These days is my head full of different kind of thoughts. My wife is pregnant, and I have realized that is time to reconsider my work-life balance. During these two years after graduation in medical school (in Kosice, Slovakia), I have experienced all types of work - full-time, part-time, freelance, startup. But all of them had something in common - I worked for somebody. Some of my employers were interested in my opinion and some not, but in general I was there always just a worker. My computer is full of ideas, work-in-progress applications, my shelfs contains prototyping boards such as Raspberry PI, BUT I don't have time to finish them.
My current full-time employment is based in Malta, I moved here couple of month ago. I am working completely alone, independent, with no leadership. Work hours are from 9am-6pm with 1h forced break and this is really killing me. Whole week is unusable and weekend is only for resting. Malta is very nice, very hot and humid island and it is very sad, that I don't have time to explore it.
One of my dreams is to leave europe and try to live somewhere else. I'd love to move to New Zealand or Australia. But to accomplish this I have to get working permit, which is impossible in my current situation. I am graduated medical doctor, who switched career to mobile developer. Without degree in computer science is all my experience for nothing! And this is reason why I have started Open University studies. After few years I should finish my bachelor degree in computer science and become - "official" mobile developer. I have just finished first module TU100, and I have to admit that it was very different from educational system in Slovakia. My tutor helped me a lot, my group really worked together and assessments improved my skills.
My last attempt to leave europe and find great job failed, because I didn't want to work more that 60h per week. I passed technical test, interview and I worked for company for more than 90 hours. Everything was great, I should move to Singapore this summer. Application itself for about health, ideal match. But just before signing contract, they told me that they are expecting extreme commitment. More than 60 hours per week, for minimal salary in Singapore. I could not accept this offer, especially if We are expecting baby. There is no proper health insurance in Singapore and giving birth in there is very expensive. (more than 3k eur)
One of my dreams is to leave europe and try to live somewhere else. I'd love to move to New Zealand or Australia. But to accomplish this I have to get working permit, which is impossible in my current situation. I am graduated medical doctor, who switched career to mobile developer. Without degree in computer science is all my experience for nothing! And this is reason why I have started Open University studies. After few years I should finish my bachelor degree in computer science and become - "official" mobile developer. I have just finished first module TU100, and I have to admit that it was very different from educational system in Slovakia. My tutor helped me a lot, my group really worked together and assessments improved my skills.
My last attempt to leave europe and find great job failed, because I didn't want to work more that 60h per week. I passed technical test, interview and I worked for company for more than 90 hours. Everything was great, I should move to Singapore this summer. Application itself for about health, ideal match. But just before signing contract, they told me that they are expecting extreme commitment. More than 60 hours per week, for minimal salary in Singapore. I could not accept this offer, especially if We are expecting baby. There is no proper health insurance in Singapore and giving birth in there is very expensive. (more than 3k eur)
Why is this so unreal ?!
In fact according to biggest site selling private islands - http://www.privateislandsonline.com/ you can buy private island, which is much cheaper than house in center of London. There are three main issues:
- VISA - owning property does not necessary mean that I can work there
- Clients - Finding good client who will pay normal rate for remote worker is difficult task
- Capital - There is no bank in the work, which lend me 200k for my dream
Another option might be to form my own state, micronation. Maybe I will follow ideas of liberland ! In fact I am already in contact with guys standing behind very promising project - Floating city. They are part of bigger institution - http://www.seasteading.org/
Hopefully soon I will get a chance to start next chapter as proper freelancer, for clients who will be able to understand even my needs, who will be able to listen and work on my ideas too. This is my goal and App Development Group of Toptal website can help me to achieve that. They are claiming, that they can connect best employees with best employers. I have to say, that I am quite nervous about it, because up to now I passed most of the interviews, coding challenges etc...but this looks completely different. It feels almost like in university, just before exam.
