Hi everybody! I am Jose from Valencia (Spain), and I am the first swapper with Andrew Zarick (NY-USA).

Nowadays Andrew is living in my apartment and sharing my advertising agency office with my co-workers (http://www.comuniqualis.com), as me as I am at his apartment in Brooklyn-NY, joining this new awesome experience with his colleagues at (http://www.thejargroup.com). Any questions I will answer through this blog.

Talk soon!

SwapYourShop is pleased to announce that our first swappers have met, swapped work and living spaces and are currently in the middle of their swap experience. Meet Andrew Zarick and Jose L. Poyatos Puig.

We decided to ask them some questions about their initial swap and will definitely be following up with them after their swap to share their experience. In the meantime, come back to our blog frequently, where both Andrew and Jose will be guest posting for the next 7 weeks tracking their swaps. We wish Andrew and Jose the best of luck and can’t wait to hear all about their experiences.

Here’s what they had to say:

• What is your background as a creative?
  AZ: Jose works for a multimedia, print and digital design agency called Comuniqualis. I work for an interactive marketing agency called The JAR Group based in DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY. Our core services revolve around the execution of search marketing services. I also co-organize a digital meetup called Digital DUMBO, which has grown to become the largest digital meetup in Brooklyn and the second largest in New York City.

• Did you meet your swapper on SwapYourShop? If so, how did you go about making the connection?
  AZ: Within the first week of joining SwapYourShop I contacted several people all over the world. Only a few were actually serious about swapping. The three places I was considering were Valencia, Cozumel and Amsterdam. Jose, who was in Valencia, was by far the most serious about swapping!
  JP: During my first week joining SwapYourShop I met lots of people, but I was really interested in travels to US, places like California, San Diego, Miami and New York. I got in touch with some people from those areas, but the most serious and interested was Andrew.

• Did you know each other prior to being SwapYourShop members?
  AZ: Jose and I did not know each other prior to SwapYourShop.

• Did you contact other SwapYourShop users to inquire about a swap? If so, what was that experience like?
  AZ: I contacted several other people all over the world.
  JP: Yes. I just keep in touch with one of them from Mexico, apart of Andrew.

• How long are you swapping for?
  AZ: Jose and I are swapping for 7 weeks.

• Where are you swapping to and for how long?
  AZ: I will be living in Valencia, Spain for 7 weeks and Jose will be living in my apartment in Brooklyn, NY for about 6 weeks.

• How did you prepare for the swap once you made a successful connection?
  AZ: From the beginning, it was very apparent that Jose was serious about swapping. This made me feel more comfortable about beginning to take the proper steps needed for a successful swap including negotiating a “sublet” with my landlord as well as negotiating working aboard with my agency. In preparation for the swap I also did research on Valencia, Jose, and his company (Communiqualis) ensuring that I would be comfortable in the city and my surroundings for a sustained period of time. Jose and I spoke several times a week via Skype. I asked Jose many questions about his apartment, his office, and the city. We began to trust in each other and over time became more comfortable with one another and the environments in which we would be living. My biggest fear was not knowing anyone in Valencia and also not knowing much Spanish. I immediately began networking with English-speaking people in Valencia through other websites.

• Did you create an agreement document? If so, what was covered in this document?
  AZ: Jose and I created both a “personal agreement” and a “professional agreement.” The agreements were far from formal legal documents, however, the agreements covered essential items like “Jose will pay his mortgage and Andrew will pay his rent,” “we will provide each other essential contacts such as friends with a spare set of keys and the address of the closest hospital.” I wrote Jose a complete guide to everything in my apartment (how to use the coffee maker), local restaurant suggestions, transportation directions to locations such as my office, and information on how to get to places like the grocery store and laundromat.

• How are you going to handle pets, significant others, children, cars, valuables, etc…?
  AZ: I don’t own any pets, nor do I have a car, or currently have a girlfriend. I did give one box of valuables to a friend who lives down the street. Being that I had very little baggage it was relatively easy to make the jump to Spain for a few weeks.
  JP: My girlfriend comes with me during this swap. She is a journalist and also is interested in distance working. I don’t own any pets. I did give one box of valuables to my parents and also introduce them to Andrew when he came to Spain.

• Did you have to convince your boss to let you swap or do you work for yourself? If you had to convince your boss, how did you do it?
  AZ: I pitched my company on the idea of allowing me to do a swap. In the document I provided an overview of the experience and outlined my goals which included: learning Spanish, business development, networking, sharing my experience with others digitally, and having fun! I also included logistical information such as my estimated office hours and the easiest ways in which to communicate with me. I was fortunate in that The JAR Group uses a VoIP (voice-over-IP) phone system. I was able to add a VoIP app to my iPhone which allows me to make phone calls as if I were calling from my office number. One problem is that I am not able to accept calls. However, when someone leaves me a message, I receive an email notification and am able to call back immediately.
  JP: I am my own boss, but I have two co-workers who are very excited about my swapping experience. All both see an opportunity for our company to develop new markets and improving our English.

• What was the most compelling argument you gave your boss that they responded positively to? What was your boss? biggest problem(s) with the swap?
  AZ: Being that The JAR Group has nearly 50% of it’s employees working remotely, I did not have to state anything else more compelling than what I’ve outlined. Initially there was not much push back on the idea and my boss actually told my co-workers about the swap before I did! However, as the swap came closer people within the organization began to get a bit nervous about the time difference and my availability or potentially lack of availability for phone calls and client interaction. One of our largest clients is two blocks away from our office in Brooklyn and I am usually the one person within our agency that has face-time with the client. This would not be possible from Spain.
  JP: Any problem about swap, because it could be a successful experience for our business.

• How did you boss initially react to the idea of swapping?
  AZ: Being that he was the one that had originally sent SwapYourShop to me, he was immediately open to the idea. I was fortunate in that sense.

• Will you meet your swapper in person before or after the swap? How much contact have you had with them in order to feel secure with the swap?
  AZ: Jose arranged for him and I to spend 2 days together in Spain before he left for New York and then 3 days at the tail-end of the trip to recap our experiences. Prior to the swap we had been in contact for about a month via Skype. We spoke 2-3 times a week leading up to the swap.
  JP: I arranged for Andrew and we spend 2 days together in Spain before I left for New York and then 3 days at the tail-end of the trip to recap our experiences. I think is a good idea that one of the swappers wait for the other to exchange keys in person, introduce to friendly people, etc.

• What do you hope to gain from this experience?
  AZ: The main thing I hope to gain from the experience is to prove to myself that I am capable of effectively working remotely. Secondly, I hope to learn more about the state of digital media and marketing in Spain. I think I will learn a little bit about myself while here as well.JP: I will learn how to manage in remote work, is my first experience. And also meet interesteing people working in my business, improving my English, and why not develop my own business in hispanic markets at US.

• What was your main motivation for wanting to SwapYourShop?
  AZ: When I visited Barcelona two years ago there was something about the city and my experience in Spain that made me want to come back. I felt the same sort of feeling the first time I visited New York. There is a certain energy in Spain that is captivating. When I had the opportunity to live in Valencia, I jumped at the chance to do so. Other than the lure of Spain, I felt the need to take a chance. I think it’s good to step outside of your comfort zone every once in awhile and experience something new. It keeps life fresh. Also, I never pass up the opportunity to make lasting business and personal connections no matter where the opportunity may be.
  JP: Is an opportunity to refresh your ideas, meet interesting people, and take some risk. These kind of things keep you feel younger! I am 10 years older than Andrew, so is very important for me to learn about new business.

• Anything else you’d like to add?
  AZ: Don’t take anyone or anything for granted. Do your research and do your due diligence. Don’t put yourself in a bad situation. You are putting your work, apartment and perhaps some cash on the line.