A lot of people consider searching for and holding on to a romantic partner tiresome and to a certain extent, messy. However, since this is the month of love and of course, with Valentine’s Day fast approaching, let us join the worldwide trend and celebration. In the spirit of fun and more importantly just to feel not left out, I scoured the vast network of data and information that is the internet for enlightenment. Which merely means I just googled “the science of attraction and love”.  And the search yielded 9, 750, 000 results. Score one for the internet for being the impeccable knowledge centre that it is.

I noticed after going through the articles that mainly, there are psychological, hormonal or neurochemical and biological or physical aspects to theories that explain how people become initially attracted to each other and fall in love not long after. These theories are not simply hypotheses or guesses but are based on thorough researches and studies even experiments carried out methodically and properly. Hence, there is truth to them.

For all the single folks out there, can these numerous scientific theories help them out land a potential romantic mate or partner? Possibly yes. But let us not get too methodical to the point of being “bookish” in the quest for finding love. Because no matter how good, helpful or rational you find these theories, the process of finding someone you’re compatible with, maintaining and strengthening that relationship and ultimately falling in love and cementing the relationship with marriage can never be generalized. It will always be a personalized, wonderful and unforgettable emotional experience.  In your quest for romance, it is still best to find a balance between your heart and mind, to use both your personal intellectual and emotional faculties.

For all the people who are dateless on Valentine’s Day, I have also found out another thing the internet is good for: on-line dating.  At least it’s a start, right?

We’re already on the third week of January. Any progress on your planned new year’s resolutions?

If there aren’t any, don’t beat yourself up too much: taking on changes and new challenges is never simple. But don’t always use procrastination as an excuse for not starting and/or completing your goals for this year.

Start with something easy you want to change or a new task you want to do. Are you currently studying?  Include and prioritize in your new year’s list of resolutions to take your studies more seriously, to get higher grades and lessen your unofficial and off-the-record extracurricular activities. Are you presently employed? Start managing your time at the office more effectively and efficiently. Yes, that means spending lesser time on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites and playing online games, and at the end of day, getting more work done and producing satisfactory results consistently.

For those who are unfortunately unemployed (either by choice or not) right now, make it your goal to of course, get a job. Try not to be too fussy about the job openings you are applying for since it may take you forever to land your “dream job”.  If you are one of the lucky few however who have the means and ways to pursue further education, think about it too.  There’s nothing wrong with having another Bachelor’s or a new Master’s degree under your belt and these titles really give plus points to your resume. Also, now is a good time to consider studying abroad.  The international qualification, experiences, and new people you meet and friends you make will definitely prove to be life changing, invaluable and unparalleled.

A new year always signifies the start of a new you. And it shouldn’t mean a personal downgrade. It should be a better, improved version of you, inside and out.

It’s hard not to associate Christmas with getting gifts, big, fat bonuses, and the seemingly endless gift shopping forays. Not to mention discounts and numerous sales offered by various malls, shops and stores. Sad to say, Christmas, in one way or another, has been tainted by commercialism and materialism.

Does this imply that Christmas is not the solemn, religious holiday that it was before and that should be? Christmas is first and foremost the holy day when Jesus Christ, one of the most important central figures in Christianity, was born. Most ideas and school of thinking on Christmas do revolve around this special day and it really is a good and sound cause for celebration, if any.

With all the bonuses and gifts we expect to receive this Christmas, there really should be a reason for us to look forward to and be thankful for this holiday. But, do we really need to wait for December every year to be appreciative of all the blessings that we receive and will be receiving?

For people like us who work and have monthly sources of income, shouldn’t we already be thankful everyday that we don’t have to worry about where and how we can get a bite of food to eat or clean water to drink? For us who have a house or apartment to go home to every night, even if it’s small and rented, shouldn’t we be already happy that we don’t have to look for a clean and dry place on the streets where we can sleep on?

All of us, at one point or another in our lives, have been guilty of taking for granted the simple things and the little blessings that we have and receive every day. And more importantly, we forget to be grateful for all these things we have that make our lives easier and comfortable to live.

And we should really look into changing this unhelpful habit. Counting and being thankful for your blessings every single day is one way of becoming a more mature and better person. And it will help lessen all the materialistic wants you have, help you to have and maintain a more positive outlook and as a consequence, enable you to live a stress-free life.

So, this Christmas and all year round, let’s make it a point to be thankful every day and to always keep an open-mind and an optimistic attitude.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Anyhow, since all of us do have to travel at least once in our lifetime, there are ways we can lessen the stress and troubles that come with it. Below are some general suggestions on how to do so:

• Prepare well and in advance. Unless the reason for your trip is due to an emergency, there is no excuse for you to have not done the following: a). reserved your flight; b). packed properly or forgot to pack something (especially medicine) in, or over packed your luggage; c).planned your itinerary; d).purchased travel insurance (many countries require travelers to have this); e).booked or confirmed your accommodation, and f). prepared your pocket money.
• Check your travel documents and keep them safe and at hand at all times. Make sure that your passport and / or entry clearance document / visa have not yet expired or will not be expiring in the next 5 – 6 months. If you will be travelling with your family (spouse and / or children), make sure that their travel documents are valid and always with them as well. In certain cases, medical and / or vaccination certificates are required at immigration or at the airports. So don’t forget to pack these, too. Don’t forget to make and keep soft and hard copies of all these documents also to be safe.
• If your destination is overseas, ensure that you can use your communication and other electronic devices in the place where you are headed. You will find that most technological devices are compatible and will work in any country but if unsure, do some online reading for this.
• Acquire some information about your place of destination. Do some research on the basic customs and laws of the place. Simply Googling it would yield all the information you will need and want.
• On the date of your flight, arrive early at the airport. And before heading to the airport, check all the contents of your baggage as well as the ones you need to have in your hand-carried bag, such as your passport, money and other important documents to avoid unnecessary fears.

The last thing that travelers may be affected with would be homesickness. Whether you would be staying in a new place or country temporarily or permanently, you would have to deal with this emotion.  A simple remedy for this is to bring some food (which airports would allow you to bring) that can remind you of home and your family and which will certainly give you something to look forward to. That’s why the term “comfort food” was coined. Also, with the internet, getting in touch with loved ones and friends you left behind is not at all difficult. Using Skype to talk to them and seeing their posts and pictures on Facebook would also alleviate your loneliness.

So travel well and enjoy all the experience that comes with your trip!

Read a spine-tingling novel or book. Or make that two. I have always loved reading Stephen King’s short stories. They’re really frightening, makes you jump-out-of-your skin scary. There were times before that after reading some of his stories, I would be afraid of turning the light off in my bedroom and even get scared with closing my eyes. If you’re not a fan of Stephen King, try reading novels or stories about local supernatural beings, folklore and urban legends. They’ll definitely give you sleepless nights, too, especially if you’re a scaredy cat like me.

Join one of those “Spirit Questors” thing or go ghost hunting. Just because nothing beats looking for trouble, I mean ghosts, during the eerie creepy night of Halloween. Try to remember not to expect too much though.

Go trick or treating. Just also make sure that your age allows you and that it is still appropriate for someone of your age to do so.

Join a costume party or contest. Halloween comes only once a year so this is the time for you to go all out on a getting a costume and your hair and make-up done to be someone you’re not but have often wished to be. Be a superhero, a classic and famous TV or movie character or dress up as a person in the line of work you’ve always wanted to be in but could never do.

Have fun! Whatever you decide to do this 31st of October, whether you want to stay home to get some needed R&R or party or spend time with your family, just enjoy, lighten up, forget all your worries and have a blast!

When you fly hundreds of thousands of miles for the first time, this can be a really scary thing to do. Travelling all that way for the first time can’t be easy, especially when you land and have no one to meet you and you don’t know where you need to go. The thought can be a very daunting experience.

Luckily, what Job Connections UK Ltd and Study Connect International do is work hard in flying the candidates we enroll for a specific course in groups, so they can get to know some friendly faces who will be on the same course. Then when the candidates land, we have our Filipino member of staff there to meet and greet them. We provide all the information they need and direct them to where they are going to be staying. This is what makes Job Connections and Study Connect International stand out. Because we all know that it’s not easy going to a different country to study, we try our best to make it as smooth for you as possible.

this is the ideal song, that i feel fit’s perfectly with this post: http://goo.gl/81uyD Sting – Englishman In New York.

Posted by Dean Davies October 2011

Looking around at successful people and businesses, i notice there is a common denominator, despite huge differences in the lives they lead and the business they run, which seems to be shared by them all… and that is motivation.

Motivation is the fuel which drives the engine and without it, nothing happens!

I also noticed that when the **** hilts the fan as it will do in the course of anyone’s life or in any business cycle, what is it that get one person through it, up back on their feet and running  and the others fail!

It is relatively easy to succeed in a buoyant market and one can believe that one’s success is due to ones business skills, however when the markets fall, what singles out the survivors….

What kept Nelson Mandela going during his imprisonment? What drove Martin Luther King to be able to change the way people now enjoy civil liberties? What got you through that hard time?

Whilst it may differ from one to another, that “motivation” factor is key in powering one through hard times and soars us into great heights in buoyant times.

I’m not an expert on motivation but I know one thing for sure, if you are not motivated by something, life can feel so purposeless.

This is the case for some of us.

So what motivates you? Is it getting those louboutin shoes or a new laptop or just saving for a holiday.

For me, it’s getting things done! Achieving something challenging, like getting through a 90mins Birkam yoga class or completing a module of my degree programme.

At the moment I have 2 modules left before I complete the Recruitment Practice Degree.

As for my yoga classes, I’m on a 30day challenge. My list of things to do is very long and made up of small and big tasks.

The feeling of accomplishment is wonderful and a high on its own. So what motivates you?

As a recruiter for the last 16 yrs, I’m observing a higher increase in global job mobility and flexibility from people from different countries. Employed and unemployed young graduates from the western world are moving to the Far East or any place where they can find good employment. More people are looking at the best employment options, not only in their own country but globally too. This movement is not exclusive to young people, but it includes middle aged and mature individuals as well

In Manila, I met a young lady in her mid 20′s, an MBA graduate from the USA working for an energy company based in Laguna. While working in the Philippines, she is making sure that she dives regularly and enjoys the beautiful sites of the country. She is one of my husband’s diving buddies.

A friend of mine in the hospitality industry has just moved from Zambia to Nigeria. Big change culturally, mentally and in so many other aspects.

In Manila, I have come cross individuals from various countries, who just finished their contracts and are now moving on. Some are moving to Namibia, China, Suriname, Congo, India and Canada, just to name a few.

The one thing that has stood out in all these individuals is that they are very well educated. Not only are they educated, they have qualifications and skills that are in high demand on the global market.

You have to get educated in the right profession that has a global demand if you want to be competitive on the global market and in your own country.

In many circumstances, employers in home countries look favorably on job seekers with an appropriate international qualification and work experience.

So if you are stuck in a career going nowhere, maybe it’s time to take that post graduate qualification or a second degree or work experience overseas. Expand your options and be willing to take on a new challenge.

English. Usually regarded as the global lingua franca. Just how important is it to speak and understand the English language? If you have dreams of travelling to English-speaking countries such as the USA, UK, Canada and Australia, well, it is vital that you can read, speak and understand a certain level of English.

If you have plans of studying in the UK and you come from a non-majority English language speaking country, you have to be aware of and meet new English language ability requirements to gain a student visa. You have to show evidence that you took an accredited English proficiency exam which is accepted by the UK Border Agency (UKBA). Current Secure English language tests under the UKBA Points Based System (PBS) Tier 4 are: IELTS, Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) and TOEFL iBT.

From April 21^st 2011, the UKBA implemented new policies to the Tier 4 student route.  These changes will be introduced at periodic times until April 2012.

One of the immediate changes includes an increase in the minimum English language competency requirement, for student coming from outside the EU. The required English scores will mainly depend on the course you intend to take and/ or the college or university you will be enrolling into. Therefore, it would be wise to contact your preferred college or university and find out what the English language requirements are for the course that you would like to take. If you are using an approved agent for a particular college or university, they can also guide you on the English requirement for your intended course.

On a side note, another important addition to the Tier 4 policy is that UK Border Agency staff will be able to refuse entry to students who cannot speak English without an interpreter and who therefore blatantly do not meet the required minimum standards.

As a word of advice, make sure that you brush up on your English communication skills before taking up an English language test in support of your student visa application. As mentioned earlier, English is on its way to being the universally used language and you will definitely need and use it not only in studying but in your daily life as well. And it will certainly enable you to pass any interviews conducted in English.

I have always been a film buff since I was a kid.  I remember clearly that the first full-length film I ever saw was E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, one of Steven Spielberg’s earliest masterpieces.

My favorite films usually fall under the following genres:  fantasy, suspense, science fiction, thriller, adventure, action, comedy and romantic-comedy. I only like a few romantic films or “chick flicks”, which is the term now more commonly used, and rom-coms.

In my opinion, these romantic films are more often than not the movies that offer more insight into life and love. One can gain a lot of thought-provoking learning from watching romantic films. Compared to suspense or science fiction movies, I can say that romantic films can apply to and mirror real life.

As I have said, I only watch or finish watching a few romantic films and these are the ones that I deem interesting and do not induce me to boredom or sleep.  My fascination with living (whether working or studying or both) abroad also stems from some of my favorite films that illustrate the wonderful experiences and benefits of doing so. These are (in no particular order):

1. Lost in Translation

2. Mona Lisa Smile

3. Under The Tuscan Sun

4. How To Lose Friends And Alienate People

5. Wild Child

6. Eat, Pray, Love

I would not go into details for each mentioned film since you can watch or search for them on the internet at your own leisure or you might have seen most or all these films before. I am also not a film reviewer so giving you a summary and/or review of the films seem pointless. The common factor or theme for these films is that the protagonist goes out of his/her comfort zone and is able to overcome all the changes and difficulties that come with this in the end.  It is quite nice to see a person being brave enough to travel to a different city or country and facing and ultimately surmounting various obstacles and troubles. Aside from the usual problems of starting out on your own in an unfamiliar territory such as waning financial funds, loneliness, etc., the characters in the movie also have to learn to deal with different people, cultures and traditions.  It is such a joyous experience watching the characters struggle to adapt to changes and seeing them in the end find success and love after all the hardships they have gone through. I’m sure we all have found ourselves in more or less the same situation at one point in our life and watching them being “re-lived” on the big screen is quite uplifting and even hilarious at some parts. We all have different endings but I’m sure the journey is pretty much the same as the one seen on the movies.

As I said earlier, I would like to live abroad again, whether to study or to work. I have to remember to get some words of wisdoms from my chosen favorite romantic and romantic-comedy films to help me get by in a foreign country. Also, watching these films again (or even repeatedly) would help a lot. And achieving success and love, as seen on the films, as by-products, wouldn’t be so bad too and I guess, would be worth all the hardships.