How to Work Remotely, Guatemala, & Language School

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.9″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.9″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.9″]

How to Work Remotely, Guatemala, & Language School

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.9″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.9″][et_pb_image src=”https://www.brooksconkle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/How-to-Work-Remotely.png” alt=”How to Work Remotely, Guatemala, & Language School” title_text=”How to Work Remotely” _builder_version=”4.4.9″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]

So it’s been a few years since I’ve had a solid travel experience (I was in India/Nepal for 60 days 2 years ago). I finally got on the road again. This time in Central America. Guatemala. Time to firm up how to work remotely.

My main intentions are to:

1. Take Spanish Lessons (being fluent in a 2nd language is a bucket list item). 2. Work Remotely while here. 3. Live/Travel/Serve a bit in an inexpensive place.

As of this writing, I’m at the end of my 2nd week of language school. I’m planning to do 4 weeks in total. Having a private instructor and them forcing you to speak only in Spanish is incredible. I’ve advanced a lot. I can’t wait for the next 2 weeks when I’m able to build on my foundation! The cost is approximately $100/wk. That’s for 20 hours of lessons.

That’s right, $5/hr. for private lessons. You can go less expensive, but this is from a top school in Guatemala. [On a side note: If you ever plan to attend language school in Guatemala, there’s no need to pay online before you go. I would recommend putting your eyes on the school and speaking with the staff. Only pay for it once you’re comfortable. It’s quite common for students to be able to start the very next day — as I did]. Speaking of prices, let me give a few of the deals that I’ve found and you can decide for yourself if you think Guatemala is affordable or not.

– My accommodation costs me 35 quetzales per night (approximately $4.50) for private room and bath with an incredible view! – I can buy 3 tacos for 10 quetzales (approximately $1.25) [which on a sidenote turns into 6 mini tacos since they give 6 mini tortillas. The first time I ordered I didn’t understand why they gave me 6 until I bit into my 1st taco and half of the stuff plopped to the waiting tortilla below. Genius!] – I can get a fresh fruit smoothie for 5 quetzales (about $.60) – And my new favorite, a ChocoBanana for 1-2 quetzales (less than $.25) which is a frozen banana on a stick dipped in chocolate and peanuts. Delicious!

My 2nd intention was to work remotely. So I recently got a phone from Republic Wireless. I was scared because I’m in real estate and need a decent operating phone plan (although I have a strong distaste for phone calls and divert most of my business to email and text). This phone works on WiFi – check out how cool this is! [sidenote – <<< that is a chocobanana!] This means that I’m able to make my calls from Guatemala back to the U.S. from my normal cell phone at no additional cost other than the $20 I pay per month for the plan. Awesome! Is it perfect? No. It only works on WiFi and I seem to not be getting some of my text messages (when I’m not in the wireless) But hey, for $20 and the use of my US cell phone number seamlessly, I’ll take it.

My other tool is my Google Chromebook. It was an even $200 and was an obvious purchase after I sold an older laptop for $200 to a friend – an even swap. What folks have to understand is that you can’t download any software onto the computer. But if you’re like me and already use Google for everything (Drive, Calendar, Docs, Contacts, Gmail, etc.) then this won’t be much of an issue. Just imagine computing with only a chrome internet browser. You also have a hard drive where you can store files. If you need a specific piece of software (editing software for example) that you just have to have, then the chromebook isn’t for you. But I’ve found that there’s an app or website for literally everything. I’m in the real estate business and I’ve found that I can even 100% run my company from this ‘cloud only’ laptop. Need to edit photos? http://www.picmonkey.com/ Need to edit a purchase agreement via a pdf? http://www.pdfescape.com/ Literally everything can be done online. And then all of your documents stored in the cloud — I mainly use www.dropbox.com (referral link)

As of this today, I’ve been in Guatemala for 3 weeks. In that time I’ve: Written 4 offers. Entered 2 new real estate listings into our local MLS. Closed 1 real estate transaction. Moved 2 pending deals closer to close. Needless to say I am working while I’m enjoying.

I’ve actually added about 25 hours/wk. to my plate with the lessons plus homework. So while the other morning I woke up to an incredible view, I was actually stressing a bit over some work items. Sad. So that evening I went to an awesome restaurant with WiFi and buckled down with a burger and a cuba libre. All caught up. Back to relaxing and enjoying the experience.

Which of course I want to enjoy the country and be a tourist while I’m here as well. I spent an hour or so looking at the top places to visit while here. 2 of them were fairly close to the airport and capital – Antigua and Lake Atitlan. It was easy to choose both of these places given the positive reviews and how easy it seemed for me to get to them. I also plan to visit Greg and Rachel Denning of www.DiscoverShareInspire.com while I’m here. They’ve got a really cool project going on called the Mayan Eco Homestead and I want to meet them in person as well as give them a hand while I’m down here.

I’m living proof that you don’t have to take only a 2-week vacation on your job. You can work while you travel. And you can choose to travel in a place where your cost abroad is actually less than it is at home.

Are you guys doing it to? Do you have a desire to? Share it with me below.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

#digitalnomad #guatemala #travel #workremotely