Going Places: Careers That Involve Travel

There are plenty of ways to have a career in another country. Be aware, though, that simply wanting to do it needs to be coupled with a number of factors...

• Adaptability
• Ability to earn enough money
• Self-confidence
• Openness to other cultures

Obviously, being able to converse in another language will be key. It will always be helpful to include any studies about world economics, world culture, geography, and political science.

A great piece that explores things to think about: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0401/what_it_takes_to_life_and_work_abroad.shtml








Retail buyers buy merchandise to be sold for their companies. In other words, the company sends them to find things that will sell in their stores, the buyer figures out how many of each item they'll need in a store, and it's then purchased and shipped to the stores. Often, buyers are sent to countries where the products are made (they may be made in another country for less money) to choose what to offer their customers.

• Majors: Marketing, Business Admin, Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Merchandising.

An Au Pair cares for children in their home and usually also lives in the home with them. Typically, an au pair has her own room and possibly a small 'apartment' within the childrens' home.The Au Pair may travel with the family. 

• Majors: Elementary Education, Child Psychology, Nursing.

A Language Translator will always be in demand. The more languages you master, the more in-demand you will be. In some areas, there are widely different dialects, or versions, of the same language. See Triogenius, March 10, 2014, about work as a translator.

• Major: One or more languages, as well as Sociology, Linquistics, and Political Science. Study areas: foreign relations, social studies, economics
• You can also work as an English teacher in another country.

Geologists There is a constant need for fuel, and so geologists study resources worldwide. Geologists also work to improve roads, dams, and bridges, as well as cleanup of pollution of the earth. *look for a future blog at Triogenius about Geology as a career.

• Major: Geology, obviously, but if you plan to travel, include social studies and other world languages.

Here's one source that talks about different kinds of geologists: http://www.personal.kent.edu/~cschweit/Stark/whygeologymajor.htm

You could work for the State Department at one of our U.S. Embassies in another country. Jobs include Accounting, Visa/Passport Services, Legal, and Technology. http://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/local-employment

• Major in: Social Studies, Communications, Geography, International studies, World History; Law, International Law, Accounting

           
                                    U.S. Embassy, Rome, Italy
**WOW for 1-25-2016: Embassy: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embassy ***



Doctors and nurses are always in need, here and in other countries. Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, and World Relief, will be happy to have you working with them.


International Aid Workers are always in demand, whether you have a medical background or not. There is also a need for pharmacists and lab techs.
Majors: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/who-we-need

• Medicine
• Nursing
• Social Work with an emphasis on Third World Economics

 

Archaeologists study past civilizations in other countries. If you're into relics, fossils, and generally uncovering the mysteries of centuries ago, consider this as a career (See Triogenius November 4, 2013)

Tech wizards can always find work in any country: Again, studying a foreign language will be helpful as well. Tech Security will be an ongoing concern worldwide.
Majors: Technology, Criminology, Sociology; coursework in International Studies.




If you love travel, Africa, and photography, consider leading Photography Safaris: Tourists take only pictures of the amazing animals they see. You help them get their best pictures, so knowledge of cameras and the art of photographing wildlife is essential. Other uses for photographers include map-drawing, and news photography.

• Areas of study: Photography, language, Political Science, Geography, International Relations, World History

You can travel for years or only for a while, or sporadically throughout your career. If you have a desire to see the world and meet lots of different people, consider a career involving travel.


For a post about studying abroad, see Triogenius May 5, 2014.

What Did You Do?

If you're feeling overwhelmed, rest assured you aren't the only one. We tend to think about all the things we have to do and the notion that we can't get them done.




There is an app in which, at the end of each day, it sends you an email for you to list what you have done instead of what you haven't, to reassure you that there is progress being made even when it seems like it's not. Kind of like goal setting in reverse.

So at the end of today, make a list of what you have done. It may look like this:

• Got up
• Got dressed
• Got to class on time
• Took good notes
• Checked your goals for the day or month
• Cared about a friend
• Ate decent food
• Went to tutoring, or to study group
• Learned something
• Made sure a bill got paid on time
• Took out some trash
• Read a book
• Studied, and studied well
• Started a project
• Finished a project
• Tweaked a project to make it better

See? It's not hard to find what you've done with your time today, and it hasn't been completely wasted. In fact, maybe listing your day's activities will help you be more accountable to yourself.




If your day's review looks like this, then changes need to happen tomorrow:

• Played video games
• Texted with friend(s)
• Had 2 cookies and a glass of flat soda for lunch
• Texted some more
• Forgot to wear socks. Got frostbite on toes.
• Listened to music. Fell asleep between classes. Missed class.
• Texted some more
• Forgot where you parked your car
• Found car, went home, played video games, texted

And how about if you go back a few more days or a week?

• Returned library books on time
• Took a walk
• Cleaned something
• Called about a job or an internship
• Filled out your FAFSA
• Got your papers sorted so you could find things easier
• Learned something
• Made folders for all your important papers
• Read a book
• Remembered something
• Helped someone with something

Or in the last month or two?
Filled out a scholarship application, and sent it in

• Studied for a test
• Got a decent grade on a test
• Did some research for a class
• Wrote a paper and turned it in on time
• Helped someone with his/her homework
• Read a book
• Was a good coworker
• Avoided a car accident
• Asked for help when you got stuck
• Learned something
• "Forgot" about Facebook for a couple of hours
• Created something just for the fun of it
• Made a goal and set a date for it
• Took two steps towards your goal...or more

Of course, in order to achieve things, you have to have goals so you can 'check them off your list.'




What did you do...In the last year? Two years? Think about where you were then compared to where you are now. You can list things that went wrong and what you learned from them-all of them are steps you've finished. You are doing fine, just remember to keep working at your goals and you're going to get there. You'll see if you look back that you've actually accomplished a lot. It was just a step at a time and it didn't seem like you were going anywhere....




But you were.

Concussion: Why It Matters

There's been plenty of attention to football players ramming each other so hard that they cause concussions. What is a concussion?

 

Concussion, known also as a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or MTBI, occurs when someone is struck in the head. This can happen from being purposely rammed into, such as a football player smashing into anther player to stop him, in the 'sport' of boxing where the goal is to strike each other until someone passes out, or from a car accident where someone's head hits a windshield or the side of the car; if someone is hit in the head in a fight or while being abused; or being shaken severely.

 

What happens in a MTBI?

Your brain is sort of the consistency of gel. It's protected by fluid all around, called Cerebrospinal fluid, and then topped off with your skull. Normally it's just chilling, happy to be suspended and protected by the fluid and skull. But, if you hit your head somehow or are shaken hard enough, the brain will be slammed against the cerebral spinal fluid towards your skull. This hurts your brain. Your brain is the operating system of your body. The damage affects the brain throughout and not only at the point of impact.

 

 

Basically, it looks like this:

 

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=what+a+concussion+looks+like+graphic&view=detail&&mid=A2C422E493545079B464A2C422E493545079B464

 

It may not look like a big deal, and typically there isn't a cut or loss of blood and may not be a skull fracture, but there can be internal bleeding on the brain. Here are injuries associated with MTBI:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Loss of balance
• Loss of motor coordination (for example, using your hands for everyday activities)
• Light sensitivity (you may suddenly hate bright lights such as the sun)
• You may see bright lights that aren't really there
• Vision may be blurred
• Ringing in your ears
• Feeling disoriented (The classic Where Am I?)
• Can't pay attention
• Sleep problems
• Memory issues
• Seizures
• It can affect your senses of taste and smell

 

Why is that? Because it's your brain. The brain is in charge of all these things.

                                           MRI of brain with and without concussion

Usually with the first concussion, providing it is fairly mild, the symptoms will ease off after a few days and be much better within about a month. Rest and common sense help the brain heal. However, not knowing exactly how much the brain was hurt, symptoms can linger for longer, and possibly for years. Therefore, imagine the cumulative damage over several concussions. Medical professionals think repeated Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can lead to neurological conditions such as Parkinson's Disease, depression, and dementia.

**WOW for 1-11-2016: Dementia: What is it? http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/basics/definition/CON-20034399  **

Here are some statistics about football players and MTBI. Keep in mind that not every team reports each instance, whether on purpose or because they don't realize how often it's happened: Imagine how hard these players are hitting each other in order to cause concussion even with the use of helmets. Now imagine people who begin playing football at a young age and how many times they're going to potentially have head injuries. It's a little scary.

 

It isn't only in football we see concussion or MTBI. Any time a sport or activity calls for a helmet, it's because of the potential for a head injury. if it's not a contact sport, there is always a possibility you could fall or be hit by something or someone else by accident.

 

• Riding bicycle
• Playing hockey
• Snowboarding
• Motorcycling
• Snowmobiling
• Even playing baseball, there is a potential for being hit by a ball or colliding with someone

Here's an explanation of how a helmet works: It provides an extra layer of protection to help absorb the impact on your brain: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=How+does+helmet+help+with+head+injuries&view=detail&&mid=63BD8480C46F4DD17B8663BD8480C46F4DD17B86

 

If you enjoy an activity that requires a helmet and has potential for head injury, please wear your helmet and try to avoid slamming into anyone or anything. Your brain will thank you.