Event by the Asian Ladies Circle

Event by the ASEAN Ladies Circle

The ASEAN Ladies Circle, or ALC in The Hague, organised the first ASEAN Coffee Morning at the beautiful Kasteel de Wittenburg in Wassenaar on Tuesday, 22 November 2022. This event was organised to honour the solidarity and togetherness of ASEAN’s women, as indicated in the ASEAN motto “One Vision, One Identity, One Community,” and introduce the Netherlands’ international community to the rich culture of ASEAN nations.

ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a regional organisation presently comprising 10 Southeast Asian nations. The ALC comprises spouses of ASEAN Ambassadors and diplomats, and female diplomats and staff members of 5 ASEAN Embassies based in The Hague, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Present were 60 persons, being the members of the Ambassadors’ Spouse’s Association (ASA) and the friends of the ALC.

When seated, we started with singing The ASEAN anthem with the following text “we dare to dream, we care to share, together for ASEAN” which is a perfect summary of the ASEAN Identity and Unity.

The words of welcome were spoken by the spouse of the Thai Ambassador, Mrs. Nataya Archjananun, who is the current President of the ALC for the term 2021-2022. In her presentation, Mrs. Archjananun mentioned that ASEAN nations are rich in cultural diversity, friendly people with natural charms, many beautiful sites to visit, and delicious food, and is on track to become 4th largest economy in the world. In her speech she said “All of these reflects the strength of Southeast Asia as a region amidst diversity in cultures, languages, and religions. Yet, despite all these differences, we are united as one. Today, ALC would like to invite you to experience and see the uniqueness of our ASEAN countries. Imaging yourself taking a tour for holiday to visit ASEAN. So, fasten your seat belts and please enjoy your “trip” today to see we are united as one ASEAN Community. ASEAN nations is rich in cultural diversity, friendly people with natural charms, many beautiful sites to visit, and delicious food, and is on track to become 4th largest economy in the world. Kopkun mark ka.”

The event featured a fashion show, cultural entertainment, and delicious Southeast Asian cuisine. Guests were introduced to performances of Panyembrama Dance from Indonesia, Wan Bulan dance from Malaysia, Igorat Cordillera Dance from the Philippines, and Rum Plern Dance from Thailand. country, such as Nasi Lemak, Sa-te, Chendol, Pad Thai, Goi Cuon, Palabok, and Ube Macapano cupcakes. All those present enjoyed the delicious Asian dishes. The celebration ended on a high enjoyment, thanks partly to ASEAN Line Dance, performed by ASEAN women present and all the guests. The solidarity as ASEAN women is celebrated and cherished through this dance.

In addition, they were also introduced to the traditional attire of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The fashion show became even more spectacular as the spouses of ASEAN Ambassadors and H.E. Dato’ Nadzirah Osman, Ambassador of Malaysia paraded in their exquisite attires.

All ASEAN country’s celebrations include delicious food, a warm ambience, and entertaining activities. Guests were invited to sample unique dishes from each ASEAN Written by Nanda Jagusiak-Monteiro

The life of a digital nomad: the best tips & tricks to earn money while discovering the world

Millions of people are currently enjoying the digital nomad life: a lifestyle that offers you the opportunity to earn money wherever you want, as long as you have a laptop and a good internet connection. GoStudent online tutor Isa Witteveen is such a digital nomad. She is currently in Southeast Asia, where she provides online tutoring to students in the Netherlands during her travels.

After her first trip to Central America in 2021, Isa got the hang of it and decided to trade her gap year for a fulltime nomadic existence. And Isa is not the only one: more and more professionals are exchanging their permanent job or place of residence for a more independent, often temporary option. This trend that has been on the rise since the outbreak of the pandemic, because permanent employers are now also allowing remote working, making travelling and working at the same time possible for many employees.

A digital nomad is someone who mainly works online and regularly changes residence. . The lifestyle is mainly about having the freedom to do what makes you happy, in a location where this is possible. From her hostel in Bangkok, a few days before travelling to Cambodia, Isa is happy to share some tips that will enable her to live this idyllic lifestyle.

1. Make a global plan and set an associated budget Making an overall plan and setting an initial budget is essential before you start your journey. Of course you will have to deal with both fixed and variable costs while travelling, just like at home. Some people like to have a daily budget, others prefer to think per week or month. You can divide the budget into, for example, accommodation, food and drinks, tours, travel expenses, insurance, clothing and unforeseen costs. Find out more about the country or part of the world you are going to and look especially at the local culture, prices and exchange rate. This will help you determine approximately how much money you will need and how much you will have to work. A buffer is of course always a good idea! If something unexpected happens, you can be sure that you can at least deal with it financially. And when you finally travel, give yourself some time to get used to the customs of the country and the prices. 2. Provide a good basis for income The ten most popular jobs for digital nomads are: programmer, copy editor, online coaching, virtual assistant, photographer, videographer, content creator, consultant, recruiter and website developer. But of course there are many more options. Just like Isa, you can do online tutoring and at the same time share your experiences with the world via a blog or vlog. To help yourself on your way, gather information from an experienced digital nomad, Facebook group or travel blog. It may be a good idea to become familiar with the work you will be doing prior to your trip. This way you know what to expect in terms of time needed and you will not be faced with surprises or disappointments during your trip.

3. Get a fast and stable internet connection For the digital nomad life, a good internet connection is crucial. A bad or onstable connection is definitely the biggest obstacle for anyone doing online work. Once you know where you will be working, it is advisable to test the speed of the internet there. You don’t want the line to be delayed and your customers confused during live sessions. It is also smart to always have an internet cable with you, in case the wireless network does not work. Another option to ensure good internet is to use the mobile hotspot on your phone. Make sure that you have enough data so you don’t end up with an unexpectedly high bill. If you are staying in one country for a longer period of time, buy a local SIM card.

4. Use a VPN for safe internet The biggest cyber threat for digital nomads is the use of unsecured internet connections. In order to prevent malware attacks and guarantee security for yourself, but also for your clients or students, the best solution in the specific case of online tutors is to install a VPN. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts all data that you send and receive and prevents monitoring of location and online activity, thus ensuring privacy, anonymity and security. your work and during which part of the day you want to do work, and to stick to it. By making such agreements with yourself, you can better manage your expectations in terms of managing your schedule and prevent stress or disappointments.

6. Get the right equipment and accessories As a digital nomad you will often work in places where other people are also present. To ensure that you can do your work somewhat quietly and that you are not too distracted by ambient noise, it is advisable to purchase good headphones with a microphone. That way you can also communicate discreetly with your customers or coworkers. It is also useful to always have a full power bank with you, so that you can always charge your mobile devices if there is no socket.

7. Good preparation… Is really half the work and ensures that you can spend more time on the beach, the terrace or on that mountain. Isa’s advice is therefore to look for a nice workplace as soon as possible upon arrival in every new place. This could be a coffee bar, library, lunch café, co-working space or hostel, for example. A pleasant and quiet working environment ensures that you can do your work better and as efficiently as possible. And if, like Isa, you give tutoring lessons, it definitely pays off to prepare lessons well in advance. Perhaps you can even use the country where you are at that moment, the language or the culture for your tutoring. Create fun for your students too!

8. Don’t be too hard on yourself about your budget Sometimes your plans don’t turn out the way you planned, that’s the beauty of being a nomad after all. Changing your plans can have an effect on your budget, both negatively and positively. Don’t be too hard on yourself in this; eventually you will find that balance. And if you notice that you are still short of money, you may also be able to discuss this with your client. Who knows what is possible!