Life as a digital nomad 數字遊民的生活方式

越來越多的人開始選擇成為數字遊民。帶上自己的筆記本電腦在世界各地辦公，從而享受輕松的生活節奏。成為數字遊民雖然能使欣賞異域文化和景色變得更加方便，但同時也會帶來諸多困擾。比如，它讓工作和私人生活的界限變得模糊，使人喪失旅行的樂趣。你願意成為數字遊民嗎？本期節目介紹成為數字遊民的得與失。

詞匯：digital nomads 數字遊民

If you could work from any location in the world, where would you go? Picture filling in a spreadsheet on a sandy Caribbean island, or maybe a little rooftop cafe in Rome where you can sip an espresso while editing a social media video. More and more countries are offering digital nomad visas and therefore the chance to work remotely, from wherever you’d like to.

This way of working is on the rise. A 2023 report found that 11% of US workers now consider themselves a digital nomad, and this type of worker is expected to increase in number by more than 20 million in the next five years. Traditionally, digital nomads have worked freelance. They might be social media managers, software developers or copywriters, but now even traditional professions like accountants and lawyers are taking the leap. But what is the life of a digital nomad really like?

Rowena Hennigan, who writes for Harvard Business Review, is a digital nomad along with her family. They have a ‘home base‘ in Spain but frequently go away for workcations that can last from weeks to months. She says that compared to a ‘traditional’ model of raising children, “remote working has allowed my family to move away from that kind of intensity, and this way, we all get to move at a more sustainable and healthy pace.” Plus, her family are regularly exposed to new cultures, languages and natural beauty.

Though it doesn’t work for everyone. Francesca Specter, a writer for The Guardian, decided to country-hop where her ‘office’ included beaches, cafes and coworking spaces. But along with struggling to find reliable wi-fi and fighting bouts of loneliness, she wrote that she felt envious as she cooled her overheating laptop in the shade while holidaymakers relaxed by the pool. She said, “I was chronically firefighting unglamorous concerns such as missing luggage or sleep deprivation after an overnight flight delay.”

So, it’s not for everyone, but if you ever feel like escaping the rat-race, why not give it a go?

詞匯表

remotely 遠程地
freelance 從事自由職業
social media manager 社交媒體經理
software developer 軟件開發人員
copywriter 廣告文字撰稿人
traditional profession 傳統職業
home base 相對固定的住所
workcation 度假辦公；邊遊玩邊工作的假期
remote working 遠程辦公
pace 節奏，步調
country-hop 在多個國傢間居住和旅行
coworking space 共享辦公空間
reliable wi-fi 穩定的無線網絡
overheating laptop 過熱的筆記本電腦
missing luggage 丟失的行李
flight delay 航班延誤
rat-race “老鼠賽跑”，永無休止的競爭

測驗與練習

1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。

1. What do digital nomad visas offer workers?

2. True or False? There will be 20 million digital nomads in five years.

3. What kind of job do people do when they are digital nomads?

4. What benefits has remote working had on Rowena Hennigan’s family?

5. What was Francesca Specter envious of?

2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. Jan works _______ and is allowed to work from anywhere.

copywriter software developer freelance digital nomad

2. He works _______. He’s worked on the beach, on trains, even on mountains!

remotely remote working remote remote worker

3. I wanted to escape the _______ so I became a digital nomad.

home base flight-delay workcation rat-race

4. Because of _______, I had to go and buy a whole new wardrobe on holiday.

flight-delay overheating laptop missing luggage reliable wi-fi

5. I want to _______ a cold lemonade while working in the sun by the pool.

sip work travel country-hop

答案

1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。

1. What do digital nomad visas offer workers?

They offer the chance to work remotely, from wherever you’d like to.

2. True or False? There will be 20 million digital nomads in five years.

False. The number of digital nomads is expected to increase by more than 20 million people in the next five years.

3. What kind of job do people do when they are digital nomads?

They might be social media managers, software developers or copywriters, but now even traditional professions like accountants and lawyers are taking the leap.

4. What benefits has remote working had on Rowena Hennigan’s family?

They live at a more sustainable and healthy pace and her family are regularly exposed to new cultures, languages and natural beauty.

5. What was Francesca Specter envious of?

She was envious of holidaymakers relaxing by the pool.

2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. Jan works freelance and is allowed to work from anywhere.

2. He works remotely. He’s worked on the beach, on trains, even on mountains!

3. I wanted to escape the rat-race so I became a digital nomad.

4. Because of missing luggage, I had to go and buy a whole new wardrobe on holiday.

5. I want to sip a cold lemonade while working in the sun by the pool.