Title: Unveiling the Adventure: My Summer Work and Travel Exchange Journey 🌎 Hello Explorers! 🌟 I'm Khabibullokh Khallokov, and I'm thrilled to welcome you to a different side of my life – one that involves not lines of code but miles of exploration. This summer marks the beginning of an incredible chapter as I embark on a Work and Travel Exchange program in the land of endless possibilities – America. Who Am I? 🤔 For those just joining the journey, I'm a 19-year-old adventurer from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. While my heart beats for coding and app development during the academic year, the summer season calls for a different kind of adventure. As a junior student at INHA University, I've decided to spread my wings beyond the campus and experience the vibrant culture and opportunities awaiting me in the United States. The Prelude: Myself and My Dreams 🌌 This summer isn't just about a change of scenery; it's about embracing new challenges, meeting diverse people, and expanding my horizons. As I pack my bags and prepare to cross oceans, I can't help but feel a mix of excitement and anticipation. From the bustling streets of Tashkent to the bustling cities of America, this journey promises growth, learning, and unforgettable memories. What Lies Ahead? 🌅 In the upcoming blogs, I'll be sharing my experiences, trials, and triumphs as I navigate the unique landscape of the United States. From the cultural shocks to the awe-inspiring landscapes, each post will be a glimpse into my summer adventure. Expect tales of new friendships, workplace anecdotes, and the beauty of discovering a foreign land. Join Me on This Expedition! 🌐 But this blog is not just my story; it's a shared adventure. I invite you, my dear readers, to join me on this expedition. Share your thoughts, experiences, and travel tips in the comments below. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or an armchair explorer, your insights are invaluable as I step into the unknown. What Would You Like to Know? 🤔 Before I bid you farewell for now, let me throw the question back to you: What aspects of my American adventure are you most curious about? Whether it's the work culture, travel destinations, or the quirks of daily life, let me know, and I'll make sure to weave those into the upcoming blogs. Stay tuned for tales of adventure, discovery, and the pursuit of dreams. Until next time, happy exploring! 🌍
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Today's generation is a digital generation; India has a huge scope and opportunity for digital marketing. It is that component of marketing that utilizes online-based technologies to promote products and services. The global internet advertising market size was valued at $319 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $1,089 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 17.2% from 2020 to 2027. Utilization of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased tremendously which resulted in increased use of social media platforms to promote the businesses with the target audience which drives the growth of internet advertising. Many progressive digital marketing companies are helping complete digital impact to convert businesses into brands with online branding and trendy marketing strategies, innovation, and creativity. Back in 2016, I was in my engineering studies and unfortunately failed that year due to some reasons. I was so depressed at that time because I had never failed in my academics. I somehow cleared the subjects and that year I was continuously searching for new opportunities on the internet. While watching a video on YouTube, I got to know about internet marketing and it's future scope. Then I started my journey in digital marketing with a free WordPress blog and learning from offline and online training. After few months I worked as an intern in an IT firm in my city. It was my first job as a digital marketing manager. When I was working there, I got hands-on experience in Social media marketing, Google Ads & SEO. I worked on projects which were running Pan India and some of them were International projects After 6 months, I joined a start-up and also started working as a freelancer. At that time I was continuously developing my skills and I was focused on learning new things in digital marketing. With those learnigs and my experiences I decided to start my own digital marketing agency as I wanted to start something of my own and network with more pepole. Started with a local business as a client now we are serving more than 100 clients which are national and few multinational brands as well. Today when I look back on my wonderful journey, I realized getting certificates from online courses or getting classroom training is not enough to succeed in your digital marketing career. You have to apply the things which you have learned, you have to start running campaigns on Social Media, Google, and other platforms, you have to start a blog, you have to learn and implement practical things rather than theoretical things. There are many new digital marketing trends and strategies that are evolving in 2021. You always have to keep yourself updated with these trends & updates.
“I will go to Jerusalem, even if I have to die there!” These words came out of Paul's mouth with so much firmness, enough to end what looked like an argument between the five disciples in the room. Agabus was the most appalled. In his decades as a prophet he had never experienced such ‘madness'. He had just told Paul what would befall him if he went to Jerusalem – imprisonment and probable death. Yet, Paul didn't cower. Luke was puzzled. He exhaled deeply, then said, “Brethren, let us rejoice. For in all things, the will of God will surely manifest”. The other disciples nodded in agreement. Then as they took turns to kiss Paul, the evangelist, Philip, walked in. Trophimus jumped from Paul's side to hug Philip. “Welcome sir, even though it's your own house” he joked. “Thank you Trophimus. Are my daughters around?” “Yes they are. I'll go call them now. Maybe later you can tell me the story of how you disappeared from the face of the Ethiopian eunuch. I've been aching to hear it from you” Philip laughed and said, “I didn't disappear, the Spirit carried me. But details later Trophimus. Just call my daughters, I am starving!” The whole room burst into laughter. By the next week, Paul was en route to Jerusalem. Aviva could not believe her eyes. Nothing could have prepared her for the experience she was having that day. She had walked with Paul to the Jerusalem temple, teasing him about how he's yet to marry. He was her favourite brother and she enjoyed his company a lot. But today was different, she watched him get brutalized by an infuriated Jewish mob. She watched him bleed until Roman soldiers interfered. She watched him as he tried to defend himself but was silenced by the multitude as they cried, threw dust around and prayed for his death. She wept bitterly on the shoulders of Oren, her son. “Uncle! Uncle Paul!” Oren was screaming as he sighted Paul behind bars in the castle. He was sweating profusely, with teary eyes and a pale face. “How did you get in?” Paul asked, locking his fingers into his nephew's. “I snuck in through the back. I know it's wrong but I had to. Uncle, I'm so scared. This might be the last time I'll see you” Paul laughed, with a voice scorched from all his shouting in the temple earlier. Then continued “My time has not come Oren. There's still a church to be built in Rome. But tell me, why did you say this?” Oren went on to narrate to Paul how he overheard the plot between the Chief Priest and about forty other men. “They are planning to ask Lysias, the Roman commander, to bring you for a Jewish questioning tomorrow and kill you in the process.” Paul sighed. This was the nineteenth time he was being informed of a planned assassination. Most times, the Lord told him directly. “Thank you very much Oren. Now I want you to tell this plot only to Lysias. I will have a centurion take you to him. Be very discerning.” “But Uncle, will you really be fine?” “I honestly do not know. Since my experience at Damascus, I have lost control of my life. But I know Jesus will preserve me from these men who persecute me for the gospel's sake. Only pray for me with your mom. Now go! “ Finally, the day drew to an end and Paul retired to sleep. As he laid down, from the corner of his eyes, he saw a centurion walking briskly towards him with an unsheathed sword. “Why is he coming with a sword? Was he paid to kill me?” Paul thought, and stood up quickly. The centurion advanced faster until he reached Paul. Then he held Paul by the neck and whispered into his ears, “The Jews will kill you tomorrow if you stay here. I have orders to take you to Caesarea. But we must leave now. We get to Antipatris tonight, then Caesarea tomorrow. Girdle up! we move now.” Paul heaved a sigh and muttered thanksgiving to God. Then they set for an escape out of Jerusalem. The next four years of Paul's life were spent mostly in Rome where he established a church from his apartment. One day, as he taught Christian persecution, a Roman convert raised his hands and asked, “How are you still a preacher after all your persecution experience?” He smiled and replied, “Blessed are you, when men revile and persecute you. Rejoice, for great is your reward in heaven”. Then he added, “Those were Jesus' words. They kept me going!”.
I just turned 11 and was preparing to get into High School, I was going to leave for boarding school the following day and mom had said she wanted to talk to me about something. My mind began racing, I had never had such serious conversations before. My heart was pounding, I was shy and didn't know exactly what to expect. My mind did go to Menstruation but having such conversation with my mom would be weird, I thought to myself. Prior to that day, I had had a lot of discussions with my friends (females) in Primary School. We couldn't wait to have our periods, we talked about this only behind our class during break time. We talked about all the myths we've heard about menstruation, the blood is bad blood, smells badly and so on. Finally it was time for mom and I to talk and yes I was right, it was about menstruation. She told me about how it's an "introduction into womanhood" as I could get pregnant and have children the moment I start menstruating. Being a typical African Woman, she didn't forget to mention that I should never tell people I'm on my period. When I finally started menstruating, the cramps (dysmenorrhea) were so unbearable and I'd just lay in my bed in the hostel and groan in pain since I wasn't supposed to tell anyone except for those who came close enough to find out what was wrong with me. Yes I attended an all Girls Boarding Secondary School. I had the opportunity to speak with GDSS girls, a secondary school in Kalgo LGA of Kebbi State, Nigeria & then it dawned on me how deep the culture of being "hush" with our periods had eaten deep into our consciousness. These beautiful school girls were too shy to share with me their experiences on period. Period is NOT a taboo, EVERY woman experiences it. Its amazing how something very normal & common is treated like a plague or curse. Menstruation, also known as a period or monthly flow is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. It happens when your ovum (egg) wasn't fertilized by sperm. Menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 30days with the commonest being 28days (that's why it's called a cycle). The first day of your period is calculated as the first day of your menstrual cycle, the counting continues until the first day of another period, ovulation usually takes place at the middle of your cycle depending on the length of your cycle. For example if your period two months ago came April 2, and comes May 1st, it means you have a 30 day cycle, study your period for at least 3-6 months before concluding on your cycle length. Also the cycle doesn't necessarily remain the same for the rest of your life, it could change. For example you could get started on a 28days cycle and change to a 26days cycle and so on. Factors that cause changes in cycles include menarche, hormonal imbalance, change of environment, anxiety, fear, medication and even infections. Menarche is the term given to the "First ever menstrual flow". It usually takes about 2 years from age of menarche for menstrual cycle to stabilize. Although it may be less or more than two years for some other individuals. It is wrong to feel less of yourself because you're on your "Special Day" especially for those of you who are in Mixed Secondary Schools. It isn't wrong to take pain relievers if the pains are unbearable, use good sanitary products, bath regularly and don't forget your deodorants. Feel comfortable and be yourself. In the typical African especially Nigerian home, our moms tell us that once we start menstruating, if a man "touches" us, we'd get pregnant. In our young, naive minds, we ingested those counsels hook, line and sinker. I remember a friend of mine who got hugged by a male student in school, ran home crying she was pregnant. This is a myth. Myths like a girl menstruating is unclean and should be locked out, not permitted to cook and involve in social and domestic activities are what they are, myths and myths are not true. There is no better time to advocate for removal of tax on Sanitary wares than now amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, menstruation is NATURAL and will always be with us as long as man exists. For this reason, my team and I continue to work to ensure girls have access to eco-friendly, sustainable and cost-effective Menstrual Hygiene Products and are looking forward to fruitful collaborations. Be proud of your period, feel beautiful and be glad you're a woman!
I'm originally from Wrexham, North Wales but i love to travel. I'm 12 (almost 13) and i now live in France with my big family. I have traveled to a lot of countries in Europe, but this story is about my trip to my dream place, the USA. We rented a Camper Van, to travel around San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Death Valley National Park, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon National Park, Route 66, Joshua Tree National Park, Los Angeles, Highway 1 along the coast, Big Sur, and Half Moon Bay. We spent just over 2 weeks on this trip, in a large 30ft RV perfect for six people. I had traveled a lot, but never before been in an RV, so this was amazing for me. We flew in to Oakland International Airport on Thursday 27th September. We made our way in a bus to our hotel Econo Lodge, and we stayed the night in a nice room. But because of Jet-Lag, we didn't sleep much, actually i didn't sleep at all, so i just spent the night watching TV. I'm normally not a very sleepy person, let alone with the added Jet-Lag. I finally fell asleep for about 2 hours, before waking up again realizing that it was time to go pick up the RV. At 12.00am we got an Uber, and he took us to the RV rental place. When we got in the RV, it was massive with 2 double beds, and 2 single beds. The table and chairs were we sat when driving was a sofa-bed. We then picked up the RV and made our way down to Half Moon Bay, California. were we spent 3 days seeing the beautiful dolphins, in their wild habitat, and also trying out fast food places we'd never been to. On the last day before we left for Yosemite, we had our first 'Dunkin 'Donuts ever. We were all so excited to leave for the 6h trip to Yosemite, because it would be our first long drive. We drove and finally got into the National Park at about 17.00pm, but it was still 2 hours to the RV park, and we started seeing lots of signs for bears and we got excited. We had some cereal when we were about an hour from the park and then the little ones fell asleep, as we started seeing signs for mountain lions! We finally arrived at the RV Park, and spent three days going on walks, and eating at the Yosemite National Park Restaurant where i had the best chili ever. Yosemite was amazing and it was sad to leave especially without seeing a bear, which i really wanted to see, but i will one day. We traveled 2 hours, before arriving at a sign that said Death Valley National Park, it was amazing as i also saw a sign saying Welcome to Nevada. we traveled hours into Death Valley until we finally came across a nice looking RV park, but i wouldn't know, because i was asleep. I woke up to the amazing sunrise and desert all around. I saw rabbits with unbelievably long ears, and the Death Valley Visitor Center. Death Valley was beautiful, and i even bought a t-shirt from the Visitor Center, but to make our trip work, we had to go straight through it to get to Grand Canyon National Park. But Death Valley wasn't over as we still hadn't seen Las Vegas and i didn't even realize we were there when we were. We were in the middle of the desert supposedly nobody for at least 50 miles, and that's when we came over a hill, and i saw a massive city that went on for miles. We passed Retail Park after Retail Park, gambling, poker, take everything you know about Las Vegas and it will be right. Just like "The Films". We weren't really planning on stopping in Las Vegas as we were eager to get to Grand Canyon, but we still went to shop at Walmart. We bought a lot, and spent about an hour in there. We also bought a big back of sweets, so i was happy. We then jumped back in the van, and left for the Grand Canyon. Again, we were all excited. It was still another 4 hours till we got there. I fell asleep at about 21.30pm and when i woke up, we were there. I was happy, and also excited to go to the Viewing Point. Where i would finally see the amazing Grand Canyon. I saw it and it was incredible. We went back to the camper van, and stayed there for about 2 hours before going to see the sunset. We got there on time (for once) and watched as the beautiful poured out as the sun went down. The next morning me and my mum woke up at 6.00am and went to see the beautiful sunrise. It was amazing. We then left and made our way down the coast to Santa Cruz along Highway 1. For me it's officially the best road I've ever driven on. We then arrived back at beautiful Half Moon Bay were we spent 3 days. I loved it there, we also saw the most incredible seals, they were beautiful! We watched as the dolphins danced along the coast and we ate at the restaurant ever, were i got a chili burger, and cheesecake (the restaurant was very expensive as i noticed the bill. That was our last day as we made our way back down the 40 minute drive to Oakland Airport, where we got Burger King as we got ready for our 10 hour flight home. At 20.00pm we boarded the flight and i watched a film (Kong Skull Island.) We then flew home back to Barcelona Airport.
My fathers never died on this soil, but its freedom has enveloped my essence. This land is not my origin, but this land is my future. My passport states that my nationality is Indian, but I am an American. I wasn't a US citizen, and at the time I didn't even have a green card, but for a piercing moment it didn't matter; I loved the United States of America no matter how minuscule or indirect my part was. The land of the free and the home of the brave made the person I could never be under the flag of another nation because true patriotism isn't taught or learned, it flows through a man like blood: it gives him life. The Thanksgiving of the election year should have been like every other Thanksgiving: forgettable. I don't celebrate a formal Thanksgiving with a turkey or even a dinner (for religious reasons of course). I spent every Thanksgiving until then simply making a list for black Friday so I could unbridle my most frugal capitalist desires in 24 hours. But that year a greater American feeling, even higher than capitalist urges, gripped and wrenched me from my idle nothingness. That night I read for the 5th time a book on WWII, full of letters and accounts by the vets about the war, and felt the beating hearts of 3 million men who endured the Depression and battled the fury of der Führer and Hirohito. Perhaps it was knowledge of the great sacrifice and struggle that resonated with me, because as I turned the final pages, all I could hear my neighbor's star spangled banner waving, unfurling its grace from sea to shining sea. For that moment, I wasn't a simple 9th grader immigrant searching for belonging: I was by Washington's side in Yorktown hoisting the American flag above the land for all to see; I was at Gettysburg as the fight for the repair the Union filled rivers with blood; I was holding an M1 Garand and storming the beaches of Adolf Hitler's empire; I was, above all else, completed by national pride. The epiphany took me by storm; by the time I finished a breath I lived not for myself anymore, but for my country and its patriotism. Its virtue swirled like a fiery tornado and swept my being from one without meaning to one instilled with the purpose to serve. This unrestricted and omnipresent rage of uncompromising loyalty to a nation, instead of a mere party or group, is what quells global chaos even in the direst of situations. For a few years since I wanted nothing more than to speak to one of the men who toppled the fascist regimes. I began worrying that I would live life without meeting even one member of the Greatest Generation. I was passionate. And oftentimes, true passion will yield the most golden opportunities by chance. On a particular spring weekend, I was at a leadership camp, carefree but still learning. And when I least expected it, a miracle occurred. That morning, our camp a had a flag salute, only instead of the cabinmates singing the national anthem, there was an old man in a gray suit and a blue tie with red and white stripes and stars, standing next to the flagpole as the flag was hoisted with small piece of parchment in his right hand. The camp fell silent, as our gazes narrowed on this man who stood so firmly and with such resolution despite his age. We were given a brief introduction about this man, but the speaker had a frail voice and could barely project ten feet so most of the information fell on deaf ears. As the crowd mumbled with people asking each other what the speaker was saying about the man, the old man straightened his tie and took the mic from the speaker when she finished. He cleared his throat, and his voice permeated the grounds. He gave a brief description of himself, hinting subtly his past in the military and the years he had spent with the flag sewn on his uniform, and then took a good look at the flag waving in the golden colors of the sun and the morning breeze. Unfolding the parchment in his hands, he read aloud “Old Glory”. We all watched, our gazes affixed on the flag as it fluttered in and out of our view of the sun, as he recounted the history of America through the eyes of the banner that watched over the nation from high spires. Our hearts beat in unison, as the man lead us through the fields of Saratoga and Yorktown, and the green of Arlington as mothers bereave for their heroic sons wrapped in a beautiful shroud of red, white, and blue. His fierce brown eyes sparkled like fire when he spoke of its days beside young boys drifted off to fight the Nazis and the Japanese. At that moment a friend beside me gave me a nod: this man was no ordinary man, this was a man who American boys strived to be every day. This was a man who could stand for justice through calm and storm. This was a man who lasted the Depression and its suffering and the turmoils of the Normandy beaches. This man had surrendered his very life for the well-being of this country. My search for a conversation with the greatest this nation had to offer ended here.
Life is a choice, whether you intend to be beneficial or not. Having the potential to make the world a better place doesn't make you a better person, but your choice does. Many people want a beautiful world but less do the actions to create one. To serve in making the world a better place is my choice. I've found the authentic value of life and happiness in helping others and I believe, the humanity will never embrace the ultimate harmony if we keep on glorifying words over actions. One should start and empower others. One should take a small step then move forward to the big one. This is the story of my experience in moving to 'the big step' of my life! It all began when I was in freshman year of college. I joined my first charity activity in freshman year and at that point, I realized that actually I can do little things that might create some changes. Growing up in the center of metropolitan city, Tangerang, made me witness a huge distortion and undesirable truth of people's low education and life quality in my hometown, Pontianak, once I moved back there. Henceforth, I dedicate myself to some volunteering activities, concerning in education, which consequently create my awareness of the problems and potential in the community. Language is bound with culture. Indonesia, as a country full of diversities, has approximately 724 languages and most of the people, especially in rural area, growing up speaking their local language before learning Indonesian Language . Hence, to people in rural area, having skill to be able to communicate in English is quite difficult to achieve while on the other hand English is really useful to broaden the horizon. I was thoroughly disappointed knowing there is no club for students in my university to develop English with their peers. Their willingness to learn English is slowly vanished. The problem prevailing in my university acted as a stumbling block for youths to grow and create progress which subsequently led me to create a difference.I've dedicated myself to teach English voluntarily and it's a great pleasure for me but I know this small step I took is narrow and never sufficient. Therefore, I and my friends from Joint Untan Organization developed an idea to create Tanjungpura University Model United Nations (MUN) Club so the students can improve their English and sharpen their critical thinking towards international issues at once. We managed to create this club from zero. We acted dauntlessly by joining the biggest MUN Conference in Indonesia, iMUN, which made us sacrifice a lot of effort since our university didn't give much financial support. We did fund risingall by ourselves and I even took a part time job. The reasons why I wanted to join iMUN conference, because I realize I'd gain a lot of knowledge and exeperience gained from the best national MUN Conference, know precisely how MUN works and build relations with other participants so they can share their experience and support the new Untan MUN Club. Our goals were successfully achieved! A month after iMUN we opened Untan MUN Club enrollment, our friends from iMUN Conference help to promote Untan MUN Club through instagram so we get recognized by other MUN Clubs. I was chosen as the (Secretary-General) and we've managed the weekly meeting and daily discussion in our Untan MUN Club online group. I've accomplished the little step to make betterment. From my experience in developing MUN Club, I've learnt that I'm a person who can develop new ideas, do tremendous effort for myself and others, able to bring back the experience and apply it to my community immediately. Serving needs a graceful heart and soul. We can serve people even through simple things like smiling however, we'll serve better if we do it with heart and high self-quality because our actions will subsequently affect others' future. Teaching English and Buliding the MUN Club in my University were some smalls step that I took to help making this world better, at least in the community around me. I never thought those things would help making the biggest change in my life that I've exeprienced so far.Those small steps led me to become a grantee of one of the most prestigious fully funded exchange scholarship, UGRAD Exchange Program, that enabled me to spend one semester in the US. It was one of the things in my bucket list that I thought I'd never achieve. It was a big step that I took which not only changed my life but also people around me. For my experience wouldn't be mine solely. Zoroaster was right "Doing good to others is not a duty, is a joy, for it increases our own health and happiness."