I Suck (at Smalltalk)

This is a hard post to write because it will reveal a part of myself that I really, really do not like: My inaction. I remember a moment of pure elation. After five months of moving to San Sebastian for good; and after coming to terms with potentially giving up my career in marketing and communications to live here, I finally got job offers—two on the same day! In a snap, my inbox full of rejectio...

Today is Mental Health Day. I’ve been feeling BLEH. And that’s a-okay! It’s natural. But it’s harder to get me moving. It’s more difficult to write when you're not feeling great… Though perhaps that's when writing helps the most! With or without social media, it's difficult to share the darker, unhappier side of yourself. There's a fear of being disliked, of being the downer, the negastar . 😆 And...

I’m baaack! So… I do not want this to end up being a diary. But what can I do if my life treats me with lovely memories I want to conserve? (I've noticed that I select words now as if I were speaking in Spanish.) Conservar ~ Verb. Meaning to conserve or to preserve. Saucy Business, Haciendo Conservas We have homemade tomato sauce for the winter! 8 kilos of ripe tomatoes, a giant pot bubbling away,...

We may be a bit slow due to too much alcohol and too little sleep, so feel free to crank up the speed to 2x for some hilarious and heartwarming insights into our experiences abroad. I’m so, so glad we’ve found our new homes. But oh so sad we’re halfway around the world from each other. Podcast Transcript I'm Janine Ramirez and this is I Suck at Small Talk. Today we skip the fluff and go straight i...

I vividly remember celebrating Issa’s first job abroad in Singapore, being her first visitor, and exploring Tokyo together. Issa is not only a dear friend but also one of the few who has ventured to visit me here in San Sebastian. Her career in marketing, coupled with the joys and challenges of motherhood, offers incredible insights and inspiration. Also insightful: our cringey memories of sufferi...

Liz and I have been friends since our high school days, and even when I faced tough times during my one month work stint in Doha, Elisa was my source of happiness and support. Join us for a candid and personal conversation about the challenges of moving and living abroad while working as a flight attendant. Podcast Transcript Hello! Hello! Welcome to I Suck at Small Talk Podcast! I'm Janine and yo...

After a quick nighttime jog, the universe rewarded me with a delightful surprise in my real-life mailbox: my Spanish driver’s license in its card form. ¡Por fin! 🎉 I looked at my name by my address: Gipuzkoa 20001. It took me back to the first time I received mail at my new home.❤️ It's fascinating how seemingly small things can bring such excitement when they're fresh and new. The challenge is i...

For a long time, work was central to my identity. I obsessed about my job, making it the cornerstone of my life.😬 I've now learned the art of balance and appreciate other facets of my life; but I don't regret my workaholic streak. It drove me to demand more from myself and my employers. It taught me to question whether my job helps me become the person I aspire to be, both in terms of skills and...

*Yawns* *Stretches* *Looks out the window* “WHAT?! It’s a rainbow! Mikel, mira un arcoiris! ” *Springs out of bed* WHAAAT?! It’s a full, bright, colorful rainbow! An absolute delight to wake up to.😍 I put the coffee pot on, turn back around, and it’s gone.🙈 Constant Change and the Galerna Last night the galerna swept through Donostia. That's what they call the intense wind that whooshes from the...

If you've ever felt the icy grip of awkwardness or battled imposter syndrome, you're not alone. In this introductory episode, Janine talks about why she's starting the 'I Suck at Smalltalk' podcast and what you can expect from these personal, heartfelt, unfiltered conversations and connections. Let's laugh, learn, and conquer self-doubt, one conversation at a time! Click here to listen (and watch!...

I ran into a friend on the street today. I haven’t seen him in a while! After sharing some good news, he turned the conversation to me, “¿Y tu, que tal?” "Me acaban de despedir del trabajo.” ↔️ “I just got laid off .” He assured me not to worry. With my profile, I'll find something soon. I also had a conversation with an ethics and compliance queen. We're collaborating on a Webinar about AI on Eth...

“What’s your story?” Someone asked me that question recently and I think my response scared him off.😂 I started from the very beginning: separated parents, impossible-to-draw family tree, fear of hellfire, appreciation, and liberation from the expectations of society… In retrospect, I concluded yet again that I can be so damn awkward.😆 I think he just wanted to know where I’m at in life and care...

Walk with me y te cuento. It’s been rainy and windy the past few days at around 20°C. A stark contrast to the sunny sauna we had a few weeks back during semana grande , the week-long fiesta. The sun draws everyone out and together, painting smiles on even the crankiest faces. There were dinners and wine, concerts and beer, fireworks every night, and even costumes of the belle époque years. Mikel h...

Haloo! If you've already crossed paths with me, you know the deal and all my cray.😜 But if not… I'm Janine, Ninay, Nin, J9, etc., a not-so-athletic explorer with a zeal for learning and a knack for storytelling and strategic comms.🤹🏻 Though I’m currently calling the enchanting Donostia my home, this lady’s roots are in Manila and I wear my unconventional Filipina identity proudly. I’ve also liv...