Sunday, September 30, 2012

This time for AFRICA!!!

I am going to AFRICA!

Next year. To Tanzania. Courtesy of Growth International Volunteer Enterprises (GIVE).

I'll be there for 2 weeks, building, and teaching and other things! (Not sure the details of the excursion but I'll let you know ASAP.)

So excited to be productively travelling!





Thanks for reading!

Geo Jessica B

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A lesson in Promotion/PR/Advertising 101.

So,  for my career development course, I had to add entries in my career portfolio. For my artifacts section, I decided to use my blog. And this is what I said about it:

 
         "This is my blog, entitled 'Spatially Yours'. My blog was started as a place to showcase my writing and communication skills. I try to blog once a week. I plan on showing this to graduate schools and possible internship offers and employers. The blog is partially about my personal life but also relates to geography and environmental questions and issues, as well as my point-of-view with experiences. I try not to enforce heavy parameters so that I can allow myself to write about anything."
 
 
This is an example of good advertising: use the right words and add some fluff. This is not to downplay my blog, but to be honest, it is not to where I want to be. However, I had to make it sound spicier. Whether you're interviewing for a position, in the courtroom making your case, or asking someone out on a date, you have to make yourself, or whatever you're representing, sound the best that it can. Therefore, you emphasize and sometimes inflate your strengths, no matter how small it may seem. Not only that, if you are able to paint the perfect picture of yourself/representation, you are more than capable for the position. It means you can make a Lemon Drop martini out of lemons! Alas, take time to really think about your strengths, no matter if you performed them but once, remind yourself and put it on the platter.
 
With that being said, the image of the day is a video : 'What Makes You Beatiful' by my new obsession: One Direction. I am a proud Directioner. This may appear corny, but the message relates to self-promotion, and confidence in your word and self. Enjoy, and listen to the message!
 
 
 
Just in case you live under a geologic formation and you have never heard of One Direction, here is a picture:
 
From left to right: Niall, Liam, Harry, Zayn and Louis.
 
 
P.S. They are the reason I am looking into living somewhere in the British Isles.
 
 
 
Thanks for reading!
 
Geo Jessica B

Monday, September 17, 2012

So about that meeting with the Doctor...

He's going to a GISc conference this week and won't be in the office; I'll get back to it next week. With that being said, I will take a hint that I must look into a Masters in GIS or at the very least a Masters level certificate. My professor is cancelling class to go to this GISc conference--it must be important. Alas, I am currently working on my 2nd GIS lab. It's hard -_-. I am aware that being a 22 year old that has grown up in the "Information Age" means that I am supposed know computers better than I know how to handle myself in face-to-face social situations, but I don't! I have the basics down but I barely know how to navigate an Excel spreadsheet. It's a fail. Anyways, I am enjoying learning how to use ArcGIS. I can put my (limited) knowledge of the software on my resume...I'll look smart(er)! I am now going to get back to my  work and get ready for my 4:00pm Beginners Yoga class. P.S. I am hoping to be in Atlanta next weekend for the Counter Point festival (http://CounterpointFestival.com) and possibly the Brazilian Day Atlanta Festival. We'll see. Alas, if I go to any, I will let you know. I'll be signing autographs! Just kidding, I do not have readers or an audience yet. Lol. Alas, Namaste.
 
 
 
 
 
Thanks for reading!
 
 
Geo Jessica  B

Friday, September 14, 2012

It's been a while...since I could...

To start off, an old song that I like that can relate to my last posting... Enjoy :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2NGe9mLAEc

...Well...since this is a new blog and I have done a great disservice by not blogging I have the odd advantage of having no followers and therefore I can use this as a practice round. Alas, if someone out there is reading this, thanks :-) and please look at the video(s) and continue reading.

So, this blog still has no official direction; another odd advantage. We'll see where this goes then.

I was thinking about possible directions for this particular posting. I was originally going to do the whole "first-day-of-higher-level-classes-thing-where-they-ask-the-class-what-is.." question. My version: What is geography?

But that would be pointless. So I move on. I'll start the discussion of:
 "Should an undergraduate geography student pursue a higher degree (Masters' Master's certificate, and possibly Doctorate) in Geography or Geographic Information Systems or Sciences?"

Of course it depends on the path upon which that student hopes to travel; however, does pursuing a degree in GIS or Sc ensure a shorter gap between graduation and employment? Which also, hopefully, ensures steady and stable earnings?

Some posts ago, I listed graduate schools that I would be applying to to earn a Masters' degree in Geography. And then I went to Intro to GIS class on the first day and my professor, with a PhD, said in so many words that the geography world is going towards GIS and that is where the jobs are. I have known this for years but does the degree have to say "GIS"? Can
 it say "Geography" and you also add on your resume "GIS Certificate"? I plan on discussing this with the aforementioned professor.

Alas, please share your thoughts about this and I will share the results of my discussion!

And now two more YouTube videos!

A funny and interesting collage of accents! WARNING: There is cursing and harsh language. So. Don't be uptight about it :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dABo_DCIdpM&list=FL59w7Dp-Yra81dJ6EjCUZxQ&index=3&feature=plpp_video

Next, RELAXATION & MEDITATION! This week I have started the practice of meditation as well as yoga. I am perfectly aware that I am tens of thousands of years late on both of these but I am thankful that in September 2012 I have finally indulged in my curiosities. In addition to meditTing with incense and crystals ($1.50 each from a vendor at First Fridays here in Tallahassee), I play relaxing music. Enjoy and relax:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D58pigO5Dig&list=FL59w7Dp-Yra81dJ6EjCUZxQ&index=6&feature=plpp_video

Sidenote: A BIG thank you to the peoples of Asia! Meditation, yoga, peacful religions, healthy lifestyles and great food....we can learn a lot from your cultures and ways of life!  


Oh and a picture:
Me, Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center when I went to  NYC this summer...I have a post for that. Coming. Eventually. I posed by a compass :-)

Thanks as always for reading!

Best,

Geo Jessica B.