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 ·

The Philippines versus Thailand in terms of tourism

February 21, 2011 by · 4 Comments

Admittedly, I can be a very shallow person and my way of thinking is almost always out of this world. I often disappoint people with my ideas and beliefs which are often lacking of proof and evidence. Like, recently, a foreign friend was saddened at how I look at things. We were chatting and then suddenly he mentioned that the Government of Thailand is smart enough to make it easy for foreigners to enter their country. I think you only need a passport and getting a visiting visa is a piece of cake. I’m not sure but at least he confirmed that entry to the Thai Kingdom is relatively easy. So anyway, he also said that in terms of standard of living, my country is far left behind. Cabs in Bangkok are new and the air condition system is superb. Taxis in Makati are running but they aren’t as high-end as the ones mentioned in Bangkok. He said taxis say a lot about a country’s standard of living, even said that Thai people are way richer than most Filipinos and this is all because of tourism. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Europeans and Americans are visiting Thailand for the holiday villas, beaches, and the warm weather. I told him that our government is just right in making the entry of foreign visitors to the Philippines difficult. This is to avoid prostitution and mail order brides. My friend said it might be true but it’s just a small part of it. Most of these foreign visitors are families not sex tourists. Yup, somehow I knew that my reasoning sounds idiotic but I couldn’t think of other reasons to defend my side. I have another reason and I think it’s a valid one. I just couldn’t tell him at that time because I didn’t know how to explain this in English – One time, I and my best friend decided to spend a nice afternoon in Baywalk Roxas Boulevard when suddenly we saw these two caucasians threw their empty canned soft drinks to the sea. I wanted to give them a tongue lashing but thought it would be rude to do so. I was so annoyed but I held my tongue – And that is the reason why I don’t like foreigners in my country. They feel like they can do anything they want. Why? Because we are third world? Haha! Bitterness. Truth is, I do have foreign friends and I really don’t mind if they’d like to visit my country or not as long as they wouldn’t invite me to meet them in person. That’s my second rule. The first of which is to throw their trash in the garbage can.

Filed Under: a discontented booger, Consider This, exploring the world, I'm Just a Human, personal thoughts, what they have to say ·

A taste of wine – a taste of success

January 10, 2011 by · 4 Comments

Can’t sleep tonight. It’s already 3:57 AM as of this writing and I’m still wide awake. I’m thinking of money. Where will I get money in a way that is not illegal and is not against His will? And yes, in a way that will not force me to work hard. I’m too lazy.

Based on what I have read from the Daily Bread this afternoon, if I asked for something according to His will, He will definitely hear it. And I asked for money. I was inspired by Bo Sanchez, a writer and a great speaker. He said he wants to be a billionaire (yeah, so freaking bad) because he wants to help the poor people of the Lord by building houses for them and by feeding them. I’ve a different purpose though. But kinda similar. I want to a build a free school for the little children here in the squatter’s area where I live. A school that will focus only in the English subject. Why English? Because I know that being fluent in that language will take them to good places. They’ll have better opportunities in life, chances which I never had because my English is soo barok.

Then I checked my email a few hours ago and saw that my employer is offering me xxx pesos per hour for writing articles for him. Considering that I’m just an amateur writer, that’s actually too much. Or, perhaps it’s just fair because the topic that he wants me to write is highly technical and will require a lot of researching and thinking. So, xxx pesos per hour is just fair. Is it time to celebrate then? I’ve never tasted wine since birth but now I want to drink a whole bottle because of happiness. Maybe I need a wine advisor to know what kind of wine tastes best?

So anyway, I am happy and bothered at the same time. More bothered than happy, actually. Bothered because I can’t possibly build a school! The thought that He gave me this job to accomplish my aim of establishing a free English school is frightening me. Maybe I’ll just donate some of my income in charity works and convinced them to build an English school. But I can’t build a school. And I’m also bothered because I’m not sure if I can keep up with my employer’s expectations.

But wait …

Whatever you read from my blog, don’t take it seriously. Writers are a bunch of crazy of people who write at wee hours of the morning talking about nonsensical things that matter. Thank goodness, I’m not a writer.

Filed Under: Consider This, future plans, in the name of money, money desperate, money well spent, personal thoughts ·

I’m going to be a writer

December 18, 2010 by · Leave a Comment

My dream of becoming a full-time freelance writer is going to materialize soon. As much as I am very happy and excited about this once in a lifetime opportunity, I’m also apprehensive about my skills and what I can give back to my employer. I know I got this job out of luck and not because I’m good or whatever. Certainly, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of excellent writers out there who are just waiting for something like this to happen so this makes me unsure if I can really meet my employer’s expectations even if I give my best. I mean, of course, I’d really give my best but the question is “will it be enough?’

Anyway, his basic requirements are quite simple. First, I need a cellphone because we need to communicate once every two weeks to discuss the progress of the job. If you’ve been following my blog, I’ve mentioned in the past that I don’t own a phone. But since I need it, and this is something I consider as an investment, I purchased a pre-owned phone a few hours ago. Nokia 1100. So, simple phone, check! Second, I need a stable internet connection. I guess everybody knows, as in EVERYBODY KNOWS, that Smart Broadband is such a crap, good as garbage. So, the next thing I have to look at is the best internet connection in my area. I’ve plans to try out PLDT MyDSL or Sky broadband but whichever, they all suck anyway.

Now, if musicians have music business cards, writers have portfolios. Sadly, I am still on the process of building up my portfolio so I couldn’t present one. Good thing, he said it’s not required :) What he wants me to consider is to have another computer which will be used for this project. My laptop will be used for writing and the other for testing and research. I will be writing about dot dot dot and I will need a linux-operated computer to be able to experience first hand the things that I will be writing about. This is the scariest part because I’m not a very “techie” person. I’m not a software engineer for heaven’s sake! LOL.

Surely, some things are private and I just can’t announce in my journal. I just wanted to share what has been happening to the person behind this blog but I do not intend to boast or make you envious haha. I feel like I owe it to those few people who’ve been following my blog, so that’s like 3 or 5 persons, not really sure how few but this is my way of saying thank you, by sharing the details of my life.

Here is the problem: I’m extremely busy reading about Cisco, Asterisk, Linux, PBX, Telephony, etc. that I no longer have the time to update my other blogs. Like now, I’m itching to update Love is Paris, but I’m busy writing this super difficult topic. Another problem, before I meet my employer in person, that’s on Tuesday, I need to finish two articles which I am currently doing. And there are other things that are brewing on my mind right now. Somehow, I feel lost :( So, it’s really a mixture of emotions.

Filed Under: a career booger?, a discontented booger, blogging career, Consider This, exploring the world, future plans, in the name of money, money well spent, personal thoughts, talking booger ·

Dreaming on

November 6, 2010 by · Leave a Comment

It has become a habit, I guess. I just naturally fall into a deep thought every night before I go to sleep. I think about my plans, my dreams, and about a time frame I’m not so sure if I would be able to meet. Yesterday, I was asked again by a very good friend when am I going to settle down. For the first time, I wasn’t annoyed :)

There is that little awkwardness in the air but I wasn’t irritated at all. Before, questions like that will instantly ruin a beautiful day. But I have learned that when people ask me personal questions, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are attacking me. Sometimes, they are simply curious and most of the time, they are just trying to start a conversation.  So now I just try to laugh it off when asked about marriage. People will surely ask because hello!, I’m 27 :)

Anyway, I’m dreaming of buying my own house. I wonder how it would feel to finally have a place I can call my own. I want legal documents. In my entire life, I never had any property with a written document stating that I am the owner. I think it’s about time to really take a housing loan from PAGIBIG.

My future house will be completed by nice furnitures and fixtures. Everything made of wood and the appliances should be brand new. The living room is surrounded by big glass windows with pretty roman blinds. Sofas with colorful throw pillows, definitely without carpets and rugs. And a room full of toys for my nephew and niece. And a Mazda 3 parked in the garage. Wow. I love the idea of having a Mazda 3!

Needless to say, there are no plans of settling down. I’m in love with my dreams and ambitions. I told you in my other blog I have a crush but guess what? I’m learning to forget about that person.

Filed Under: a discontented booger, Amour-finding adventures, future plans, high on love, in the name of money, money desperate, money well spent, personal thoughts, talking booger, what they have to say ·
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