Tag: abroad

Tina and I

Published on by Greta Brombeere1 Comment

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This girl has really brought so much light into my life this year. We met each other back at university/college and we were in the same sorority until we both quit- I sophomore year, and her junior.

Tina came to visit me this past spring and a huge turning point in my life. After she met me in Munich, we went to Innsbruck together (seriously a storybook kind of place), and then Prague (where we had a fight in the middle of the street post-strip club at 5:30 in the morning). Her energy and outlook on life really helped put mine in perspective. I appreciate Tina’s sense of adventure and how responsible she is.

Tina- if you’re reading this: I love you. Thanks for becoming an even better friend than I could have imagined. Qatar 2020? xx

ohh how a sickness motivates

Published on by Greta BrombeereLeave a comment

Hello…black hole. Anyone there? Well, I certainly haven’t been.

A virus can force someone into misery, face-burried-in-pillow, this-is-the-end kind of misery. Not this one. I am ill to the point where I am exhausted by movement, but I feel completely awake. There isn’t pain, but constant discomfort. Clogged nose, terrible cough and sneeze…but my brain and body are wide awake, brimming with energy.

Which brings me to you. I noticed that my pledge to this blog has epically failed. It has GOT to be more than a year now since I’ve updated you. And that’s really a shame. So much has happened! I have a new job- Head of Client Services and Communications Manager and one of the agencies I was teaching english for. I am the only full-time employee, and it’s about five years old. So I guess you could classify us as a start-up.

I have to say it’s only been three months, but man is it thrilling! I learn so much everyday from B (my boss). She is such a mind! She founded this company in 2010 on business English training in the niche sector of board members and managing directors and VIPS. Now, since we have build relationships with them over the years, we have branched out to more communications work. Internal. External. Corporate Wording. and more…

And I’ve got to say, it’s been a crazy time. Learning, doing, executing, brainstorming.. I’ve never been so grateful in my life to have an opportunity like this. I also find, that the busier I am, the more productive I am. Pumping out work left and right. Dead air leaves me lazy, not motivated. So hence, a nice update here. Thanks for sticking around, all of you, none of you, or one of you 😉

(photo source)

Greta tries.. the flea market

Published on by Greta Brombeere1 Comment

fleamarket

So, over winter break I read Sophia Amoruso’s #GirlBoss book and became obsessed with all things eBay. Her journey from online eBay store with 50 bucks in her pocket to multi-million dollar online and brick-and-mortar empire inspired me get out there and sell things. I set up an eBay account, went out to secondhand stores and started scouting for free marketing platforms.

Unfortunately I never carried any selling or even putting the clothes online. Womp womp..

And I told my boyfriend about all of my reselling dreams and he was hyped about it! He was equally as disappointed to find out that I got stuck in the procrastination and fear of putting things out there. Which, by the way, is not a good excuse.

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So now, in a pledge to redeem myself, I have committed to a flea market coming up at the end of January. In Germany… Meaning of course, that all of this will have to be sold in the German language. Must. find. inner. GIRLBOSS.

I have lived in Germany for a little over a year now and mein deutsch ist mittlemaessig. This will effectively double the challenge.

Things being sold at the flea market include:

  • shirts, sweaters, pants, and essentially half of my wardrobe
  • a Calvin Klein spring coat which is way too large for my size (and always has been)
  • books in english, not an easy sell

The goal, aside from completing the task, is to at least make the money back that it costs to rent a stand at the flea market. D and I have split the total cost of 30 Euros for a personal cost of 15Euros.

In my experience as a flea market goer and haggler, this won’t be as easy as it sounds. Most clothes can go for anywhere from 50 cents to 5 Euros. And that’s if I sell anything at all.

So far the piles of clothing are high enough to fill another’s empty closet. Good sign for making some money, right? Well, Germans are stereotypically frugal and have the great advantage of being fluent German speakers. Not to worry, I have some strategies.

I have luckily taught negotiation strategy English classes to major companies and department stores. I will need to sell my jeans and shirts for a minimum of 1 Euro each. The coat will need to be a minimum of 5. Books can go for 50 cents if I’m lucky. Every negotiation conversation will need to start at double the price for the goal prices to be achieved.

Either way, this should be an interesting test of my german skills, selling skills, and overcoming the devil we all call procrastination. An update will be posted in the beginning  of February.

Do you guys have any tips and tricks for selling your old clothing, haggling or setting up a tent at a flea market? If so, ANY information is appreciated!

Wish me luck 🙂

(photo source 1)

(photo source 2)