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218 sats \ 21 replies \ @optimism 3 Sep \ on: If You Could Change One Decision in Your Life, What Would It Be? AskSN

I'd skip a couple of things:

Drop out of high school earlier, to not waste time.
Don't waste time studying for MBA
Don't ever be tempted to believe in the system and get a mortgage
Don't commit loyalty quickly to people or jobs or spouses (this is the hardest one)
Avoid a couple of places, namely: Cairo and Moscow.

Everything else I'd do the same, these are all minor hindsight things.

135 sats \ 9 replies \ @denlillaapan 3 Sep

Avoid a couple of places, namely: Cairo and Moscow.

woaht, do I need to buy you drinks and get you to tell me these stories!

152 sats \ 8 replies \ @Scoresby 3 Sep

seconded

172 sats \ 7 replies \ @optimism 3 Sep

Not much to say really.

I lived/worked in Cairo for a few years, it was a waste of my time. I also lived/worked in Moscow for a few years after flying in every week for a year or so, it was an even bigger waste of my time. Didn't help that I didn't really feel welcome in either place.

135 sats \ 2 replies \ @nichrome 4 Sep

Flying in every week ?
Goddamn. Hope they covered flight costs.

91 sats \ 1 reply \ @optimism 4 Sep

Of course they cover that.

Monday meetings at HQ, straight to airport around 4pm, tuesday-friday work there, fri night / sat morning fly back. I've had worse schedules where you fly 6-8 flights per week.

135 sats \ 0 replies \ @nichrome 4 Sep

I'm never complaining about my commute again

152 sats \ 0 replies \ @Natalia 3 Sep

Didn't help that I didn't really feel welcome in either place.

That's so interesting, even in Egypt? what happened to the arab hospitality?

135 sats \ 2 replies \ @denlillaapan 3 Sep

underwhelming. I was picturing some more CIA/undercover craziness

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @optimism 3 Sep

I could say I'm not a spook but thats exactly what a spook would say.

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Natalia 3 Sep

😂😂😂

156 sats \ 7 replies \ @Natalia 3 Sep

why you don't like Cairo? crowded?

10 sats \ 6 replies \ @optimism 3 Sep

Too high cost for too little benefit. This was over 20 years ago though.

10 sats \ 5 replies \ @Natalia 3 Sep

at least you get to pick up some arabic?

87 sats \ 4 replies \ @optimism 3 Sep

Sure. But retain... not really, because I never use it. My brain is always serving me a mix of languages but in general at any point in time I can reasonably speak 3 languages, where the 3rd one often depends on where I am.

10 sats \ 3 replies \ @Natalia 3 Sep

I'm waiting for you: #1561428 🫡

87 sats \ 2 replies \ @optimism 3 Sep

I don't think I should serve as an example of how you should learn a language. I've lived/worked in almost 2 dozen countries. If you work with locals and you're the new colleague, they help you learn. If you're not there for work, you go make friends with locals, and you learn. But it doesn't work if your goal is to learn a language. I just need a practical way to interact with people that don't speak any other language I speak, like buying a pack of smokes or 2kg of chicken, or 300g of gouda. How to make a joke so that you can have more friends... that kinda stuff.

135 sats \ 1 reply \ @Natalia 3 Sep

I just need a practical way to interact with people that don't speak any other language I speak

I learned one this way, it is def serve as an example! That's actually the whole point of learning a language: to communicate/get things done.

110 sats \ 0 replies \ @optimism 3 Sep

You'll end up speaking street-language often tho. I had formal education in 4 languages, 2 of which I retain fully, for the other 2 I need a week or 2 to adjust and get back into it. Everything else... I'm pathetic, imho. Sure I get shit done, but that is not a measure of mastering a language, it's how well you retain the slang.