Book Description
For the new college graduate who's not quite ready to join the ranks of the entry-level, here's a guide to help them "think outside the cubicle" as it presents a wide range of job and travel opportunities for the free-spirited twentysomething who yearns to create a long- or short-term adventure. By highlighting job opportunities appropriate for young people because of the time, energy, and commitment (or lack thereof) involved, this is specifically targeted to the post-college crowd. In fact, this practical, inspirational guide written in a light, edgy tone is a What Color is Your Parachute? for the new generation-definitely not your father's career guide. Offering nuts-and-bolts guidance, Delaying the Real World presents hundreds of options for traveling the world, along with helpful direction and information on websites, scholarships, and specific action steps for making one's dreams a reality-and in the process, maybe even making the world a better place. There's sound advice on pursuing unique opportunities around the world, and encouragement for college grads to temporarily step out of the traditional career path and create enriching, valuable, even life-changing experiences. These experiences might include teaching English in Thailand, working on a sheep farm in New Zealand, becoming a river raft guide in Colorado, or creating a service project in New Guinea.
Illustrated.
Customer Reviews:
catalyst.......2007-09-25
This book serves as a catalyst for big ideas. Not everything is about "delaying the real world," much of the book revolves around readers identifying their own talents and putting them into action. It jump started my own thinking on how to make the best out of my twenties and beyond.
An Inspiring, Varied and Specific Guide........2007-09-16
I picked this up while on a sleepy Canadian vacation with my family, and it really got my mind racing and open to new posssibilities.
Delaying the Real World is really quite motivating and helpful. It does not carry the typical, overused "you can do anything you set your mind to, gentle reader" dogma. The direct approach presented here is realistic, and, more important to aspiring globetrotters and thrillseekers, DOABLE. For every association mentioned there is a website. Every program has the coordinator's information, and every agency has a manager's email address included. Truly informative and an eye-opening guide to making the most of life.
While some would argue that it makes sense to stay on a steady and continuous career path in your hometown, I beg to differ. There is a lot to be said for life experience and an expanded view of the world. Some aspects of living can not be gleaned from a haughty magazine, from sitting in a prestigious university lecture hall, or from a 5x5 cubicle in corporate America, but only from traveling.
I would highly recommend this guide to anyone considering adding "weighty, credible experiences" to their life, especially if moving or traveling abroad short- or long-term. Even if one of the presented programs does not fit exactly, it certainly opens one's eyes to possibilities beyond what most of the young adult population is choosing to do with their youthful existence.
Overall, I found the author's tone somewhat over-peppy, like the one girl in the front row of a 10th grade English class always trilling on about the candy sale to support the football team. Also, she sometimes sounds like she is belittling her vocabulary so as to pander to a "young, hip, with-it" audience. Tone notwithstanding, every suggestion for adventure included practical measures to take beforehand.
I am so happy with my copy of Delaying the Real World, and would definitely advise buying it so my dozens of highlighted pages and margin notes will be within easy reach!!!
Just what I was expecting.......2007-08-17
This book offers a lot of advise and ideas regarding the gap year between college and work or grad school. It not only provides info on things to do internationally, but provides options for people that would like to stay local. I loved this book and shared it with many of my friends.
Inspiring.......2007-06-03
This book was just what I needed during my job search my senior year of college. It helped me keep my goals of traveling in focus and gave me plenty of ideas of how to make it work and testimonials of other young 20-somethings who have done the same thing. I loaned it out to a few of my friends who were also inspired to put of a corporate job to be river guides, climb the patagonias, teach english abroad, and work for music festivals nation-wide! I would suggest this to anyone feeling pressured to go into a corporate job right after school who is seeking something more than a cubicle...it can wait.
Not so great.......2006-10-04
While the author does share some good resources and helpful hints, there was nothing eye-opening about this book. Basically it's just some advice from young people who share their stories and tidbits on venturing out on your own.
It gives many motivational first hand account "stories" told by various twenty-something year olds of experiences they've had abroad or in a new city.
Based on their "voices", positions they are in,(desirable internships, research grants, etc.) most of them seem to come from priviledged backgrounds as does the author, (it seemed she didn't venture too far from home for the interviews!) so this advice is slightly biased.
The tone of the book is cheerleader like designed to rally the confidence of the reader and while, yes, it is positive and possibly encouraging I found it to be a bit on the overly optimistic side as well as slightly pretentious.
Amazon.com
Looking to live somewhere where houses are cheap? Head to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa, where the average home costs $75,700, and annual property taxes for that home are about $960. Perhaps a good job market is a higher priority. In that case, pick Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; or Riverside, California, as they top the list of places projected to have the highest-percentage increase in new jobs by 2005. Most of those jobs, by the way, are expected to have above-average pay. This and other detailed information can be found in the sixth edition of Places Rated Almanac, a helpful resource for people thinking of relocating as well as those with a desire to learn about cities and towns. Metropolitan areas are rated in nine categories: costs of living, job outlook, transportation, education, health care, crime, the arts, recreation, and climate. But don't go looking for statistics on Podunk--the focus remains on 354 metro areas, metro defined as a city or urbanized population of at least 50,000, located in a county with a total population of at least 100,000.
Places Rated is laced with intelligent and, unexpectedly, witty writing. The whole concept of judging places, the author notes, may seem the utmost of brass. "Yet everyone does it, privately. Some suspect that culture in Omaha or Des Moines or Saskatoon is a contradiction. Others surmise that daily life in Miami consists of surviving drug-trade shoot-outs..." Organized intelligently, Places Rated acknowledges that "livability" and "quality of life" are moving targets. Livable for whom? The artist who wants mountain vistas? The entrepreneur who wants low taxes and no red tape? With these limitations in mind, the book ends with a chapter titled "Putting It All Together," where the reader is invited to rate cities with a customized list of priorities. Arriving at your customized list, however, requires answering 72 questions that force you to decide once and for all what you value most--a low cost of living or good school districts or mild winters or some other criterion. And should you find that climate matters most, head for Santa Barbara, California, where winters and summers are mild and natural hazards are few, and stay away from Rochester, Minnesota, unless you're willing to endure 35 days when it's 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and 165 days of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, annually. --John Russell
Book Description
This blockbuster best-seller makes headlines coast to coast with its candid, fascinating look at all the factors that contribute to our quality of life. Sometimes controversial and always thought-provoking, Places Rated has been completely updated with the latest statistics. It's packed with timely facts and unbiased information on more than 350 metro areas in North America.Whether you're mulling over the idea of relocating, trying to decide where to start out, or just curious about how your hometown stacks up, you'll be intrigued by Places Rated Almanac. Places Rated ranks each metropolitan area on a number of essential factors, many of which are of vital interest in today's economy. They include:
- Job markets
- Cost of living
- Housing costs
- Educational standards
- Quality of public transportation
- Health care
- Recreational facilities
- Crime rates
- Environmental factors
- Climate
Easy-to-use charts help readers put this wealth of information to work to find the places that best suit their special needs and interests. Packed with unbiased, reliable and up-to-date information, this one-of-a-kind guide offers something to amuse or intrigue on every page. Newly redesigned this year with a two-color interior!
Customer Reviews:
Version 2000.......2007-03-12
Even the older editions give you a lot of valuable information.
I highly recommend it.
Extremely helpful tool in relocating.......2007-02-13
We used this book when we lived in New York and decided we wanted to relocate "somewhere else." It was extremely useful in narrowing the choices to places that had attributes that were most important to us, which in our case were things such as cost of living, weather, education, healthcare. It also offers a ton of info on other factors such as public transportation, the arts, employment, etc.
The book included a "quiz" you can give yourself, the answers to which will help you reveal to yourself which factors are in fact the most relevant to you.
In reading some of the other reviews, I must point out that relocating is not something you base upon a book alone. It was a great reference point, but once we narrowed our choices to several areas, we then did more specific research on those areas via the internet, sending for info from Chambers of Commerce, making phone calls, in-person visits, etc.
We ended up moving south and are extremely happy in our new area. In researching our new region, we found that many other people around here are also "transplants," thereby eliminating the aspect of feeling "foreign" in our new home town.
Definitely an excellent resource I would recommend to anyone considering relocating.
A city may be "great on paper" but beware! .......2004-07-23
These books are full of extremely helpful information, but I warn my fellow readers to take a place's culture into account before making a life-changing move. The books will not help you here. My husband and I bought a previous edition of Places Rated and devoured it while looking for a place to relocate from Los Angeles. We settled on a southern capital that seemed to have everything going for it, including consistently high rankings in Places Rated and every other city ranking we could find. Unfortunately, a city that looks great on paper may not be the place for you. Despite having lived in several states, we were unprepared for the surprising difficulties we experienced as "yankees" living in the south. From petty social and work discrimination to routinely being screwed over by one business after another hired to work on our home or car, etc., it became evident that we were identified as "yankees" on sight and treated accordingly. So much for southern hospitality! I assure you that we did our best to fit in and make friends, as we have successfully done in every other region of the country. After 2-1/2 years of this, we sold our home for a loss and got our "unsweet tea" out of there. Perhaps we were naive, not realizing that the yankee business is still such a potent issue in the south, but we will make future relocation choices with this experience in mind.
The best book of its kind........2003-12-28
It's tough to read a book of someone's opinions on where to live as its really a heartfelt decision each person needs to make for themselves. But most of this book is straight statistics, such as weather and crime. The book is big and leaves enough room for each metro area so you can read the climate graphs without too much eyestrain. It's the best book on deciding where to move that I found. I took tons of notes from this book, and it actually helped me pick an entirely new place to live than the ones I had originally thought of! The only section I didn't like was the arts and culture section. I'm into the artsy scene, but the authors rated cities based on number of symphonies and orchestras and operas - who goes to these anymore??
Love this book.......2002-08-17
This book is just great. I have bought every retirement-places-rated type of book that I can get my hands on and this author is by far the best. The millennium edition is twice as big as the last edition and every subject is covered that anyone would want to know about an area; cost of living, transportation, jobs, education, climate, crime, the arts, health care, recreation. I can't wait for the next edition to come out! We're not retiring any time soon so it's helpful to really be able to study and evaluate where we are going to want to retire.
Customer Reviews:
Changing China.......2007-07-30
The book is good and is full of factual info but its quickly becoming outdated when dealing with the younger Chinese people.
Very helpful but some things have changed... .......2006-07-30
Having just taught in two major Chinese universities, I found this book very helpful. But based on my conversations with numbers of students (at undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate level), in today's competitive China some things appear to have changed. E.g. granted the diversity of a vast country like China, in those cities that have been more impacted by Western consumer culture there is much more individualism especially among youth. At the more prestiguous universities intense competition means that fewer students are as willing to assist their colleagues as their more traditional counerparts might have once been. Highly recommended (even for tourists) but do be aware of the increasing impact of Western culture.
Encountering the Chinese : A guide for Americans.......2006-03-24
I found this book interesting however, if you plan to just visit China and not live there it is probably not that helpful. If you are an American and do plan to live there for some period of time it would probably be quite helpful.
This book is worth the encounter.......2005-10-11
This book is primarily directed at Americans involved with China but much of what it refers to is also valid for other English speaking westerners. In fact, it is the best book I have read in terms of explaining Chinese culture as x, y, z. It is said that everything you hear about China is true, but not necessarily where you are. This book includes valuable information that is true in most locations in China, not only the coastal cities, nor just Beijing, nor only in academic circles. The book is broken into two sections. The first half of the book contains general culture information about Chinese people which should be applicable to Chinese in general, no matter where they live in the world. The second half contains information specific to Mainland China and situations you may find yourself in there.
A poignant example would be the fact that when Chinese people are visiting you and decide it is time to leave they do just that, leave. There is no extended time of talk after an initial, "I need to go soon," rather they just stand up and say goodbye. This surprised me the first time it happened with some students but I quickly became used to it. I have read other books which recommend against reading books like this because they will only cause more harm than good. However, almost everything in this book was relevant to my time in China and if I had read it before I went my learning curve would have been shallower.
I would hope that they will come out with a third edition of this valuable book. A few items are dated and China is changing so rapidly that some details are sure to be very different in the future.
an experience leading to a Must read and better understandin.......2005-04-13
I have just finished the book, twice; Encountering the Chinese; A Guide for Americans. by Hu Wenzhong & Cornelius L. Grove.
This is a great book for help in making cross cultural or intercultural communication between Chinese and Americans more rewarding while trying to avoid abrasiveness regarding deep fundamental differences.
Before reading this book I did not know that Chinese culture is one of collectivism, I had thought that everyone is individulistic in the world, I had never known anything different. It was hard for me to understand Chinese life until I got some help from these two authors. It explained many of my questions and concerns for why Chinese do some of the things they do and act in such ways in response to things I do. Why i was treated the way I was, for the way I acted, which I had no idea, was only a response of a disliking of my fundamental character and individualistic personality, one of American born and raised in the Heartland U.S.A..
It showed me the reason, for alot of my confusion and why I received the response I did for my actions.
I acted like an individual and showed anger, which I read to the Chinese are two of the worst ways to act. This difference in fundamentals between myself and the Chinese culture may have led to the misunderstanding and consequential accusations, and or just the overall way of bringing anxiety and frustrations to the surface in my life here in China.
I recommend this book to anyone who would like to know the difference between collectivism and individualism, the predominate theory or doctrines of China & The United States, for better relations between these two ways of thinking for more harmony on both sides for neither one is right or wrong for without education the other has no idea of the inherited fundamental differences each have.
It has helped me see the Chinese way of thinking and acting in response to my way of thinking and acting in my daily life, something that rarely do Americans need to or have to think about. I will forever before instinctly acting on my own individualistically trained nature to see how such acts would be seen from the perspective of one of collectivistic. Like I would never complain aloud in anger about poor pay, nor openly criticize a Chinese person, nor think only of the betterment of myself in matters of personal likes and dislikes. I would also refrain from wearing expensive, name brand, clothing while in the presence of less educated and fashion sensitive people who may feel I am just a selfish American taking advantage of being able to travel the world freely as I my country has given to its citizens. The sometimes I really feel that it is not about cultural differences but something we all have subltely within us, something very known which we all can recognize; jealousy, envy, concite, revenge, hate, and many others that if one is not careful, and educated can appear very similiar to the other as a possible excuse as to say that we have named it a fundamental difference in cultural perspective one of the friction between individualism and collectivism.
>> also if you don't have an idea yet why this book is so important>> a letter to a friend, referring this book and what I had learned from it>
Dear Professor xxxx,
I am not quite sure how to thank you and Prof.xxxx, except to acquire the utmost from this gracious learning opportunity.
Before receiving your email, I had just finished one of the required readings, Encountering the Chinese; A Guide for Americans. By Hu & Grove
How true it really is, I am probably not the first nor the last to say that, but wow I was both amazed and glad that I had read it, to confirm what I had questioned repeatedly and already dealt with and deal with every day. True to it that Americans are fundamentally individualistic, I at least understand that as I was raised by my hard working, blue collar, U.S. Veteran and father, to be self sufficient and self promoting in work and daily affairs, that my survival muchly depended on myself, and that to act in way to promote myself and my priorities is what will make success for myself and family. To depend on another was and is looked down upon, as an American, as one needs to become a compitant providor both to society and his/her family. Such a phrase for this I remember being told as I was growing up, "you need to make a life for yourself, no one else is going to do it for you."
On the other hand, or at the other end of the "continuum," the orientation of the Chinese, collectivism.
Like I had said before, my wife is Chinese, though we are both young and she is somewhat even younger then myself, I have indeed and will continue to make observations on this fundamental orientation in the difference between individualism and collectivism, which if not observed and prepared for will indeed as I have experienced many times, surely cause faux pas, conflicts, and downright hard to explain your way out of -misunderstandings, for it is hard to teach that we both are right from our own orientation, though each of us find from our own conditioning and orientation that the other is wrong. In the moment of such misunderstanding it is not common and hard to say, "ohh, our conflict is one which stems from fundamental differences," instead it is best to be informed beforehand, to be eguipped, and that is exactly why I feel that this course and this book of which is a required text, is of very high importance and benfit.
I am indebt to you for allowing me to expand my knowledge, not only academically but also the practical knowledge that will allow for me to put into practice, at once within my immediate family and that of my surroundings.
Thanks,
-An American Citizen (born & raised on U.S. soil)
-Married interculturally w/ a Chinese Citizen born and raised in one of the two systems one country,-HK
-living with an all Chinese Family, except myself
Book Description
The bestselling and most comprehensive book about living and working in Britain.
Customer Reviews:
Review of the 2nd edition.......2000-06-21
I am a reader of the 2nd edition of this book, as I have not got the 3rd edition that , sorry, just give you some comment to the 2nd edition. I believe, however, you can glean how good the 2nd edition is. Firstly, it give some hits of writing a cover, or , what essential information should be given i your cover letter. For instance, you should tell the potential employer whet you are available to attend the intervew. Secondly, What visas/permits would you be necessary to got. Thirdly, after arrival, the first stuff you have to do is how to fight with " Customs Not only those information, it also drops the hints down, say, the issue of accommodation, public transport, insure , etc.. Indeed, I highly recommend this book to whom want to work in the UK.
Book Description
Third Culture Kids speaks to the challenges and rewards of a multicultural childhood; the joy of discovery and heartbreaking loss, its effect on maturing and personal identity, and the difficulty in transitioning home.
Customer Reviews:
Helpful material.......2007-10-11
While the slant on this book is very American; it is a useful tool for people wanting to know about the reality of the third culture world. The author does attempt to include an international perspective. A good start for anyone researching this topic for the first time or experiencing this cultural phenomenon themselves. Worth the investment.
"Must read" foranyone living outside your home Nation!.......2007-04-08
If you are raising children outside your home Nation, this book will help you understand and assist your children with their unique experiences living in the invisible "third" culture. If you or your spouse grew up in a Country foreign to their parents, this book may help illuminate emotions and behaviors that never quite made sense before (especially from the perspective of those of us who always lived in the same house!). This book is in english, but it is not about Americans only, but anyone from one Nation who spend several years or more of childhood in a second Nation. Should be a staple in every military, ambassadorial, or mission complex library!
it's an autobiography for tcks.......2007-03-23
I am a tck and I have met Mrs. Van Reken. She is brilliant, and her book helped me through many of my adolescent identity struggles. I have passed it along to friends and parents of tcks and everyone seems to agree that it is both interesting, thought-provoking, and helpful.
The missing link........2007-02-11
If you grew up in another country and have always felt a as though something is missing in your life, this book holds answers.
Putting it into words........2007-02-08
I recently found out about this book and the term TCK. As an American who spent the majority of the first ten years of my life growing up in Scotland, it felt so comforting to find out that there is a whole community of people out there like me, and that our common experiences have a name. Also, as someone who never thought I'd read another "textbook" after graduating college, this book has definitely changed my mind. It's a great balance of expert language and personal story, perfect for TCKs or ATCKs just discovering who they are, non TCKs who share their lives with TCKs, parents of TCKs, and any educator or professional in an international setting. I consider this book to be the definitive publication on my life experience, and those like me.
Book Description
A unique and acclaimed guide for working travelers that explains how to find all types of temporary work around the world not only in advance, but also when on the spot while traveling.
Customer Reviews:
Focuses on Europeans and Europe, little info on anything else.......2007-03-28
Ten years ago when I first went to Europe with the intention of finding work, short-term or long-term, my brother's girlfriend gave me this book as a gift because she found it useful. Let me say right off that I had no clue about traveling abroad or what was possible, even in a pre-9/11 world. But it seemed to me that the book concentrated heavily on Brits and Europeans and gave mostly common sense advice I could glean from my head (or a friend, if I was clueless) and come up with the same or better info if I searched the Internet. The updated version hasn't changed that much.
I'd also like to add that my brother's girlfriend (now ex) never found work abroad in her 5 years, lived off her father's money and told me I would never make it either. I told her I wasn't her, left the book behind and never saw it again. I first found a series of short-term jobs that I can only describe as experiences I can laugh about now. Then I built a life from literally nothing that has led to living and working in Europe for 10 years (and counting)...and it didn't happen because of this book.
It is true that Americans have a more difficult time finding work in Europe simply because of EU citizenship requirements, but you may not care if short-term illegal work is your goal. Showing up at the right time (and there ARE right times) and looking a certain way will more likely get you a summer job than sending a CV/resume, making calls or wasting time on placing ads. I don't know anyone who has hired anyone on paper or over the phone, even if you're already here in the country.
As with everything, there are exceptions. My best friend was placed in Poland, well-paid and provided housing for 2 years teaching English without any experience, certification or previous interview. Last year, he took a stint in Turkey during his vacation under the same circumstances. There are also plenty of opportunities, different and sometimes better, in very beautiful places outside of Europe. My friend Brad landed in South America with no intentions of staying and worked there happily for 3 years and wishes he could go back.
Buying and reading this book, however helpful it is in small ways, is not enough. Sometimes, an adventurous attitude, thirst for experience and willingness isn't enough...sometimes it's just lady luck smiling on you. In some countries, it's strictly about connections. It puzzles me as to how this book continues to be updated and sold over the years.
I'm sorry I can't be more positive because I know it's tough to write a book and there are people out there searching for some assistance. But I think it's equally important to be honest. Hopefully, this book is helping someone.
Great book for Working Vacations.......2007-01-15
This is a great book to help you finance your working vacation abroad by doing low skilled work. The next book college grads should consider purchasing if they are interested in "professional" international work and internship experiences is The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas. Check it out.
Bible for financially sustainable travel through Europe and Anglo cultures.......2005-10-30
This book is helpful to those who want to travel more but need to find a way to get by without hemorrhaging money. And even if you don't want to do this, it's interesting to read about those who do.
Reading about travelers saving up money by working long days picking fruit, getting discounted rates on cruise liners by helping the crew, or generally taking jobs that nobody else wants, I realized that personally, I was probably happier saving up money at a desk job and paying full fare. However, there's a lot to be said for working abroad providing a cultural immersion experience that just can't be achieved through mere tourism. Aside from paying work, there are some helpful listings for international volunteering organizations. And, if you're interested in teaching English, you've got it made just about anywhere in the world.
This book is so up to date, and so packed with interesting and useful information, and most remarkably, so responsive to feedback from past readers (who are mentioned by name throughout) that anyone can find something useful here.
My only criticism is that the title of the book is misleading. This book is heavily focused on Europe (200 pages) and focuses on opportunities available to those with EU citizenship. It doesn't really do justice to most of the *world*. There are more pages on Australia (44 pages), for example, than all of Latin America and Africa COMBINED.
Book Description
Summer jobbers, college grads, and anyone trying to reinvigorate or redirect a stalled career needs a short-term job adventure. Whether river guiding in Alaska, restoring a medieval castle in the south of France, or creating a successful organic farm, THE BACK DOOR GUIDE TO SHORT-TERM JOB ADVENTURES offers a comprehensive list of life-enriching experiences. From internships to seasonal work to volunteer jobs and adventures abroad, this best-of-the-best guide from short-term job expert Michael Landes contains more than 1, 000 opportunities to work, play, learn, help, create, experience, and grow worldwide. In this new, handy-sized fourth edition, Landes has extensively updated the listings to provide the most current information and added new listings for internships, seasonal work, volunteer opportunities, and overseas jobs.
Customer Reviews:
Great for college students or people figuring out what they want to do.......2007-05-15
What a great book! You could literally live your life with this book going from one volunteer opportunity to another. The book is basically a list of short terms jobs ranging from camps to dude ranches to museums. It tells you if they pay you anything, if they feed you, if they board you, how long the job is for, and it gives descriptions and contact info. This is an excellent all in one resources for jobs in the US so quit the desk job and travel around volunteering for a living. This will inspire you to do it!
Just Do It!.......2007-01-16
Excellent resource for the pure pleasure of doing something different. If you have the time, resources and an adventurous spirit, just go out and buy this book and then just do it!
ditto.......2006-07-10
"pretty good book. Wish there were more photos and that the photos were in color. Also I would have liked a few more animal short term job adventures. I noticed the book focused a lot on students and US locations but did include a section on global jobs and adventures abroad. loved how the book offered a good variety of jobs for all types of people with website and other critical info on each job!"
Definitely not what I expected.......2006-05-27
I guess the title is phrased badly; I assumed that this book was about internships abroad, summer jobs abroad, etc, but it is about internships, summer jobs, seasonal work, and volunteer vacations in the United States, as well as "transitions" (whatever that means) abroad. And this book is not really a guide, in that it doesn't really give a lot of advice about different jobs and different fields. It is more a listing, like an address book of the most interesting companies (in the author's opinion) offering short-term work, with a very shallow description of the job and its hiring preferences. The only part that was really a guide was the bizarre information on finding yourself and journaling and exploring your passions. Apparently other people found this really great, but I got a little sick of inspirational quotes and follow-your-dreams sidebars; there are plenty of career-advice and self-help books offering this information. Luckily, I borrowed this book from the library, which is where it should stay. If you're looking for short-term opportunities in the United States, go to the library, look through this book, and take down the contact information for the companies you're interested in.
The Big Book of Fun.......2006-04-21
This book changed my life. It has led me into many adventures and helped me meet some of my closest friends. It is a book of possibilities and an opportunity to dream and create a unique life.
In addition, I love how easy it is to navigate.
A must have.
Book Description
From the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame, the Place de la Concorde to Montmartre, life in Paris is charged with elegance—from private homes and the varied architectural styles along its boulevards, to the quays of the Seine, winding streets, cosy bistros, and intimate restaurants. Gardens, including the Luxembourg and the Tuileries, provide an outdoor paradise in the heart of the city. Lavishly illustrated, Living in Paris includes an extensive guide to the capitol's best addresses; it is an inspiring resource for anyone who has strolled along the streets or dreamed of visiting the City of Lights.
Customer Reviews:
The Next Best Thing to Being There .......2007-02-13
Beautifully illustrated, this book takes you on a well organised journey through the main districts of Paris but also informs on a differnent asthetic level such as the essential spirit of this city as seen through its architecture and its culture. The grande old history from the baroque and ancient regieme onwards is elegantly sought out with a particularly interesting chapter containing old master craftsmen at their trades and where you might find them. This is a book that you can simiply sit down with and devour in a glutonous way. I found this book, when sitting in one of those well heeled, and gracious bookshops, that sell good coffee and deadly cakes! Long story short - Amazon to the rescue and I am now enjoying the glories of it's pages right from my armchair. For anyone who plans to visit Paris (like myself)and/or anyone who loves things of days gone by, and wants to do so in thier mind.... give this a look. It's cheaper than an airfare and nearly as good.
Armchair and Reality Paris.......2006-06-07
I bought this book when it first came out, as a friend was leaving that very day to go to Paris. It kept me going until I was able to make my first visit in 2003. I have made two more visits since then.
I still go back to it and tell friends about it. It is one of the best photographed Paris books that I own. It brings you and your armchair right into the best of it...and allows you to savor the beauty. Voila!!!
Ah Paris.......2001-04-25
I'm surprised the other reviewer only gave this 3 stars. I think the photograghy is sumptuous and the text is quite lovely. These are the spots I remember and go back to in my imagination.
It's The Pictures, After All.......1999-12-16
The photographs within these covers are gorgeous - it's a perfect souvenir of Paris. In fact, if you buy this, you can think about leaving your camera at home. The text, translated from the French (original title 'Art de Vivre a Paris') is a bit gushy, and you might wonder, as I did, how much has indeed been lost in the reinterpretation. Never mind. Living In Paris has been in and out of print, so when it's available, get it! It's still cheaper than taking 5 rolls of your own shots to the Fotomat. And these are the pictures you'll wish you had taken.
Book Description
The decision to become a United States citizen is one of the most important choices you can ever make. Before you can become a U.S. citizen, however, you first must be a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. For this reason, before you begin the process, you need to know what you want to achieve – legal immigration or naturalization – and if you can expect to qualify for it.
U.S. Citizenship For Dummies will help you get through this often confusing process, from determining how best to qualify to live permanently in the United States to gaining a green card and then citizenship. This reference guide is for anyone who
- Is interested in living permanently in the U.S.
- Is a friend or relative of someone who wishes to live permanently in the U.S.
- Wants to become a naturalized citizen
- Has no legal background or any familiarity with U.S. immigration
This book helps you discover the important requirements you need to meet and offers tips and insights into dealing with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). You also get to know other government agencies that you’ll work with while attempting to immigrate to the U.S. or become a citizen. U.S. Citizenship For Dummies covers the following topics and more:
- Clear information on the immigration process
- Up-to-date information on various application forms
- The rights of legal aliens
- Recent changes in immigration laws
- Review of English and Civics tests
- Pointers on the interview process
- Survey of U.S. history, government, and culture
- Coverage on visas and green cards
- Troubleshooting immigration problems
Becoming a U.S. citizen carries important duties and responsibilities as well as rights, rewards, and privileges. Before you make the decision to pursue U.S. citizenship, you need to be aware of what you stand to lose and what you stand to gain; you also need to be sure you’re ready to fulfill all the obligations of a good citizen. U.S. Citizenship For Dummies will help you understand all that it means to become a citizen of the United States of America.
Customer Reviews:
Good book but not needed.......2007-05-16
I read this book for US citizenship. I found it very lucid and to the point. If you are interested in knowing US history in a concise manner this book will not dissappoint you. However if you intend to read this book just for passing US citizenship exam then the flashcards on the website of USDOJ are enough and I don't recall anybody being asked any other question apart from them. Goodluck!
US Citizenship for Dummies, by Cheri Sicard.......2007-04-10
Not as thorough as I'd hoped. I've had to seek other references as well (Bill of Rights, Constitution, Representatives, application for citizenship--N400).
Would have 5 stars if it were not outdated.......2006-07-27
This book is very good and very agreeable to read and learn the topics. Simple plain English and fun to read.
Took one star out because the edition I received is 3 years old.
Nonetheless, a very good book.
Just passed the Citizenship interview and test, and frankly I think I would have succeeded with only the flash cards I downloaded from the USCIS site. But then again, maybe I was simply lucky and got an easy test :)
US Citizenship for Dummies.......2005-08-13
My wife ordered this book for herself after checking out several different books that her friends were using. This book is the most complete in terms of the information available under one cover -- it also proves easy to understand and utilize for someone who has learned English as their second language.
Customer Reviews:
Not much to go on.......2004-03-02
While this book provided some general information about lifestyle and local culture, it lacked any serious details required by someone looking to retire abroad. In particular the tax information was at best irrelevant and at worst incorrect and misleading. Many of the Additional Resources and Useful Websites are out of date.
Overall this book provides a useful starting point for those considering retirement abroad, but lacks sufficient detail to make it a truly useful resource.
Good for General "Wishing" or to start planning.......2002-10-20
This guide has general tips and contacts for what are the top overseas retirement destinations for Americans. For each country there are suggested locations and real estate options that would be of use to retirees. Locations that have substantial US/UK populations are also noted, for the not-quite-so adventurous. As stated above, this work is most useful for someone who's maybe thinking about living overseas, and wants to look at the pro's and cons. OR, convincing your "Significant Other" that yes you can actually live at that great vacation spot on Crete....
Anyone who's already deep into planning for such a move, or has spent considerable time overseas would probably already know most of the information provided here.
The Doors of San Miguel de Allende by Robert deGast.......2002-03-04
This book is a feast for the eyes and senses. Composed of photographs of doors in the town of San Miguel de Allende, the writer/photographer,Robert de Gast, transports the reader to this incredibly beautiful place.How can mere doors have anything to say? Well, these doors "say" volumes about the charm and elegance of this historical Mexican town. One wants to go there...to walk up to one of those doors...to touch the exquisite brass knockers ...to knock! And, to be let in.Each door is different. Each door is unique. The colors, textures and carvings on the doors add to their individuality and charm. Vamos!
Less than adequate.......2001-03-29
Having been to many of the places covered in this book, I was saddened to note that the writers appear to have not done their homework. The information is the sort that you could obtain by writing to the countrys Embassys. The book also appears to be aimed at the High End Market. The main reason for living in another country when you retire is to make your retirement income get "more bang for the buck." All the authors dialog about $700 to $1,900/month rents made me wonder what their perspective on retirement haven's is. Their internet resource guide was off and needs to be updated. Buy this book for general information purposes only.
The Best Book I've Seen........1999-11-30
This is the best book that I've seen that explains the pros and cons of top foreign retirement locations.Even if you're not ready to retire, the book is a fascinating explanation of what foreign retirement life is like. These havens aren't specific sites, such as retirement communities: instead, the book provides general information about various countries that are considered ideal for retirement. Most explanations include recommended living areas and places to avoid. Real estate, both rental and ownership, is thoroughly covered. Renting is generally recommended, at least initially. Some countries make real estate ownership for foreigners impractical or impossible. In other countries, the authors explain the easy procedures and how to avoic real estate rip-offs. In alphabetical order, the top retirement havens are Argentina, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Thailnad. The appendix includes useful Web sites for Americans living overseas, health insurance informations and other foreign retirement resources. This superb book will make many readers reconsider their retirement plans, especially after learning how economical foreign residency can be. This unique book should just be considered an introduction to the best foreign retirement countries: further study and visits are recommended. On my scale of one to 10, this excellent book rates a 10. Robert Bruss, Tribune Media Services
Books:
- Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood
- Ecology & Management Of The North American Moose (Zoo & Aquarium Biology & Conservation)
- Elvis at 21: New York to Memphis
- English Passengers: A Novel
- Fodor's Maine Coast, 1st Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides)
- Fodor's Maui 2007: with Molokai & Lanai (Fodor's Gold Guides)
- Frommer's Amalfi Coast with Naples, Capri & Pompeii (Frommer's Complete)
- Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call 2007: From U.S. & Canadian Home Ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii & More (Frommer's Cruises)
- Frommer's Ireland 2002
- Frommer's Italy 2004
Books Index
Books Home
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General
| Job Hunting & Careers
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures: Internships, Summer Jobs, Seasonal Work, Volunteer Vacations, and Transitions Abroad
Work Your Way Around the World, 12th (Work Your Way Around the World)
How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas
How to Get Any Job With Any Major: Career Launch & Re-launch for Everyone Under 30 or (How to Avoid Living in Your Parent's Basement)
Alternatives to the Peace Corps: A Guide of Global Volunteer Opportunities, 11th Edition
