descending from the volcano

[amw]

I am debating whether to write this entry first or call the tax office first

Comments

[opakele]

I love that picture. You look darling.

Chef knows when people work their asses off, too.

This looks like a good gig.

Good luck getting where you need to be with your accounts.

Good lord.

[notte0]

Indeed, I always have this “background thought” that the US, for claiming to be a melting pot, is way more discriminatory than “where I am”. Here there is less overt discrimination, but honestly, if you really pay attention, it’s still there. It’s just not hostile. The clientele of the “higher class” venues are still Portuguese (and foreigners, of course), and when dealing with government agencies, just looking Portuguese, or having a Portuguese name/surname or dropping hints that you speak Portuguese would give you way better service, despite the person dealing with you doesn’t speak a squat of Portuguese (and Portuguese being one of the 2 OFFICIAL languages)… it’s complicated and difficult to explain. People covet having the Portuguese passport (as long as you have proof one of your ancestor is a “Portuguese from Macau” then you can apply to be one

[amw]

I am amazed that you still have the same phone number for 20+ years! That's incredible. I feel like that's something journalists could write an article about. Even people who live in the same country i feel like there is a good chance they could lose their phone once in 20 years.

It's interesting to hear about how the Portuguese higher class is in Macau.

I do think it is bunk when some countries claim they don't have racism, when really what they mean is that they don't have the US version of racial classification. In different cultures social inequalities developed in a different way, so it's not helpful to compare outcomes of "races" as they're defined in the US and then cheerfully claim superiority.

[geminiwench]

That is a real adventure to drop into a customer service job, talking to people and taking orders in a language you're still stumbling in. But it really does have a nice payoff... and I'm not just talkin' about the money!

[olamina]

Just get a friend in Canada to log in for you. It'll be faster and less annoying.

I'm excited you're going to Colômbia. A good Brit friend of mine worked in Medellin for a while they have a cute little tech scene and lots to explore in town. I've also heard great things about Barranquilla but Colombians are always so fiercely about their towns!

Now that I have been forced to work in cybersecurity, everything is 2FAd up the ass. I like forgetting where my phone is in the house for long stretches so I can focus, but this regime makes it impossible.

[amw]

I didn't consider getting someone in Canada to log on for me, but that's a useful tip. I would have to send my physical SIM card to them in the mail first, but then they could put it in their phone and log in on my behalf. I feel like the next step would be to set up some kind of virtual phone number to forward text messages anywhere in the world, but i'm not sure if we have those in Canada. Google Voice can do it, i think, but you can't get one of those unless you are in the US.

Fortunately i've gotten my tax office thing figured out now, so with a bit of luck i can ignore all this again for another little while.

[mhaithaca]

I like that chef. Shift meal and a wad of cash!

There's so much security theatre inherent in the requirements we deal with these days, from password complexity rules (especially changing them regularly!) to two-factor authentication. Hope you find a solution.