This is the second post about Google questions. I just found it fun to do. It includes weird things people put in search engines and they, somehow, end up in my blog. I’m posting the most common ones: 1. Google question number 1: “Venezuela naked girl picture”
Are you serious? I don’t remember ever writing the word “naked” in this blog before this post and if I did, I’m sure it was in a VERY metaphorical way. Look somewhere else pal, this is NOT a porn site and you will NEVER, EVER, EVER, get a naked picture of any girl from any country here. Thank you very much.
2. Google question number 2: “Things to know about girls in Venezuela”
Are you by a chance a foreigner and you are dating a Venezuelan? Oh boy, what are you doing? No, seriously, I don’t think this blog is the proper space to find an answer to your query. Maybe if you read enough you could guess a bit about my temper or what’s going on inside my head. But I really don’t know if I’m an average Venezuelan girl or not; I think all of us girls are troublesome, no matter where we are from. Best regards, good luck next time.
3. Google question number 3: “Exchange currency control Venezuela, Cadivi students”
I like to think of you as some administrator of some college abroad trying to figuring out why this Venezuelan student can’t pay on time; and why when you ask, he always give you the same answer which sounds to you as a code: “CADIVI”. We have a very strict foreign currency control system. There is a special dollar rate for students and requires a lot of paperwork to be approved. All of my friends studying abroad are enjoying Cadivi student dollars, haven’t heard of anyone who has not get them but who knows? What is for sure is that they don’t always get them on time. To access foreign currency on other ways is illegal and it can make our education abroad to cost double or triple. So please, be patient, we will pay you (I have never heard of anyone who doesn’t) and it is truly not our fault if we cannot do it on time.
PS: Why don’t you offer us a scholarship or some kind of financial aid? We have already proven to be great students, I hope.
4. Google question number 4: “Grad school abroad do I need the GRE?”
Well it depends on what do you want to do. For some programs you don’t need the GRE or any standardized test other than TOEFL and that only if you come from a non English speaking country or you have never studied at an English Speaking country. Most business schools prefer GMAT over the GRE. Many engineering and humanities programs are more inclined towards the GRE. It also depends on where do you want to go. Most Canada and United States institutions ask for the GRE, I know most UK ones don’t… So do your homework, research your dream school website and you’ll know what to do. Good luck, I’m having the same nightmare here.
5. Google question number 5: How many times do you take GRE to get admitted to graduate school?
As many as you need. Many – to not say all - schools have cut off’s, those cut off’s usually don’t appear in the school’s web site but you have to e-mail them directly. Another way to answer this question is: take the GRE as many times you can afford until you get the score you need. In my case I didn’t got an stellar score, but I couldn’t pay another 190 dollars for a re-take this year. I simply emailed all schools I liked telling them about my situation: “My GRE score is this one, I can’t afford a re-take…my GPA is this one, my TOEFL is that one and here is my background.. do I have any chance to at least be considered?”; a few ones said yes, others kindly advice me to retake. I couldn’t apply to the last ones, I prefer to think they missed it.
6. Google question number 6: “How to keep a low profile in Venezuela?”
In Venezuela…everywhere; is the same procedure. Try to have some common sense. Don’t wear any jewelry, don’t wear clothes (specially shoes) of any visible important expensive brand; same goes with women’ purses: avoid visible brands, huge sizes, anything that looks expensive. Consider that some brands might be average abroad but are hard to find here and therefore considered classy and expensive in Venezuela. Don’t use brand new or very expensive cars; try your car to be the last anyone would be tempted to steal. Don’t show up cash or count money where strangers can see you. Avoid to carry a lot of cash with you and a lot of credit cards with you as well.
Over all, I think to keep a low profile is more about the attitude than anything else: be humble, be simple. Do not brag about your earnings, your expenses, your life style. To talk out loud in a public place about your private jet or the cruise you just took in Europe isn’t exactly the best way to keep a low profile. How much did you spent on your daughter’s wedding can only be interesting for two people: you, and any potential kidnapper who might be hearing you; so you better keep the story to yourself.
To keep a low profile is, unfortunately, the key to stay in one piece in this country.
I hope this was useful to anyone out there… Until next time!