My recent activities in Odesk

April 24, 2011 by · 7 Comments

I am a small time freelance writer. My asking rate is just 5 dollars per hour but most of the jobs that I am accepting offer me only 3 dollars per hour. It’s not much but it’s “something.” It minimizes my idle time during weekends so, in other words, it makes me feel productive. But here’s the good news, last night I applied for the position of Web Content Editor in Odesk and when I woke up this morning, it’s such a surprise that I got hired! The rate is 5 dollars per hour, 15 hours a week. So, today is really a happy Easter Sunday for me ;)

It’s really a perfect timing because my other contract, Article Writer for Green Tea, has just ended. This particular job was offered by Mr. ST from UK who employed me last March to write for a toys website. He decided to employ me again because he thinks that I am courteous, prompt and my articles are of high standard.

Another contract that I won last Holy Friday was the Sen Content Writer. In case you’re curious, the rate is 3 dollars per hour, maximum of 20 hours per week. Please allow me to share the story on how I got this job. Well, the employer was looking for someone who is knowledgeable with Magento. It’s an open-source software which is used by online stores. So, if you want to build a website that sells products like shoes and bags, you will definitely need Magento.

Anyway, I didn’t know Magento before I applied for this job posting. It wasn’t specified in the job’s description that it’s a requirement. Here is a screengrab of our conversation:

You see, Odesk is like a big online jungle where only the bravest and the fiercest contractors survive. I was crazy enough to take a job that is outside my area of expertise. But I will learn, that’s for sure. There are a lot of tutorials in the internet. I just have to READ! So, I’m learning and I’m not afraid to learn new things. Anyway, they can always terminate the contract in case I turn out to be useless for this job. But I doubt if that will ever happen. Hehe. I’m going to give my best!

In a slightly disappointing news, my application for the job posting “Looking for an Outstanding Blog/Article Writer” was declined. MMmn … it’s okay. I’m not outstanding, anyway. I’m just one of the best, if not the best. But I was never outstanding ;) And what about the invitation for a job interview that I received? I ignored it. For some reason, I can’t work with just 2 dollars per hour. I have $2.70 per hour contract but that’s just it. In the next few months, I plan to raise my asking rate from $5 to $10 dollars per hour. Why not? I’m one hell of a hardworking freelancer I deserve to get paid according to how much I feel right. But before that happens, I will have to work harder on my portfolio.

Truth is, I’m not very much active in Odesk. It’s just recently that I started sending applications again because I’m so inspired by my online friends who are making it big in freelancing. I am more active doing jobs for direct employers and I also write for TCA. I love TCA, though the rate is very low, at least I don’t have to apply or bid for a certain project. I just have to log in then start writing. But, because I presently have 3 active contracts in Odesk (1) Web Content Writer 5 dollars per hour, (2) Sen Content Writer 3 dollars per hour, and (3) Article Writer / Researcher 2.70 dollars per hour, I think I will spend more time in Odesk from now on.

Happy Easter!

Filed Under: a career booger?, a discontented booger, blogging career, Consider This, exploring the world, future plans, happy sterndal!, in the name of money, memories, money desperate, personal thoughts, Portfolio ·

Break

April 10, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

My best friend is happy for me. She said this is the “break” that I’ve been waiting for so long and that this is the right time to finally think about myself. Well, I am not completely happy. You see, moving out is not that easy. I’m used to being with my family and being alone is such a lonely feeling. I guess the time that I dreaded most has finally arrived. My sister has her own family. My brother has his own family. My mother prefers to live on her own. They all have their own lives. While I am here, all by myself, trying to build a life I can call my own. There are so many things I must attend to right now. I’ve just checked my things and realized that I have a lot of things to buy. I want my own refrigerator, sofa, bed, and yes, a bigger place. I am currently renting a small room and everything is dot dot dot. In case you are wondering what dot dot dot is, it means “secret” LOL. I want a real house not like this, it’s like a box. So, yeah I’m really maarte. There is a linoleum and the bathroom has tiles but it seems that the workers who did this didn’t know proper Tile floor installation. It’s all messed up. And the color is plain white so I feel like I am in a hospital :) So, I am starting from scratch. It’s challenging but I miss my nephew already and it’s just yesterday since I last saw him. He misses me too! My sister went this morning to bring me food and I was told that last night, Ash accidentally saw my picture in their drawer. He began to talk to my picture and kissed it and when he noticed that it’s not moving, our one year old funny little boy started crying and pulling his mother’s hand to go outside. He was probably asking his Mommy to go to his beautiful and sweet aunt. Haha! Anyway, this is INDEPENDENCE, in all caps. I am living on my own but just a few kantos from my brother’s and sister’s house. Basically, we are neighbors but I feel so alone. I’m not used to going home and finding no one in the house. I’m used to seeing them watching horror movies and the entire house is really noisy not like this, quiet and oh well, I have to get used to this. Soon. Maybe I should ask my mother to stop bringing breakfast and dinner for me. I should learn how to cook. Except for spaghetti, adobo, and Lucky Me pancit canton, I don’t know how to cook, that’s the truth. There’s so many things, so many things …

Filed Under: family matters, future plans, I'm Just a Human, living life!, memories ·

Tooth extraction

February 14, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Twenty years ago, my mother had to drag me to the dentist kicking, screaming and crying. They wanted to extract a front tooth because a new one was about to come out. Extraction will prevent my set of upper teeth from protruding and becoming crooked. At first, my mother encouraged me by saying things like I’m going to regret it when I grow into a young lady because it will look ugly and it is one of the causes of halitosis or bad breath. It didn’t convince me as vanity was something I wasn’t concerned about at that time. So, my parents had to drag me kicking and screaming and they also had to hold my legs and arms so the dentist could pull out the affected tooth. After the procedure which only took a few minutes, I remember the dentist asked me “masakit? Eto na oh.” What a funny memory. Every time my mother would talk about that, my brother and sister would laugh like crazy. Today, I am also faced with the same situation. I need to have one of my molars extracted and I’m just so scared to undergo the process. Now I am convincing my self that I’m already an adult. I’m no longer a child for heaven’s sake. But why can’t I convince my self? :(

Filed Under: health and body, I'm Just a Human, memories ·

Souvenirs and spaces

September 30, 2010 by · Leave a Comment

As I grow older, I noticed that some of the things that I am keeping in my tiny room are no longer needed. My space is cluttered with things I got from exchange gifts and some souvenirs I received from weddings and baptismal. And by the way, my room is not really a  room. Our small living area is partitioned by long shower curtains so I can have some privacy. It’s my mother’s idea :)

I really want to allot one whole day to organize everything. My aunt is already itching to throw away my stuffs because for her those little remembrances are just garbage. But being the sentimentalist that I am, I find it really hard to let go of anything that reminds me of special occasions. I wish there was a self Storage Croydon here in the Philippines just like in United Kingdom. I want to rent a secured place where I can keep my mugs, picture frames, figurines, candles, letters, etc. In this way, I wouldn’t have to worry that my personal belongings are interrupting other people’s lives.

Now, I only got two options. First, we can move to a bigger house where rooms are spacious and cabinets are numerous. However, it would mean getting a housing loan which I cannot afford yet at the moment. So technically speaking, it’s not really an option. Second, I’d arrange my things by simply hiding them in a big box where no one will see them again, forever. What do you think?

Filed Under: living life!, memories, unforgettable memories ·

Crash diet

August 6, 2010 by · 4 Comments

My friend is in deep trouble. She’s going to be a bridesmaid in less than a month and she’s going to wear a nice tight-fitting dress which according to her, would emphasize the fats around her waist. It wouldn’t help that the color of the gown is bright yellow because light hues make her look bigger. She looks great in black but that color is quite inappropriate for church weddings. Besides, the bride’s family is very superstitious, they’d definitely dislike black.

If you will ask me, I think she’s not fat. I can’t say she’s got a waif-like body but there is no need for her to undergo medical procedures such as liposuction like she is always insisting. She’s always talking about going to Belo, Dr. Alan Dulin, Calayan, etc to have her unwanted fats removed. I think what she needs is a proper diet and a regular exercise. But she said diets are only good when she’s not confronted with a pint of chocolate ice cream. She simply can’t resist ice cream which I totally understand. I mean, who can?

She’s got three weeks to reduce weight. All she can eat is oat meal with milk and banana. I don’t think I’d be able to survive a day without rice so somehow I admire her self-discipline. One time I told my friend that oat meal tastes like paper. She laughed so hard and asked me if I’ve ever tasted paper.

Filed Under: Consider This, family matters, memories ·
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