What I didn’t do this Christmas
Image source I didn’t: Spend time with my family (a hemisphere away) or my husband’s family (6 hours away) Attend a holiday party Have a big special dinner Eat …
Why I hate shopping for clothes
This morning, Christian and I hit the mall to pick up some much-needed new clothing for both of us – and I was reminded of how much I hate …
A week in the life of an English teacher
Monday Morning: Wake up at 5:30 AM while husband sleeps in. Have a fail turned win in the 7 AM class. Afternoon: Spend several hours doing the class planning …
FAIL or WIN?
There are several things that can ruin an English teacher’s day, but one of the worst is when the awesome lesson you’d so carefully planned is somehow derailed and …
Churrascaria “Do”s and “Don’t”s
Image source On Sunday, Christian and I treated ourselves to lunch at a churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse). A churrascaria can be intimidating to the uninitiated, so here’s a primer: Churrascaria 101 …
Brazil burnout coping strategies
These are a few of the things that have helped me stay sane during my fading love for Brazil as described in my last post. They’re little things (and …
The slow death of the Brazilian honeymoon
This conversation happens a lot in my capoeira academy: Me: “So, where are you from?” Visitor: “I’m from , and I’m visiting Bahia for 3 weeks. What about you?” …
Let’s face it: the iPhone is a Game Boy for grown-ups
Thanks to the generosity of my BFF, I am now the owner of a two-generations-old iPhone. Okay, so it’s not exactly cutting-edge – but it’s my first smartphone, so …
Portuguese tongue twisters
So, my latest project is an “Improve your English pronunciation in 30 days” online course that I hope to launch January 1st. Part of the pronunciation practice involves tongue …
What your English teacher really thinks
Your English teacher hates it when you… 1. Constantly mess with your cell phone in class. Unless you are consulting a dictionary app on your phone – which I …