I’ve been a bad blogger.
My last post was on May 31… nearly five months ago.
However, it’s no coincidence that that was right around the time I started getting a few paying customers on my English-learning website. As soon as actual money started coming in, I sort of kicked into overdrive – thinking “Holy cow, people are actually paying me – I’ve gotta DELIVER!!!”
Here are a few things that have happened since my last blog entry:
I’ve written 600 pages of English-teaching material.
Image source: Keattikorn, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
That includes one free book, one paid book, one month-long course, and a second course that’s currently in progress – in addition to regular posts on the English tips blog.
Even my personal offline journal has essentially been dominated by developing content for the English site and planning its future… no wonder I haven’t posted on here lately!
I quit teaching at the English school.
Possibly the best major decision I’ve made so far this year.
No more cold showers at 5:30 AM to get to 7 AM class, only to have the student show up 40 minutes late. No more wasting 15% of my salary and 12 hours a week on the bus (usually stuck in Salvador’s abysmal traffic). No more canceled classes, student vacations, police strikes, and holidays resulting in severe pay cuts.
The funny thing is that hour-for-hour, I’m currently making less by giving courses through my website. BUT the material I’m developing now, I will be able to resell over and over again in the future.
My stress level has gone down by a factor of 10 now that I have more control of my schedule and less financial uncertainty. I’m sleeping better and I don’t feel completely wiped out at the end of the day. I have more time to cook, read, and relax.
I traveled to the U.S. and back.
It was a bittersweet trip – wonderful of course to see family and friends (although unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to visit everyone!), eat all the foods, and enjoy all the comforts of the States… but sad that my husband couldn’t join me. We’re not sure when my/our next trip might be. I’m just rooting for the elimination of the tourist visa requirement for Brazilians, since that would make things a whole lot easier!
…so that’s what I’ve been up to.
Sorry for the long absence – hopefully I’ll be able to get back to posting regularly!
