Our assignment in Bali is only a few days short of coming to an end. The future is a complete mystery right now, but finding a good job here has proved to be a bit challenging. Being a freelancer might prove feasible with very modest accommodation and tight budget, and even after that we wouldn’t have anything to put aside. Taking the other offer we currently have on the table has the same problem, since it is originally a one-person position and pays accordingly. After devouring my savings for four months and a bit I would like to get back to supporting myself.

Now, I know this isn’t the industry to get rich in, and I’m not planning to: that’s a project for another time. Right now I’m looking for a job that can support my accommodation, food and other running costs without having to count every single penny. So far I haven’t found it, but I know they’re out there. We’ll have to keep on looking.

And while looking for it, there’s two options: we can either stay in Bali and hope that there’s some work to do, or we can go back to Finland for a while. I know there’s a lot of stuff to do back there, and we would get a living out of it. Both options have their sides.

Staying in Bali would allow us to do some work and gain experience, but also requires a lot of compromises. We’ve been staying in the Bedroom for four months now, listening to a crappy live band next door six nights a week, and that’s something we need an upgrade on. Higher rental costs, food, everyday items and transportation will be tough to pay on freelancer salary, even if we worked full time and a bit.

Now don’t be fooled by the small paradise island image Bali gives out – the rent for proper accommodation can be as high as in Oulu. Throw in professional insurance, instructor fees, clothing plus other expenses and we’re again facing a situation where we need the savings to stay in balance. Not good.

So what’s the alternative like? My last ties with the Corporation will be cut in mid June,  after which I’m a free agent on the employment market, with full benefits. Even without doing anything I would earn way more than I could dream of in Bali, would have plenty of time to watch for job openings and could attend one or two happenings I have been hoping to go to. Apart from the risk of getting stuck in Oulu and not getting a teaching routine running, it seems like our best bet right now. Even with the flight costs around 1300 euros one way, we’re better off financially after spending a few months in Finland.

And we would have moose on the table,  chainsaws in our hands, a proper motorbike to ride on, and a lot of dear friends around us. Goddammit, how hard can it be?

Tags: instructor internship, money, motorbikes, prices, work

I’ve been out of the dive roster for a few days now due to a cold. I’m getting better now, but I guess it will take a day or two before I can jump in the water again. Better to go through it properly in the first place instead of delaying recovery by rushing in too early.

If a couple of the coming days are a bit uncertain, so is the big picture. We have less than two weeks left in the homestay we currently live in, and no one seems to know if it’s feasible for us to stay here or not. It depends on the job description and amount of customers, but that’s not all. We’ve been looking around for alternatives, and surprisingly there’s a host of things in favour of returning to Finland for summer. More about those some other time.

Now don’t get me wrong, working and living in Bali is excellent. The most pressing reason to leave is a financial one, since at least the first three months here would be without base pay or other benefits. Paying the rent, transport, food and other mandatory things  on commission only would require us to work around the clock without a day off, to cut down on accommodation and food, or most probably both. The alternative is to supplement income from our savings, but that’s neither sustainable nor good for other future plans. Money is not going to multiply by itself, so we need to find a way to support ourselves. On the side it would be nice to accumulate the savings a bit instead of devouring all of them.

We’ll keep you guys posted on where we are. There should be something to tell in a few days.

Tags: diving, flu, money, planning, work

The whole Europe seems to be in a halt because of the volcano and its ashes, but there’s always a silver lining for some of us: one of my old friends was in a seminar or such in Kuala Lumpur, and his flight got cancelled yesterday. Being the resourceful chap he is, it took him a full two hours to haul himself to the airport and buy a return ticket to Bali. I immediately took off to make him a hotel reservation, and it seems like we’ll be teaching an open water course starting in a day or two. Everybody wins!

Well, except the airline companies. Like, ten million a day? Dude.

Tags: diving, flying, friends and family, holiday, practical stuff, surprises, teaching, work

I have good news and bad news.

The good news is that everything is proceeding like planned. I left my laptop and stuff to the office today, brought some pulla to my colleagues and said goodbye to everyone. Next I have to visit the employment office and we should be good to go.

The bad news, on the other hand, is that due to my non-disclosure agreement I can only say that my name is on the paper and that’s it. Not that there would be a lot to tell, but still.

Anyway, we’ll be staying in Oulu for at least three to four weeks before leaving. Can’t wait to have fish eggs, smoked salmon and ham on Christmas!

Oh, right. Since we’re not going to Bangalore anymore, this blog has a new name.

Tags: blog news, holiday, it's good to be me, work

I’m going to the office tomorrow to sort out the details of my short but interesting post-Bangalore career in the Corporation. Most probably I will go back once or twice after that, but that’s about it – I hope. I’m not going to say anything as fact before having something about this on paper.

Still, it’s good to be back.  Clean streets, peace & quiet, me blending in the crowd… Oulu is a lot better than most of people even realise.

Tags: planning, practical stuff, work

I have been very quiet for some time (again), because I really feel like I’ve taken one too many hits from the stress on this whole assignment. Although my anxiety as such does not feel so overwhelming anymore, the somatic symptoms prevail. Muscle ache, sleepiness (10 hours a night isn’t enough), sweating of palms and feet, being out of breath and gastrointestinal disorders could result from a number of things, but my best guess is a sort of anxiety disorder. I hope to know more on coming Friday after consulting a doctor.

In actual news, there has been some progress in the repatriation negotiations. I would love to give out more details, but there are so many company confidential ones I don’t want to take my chances. I hope it suffices to say that Corporation payroll will be missing one specialist by the end of this year.

I’d be jumping up and down from pure excitement if I was feeling well.

Tags: oh bugger, planning, sleep, stress, time, travel, why I wanted a change, work

There is a new countdown timer on the sidebar. Right now it says we’re two weeks and two days from Oulu, after which we can shake India off our feet for good. Never say never, but the odds aren’t good for our return.

I also realised I have only 11 working days left after today. Oh, joy.

Tags: moving, time, work

Oh, bloody hell. And oh yeah!

For one, the Corporation payroll withheld 70% of my salary in taxes this month. Those masala-eating surrendermonkeys have been paying too little taxes so far, so they decided to compensate a bit now that I am leaving soon. Of course, it must be bloody difficult to get the percentage right when there are so many choices (four), and the highest one is chosen when annual income exceeds 7500 euros.

And of course I have a hugely expensive honeymoon trip to pay on top of usual living expenses this month.

On the other hand, we’re off for the said honeymoon in 12 hours. I can’t wait!

Tags: colleagues from India, holiday, it's good to be me, money, oh bugger, surprises, travel, ways of working, what is different, why I wanted a change, work

I got an e-mail from Germany:

Hi Heikki

regarding your concerns about leave days and financial situation I have some good news and will try to call you in the morning time.

It’s 07:25 in Germany right now. The anticipation is killing me.

Tags: holiday, time, work