The Secret Life of Kimi and How She Does it: The Danger of Internet and Social Network Sites

The Secret Life of Kim Boes and how she does it

What is my secret? How can I live the way I do? How can I be everywhere and nowhere and change destinations every 2 - 3 months? 

Graduation Speech 

First, during my studies I already 'taught' finance to several people. I absolutely love finance (one of these rare people) and really wanted these people to understand it as well. Nothing in this world makes me more happy than making other people happy, make sure they succeed and they understand something after I explained them. Why should I keep the knowledge to myself if I can help other people understand it better? Second, I happen to have written an excellent thesis with some very nice research that I will present on the e-Tourism Brennpunkt in Salzburg, Austria next Monday. Along the way I noticed that my academic writing in English is not so bad at all and therefore I am consulting and assisting on various academic papers at the moment. Third, what I also noticed is that with understanding three languages perfectly I can translate Dutch/German text to English without any problem. Fourth, something else is that I do not have a problem doing work you do not need a degree for, therefore, I am, next to all the activities I am doing at the moment, also Delivering The Mail in Hulst. 

Tour Map of our 'Get Lost' Tour in NZ

The Secret of Living Life the Kimi Way

• Work Hard in something you love
• Take all small jobs cause they will give you the base to future success 
• Have a goal, in the not so far future, to work towards
• Take a temporary job to make extra money (even if it might not be your dream job, its only temporary!) 
• Do only what you enjoy doing and never give up no matter what other people say
• Be realistic but always on the positive side of things 
• Luxury is not everything. Remember, that with this way of living you might not have heaps on your bank account but are living the life you always wanted 
• Never give up believing in yourself! 

Best Practise 

• Cried for some weeks because I didn't find a job
• Thought about what I love most and do best and how to combine these two 
• Founded Bacon and Eggs
• Spread the word about what I am doing got me
• Ghostwriter job
• Consulting 3 dissertations 
• One translating job 
• Invitation to present my research at eTourism Brennpunkt conference 
• Awesome website and a big network for Bacon and Eggs Tours 
• Leaving my apartment to work as a temporary postman in The Netherlands
• Buy a ticket to NZ to have a 'not so far in the future' goal
• Do a TEFL course to Teach English as a Foreign Language as Volunteering Work next year
• Brainstorm about the 'Trip of my life around the world without a plane' 
• Have a permanent smile on my face even if I worry or feel sh*t 

Temp Job in AWESOME Berlin! 

This sounds like a lot and it is a lot, I work 7 days a week but believe me, I enjoy every single second of it and I could not imagine a better life than I have now. If this makes people think I am a dreamer, a liar or untrustworthy than I feel sorry for them. Having an awesome life your way is possible, just get out of that comport zone and start living. It might not be easy at first but I guarantee you, after a while you never want something else again!

Ode to Social Media

Again, I have to communicated my thoughts about people that attack one another on the internet. Social Media are there to share information (in the amounts you feel comfortable with) and help each other with anything possible. Please think twice before spreading rumours, negative worth of mouth or accusations. Before you hurt somebodies feelings or effect a company contact them personally. Public attacks might only bother outsiders and you might even negatively effect yourself in the matter. 

I am happy I found a reason to tell something about myself, my life and my company again. Thank you 'forum person' for providing me with some nice content on my blog!

Life Around...The World?

'Home is an invention on which no one has yet improved' 

- Ann Douglas 

The Netherlands vs The World

About a month ago I decided to go 'home', to The Netherlands, where my parents live. I am not entirely sure if this is my main 'home' as I have had many places that I called this over the last years. Also Austria is home and Berlin and I even sometimes consider New Zealand as my home. But basically: For me 'Home' is where my teddybear and my pillow are. These two items are, at the moment, located in my bed in Hulst so I guess The Netherlands is 'Home' for now. 

In order to understand this post better I will have to give you some background information. Hulst is the city I was born and went to school till the age of 15, after that I decided to change and finish my high school in Terneuzen (a city 20 km away from Hulst). After my graduation I lived around many places in The Netherlands and Belgium but moved to Austria about 6/7 years ago. As you can imagine I left many people behind, friends and colleagues, and learned to be a World Citizen. The longest period of time I have spend in Hulst, over the last years, has been about 10 days. I guess you can imagine what a change it is, being here now for 1 month and staying for another 2 months. I went from a World Citizen back to an 'Abandoned by Young People City' Citizen.

Back to the 'Normal' World

Being back in the city I was born in is interesting. Let's say; I enjoy the conversations with my parents and the temporary work in doing next to Bacon and Eggs Tours. Apart from that; Being back here made my think about my life more than ever. And the thought are, sometimes, shocking and there have been many moments I thought: Kim, seriously, what did you do with your life!

Being here confronts me with the people that stayed here, with their marriages, their children, their relationships, their homes and houses... It confronts me everyday with all the things I do not have and makes me wonder if I did the right thing. There has never been a stronger moment in my life than now where I can't help but wonder: Is my life how I really want it? 

Yes, I do not want to swap my life with any of my former class mates that have all the security of a  family, home and job. I admire them for being able to cope with it, to take care of their relationships and all the things that come along with it but I, no, Im not ready for that. I might not be made for that, at least.... not now.

An Alternative Lifestyle

I have chosen, myself, all the paths I went over the last couple of years. Of course I sometimes  wish I had it done a different way but I am happy with all the things I did, the choices I made because they made me into the person I am today. I might have chosen an alternative route, an adventurous route, a challenging route which sometimes worries me. But I absolutely love my life at the moment!

Bacon and Eggs Tours

Bacon and Eggs Tours represents everything I am. A relaxed company, made out of love for Travelling and New Zealand, made for all those people who want to learn about this countries culture and nature and are, just like me, a little adventurous. Having your own company is for sure not easy and I experience that everyday. It worries me, stresses me and gives me sleepless nights BUT it also makes me laugh, makes me happy and very proud of myself for getting through even if when it gets tough. Being back in Hulst, back 'Home' makes me fight more for my company and my lifestyle and every time I have to listen to the question marks about my life from the people around me it makes me want to fight more, and never, really never, wanting to give up the awesome and amazing life I have. It might not be a secure way but it for sure is an awesome and adventurous way! 

Never give up your dreams, they might be 'weird' to the world around you but they are your dreams. Admire them & never let them down!   

Travel Mate or Horror Companion

'It's easier to find a travelling companion than to get rid of one'

- Art Buchwald

Two might be one to many: Backpacking & Travelling Companion

Im selfish, I want to do what I want to do, I want to see things I want to see and if I have the opportunity to travel alone, I will travel alone. This first sentence sounds like I am one of these socially awkward people, an 'Einzelgänger' and impossible travel companion. But nothing could be further from the truth. I enjoy both, I love both and like to combine both. During my stay in Thailand, about a year ago, I travelled alone around this country and it was wonderful. After a couple of months in New Zealand with travellers and backpackers around me 24/7 it was just delightful to be on my own, to enjoy the silence, the beauty of my surroundings and living my life and only my life. I did notice the easiness of meeting travel buddies, travel companions or travel mates which seems, in my opinion, way less complex than when you are travelling with somebody already. It's like you send out a scent, a sign for people to detect, the indication of solitary. And suddenly you are not alone anymore, your solitude is over..... you find a travel bud.

Travel Companions, Travel Buddies and Travel Mates: Online and Offline

As I said before, I have the feeling that solo travellers send out a message to fellow travellers and suddenly contacts are way easier made than at home, than in every - day life. It might be the fact that all these people do the same thing, are in the same boat and therefore become 'friends', travel friends. For me this is a well known phenomenon as I have seen this happen many times before, but for many 'beginning' travellers and backpackers it is a nightmare to even consider travelling alone. It is therefore good to know we have something called the internet, a connecting people network where 'soon-to-become' travellers can find other backpackers and arrange trips and meet-ups months or weeks before departure. As I am searching for travellers that want to join my three exclusive and affordable bus tours in New Zealand I have found some good websites although one website developed itself as my favourite.

Find a Travel Companion: Find My Travel Mate

For me it was sad to see that many websites ask money for contacting fellow travellers. The sign up is for free, the searching as well but as soon as you find the perfect person to travel with these websites poor rain on your parade. Good to know that there is one website My Travel Mate that does not do this. This start-up makes it possible for you to create your trip, with all details included, and promote this trip on the My Travel Mate website. As I am searching for some 'travel buddies' I signed up, created a trip, added some pictures and tried out if this could work. And yes, it does. I am not one of these people that goes around to promote other websites, except my own, but My Travel Mate is something that makes me happy in a virtual world, with 100000 travel buddies websites and forums make it impossible for me to find one that has it all. My Travel Mate does this and therefore I would like to thank this website for making my life easier. And of course I recommend this platform to every traveller who wants to meet people, its easy, its fast and even better.... for free!!! 

Are you looking for somebody to travel with? Go Bacon and Eggs Tours for New Zealand and check My Travel Mate in any other case ;) 

Dutch Bacon and Eggs

'When you're in my house you shall do as I do and believe in who I believe in.

So Bart, butter your Bacon!' - Homer Simpson

A couple of weeks ago I informed you about my 'poor' job situation in my 'motivation' post. Today I am proud to tell you that a lot of changes occurred and that I have a plan, as far as plans work in my life, but that's another story. 

So, what am I doing? What is my secret to eternal happiness, millions of euros on my Swiss bank account and international fame.....? Mmmm, I have to disappoint you here, no secret and no heaps of money to make me a 'forever traveller'. No. 

• I started my own company: Bacon and Eggs Tours 

Yes, I am allowed to put that in the middle of this post. This is my 'plan', the next best thing, the man in my life, my love at first sight.... my way to become a professional traveller. 

Apart from the fact that I absolutely love, love, love Bacon and Eggs and believe this should be the only legal breakfast around (at least on Sunday), this is the name of my baby company that has absolutely nothing to do with this awesome food. Bacon and Eggs Tours will organise and guide small group tours in New Zealand and Europe. 

Bacon and Eggs Tours

What will Bacon and Eggs do? Aren't there enough tour companies around already? Of course I did some research on this to make sure I have the opportunity to provide a product that is not around already. Nowadays this is quite difficult as every person with an idea has the opportunity to register this and start a new company. Therefore, I have another motto: Fun, Personal Service and an Awesome holiday experience! 

As I have been working for one of these 'bigger' tour operators in New Zealand I have seen the commercial side of it. These tours are great and cool but have 45 people on a bus with fixed photo stops and hostels in destinations where all the other bus companies go to as well. All good and well but this is not what I want for my 'fellow-travellers' all the time. Bacon and Eggs will have a maximum of 10 people and 2 guides that will show New Zealand in its most purest and most awesome form in a 25 days tour. With the start in Auckland we will travel to the Bay of Islands, down to see the North Island, go South from Wellington and stay in some crazy beautiful places. 

Tour Map New Zealand

As I stayed in hostels and have seen many travellers camping on the best places in the country I decided that Bacon and Eggs will have a combination of hostels and camping places. New Zealand is a wonderful country with a very rich culture most tourists do not see anymore. I decided to go camping as this is an opportunity to sleep, and even more, wake up in a breathtaking environment that will make your day just wonderful. With 45 people I would never have been able to give them a personal experience and information about the country. 10 people will give me the possibility to individualise the tour and make it an unforgettable experience. My love for this country is my motivator in this all and I just want the people, who decide to travel with me, to experience New Zealand just a little different. The whole story on how Bacon and Eggs came to life in the lovely city of Berlin you can find on my website www.baconandeggstours.com. So, now I have revealed my secret, my way to live an awesome life and travel with amazing people in my favourite country. 

Will I get rich from this??? To be honest: I Do Not Care. This is not the reason I am doing this, I am just not willing to give up my dream to combine the two things I love most: New Zealand and Travelling

My Berlin Kitchen

In my creative hour I decided to check various dictionaries on the definition of 'Kitchen'

Mac Dictionary

kitch.en |ˈki ch ən|

noun

a room or area where food is prepared and cooked.

The Free Dictionarykitch-en a. a room or part of a building equipped for preparing and cooking food
The Cambridge Dictionary kitchen a room where food is kept, prepared and cooked and where the dishes are washed
Why in the world would I check the definition on such an 'object'? 
Cause I have been living in my new apartment in Berlin for three weeks without a kitchen and today I received a happy phone call that tomorrow my kitchen will be installed :) I am definitely a disaster in the kitchen but having a place to wash the dishes, except from the bathtub, would be nice :) 
To be continued....

Motivation....motivation

'If you think you have things under control, you're

not going fast enough' - Mario Andretti 

It's raining down, poring down, on my parade... Literally. Since I moved to Berlin it has been raining, a LOT! I haven't been properly dry since I arrived on the 12th of July in this awesome city. Which is almost seven weeks now! What happened to the sun? What happened to the summer? .....

Ah well, guess most people have been complaining about the weather. I am not going to be one of those people, I don't want to go mainstream here. Therefore my topic for moaning: Motivation.

What happened to my motivation? Where did it go? I can't remember sending it on a holiday though I start to question myself these days... where did I put it... ? 

For being a dedicated writer and person who always wants to learn more, know more and read more I have been doing nothing much over the last months. Since I finished my studies I have been sleeping, or so it seems. In July I started my internship with Wimdu. I won't spill more words about this, just one advise: Do not EVER start ANY internship with this company. I worked here for a month before I quit and, thought, I was going to start a new job. Berlin has been nice to me so far, however, this company let me down in the last minute due to my 'poor' German skills. Rain poring down on my parade again. Since then I have been looking for an awesome job which, till now, did not really provide me with any exciting offers. I stay positive, or I try to stay positive and believe in the awesomeness of this international city and hope it stops raining down on my soonish. 

In the mean time I am trying to work as a ghostwriter and get into any research jobs. My friends know me as the social media person and 'nerd' who likes research. As I am dedicated to start a career in research, writing and consulting I am interested in any project in combination with any of these features. Working as a ghostwriter keeps my writing skills up and conducting research keeps my mind busy. I came across various research Masters which prepare me for a PhD but, as usual, I am too late to apply for this year... therefore I need to wait till next year. 

My status at the moment:

• No Job
• No Master
• An Awesome Apartment
• An Awesome City
• Three Ghostwriter Assignments 
• Creative Freelancer for The Buzz Agency
• Disastrous Motivation Level ;) 

I thought I had everything under control, which is for me quite unusual. BUT, nothing is less true. Chaos, absolute chaos I could once again embrace into my world. It's my love hate affair because: After absolute chaos there can only be order...

Decisions and choice, words who rule my world

'For my part I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake.

The great affair is to move' - Robert Louis Stenson

Where to begin? Choice, opportunities, challenges... Questions, plans and endless conversations without an end. Circles, running around in circles... and time... time who pores down rain on my parade. 

New Zealand is the country of my dreams. I can be myself, have nature around me and am able to have sand and snow on the same day. It is legal to go out the door on jandals and wear board shorts, hoody and have messy hair at any time of the year. The internet and smartphones are still a thing of the future and planning or worrying are words not to be found in the New Zealand dictionary. It is the country of relaxed people where 'cuz', 'bro' and 'sweet as' are not considered as ghetto slang. I am in love with this piece of land floating around at the bottom of this planet however... can I stay here? Or better, shall I stay here? 

Now the end of my studies is getting near I should probably make some decisions on what to do after, after my 'student' life, after the years of hoovering around the world. New Zealand is the country of my dreams but opportunities lay in Europe and, unfortunately, so is the salary. Torn apart between two worlds which cannot be further away from one another. 

At the moment I am tired, tired of travelling and living out of a suitcase. A different place to sleep every night, I long to a place to call home. Because, where is home? After living in different countries over the last seven years, building up and taring down foundations I am here, 25 and at a point I want to choose. I travel around to go, to move, to have a new adventure and I tend to do this every couple of months, years. Of course I can keep continue doing this and I am sure I will be a happy camper but where will home be? I want to be a pink princess, a handbag (inside joke) let somebody else make the decisions for me cause I am too tired to do it. 

Where to begin? Choice, opportunities, challenges... Questions, plans and endless conversations without an end. Circles, running around in circles... and time... time who pores down rain on my parade and takes over my life at the moment....