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 ;) 

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.... 

Who Moved My Cheese

What would you do if you weren't afraid? - Dr. Spencer Johnson 

In 2006 I started a relationship from which I knew it was not as it should be. However, I did not stop it. I put in more and more effort to try to change this person. In April 2010 I finally ended it and did not understand why I hadn't done it earlier. Of course I was devistated, cried for days and thought it was the end of my life! This person, this place, this house had been my life, my solid ground. 

Today, I understand why I kept doing it for so long. I was afraid of change. 

The funny thing is that I have been moving around the world quite a lot over the last couple of years. I tried many different things. Worked in restaurants, did a snowboard instructor course and worked as one for five seasons, studied different things and lived in five different countries. Apparently, I am not afraid of change. However, in this relationship I was. In April 2010 I decide to go to New Zealand even if I was afraid. I tattooed 'What doesn't kill me makes me stronger' on  my back and went for it. Today, I found 'New Cheese', good tasting 'Cheese', interesting Cheese, Cheese that makes me happy and I would not have found this 'Cheese' if I didn't decided I needed change. 

However, I see many people around me staying at the same place, hoping to come back to the same over and over and over again. But life changes, people change, jobs and university change and we shouldn't stick our head in the sand but face it. Be honest to yourself and think for one minute what you would have done if you hadn't been afraid for change. Maybe change job a long time ago or end the relationship you are in? Even small changes can make you feel fresh again or give you new energy.

When I came back to Austria in October after three months of being in New Zealand and an awesome trip to Thailand, my friends told me I had changed, and I did. I see things different now, I am far more relaxed and see new possibilities and found new interests. Today, I am working hard to start my own company, I'm enrolled in a Master in Digital Marketing, smile way more, enjoy life much more and have an awesome boyfriend! 

Of course I have been thinking about my life a lot over the last months but it really made me realise how it all developed after reading this awesome book. Some of you may know that I am a book worm and love to read. I am also aware of the fact that not the whole world shares this passion with me, however, the next book you have to read! It only takes about an hour, is easy to read and will change the way you think. Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

Go for it and let me know what you are planning of changing ;) 

Working in Auckland, New Zealand

'A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving' -  Lao Tzu 

I'm Back.

I'm back in New Zealand. I arrived four days ago and it feels like I've never been back to Europe.  Everything is still the same, only the temperature has gone up with about 20 degrees :) 

After some awesome days and nights (due to my friend called Jet lag) in Wellington I went back up to Auckland on Sunday to see and move in again with my amazing friends Kate and Menz, Bernie and Spalding. It's like I never left and the bullying started the minute I walked in, good to be home again and enjoy such a warm welcome :)

Although I wanted to leave my friend/foe called thesis at home, he somehow managed to slip into my backpack and follow me to the other side of the world....mmmm....Guess I have to deal with him here now, as well. He is kind of demanding and likes to take a lot of my time and energy but I can't keep avoiding him. I tried to leave him behind in China, as my backpack stayed there a little longer than I did but he managed to track me down anyway. 

Of course I did make some plans before I came here (I tried to) but did not manage to find a job that actually fits my thesis writing and researching schedule. Therefore, I am in Auckland, plan less, job less and broke :) Welcome to my world! I checked to regular websites and did apply for some jobs. My socialising helped as well and therefore, I hope to get a job soonish :) I'm a positive person and it will be all good in the end. 'What doesn't kill me makes me stronger!'. 

From now on I will be writing more on my blog again and keep you up to date about the second part of my awesome New Zealand journey :) But let's get a job first ;) 

Travelling New Zealand

At the moment my life is all about my studies and my return to New Zealand. However, the last one is causing some sleepless nights... 

It is 11pm and I'm in bed, I want to go to sleep but there is this little person running around in my head, bouncing. It keeps releasing opportunities, challenges and difficulties of where to go, what to do and how to do it. 

For the lucky ones that already had the opportunity to travel to this beautiful country, they may know how hard it is to stay at one place in New Zealand. It may seem so small when you have a look at a map of the world, but, believe me, it's huge! There is so much to see, so much to do and I want to see it all again, and on a (very) low budget :) The plans I made, or had to made, already changed numerous times and I really don't know anymore why I should have a plan before I go.

Why do people like to plan everything before they start travelling, why not just go and see how everything will be. By doing so you keep yourself from being disappointed and sad. As I wrote in my previous post, people are not fond of uncertainties, we like to plan and avoid the unexpected. I wanted to think I'm different but can't fool myself anymore. I am like this, I am a (little) Dutch 'control freak'.... and I'm not amused by it! 

So, on the 15th of December I will fly back to my favourite country, I will get on a plane with a max. of 15kg luggage, fly for 30 hours and be happy! Whatever comes after that I will see there... 

New Zealand travelling south

As you may know I am travelling the south island of NZ at the moment. I got myself a Stray pass, hopped,last Thursday, on the Intercity from Auckland to Wellington, got on the ferry to Picton after a good night out in the hostel where I stayed, slept a couple of hours during the crossing and jumped onto Daisy's bus in Picton. Surprisingly, I managed to crump all I wanted, or needed, to bring down south in my small backpack. I decreased the amount of shoes I thought I might need from five to three and did not bring, I think, unnecessary clothes. Have to say that till now I haven't even used a third from what I brought but let's not get of track here.

So, I got on Daisy's bus, with 17 other backpackers, and the first thing we were going to do  that day was.....wine tasting. Awesome activity for an hangover day! I needed about five different wines and only 2$ to get me into that nice half drunk phase again. However, this was going to be a long day on the bus and I knew I was going to be hit by Daisy if I would fall asleep while he was driving. So, I got myself together and managed to stay awake all the way to Marahau, Abel Tasman where we were going to stay the next two days. We decided to cook a group meal this night which resulted in awesome mussels, thanks to Daisy, and amazing spaghetti coordinated by nobody else than myself (I am not kidding here) and lots of help from other people on the bus. Cooking spaghetti for 14 people in a small hostel kitchen is kind of a challenge which we, as an awesome team, managed very well. I called it a night early and enjoyed an outside hot tub before I went to sleep.  

Next morning we woke up with the news about  the earthquake which had hit Christchurch early that morning. As we were in Abel Tasman, about 500km away, some had felt it whereas others didn't. I contacted home as soon as possible to let everybody know I was doing good. However shocked by the fact of this 7.1 earthquake we got the car and drove to a very cute salmon farm where we were able to catch our own salmon which was then going to be cleaned, smoked and eaten. As an, very, inexperienced fisher I followed Mike. I hoped he would know what he was doing....After 20sec he proved me he knew exactly how to catch fish. I was shocked, not even ready, still looking at the water in the hope to SEE a fish. But there he was standing, getting the fish to the shore where I was suppose to catch it in my net. I tried to pretend I knew exactly what I was doing, got the net, walked to to shore, managed to not fall into the water and surprisingly got the salmon out of the water in no time. A bit proud of myself I let Mike convince me of throwing in the line as well. After following his instructions I caught the, second, fish in my life! (there was this one time back in the day, when we didn't had the Euro yet that I happen to go fishing with some of my family). Some pictures needed to be taken so I posed with my fish, kissed it and let Mike kill it. After 20 min of fun (Mike managed to catch yet another one in the following 10 min) we let them clean our salmon and smoke them for us. The taste was amazing! I was never a big salmon lover but catching them yourself suddenly makes them much tastier :)

We drove around some more and I even got to drive a manual car on the left side of the road heading up a mountain with some crazy turns in it. I bet Mike was scared as hell however he keeps denying it. Next day was Barrytown day. All Nations backpackers, well known for the dress up parties. As I grew up with carnival I like parties like this and thought about my outfit for the rest of the day. Pirates and ninjas was the common thing I heard so I, as some people may know of me, needed to be different. As a persons who doesn't wear make-up or owns a proper dress I decided to kill with... LOVE! I let Mike wrap me into a plastic bag, I tied a bow (think this is the right word) around my waist and head and here I was, ready to destroy with love and cuteness. Have to say it was a really funny evening with some interesting gossip afterwards :) Don't we just love it being on an holiday, hooking up with everything and everybody and let the gossip go around the bus the following morning :) Or other things referring to one of my previous posts.

However, being sort of a backpacker at the moment I am not able to access my Twitter or Facebook account very often. I told you in my previous post that I am a Facebook addict and I have to admit that it was very hard not being able to post anything on Twitter or Facebook. However, the sweating and shivering is over and I am very happy to say that I am still able to live without it. (Although I prefer with).

I will continue my journey through the south tomorrow where I will take heaps of pictures to post here and on my Facebook account next week. I just love New Zealand and all the people in it!