after_alex

For my Question about Traveling the World in 330 days. The Winner is ANTHONY. Indeed his answer seems quite reasonable for someone like myself who enjoys wandering and finding the little valuables to stay interested in life:

“I would be like a nomad and just wander around the world. If I get bored of one place I would just pack my things and move on to the next destination. Perhaps one day go to Italy for some pasta or pizza, the next day I can be soaking up the sun in Jamaica. Or travel through the tunnels of the London subways. If I got homesick I would just visit a military base or find a McDonalds.” -Anthony

Thanks Anthony, and Congratulations. You have won the Question Contest on April 23, 2006.

I Have a Question for You.

If you had to spend 330 days out of the year outside the country (outside the US), where would you go? Let’s say you got ostracized from the US for one year…or you chose to do it as a challenge. Or better yet, you were offered $20,000 to stay outside the country for 330 out of the year. Would you do it?

Let’s say you got the $20,000 up front. Would you blow it all on travels? Vacations in the carribean? Prostitutes in Thailand? Swim with Penguins in Antarctica? (the non-US territory in Antarctica, of course) Paris? Venice? Saigon? Mumbai? Shanghai? Hong Khong? Syndey? Rio de Janeiro? North Korea? Where would YOU go?

Let me know.

The reason why I am asking is that the IRS has a huge tax benefit for US citizens who work and live abroad for at least 330 days out of a full year. In case you didn’t know, this is one of the big reasons why [American] international development consultants do so much traveling, and try to stay away from the US. Assuming they’ve already been outside the US for 330 days, I believe that for each day that they return, they still lose a substantial amount of money. Something like in the thousands. So…

Imagine you got paid to go on vacation. Or you could just bum around the Sahara desert or Egyptian ruins or Jerusalem or something. What would you pick? Where would you go? How much money would you spend? How would you communicate with your loved ones back home?

AND…let’s make this a contest. The person who responds with the best answer (in my opinion) by next week, April 30…will get $5 USD by PayPal. Yes, that’s right. I will pay you for your ideas. $5 to the best idea. All answers must be posted as a comment below, and leave your e-mail address where you can be contacted. Answers that sound like copy-cats will not be considered, and comments with earliest posts will be considered most highly. Let the suggestions flow…

[this offer is void where prohibited, and you must be a resident of the USA to enter]

Ahh…so THIS is why I’ve been craving bananas so much lately…

That explains it all…

Most of you probably have never lived in Africa. Ever wondered what it’s like?

Read this personal e-mail to me from Jamie Bowman, a woman whom I met in Afghanistan…I just couldn’t help posting this, because her life is just so “Jamie Bowman” -

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Dear Alex:

I’m feeling so sorry for myself, so I thought I’d write and impose on you. Most of Southern Sudan had four days off for Easter, but in order to “bill” for the days here, I had to work. in my tent.which is hot.and small.and ugly. So for me, Easter was a big bust. No eggs, no marshmallow bunnies. And it was hotter than the hinges of hell. So it didn’t have that “springy” feeling that one associates with Easter. The UNOCHR people threw a party. I didn’t go, because it was scheduled for “9- until dawn” and the big selling point was “loads of booze.” Now, you know that’s just asking for big trouble.

I’ve been trying to get some exercise by walking around town in the mornings. After than bout of malaria, I’ve felt a bit weak. So I though
walking might build up my strength. No matter how early I walk, all the kids come out and holler, “morning, morning, morning.” I have to shake a hundred little hands and exchange names. Now they yell, “morning Jaaaaammmy, morning Jaaaaaammmy”. Anyway, this is unusual behavior, because usually I’m besieged by demands for money. This was the case every other place I’ve worked. But not here. Not one request for money until the very end, when one little guy, about a year younger than Connor, puts his hand out and asks “U.S. dollar?” Had to laugh, not only did he ask for money, he had a specific currency in mind.

There are lots of de-miners in camp. And its just impossible not to mention them because they’re always involved in some antic or another. Trying to be friendly, I walk by one with two earings in one ear. I said, “hey, you have more jewelry than I do.” And with out missing a beat, he says, “That’s only the jewelry you can see, my love, only the jewelry you can see.” (Yeeeeeeew). As my friend from Australia commented, he conjured up visions we didn’t want conjured up.

So that’s all for now. Let me know what you’re up to.

Jamie

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Now that’s the attitude of a winner, I must say. The mark of a true Berkeley graduate. Yup, that’s right, she graduated from Berkeley too, back in the 80s or 90s or something. She’s now a lawyer practicing development law around the world. She grew up in San Jose (her parents are practically right next door to me), and she lived in OC for 10 years too. What a coincidence huh? And we met in Afghanistan. Man, does that remind me how small the world really is.

So ya, even though Jamie’s in South Sudan right now, she still responds to my e-mail within minutes. Is the world flat or what these days…OK, well keep on truckin’ Jamie-

So I’m looking for a new job.

Yes, it’s already (and only) been 3 months into this job, and I’m looking for a new one. That’s cuz the current one I’m in is short-term. I have three months left.

My tactic for finding a new job in the consulting business, so far, and probably will continue to be, the Machine Gun Tactic.

Yes, boys and girls, this is the famous tactic that many of you are familiar with. Most of you probably know this art of the Machine Gun solicitation in the club or the bar, where you’ve attempted (or have been the target of someone who’s attempted) to spread the seeds – cast the net – spread the cheese….whatever it is that you call it…as widely as possible.

And thus, I’m aiming and shooting at every major consulting company that moves. My goal for the next two weeks is one new company to which I will have sent my resume for every night of the week. By May, this will mean twenty more solicitations. If I get no response, I will continue until every last HR recruiter’s mailbox is full with Alexander Ngo’s. Don’t get in my way, or else you’ll get hit – two in the chest, one in the head.

OK, maybe that’s a bit too violent of an analogy for your tastes. But it fits nonetheless. But hey, help me out, will ya? If you work for a management consulting company, pass my resume on please. You know where to contact me for the goods. If things work out right, I’ll gladly compensate you for your resourcefulness and your efforts…

If you don’t do it for me, do it for Victoria’s sake. Or for my mom. You wanna know why? Because if all fails, I may be going right back to Afghanistan, and yes, the ladies in my life will break down and lose and grip on reason itself. Help me! Or else the next time you see me may be in the sands of Afghanistan!