Rebecca, I think it is a great idea to look for how to keep up your skills while in Japan. You could take your own family research and write it up ala BCG requirements 6 and 7. This would give you practice in those elements (case study and 3-generation kinship determination) as well as give you somewhat of finished product that you can share with family, etc. One piece of advice for the portfolio is never submit the first of anything you have done. So take advantage of this time to hone your writing skills. As for non-geographic based specialties, there are things like taking someone's research and writing the book for them or other services that speak to your talents. Best wishes, Elissa Elissa Scalise Powell, CG , CGL www.PowellGenealogy.com www.GRIPitt.org 25-30 June 2017 and 16-21 July 2017 in Pittsburgh, PA CG, CGL, and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluations. Certified Genealogist and the board name are trademarks registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. -----Original Message----- From: On Behalf Of Rebecca Hockaday Sent: Monday, March 06, 2017 1:28 PM My name is Rebecca Hockaday and I am a transitional genealogist, taking clients for about one year now. I currently live in Boise, ID and also have an 8 and 6 year old. I am a little more than 2/3 of the way done with Pro Gen and a member of the APG Virtual Chapter. I would like to do Gen Proof and apply for BCG in the near future. I have some questions and would love to have some guidance. - My husband's career has made us internationally transient. In July 2017 we are relocating for an expat assignment in Hiroshima, Chugoku Prefecture, Japan for one to two years, coming back to Boise, ID 2018/9. Since I have been married (2003) we have lived in Texas, NY (2 locations), France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Yemen, currently in Idaho and now soon to be Japan. What specialties do geographically unstable genealogists have and how do you market to clients? - I am trying to figure out what I will be doing in Japan in terms of genealogical research. I do not speak the language at all and have never done any type of Asian research, which is a limiting factor. I can speak, read and write Spanish, French, Italian, most German and can speak some Arabic. But Japanese...can't even count to 10. What are recommendations for projects to do while I am in Japan? I am not as worried about taking clients (I can take a hiatus), but more worried about keeping my skill set active with report writing and proof arguments. I am playing with the idea of starting my BCG portfolio when I am there but am afraid of the limitations I will encounter and not yet convinced I will be successful putting together a portfolio in an international location. I can also volunteer/take pro bono projects with something virtual - but what? - Does anyone have any connections in Japan? Thanks! ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message