for my MSs (Master of Science) program. I will never forget that celebratory night my friends and I had. For a year and about four months, I studied, I worked part-time at two different places for two very cool bosses, I travelled (with the limited time I had) and I explored when I could, but most importantly,  I made some really good friends − some that I know I will always keep in touch and that is the most awesome thing of all. As the title says though, we all had to say goodbye eventually but I have got to met them again in many places later on. For many reasons, Bristol will always be one of my most favorite cities in the world.

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In June 2014, a week after all my final exams, I went to a career event for companies in Japan. Japanese companies that want to hire bilingual graduates came all the way to recruit people in the UK. I was well prepared, but the anxiety of not knowing what’s next was quite overwhelming. It was a productive weekend in London. I came back to Bristol preparing for a trip to Tokyo for another career event, but then I accidentally saw a tiny ad on Facebook about another career event in London that was going to be held in the next six days. It was not a well-known one so most people did not hear about it before but I clicked on it anyway. Thanks to their very user friendly website, I sent out mass CVs to all the companies that were attending with only just a few clicks. I didn’t really hope for anything because I was quite late in registering but fortunately, one company called me for an interview. And it was the first company that officially gave me a job offer that very weekend and after weighing all my options, it also turned out to be the place of my choice. I can tell you now that I am so glad I saw that ad (THANK YOU, FACEBOOK!).

After obtaining a degree certificate in January 2015, I started working for the company in April of 2015. Three years have passed. It is a telecommunication company in the oldest telecom group in Japan. The consolidated total group performance ranks the group in the top 100 of the Fortune 500 with almost 300,000 employees worldwide. All seemed great but of course, I encountered a lot of obstacles and difficulties witnessed by everyone around me. After all these years, I learned that there is nothing that comes easy − choosing to go abroad, learning other languages, pursuing a field you didn’t know before, working in a country with cultural and language barriers-–these things are as tough as you’d imagine. However, one of the saving graces of the company was that three nights a week (in my department) we had no-overtime days (unless you really need to). I actually had a life outside of work, but work was the center of my life.

First, I was assigned to an engineering team in one division right after I joined the company. It all came as a total shock as I had obtained a master’s degree in Economics and Finance. However, in Japan, this is quite normal. Companies place new graduates into the division that they see fit, disregarding their academic backgrounds, hoping to make them well-rounded employees who know the firm from the bottom up. The year I entered the company, the plan was for all of the roughly 180 new graduates  to gain some proper technical skills for at least three years before being rotated to other roles in later years. This kind of rotation, again, is typical in Japan as people are expected to stay in the same company for a long time (though this trend is changing quickly). I had a very tough time. For 1.5 year, I learned technical know-how, how do onsite engineering work and project management. Not to mention that I needed to do all of that in Japanese. Thai is my native language but I’m fluent in English and was good in Japanese but I needed to get a whole lot better, very fast.

The work itself, the language, and the work culture…all was intense. But I was very lucky to have many 同期 (douki – people joining the same time) and a boss that understood my wanting to move to the field I was trained for but he encouraged me to try the engineering work first. He promised to move me to another team and that motivated me to try my best in the work I was assigned to. Not giving up turned out to be the right decision. I gained a lot of experience and made great business relationships with people involved. I wouldn’t take that time back. Now, I know I wasn’t the easiest person to work with either. I had to bother a lot of people − everyone was always willing to help! I was not as good at Japanese as I am now and I had zero engineering skills, but they entrusted me with lots of opportunities to do exciting projects. From feeling like a fish out of water, I could finally breathe.

I was later moved to another team as promised. I was a bit sad as I was actually having quite a bit of fun, by then. But I was going onto the right path. The work in this team was a mix between the technical and business side of things − more business and investment related, I’d say. I got to do so many interesting projects and I enjoyed it. Of course, things weren’t easy but it wouldn’t have been fun without some obstacles, isn’t it? In this team, I succeeded in carrying out a project and I even got to travel as far as Africa, another place on earth that will always leave a deep impression on me. It’s like Bristol but for a different reason. Things were really great.

My favorite photo from Africa. Just five minutes before the rain..

Then, it was time to say goodbye.

I decided to pursue a more specialized type of work but I can see the dots connecting all the way from the moment I joined the company to my next step. It was hard to tell my boss and start saying goodbye to everyone but it had to happen…

As a way to thank everyone who has been so supportive and kind to me for the past three years, I wrote a farewell message to send on my last day. In Japan, you can google samples of these types of farewell emails with title ‘退職のご挨拶’ (Resignation Greetings). It is as if there are formats ready for you to fill in, you only need to change a few words  for it to match your own experience in the company. I chose to ignore most of that and write from the heart. In less than an hour I finished one very long email with the title ‘会うは別れの始め (Meeting is merely the beginning of separation)’. It might be a little unusual and philosophical but I meant it.

Here it is (edited slightly from original)*:

*If you are interested, let me know and I can probably make a translated version or a summarized one. I did not do it because I do not want to change the nuance of the message. So I am going to leave it like this for now.

I don’t think I’ve ever written anything like this and I wanted to save it right here. I am so glad to hear back from a lot of people, that they loved it. Apparently, the title is very effective in getting people to open the email (*wink). I hope that though it was a goodbye, they’ll remember me because I surely will remember and appreciate all the people that have helped me for years to come. The road ahead is going to be tough but challenges can also be great. Surely, there are so many unknowns. All I can do is keep trying my best and hopefully things will turn out more than fine.

「会うは別れの始め」Meeting is merely the beginning of separation… How I came back to Japan I've been writing here and there but it's been five years since my last post on this blog.

[thetinfoilhatlady]

The call towards wholeness did not reside in the teaching of the plants: It resided in the deepest parts of my own being.

In September of 2017 I took the trip of a spiritual lifetime. I am curious about human consciousness, a researcher into alternative history, an outspoken performer, a speaker and writer in the arts world. My life has taken me on many adventures, especially since I started traveling internationally in 2013. As a Medical Laboratory Technologist I also have a biological curiosity.

This trip was the cherry on top of my travels so far. The reward for all the hard work I had done and the understanding I had gained regarding who we are and why we are all here.

I follow a teacher named  Tobias Lars. He shares his wisdom online with videos as well as in workshops, travel retreats and courses. I have his book ‘Listening to the Sun‘ kindle version available. I also use his Inner Body Awakening Meditation. The company Spiritual Travelers is another one of his exciting endeavors. Through his Ayahuasca retreats I found the perfect place to experience Ayahuasca, the Mother of all ancient plant medicine, at The Source.

Hidden within the mysterious and ancient Sacred Valley in Peru and quite close to famous Machu Picchu, is the fabulous retreat called The Source.  They call it the edge of Luxury and indeed it is. Created and constructed by the unnamed ‘owner’ this is a majestic and magical location. Perfect for escaping from the outside world of negativity and stress. Not only beautiful but consciously constructed by the promptings of Ayahuasca herself.

See the beautiful ladies washroom here ! See my room here.

I arrived with 10 others from around the world for 6 days of soul exploration. A couple from Australia, a man from Denmark, two ladies from Sweden, a mother and son from Romania, 3 women from America and myself, the lone Canadian. As these things usually reveal them selves to be, each of us was called to do ceremony at this site, and each of us were perfect for each others learning.

Hear the local music from my balcony wrapped in jasmine here. See my Facebook album here for images.

The one month to two week preparation in diet and lifestyle, was essential for a most enjoyable experience. Though ‘Aya’ is known as The Purge, if one prepares well enough that aspect of the experience is less bothersome. In this regard I had quit coffee, dairy, meat, dried fruit, fermented foods and was very conscious of not taking any medication unless needed. Also using less chemicals in my personal hygiene as well as keeping off the computer and using less media all round. I started to do some yoga, meditate daily, write in my journal and avoid any recreational drugs or alcohol.

It is very important to avoid pork and dried or bruised fruit, as these food create a chemical compound that does not mix well with Aya and can cause serious health problems. Needless to say once one commits to the diet and lifestyle changes, the ceremony has begun.

Because I am a Celiac Sprue my ability to restrict myself was not as hard as it was for others. One person who chose not to quit meat for example was always quite sick during ceremony and could not stop throwing up for hours.

So why even put one’s self through all this ? To me the answer was curiosity. Again my need to research, my need to know, my desire to understand my consciousness set me on this journey. I had known about DMT or dimethyltryptamine for many years. Those who study hallucinogens or partake in their use will be familiar with the substance. This is also known as The Spirit Molecule and is actually produced naturally in our bodies by our pineal gland when we dream and when we die.

Is it safe ?

“The exact toxic profile of DMT is unknown, but studies in rodents suggest that a lethal dose in humans would be extremely high; more than 20 times the typical dose given during an ayahuasca ceremony.”

“A group of experienced DMT users were asked to rate its safety, with 55% reporting it to be “very safe” and 38% “quite safe”.[4] The main risks they reported were a “bad trip” (51%), which is considerably higher than the risk of bad experiences with the other classic psychedelics, LSD and psilocybin.”

The week consisted of four Aya ceremonies one day off and one day of Wachuma or San Pedro Cactus drink and the Andean Sweat Lodge.  This drink, which we helped prepare the day prior, was taken in the afternoon. It made us quite chatty and it was wonderful to wander the gardens and sense the natural beauty all around us. The active ingredient in San Pedro cactus is mescaline.

Of course the first night of Ayahuasca, I had no idea what to expect. I knew I would throw up, I knew I would have a bowel purge, but that was about it. Little did I know the wisdom and insights that would be revealed to me by weeks end.

Each morning we had the option of a movement class and an afternoon mandatory debriefing session with our Shaman Aminta. She was the spiritual conductor of the ceremony who guided the music being created and the timing of the night. She also took care to make certain we were all breathing and safe and cared for along with Beth and Ritchie and another local Healer who sang wonderful traditional songs that I seemed to know.

We were told to use our breath to flow, use the music as an anchor and use our gratitude as a rope to guide us through the adventure. We also were asked to remember no matter how weird it got, it would eventually end. All great advice.

The Temple where the Aya ceremonies occur is a beautiful round building. Since electronics were not allowed inside I respectfully did not take any pictures myself. These are shots I found on the website .

The ceiling is glass and it was most wonderful to look up at the southern hemisphere stars towards the end of the ceremonies. Being able to see the milky way while walking back to our rooms afterwards was also quite amazing.

Ceremonies last anywhere from 6 to 8 hours and started at 6:30pm. We each had a nice bed to lay in and a beautiful washroom to visit when needed. There were personal purge buckets that were emptied by staff as soon as we used them.

Everything is well coordinated and thought out to ensure you have a most pleasant, beautiful and safe experience. The staff is top notch and well experienced. The food is high frequency, grown onsite and prepared with your health at heart. If YOU are called, The Source is where you want to go to experience Ayahuasca.

What happens ?

Anecdotal reports suggest that greater self-awareness and spiritual connection to the world can be gained from properly using DMT. Just as ayahuasca ceremonies can provide new perspective on inner emotional realities to people with mental and addictive disorders, DMT can be used to achieve new perspective in one’s spiritual life.

Many report that DMT gives them a connection to unconscious parts of their mind, allowing them to see any issues and mental blocks they’ve been experiencing from a new vantage point. People often report a sense of detachment from their emotions and how they identify with them as well.

So what did I experience ?

After a few Hail Mary’s and an ongoing mantra I use “I love and Approve of Myself, I am Safe.” it was my turn to down the brew. It is made from boiling the Vine containing the active DMT and leaves which allow your body to access the medicine. My impression was that it tasted like black licorice. Others thought it was bad tasting. It is very individual.

The effects start with many colours and I noticed as I lay with my eyes shut that these were the textile patterns seen in South America. Then I was drawn into what I can only call ‘scenes’. They were from my life and they drew me into intellectual dilemmas. Scenes of conversations, arguments or just trying to get ones point across.

I noticed Aya “tagging” words in these scenes and then I was able to stop them and using my breath blow them away. I walked down the middle of these scenes for some time. The words she tagged were words like FAULT, BAD, WRONG, ERROR, MISTAKE. I understood they were not real, not valid. Things just ARE. There can be no judgement on them.

Now it is very hard to explain my experiences to you in words. The profound meaning is very personal and individual. Your ‘trip’ would not be the same as mine. Each time you do it and each person who does it has different experiences.

During the first and second ceremony there were many entities who came to stand beside me with their hands up as if to give me an energy treatments, as well as those who ‘ate’ impurities from my subtle bodies. I was aware of my C-section scar and had help doing more healing needed from that traumatic event 23 years ago, in which I almost bled out.

I was also shown my maternal bloodline and how each member saw each other. The things handed down so to speak could be healed and sent back through time or not. I had the option. I got a strict warning about WI FI and how it hurts me.

Aya also showed me a type of butterfly. It seemed odd, like it had sort of bat wings. Maybe it was from another planet ? Anyway it only lived for 5 beats of its own wings. Once it died I saw the consciousness leave it and turn into a sort of angel. A voice said “Look! Even for this life I am curious to experience”.

Later in ceremony 3 and 4, I became a giant cobra and also a long fanged dragon. I found this very fun.

Mother Aya also showed me the word KNOWING. Then it morphed in to NO  ING, then to NOW. My understanding at this point is that we can never truly know anything, but we can always be in the NOW. For someone like me whose first words were ‘I’m Curious!’, it was confirmation of my spiritual research. There is only NOW. Time is an artifact of consciousness and does not really exist.

The call towards wholeness did not reside in the teaching of the plants: It resided in the deepest parts of my own being.

There is much more however it is not to be put into words. My understanding is that I am actually doing very well in my life. I have come through some challenges and have done so with grace. Needless to say it was well worth it. I am planning to go back in a few years and do it again. The Source is a true safe space where those who have experience and ability can guide you to dance with this ancient special medicine.

If you are called please consider going. At this time of planetary healing we can all contribute to the general raising of human consciousness.

Ayahuasca and Me The call towards wholeness did not reside in the teaching of the plants: It resided in the deepest parts of my own being.

[phammaianh89]

How to get jobs in the US for international students (Post-MBA)

Relating posts:

How to get MBA scholarship in the US: Link

How to get internship in the US for international students: Link

This is the third post in my sharing sequence, in which I intend to share my own experience and tips on MBA application and job search in the US. My experience was from an international student standpoint. As such, my challenges and tips might be a bit different from those of my American friends. 

I started my job hunting right when I returned to school after my internship for my second year of MBA program, meaning about 1 year ago. So yeah, it took me almost a year to find a job. To be fair, I still needed to take courses, do assignments and all. But I know finding a job is tough and would take a lot of time and efforts for every MBA students, let alone an international student. I tried to manage time and spend at least 30minutes -1 hour every day for the job search related activities. On weekend, I might spend more time, usually 2-3 hours for this. Besides studying time, I often divided my time into three parts: (1) job application, (2) networking and (3) skills building

(1) Job application: I searched job on several popular sites: Indeed ( my most favorite one because of its easiness and updates), LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Angel.co (a job-posting site for start-ups). There’re no secrets or big strategies on how to search for jobs. I simply had a list of job types that I wanted and thought I would be qualified. Just another thing, I got an excel list tracking all the jobs I applied. It was my way to avoid reapplying for same jobs. Moreover, I did not assume that I am not qualified for a job ( this usually happens to Asian). If I think I can do a job well and I meet several of job requirements, I just go ahead and submit the application. There’s no harm in a job application anyway.

(2) Networking: My method was quite simple. Back then, I got a premium LinkedIn account, and I utilized my W&M alumni network on the social website. I also connected to the school ‘s career center to get the list of alumni from them. I set up a schedule for myself that I would contact at least 3 alumni in the week. Of course, I focused on alumni, who are currently working the targeting function, companies, and regions. I sent emails and set up 15 minutes phone call with them. Often of time, one out of three emails, I got one acceptance talking to me. During the phone call, I mostly get to know them, learned from their experience, their advice. I did not ask for job referring, but usually, the alumni I talked to were offering to refer me at the end of our discussion. So the tip is showing that you’re interested in them, their jobs,  advice. The fact is no one wants to be taking advantages. You are not trying to ask for jobs but to build a network

(3) Skills building: I know that all the efforts for applying jobs or networking would be wasteful if I did not have the right skill sets. After all, if I want to secure interviews and ultimately, job offers, I need to horn my skills (especially hard skills). Since I wanted to apply for analytical-type jobs, I spent a big chunk of my time to learn/practice hard skills such as Excel, R, SQL, which are needed for an analyst. In addition, as I gradually realized my strong interest in finance while I did not have direct experience in finance before MBA, I figured that I need to gain financial experience somehow. Lucky me that my business school has an investment student-managed fund. I tried to apply and got in as an Investment Analyst. I was pretty sure that this experience was the main reason I got interviews and job offers for finance roles later on.

I did not receive any interviews during the fall. Actually, I got one interview invitation from Booz Allen in November when they came to our campus, but it turned out they were looking for US citizen for the role. So it’s a big no for me. I came back to Vietnam- my home country for the winter break. After more than a year away, I just spent most of my time enjoying with family and friends. 

When I returned to the campus, I got some interviews from CarMax and Capital One. I got this through alumni and friends’ referral. I passed all screen interview to go to onsite which was all about case interview. I practiced several mock case interviews with my MBA classmates, career center. But on the B-day, my performance was not very good. I got rejections from both companies. From Mar to May, I also got some other phone interviews from some companies on the West Coast. However, they rejected me either because of my visa sponsorship situation or because of my time-frame ( because I need to finish my MBA, and couldn’t work till my OPT starts in July)

After MBA graduation, I moved to the West Coast, where I thought is the best place to find jobs for international students like me. Technology companies tend to be more open and willing to sponsor H1B visa. It turned out a very good move for me. I got more interviews and eventually secured four offers as Financial Analyst & Sr Financial Analyst from three different companies ( one company offered me two different roles). It sounded easy, but the process was long and tiring. It took me about 3 months after graduation to land the job that I like. I spent countless hours to apply for jobs and prepare for interviews. At first, I did not do really well in job interviewing, but with time and practicing, my interview skill got better. ( I probably will write another note to share my tips on interview preparation). When all of the effort paid off and I got the job I longed for, I can say it’s all worth the wait. After all, I always believe that when you truly want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you achieve it.

Key takeaways:

- Start early ( very early). Every day counts. Don’t wait till you graduate.

- Spend a little time every day. Do it as a habit. This will pay off eventually. ( I recommend to spend at least 30m-2 hours daily, and 3-4 hours on weekend)

- Spend your time wisely. Use it for applying job, networking and building skills

- Prepare carefully for resume’. 

Find more tips for a good resume’ here

- Prepare for interview thoroughly. Mock interview. Make the interview a conversation (ask-answer both ways). Turn the questions to the interviewers (everyone loves to talk about themselves)

Find more tips for a good interview here & my new interview tips here

- Network. Connect with people, who work in your target fields, target companies. But don’t ask for a job, ask for advice/ experience instead.

- Apply for as many suitable jobs as you can. Don’t assume that you’re not qualified for a job. You never know. 

- Hard-working, perseverate, and optimistic. If you truly want it, you will eventually achieve it

[charllieeldridge]

Taking The TEFL Pros Course: A Complete Guide

These days, more people than ever are staying home, working remotely, and using their free time to complete online courses that will benefit them later.

Maybe you’d like to teach abroad in the future. Perhaps you’re considering online teaching as a remote work option.

Either way, taking your TEFL course online and getting certified is an important next step to take. This post will cover everything you need to know about getting certified with the innovative online course, TEFL Pros.

But, before we dig into TEFL Pros, let’s cover some basics. 

What is a TEFL Course?

TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

A TEFL course is a training program that will certify you to teach English to foreign students abroad. Accredited TEFL courses are an industry-standard in the world of teaching abroad and teaching online. 

In-Person TEFL Courses

TEFL certification courses can take many forms. Some people choose to take in-person or onsite TEFL courses. These programs offer hands-on training, either in your home country or in the country where you’re interested in teaching.

In-person courses tend to last between three and four weeks. They often have structured class days filled with lectures, classroom observations, and real teaching opportunities.

In-person courses can be more expensive since you’ll have to consider flights, lodging, and living expenses. The big benefit is the fact that you’ll walk away with experience in an actual English classroom.

Online TEFL Courses

Online TEFL courses are also quite popular.

These programs are fully digital, meaning you get to complete the material at a time that’s right for you. You won’t have to travel very far to get certified online since you can work on the course from the comfort of home. 

Because they take place online, these types of courses tend to be less expensive than onsite TEFL courses. They are preferable for those who want to get certified while balancing a busy schedule.

What Will I Learn in The TEFL Course?

TEFL courses generally cover the following information:

Becoming a teacher 101. If you’ve never taught before, learning about basic teaching theory and methodology will help make your lessons more effective

How to create lesson plans for different kinds of topics such as speaking, listening, reading, grammar, and writing.

Tips for managing a classroom while encouraging students to participate.

Information on how to create teaching resources like review games, activities, and assessments.

Typically, these courses will start by covering the basics of teaching. You’ll learn about managing a classroom, your role as a teacher, and how to make lesson plans. After learning the foundational information, you’ll and move into more specific TEFL teaching strategies.

If you’ve taught before, you might be wondering if you really need a TEFL certification. 

When I took my TEFL course, I had already been a traditional classroom teacher for three years. I had my teaching license and my Master’s degree in education.

But even though I was comfortable at the front of the classroom and well versed in my curriculum, I didn’t know much about teaching English as a foreign language. 

By getting certified, I learned about teaching strategies and activities specific to this subject.

During the course, I definitely learned helpful tips that I wouldn’t have thought of on my own. I also made connections with other aspiring teachers who I’m friends with to this day. 

What Jobs Can I Get With a TEFL Certification?

Getting TEFL certified will help you qualify for online teaching jobs and traditional classroom teaching positions. Around the world, accredited TEFL certifications are a non-negotiable requirement for many employers. 

Once you’ve completed your TEFL program, your application will look much more desirable to future employers and you’ll feel more confident as you begin your teaching career. 

A TEFL course is a good fit for you if you want to: 

Start teaching English online 

Apply to teach in a traditional classroom abroad

Offer freelance services as an online ESL instructor 

Volunteer as an English educator abroad

About TEFL Pros

TEFL Pros is a relatively new online certification company, but even though they’re the new kid on the block, they’ve received excellent reviews.

The company was started by two TEFL teachers, Jos and Whitney, who felt that there was a gap in the market. They wanted to create a high-quality and affordable course that focused on practical, real-world knowledge. 

The result was TEFL Pros, a 120-hour digital TEFL course that’s fully accredited and packed with resources. The lessons and modules are specifically designed to prepare teachers for life in the classroom.

TEFL Pros offers multimedia instruction to support a variety of learning styles and follows a self-paced model so you can learn when you want, where you want.

You’ll watch videos, take quizzes, and create portfolio pieces in addition to learning the written content in each module. 

You can access the course materials from any device, any time. This makes TEFL Pros an awesome option for anyone who needs a flexible online course that complements a busy schedule. 

TEFL Pros offers a clear, well organized, and professional online learning experience. The community is supportive and communication is streamlined for ease of use. 

Why Choose TEFL Pros?

TEFL Pros is worth looking into because they offer the best features of an online course and an in-person course simultaneously. They do this by incorporating hours of real-life classroom footage and training videos with their digital, self-paced content.

TEFL Pros students often mention that these training videos were one of the best parts of the course. If you’ve never taught a lesson before, it can be hard to imagine how activities and instruction will play out in a real classroom.

By viewing hours of authentic classroom footage, you’ll gain more insights about what to expect and how to prepare. 

Both of the TEFL Pros founders recently worked as TEFL teachers themselves, so they know what new teachers need to succeed in the modern market.

The course is designed to remove the fluff and focus on building skills that teachers will use from day one. 

The TEFLPros 120-hour online course is also fully accredited by ACCREDITAT, an international TEFL and TESOL accreditation entity. 

Cost Of The Course

The TEFL Pros course costs $349.00 USD. When you sign up, you’ll receive instant access to the course and all materials. 

One of the great parts about the TEFL Pros course is that you can actually get a sample of the lesson materials before you decide to purchase.

On their website, you can sign up for a free trial which includes a 2-day introductory course. This sample is available to everyone at no cost. 

By signing up for the free trial, you’ll receive the same quality of instruction that you’ll get in the full-length course. You’ll use what you’ve learned to create a lesson plan and get access to bonus resources you can use. 

TEFL Pros Online Course Material

The TEFL Pros course covers the material outlined below in the form of 10 modules. The course takes around 120 hours to complete. 

The introductory module includes welcome materials, teacher interviews, and information about the bonus resources and materials included in the course. Then you’ll get into the meat of the content. 

The 10 main course modules focus on the following topics:

The Role of Teachers and Students, including teaching theory and best practices

Lesson Planning Basics, including classroom observations of effective lessons and guidance on how to plan a TEFL lesson, step by step 

Planning Lessons to teach Speaking

Planning Lessons to teach Writing

Preparing lessons for the first day of class

How to manage a classroom 

Getting students involved, including how to give effective instructions and feedback 

Grammar, including parts of speech and grammar tenses

Planning for last day lessons

Final tips, including grading and exams and classroom materials

In each module begins with a trainer chat video from one of the course instructors. At the end of each module, you’ll complete a quiz and a portfolio assignment.

At the end of all the modules, you’ll complete a final exam and submit your portfolio for review. 

How Long Does The Course Take?

The TEFL Pros course takes about 3-6 weeks if you’re taking it in addition to working or studying. Since the course is self-paced, though, you’re free to work at your own speed.

You have 18 months of access to the material after you purchase the course. If more time is needed, that can be arranged on a case by case basis. 

Pros and Cons of TEFL Pros

In this section, we’ll look at some of the great parts about TEFL pros and some of the less desirable aspects. 

Pros of TEFL Pros

One of the biggest perks of TEFL Pros is that they offer a free trial to interested students. If you’re on the fence, you can try them out before you purchase the course.

This free trial includes a two-day mini-lesson, the opportunity to create a lesson plan, and free classroom resources. 

Another perk is that each TEFL Pros module has an assignment that can be used in your portfolio down the road. These portfolio assignments are reviewed and you’ll receive feedback, which can help make you a better teacher. 

When you’re finished with your TEFL Pros course, you’ll actually have a pretty substantial teaching portfolio ready to go! This means you’ll leave the class with relevant activities and lessons already prepared. You can even show this portfolio to potential employers to enhance your application. 

Another TEFL Pros highlight is that they provide their students with 17 hours of real classroom observation videos.

Some TEFL courses require that teachers observe lessons as part of the certification, and TEFL Pros makes it easy to do so. This is especially helpful for new teachers to get a sense of how lessons look in practice. 

Finally, when you sign up with TEFL Pros, you’ll receive some valuable bonus materials. These resources include a TEFL Pros Activity Book, TEFL Pros Interview and Resume Guide, and 6 teacher interviews. 

Cons of TELF Pros

TEFL Pros doesn’t offer job placement guarantees like some of the other TEFL companies out there. While you’re still likely to find a TEFL job once you have a certification, they don’t offer comprehensive hiring assistance. 

Instead, TEFL Pros focuses on building your confidence as a new teacher, helping you prepare for the interview, and allowing you to build a meaningful portfolio. They also provide recommendations for reputable schools around the world. 

What Else Does The Course Include?

The TEFL Pros course includes more than just helpful TEFL information. They also include the following features. 

A digital and hard-copy version of your accredited TEFL certification

The TEFL Pros Interview and Resume Guide that will help you prepare for your job search 

Modules include 17 hours of classroom observation videos

Students receive feedback and suggestions on how to improve their portfolio pieces

You’ll leave with a professional portfolio which can be used in the future

Can Anyone Take This Course?

This course is open to all fluent and native English speakers who want to learn how to teach English as a second language. If you are not a native English speaker, a C2 level proficiency is recommended. 

TEFL Pros is not for people who just want to meet the bare minimum TEFL requirements.

In order to get your certification, you’ll need to be ready to work on the quizzes, complete the comprehensive modules, and watch the observation videos. 

This course is also not for people who want to be placed in a job by their course provider. Guaranteed job placement is a common element to many big TEFL course companies, but the TEFL Pros course focuses more on the instructional side of things. 

How Do I Sign Up For The TEFL Pros Course?

It’s easy to sign up for the 120 hour TEFL Pros course! Simply navigate to their website and click the large green “Buy The Course” button and you’ll be on your way. 

After purchasing the course, you’ll receive instant access. This is great because it means you can start teaching right away and work at a pace that suits your schedule. 

If you have questions about the course, you can reach out to their team on their website.

Click Here to Learn More and Sign Up With TEFL Pros

Where Can I Learn More About TEFL Certification?

If you’re still curious about getting certified, you can check out this post which breaks down why it’s so important for aspiring teachers and different companies you can look into. 

Getting TEFL certified opens many doors for aspiring ESL teachers, and gives you a leg up on the competition! Learn more about TEFL Pros here and get certified today.

Photos in this article are sourced from Shutterstock – a website for finding royalty-free images and videos. 

The post Taking The TEFL Pros Course: A Complete Guide appeared first on Goats On The Road.

Taking The TEFL Pros Course: A Complete Guide published first on https://travelaspire.weebly.com/

[kennethmjoyner]

Why I’m Signing Off the Podcast I’ve Done for 13 Years

Thirteen years ago this week, in 2005, I sat down in a recording studio in front of a fancy boom microphone, donned a bulky pair of Sony headphones, and waited for the cue. Then I was connected to my new cohost, Newport Beach, Calif., lawyer J. Craig Williams, and recording the first episode of our new podcast. Little did I imagine we’d still be doing it all these years later, making it the longest continually running podcast in law and one of the longest running of any kind.

Last night, after 586 episodes (by my count) of that podcast, I recorded my final one, even as I launch a whole-new podcast of my own, LawNext.

We originally called the show Coast2Coast – both for our west coast/east coast split and for our divergent political perspectives – but later, due to the little matter of a cease-and-desist letter from the eponymous paranormal radio show, we changed it to Lawyer2Lawyer. (Hey, at least we were getting noticed.) Our first show was posted on Aug. 31, 2005. Our guests for that first show were Mike Greco, who had just taken office as president of the American Bar Association, and Erwin Chemerinsky, then a professor at Duke Law School and now dean of the University of California, Irvine, School of Law.

The idea for the show had come from two Boston-area veterans of broadcast news, Lu Ann Reeb, a former TV news director and producer, and Scott Hess, a news photographer. They had founded the Legal Talk Network to record video and audio interviews with legal professionals and proposed that Craig and I – who both then blogged for the now-defunct Law.com Blog Network – team up to host a weekly podcast about current legal events and news.

Podcasts by lawyers were rare then. Among them were Denise Howell’s Bag and Baggage (the predecessor to Howell’s This Week in Law), Evan Schaeffer’s Legal Underground, Evan Brown’s InternetCases, and rethink(ip). But, as I recounted in a 2015 post, podcasting by lawyers took off between 2005 and 2007, only to hit a spell of inertia around 2007. (We interviewed some of these “pioneers of legal podcasting’ in a 2010 show.)

My favorite episode was recorded in a Denver brewery.

I kept at it for one simple reason: It was fun. I never made a penny from podcasting. But every week (and later every second week) I got to have interesting conversations with fascinating people about issues and events that were at the forefront of the news. The Supreme Court. School shootings. Terrorism. Animal rights. Privacy. Weed. Sports law. Better Call Saul. Gender rights. Immigration. Uber. Revenge porn. Lawyer depression. The billable hour. It’s hard to come up with a topic we didn’t cover. Probably my favorite show was about open source software and beer — not for the topic so much as for the fun of recording it onsite in a Denver brewery.

And the guests. From Bryan Garner to Boups the Beerman. From consumer advocate Erin Brockovich to tobacco whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand. From Making A Murderer lawyer Dean Strang to Joseph Salvati, a man who spent 30 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Former 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Alex Kozinski was on our show at least four times before he retired amid allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct.

In one show alone, we had four legendary trial lawyers: Mike Papantonio, Howard Nations, Thomas Girardi and Fred Levin. Another legendary trial lawyer, F. Lee Bailey, was on our show three times (on cross-exam, Whitey Bulger, and Roger Clemens). Still another trial-lawyer legend, Gerry Spence, pronounced on our show, “Lawyers disappoint me.” Five of the top Supreme Court reporters appeared on our show: Marcia Coyle, Lyle Denniston, Amy Howe, Tony Mauro, and David Savage. We even had a lawyer who, at 101, was still practicing law. I could go on and on and on.

Possibly the only time Craig and I recorded in the same room together.

In 2013, the Legal Talk Network changed hands, sold to legal marketing and software company Lawgical. CEO Adam Camras, CTO Trent Carlyle, Executive Producer Laurence Colletti, and the rest of the top-notch Lawgical team have continued to expand the network with new shows and industry alliances. They even talked me into picking up cohosting duties on a second show, Law Technology Now, with my good friend Monica Bay (which I am also now leaving).

The anchor, the keel, the workhorse, the rock of our show over the years has been Kate Nutting. She came on board as our producer just months after we started, and she remains our producer today. She makes sure we have top-notch guests, juggles everyone’s availability to scheduling recordings, researches each topic and prepares discussion points, and generally holds it all together. Without Kate, this show would never have survived this long or achieved the quality it did.

By now you’re probably thinking, “OK, Bob, if it was all so good, why are you leaving?”

The short answer is: To start my own podcast, LawNext. And why did I want to do that? Several reasons:

My interests evolved. My greatest interest these days is innovation in law, law practice and legal technology. My new show is laser focused on innovation and entrepreneurship.

There are only so many hours. Time would not allow me to both start my new podcast and keep doing the old one.

I wanted to be nimbler. If news breaks today, I want to be able to record a podcast this afternoon or tomorrow morning and have it posted within a day.

I wanted to be more hands-on. The Legal Talk Network people are great – so great, in fact, that they do all the work. I wanted to get my hands dirty, to get a better feel for the production and marketing, in addition to the recording.

I wanted to make some money. After 13 years of podcasting pro bono, I wanted to see if I could make a little money from it, selling advertising and sponsorships.

I wanted to own it. I’m really not sure who owns Lawyer 2 Lawyer. But it had long ago slipped away from feeling like something I had ownership of. With LawNext, I have something I can take ownership of.

I wanted to work with my son. Perhaps the best part of my new podcast is that I’m working with my son, Ben Ambrogi, who is my producer and engineer.

Even after 13 years as a podcaster, this new podcast is very much a learning experience. We’ve had to test any number of recording applications, research hosting sites, and figure out the best equipment. And even then, we’ve had glitches I’d rather not discuss. But we learn from each mistake, and we’ll get better over time.

But most of all, it’s fun. With each new episode, we watch the stats to see how many listens we’ll get. It’s a bit addicting, and there’s certainly a rush when the downloads spike. The Legal Talk Network folks say Lawyer2Lawyer was their most downloaded show. It will be a long time, I suspect, before I get this new show to those numbers. But I’m committed to trying.

I can’t sign off the Legal Talk Network without expressing my deep and heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of that over the years. I thank Lu Ann Reeb and Scott Hess for getting me into this in the first place and for remaining good friends over the years. I’ve already said my thanks to Kate Nutting. I thank Adam Camras for convincing me to stay aboard after he bought the company. And no praise is enough for Laurence Colletti, a tireless and talented lawyer-turned-producer who makes LTN run day in and out.

And there’s Craig Williams, my partner in podcasting. Surprisingly, I’d never met Craig before we started the show and have met him in person only a couple times since. But I can’t imagine having been paired for 13 years with a better cohost.

Although our starting premise was that we came from different political persuasions, we agreed far more than we ever disagreed. As in any long-term relationship, there were times when he irritated me – injecting a question that seemed to throw the discussion off kilter or taking the conversation in a direction away from where I wanted it to go. But that unpredictability was a big part of what made the two-host format work. While I came at it with the background of a journalist, he was ever the trial lawyer, insightfully challenging and prodding. Over time, the 3,000 miles between us disappeared and our styles somehow synchronized.

Both Lawyer2Lawyer and Law Technology Now will continue on quite ably without me. Meanwhile, I look forward to this new chapter in my own podcasting life. I hope some of you who followed my former shows will continue to follow me at LawNext.

from Law and Politics https://www.lawsitesblog.com/2018/08/im-signing-off-podcast-ive-done-13-years.html via http://www.rssmix.com/

[thetinfoilhatlady]

The call towards wholeness did not reside in the teaching of the plants: It resided in the deepest parts of my own being.

  In September of 2017 I took the trip of a spiritual lifetime. I am curious about human consciousness, a researcher into alternative history, an outspoken performer, a speaker and writer in the arts world. My life has taken me on many adventures, especially since I started traveling internationally in 2013. As a Medical Laboratory Technologist I also have a biological curiosity.

This trip was the cherry on top of my travels so far. The reward for all the hard work I had done and the understanding I had gained regarding who we are and why we are all here.

I follow a teacher named  Tobias Lars. He shares his wisdom online with videos as well as in workshops, travel retreats and courses. I have his book ‘Listening to the Sun‘ kindle version available. I also use his Inner Body Awakening Meditation. The company Spiritual Travelers is another one of his exciting endeavors. Through his Ayahuasca retreats I found the perfect place to experience Ayahuasca,; the Mother of all ancient plant medicine, at The Source.

Hidden within the mysterious and ancient Sacred Valley in Peru and quite close to the famous Machu Picchu, is the fabulous retreat called The Source.  They call it the edge of Luxury and indeed it is. Created and constructed by the unnamed ‘owner’ this is a majestic and magical location. Perfect for escaping from the outside world of negativity and stress. Not only beautiful but consciously constructed by the promptings of Ayahuasca herself.

See the beautiful ladies washroom here ! See my room here.

I arrived with 11 others from around the world for 6 days of soul exploration. A couple from Australia, a man from Denmark, two ladies from Sweden, a mother and son from Romania, 3 women from America and myself, the lone Canadian. As these things usually reveal them selves to be, each of us was called to do ceremony at this site, and each of us were perfect for each others learning. Hear the local music from my balcony wrapped in jasmine here.

See my Facebook album here for images.

The one month to two week preparation in diet and lifestyle, was essential for a most enjoyable experience. Though ‘Aya’ is known as The Purge, if one prepares well enough that aspect of the experience is less bothersome. In this regard I had quit coffee, dairy, meat, dried fruit, fermented foods and was very conscious of not taking any medication unless needed. Also using less chemicals in my personal hygiene as well as keeping off the computer and using less media all round. I started to do some yoga, meditate daily, write in my journal and avoid any recreational drugs or alcohol.

It is very important to avoid pork and dried or bruised fruit, as these food create a chemical compound that does not mix well with Aya and can cause serious health problems. Needless to say once one commits to the diet and lifestyle changes, the ceremony has begun.

Because I am a Celiac Sprue my ability to restrict myself was not as hard as it was for others. One person who chose not to quit meat for example was always quite sick during ceremony and could not stop throwing up for hours.

So why even put one’s self through all this ? To me the answer was curiosity. Again my need to research, my need to know, my desire to understand my consciousness set me on this journey. I had known about DMT or Dimethytriptamine for many years. Those who study hallucinogens or partake in their use will be familiar with the substance. This is also known as The Spirit Molecule and is actually produced naturally in our bodies by our pineal gland when we dream and when we die.

Is it safe ?

“The exact toxic profile of DMT is unknown, but studies in rodents suggest that a lethal dose in humans would be extremely high; more than 20 times the typical dose given during an ayahuasca ceremony.”

“A group of experienced DMT users were asked to rate its safety, with 55% reporting it to be “very safe” and 38% “quite safe”.[4] The main risks they reported were a “bad trip” (51%), which is considerably higher than the risk of bad experiences with the other classic psychedelics, LSD and psilocybin.”

The week consisted of four Aya ceremonies one day off and one day of Wachuma or San Pedro Cactus drink and the Andean Sweat Lodge.  This drink, which we helped prepare the day prior, was taken in the afternoon. It made us quite chatty and it was wonderful to wander the gardens and sense the natural beauty all around us. The active ingredient in San Pedro cactus is mescaline.

Of course the first night of Ayahuasca, I had no idea what to expect. I knew I would throw up, I knew I would have a bowel purge, but that was about it. Little did I know the wisdom and insights that would be revealed to me by weeks end.

Each morning we had the option of a movement class and an afternoon mandatory debriefing session with our Shaman Aminta. She was the spiritual conductor of the ceremony who guided the music being created and the timing of the night. She also took care to make certain we were all breathing and safe and cared for along with Beth and Ritchie and another local Healer who sang wonderful traditional songs that I seemed to know.

We were told to use our breath to flow, use the music as an anchor and use our gratitude as a rope to guide is through the adventure. We also were asked to remember no matter how weird it got, it would eventually end. All great advice.

The Temple where the Aya ceremonies occur is a beautiful round building. Since electronics were not allowed inside I respectfully did not take any pictures myself. These are shots I found on the website .

The ceiling is glass and it was most wonderful to look up at the southern hemisphere stars towards the end of the ceremonies. Being able to see the milky way while walking back to our rooms afterwards was also quite amazing.

Ceremonies last anywhere from 6 to 8 hours and started at 6:30pm. We each had a nice bed to lay in and a beautiful washroom to visit when needed. There were personal purge buckets that were emptied by staff as soon as we used them.

Everything is well coordinated and thought out to ensure you have a most pleasant, beautiful and safe experience. The staff is top notch and well experienced. The food is high frequency, grown onsite and prepared with your health at heart. If YOU are called, The Source is where you want to go to experience Ayahuasca.

So what did I experience ?

After a few Hail Mary’s and an ongoing mantra I use “I love and Approve of Myself, I am Safe.” it was my turn to down the brew. It is made from boiling the Vine containing the active DMT and leaves which allow your body to access the medicine. My impression was that it tasted like black licorice. Others thought it was bad tasting. It is very individual.

The effects start with many colours and I noticed as I lay with my eyes shut that these were the textile patterns seen in South America. Then I was drawn into what I can only call ‘scenes’. They were from my life and they drew me into intellectual dilemmas. Scenes of conversations, arguments or just trying to get ones point across.

I noticed Aya “tagging” words in these scenes and then I was able to stop them and using my breath blow them away. I walked down the middle of these scenes for some time. The words she tagged were words like FAULT, BAD, WRONG, ERROR, MISTAKE. I understood they were not real, not valid. Things just ARE. There can be no judgement on them.

Now it is very hard to explain my experiences to you in words. The profound meaning is very personal and individual. Your ‘trip’ would not be the same as mine. Each time you do it and each person who does it has different experiences.

During the first and second ceremony there were many entities who came to stand beside me with their hands up as if to give me an energy treatments, as well as those who ‘ate’ impurities from my subtle bodies. I was aware of my C-section scar and had help doing more healing needed from that traumatic event 23 years ago, in which I almost bled out.

I was also shown my maternal bloodline and how each member saw each other. The things handed down so to speak could be healed and sent back through time or not. I had the option. I got a strict warning about WI FI and how it hurts me. Later in ceremony 3 and 4, I became a giant cobra and also a long fanged dragon. I found this very fun.

Mother Aya also showed me the word KNOWING. Then it morphed in to NO  ING, then to NOW. My understanding at this point is that we can never truly know anything, but we can always be in the NOW. For someone like me whose first words were ‘I’m Curious!’, it was confirmation of my spiritual research. There is only NOW. Time is an artifact of consciousness and does not really exist.

The call towards wholeness did not reside in the teaching of the plants: It resided in the deepest parts of my own being.

There is much more however it is not to be put into words. My understanding is that I am actually doing very well in my life. I have come through some challenges and have done so with grace. Needless to say it was well worth it. I am planning to go back in a few years and do it again. The Source is a true safe space where those who have experience and ability can guide you to experience this medicine.

If you are called please consider going. At this time of planetary healing we can all contribute to the general raising of human consciousness.

  Ayahuasca and Me The call towards wholeness did not reside in the teaching of the plants: It resided in the deepest parts of my own being.