I have got my new enterprise up and running, and have had some contacts already, mainly for translating. It is exciting and it feels good to know that I am learning so many new things already, like basic html skills (very, mind you, basic!) and how to get that business card template just right to be centered perfectly on the cards...
www.languagelatitudes.com
Come check me out! Who knows, maybe you can use my services someday! (jajaja)
*--------------*
La Princesita, my baby girl, turns five on Saturday. Five years old. I am in awe at how fast these five magical years have gone and yet find myself so thankful that I have been so blessed to be her mother. She is truly the wise flower that I named her to be. She is becoming an amazingly well-defined young lady. I am so proud of her. Scooby-Doo will be The Theme of her party. She was permitted five friends to invite from her preschool class.
*--------------*
I will return to my wonderful doctor that I had found back in January, the homeopathic MD. I had six vials of blood drawn for various examinations last week and should be sure that nothing is Wrong. Since the accident I have not felt myself, to be honest. I am hoping that my thyroid was not thrown off-whack from the stress of the situation. I guess we will all find out.
*-------------*
I am making my break from the University more and more public each day, and feeling better and better about my decision daily. So many have greeted my news with such great enthusiasm. It is nice to have cards made up already, as everyone wants to have one when I begin to tell of my plans. The website was easy to establish as well, no-frills but I have finally added some photos to make it more "my own". It is just nice to have a web presence, albeit incomplete at the moment.
*-------------*
I am so enjoying my yoga class that I have registered to take it again on Saturday mornings starting in January. I am learning that my body can move and stretch in so many wonderful ways that relieve such stress build-up in my muscles that it feels sublime. I find myself doing more and more stretching at home whenever I have the chance, trying to find opportunity to breathe, relax, stretch and enjoy.
*-------------*
So that is about all the checking-in I have to do right now. P and I had a chance to have a nice talk, spending the morning together yesterday, taking advantage of the poor weather and the kids' vacation day from school to get them all together to play. Any excuse for good company...! S and I will have coffee tomorrow and will run/walk the local Turkey Trot on Sunday morning together...that is, if it is not raining. If so, then the local fire department can take my $28 as a goodwill donation!
miércoles, 8 de noviembre de 2006
lunes, 6 de noviembre de 2006
Language Latitudes
Okay...I've got a working name, and will hopefully have a website up. Business cards are in the works.
Language Latitudes
Proficient, accurate and innovative Spanish language instruction, tutoring and translation
How does that grab you? :)
*---------------------*
Last week in class a student insinuated that I am a b**ch since I am not canceling class the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Of course, my department very generously gives each student 2 free absences each term to use as they wish with no participation penalties for those days...one of which could be used the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. As I am documenting the case to the Dean of Students for disrespectful behavior and upsetting the classroom environment, I receive an email from her, hoping that I was not "offended" by her asking if I was canceling that class. Little does she know...
I would never have even thought of talking to a teacher, ANYONE who gives me a grade, in such a manner, especially to his/her face, and in the middle of class at that. I am astounded that student morals have declined so much that, not only they think they can speak however they wish to those in authority, but that they have right to request that the classes for which their parents are spending good money canceled at their beck and call. I realize she is in the minority...but the fact that this has occurred goes to show how much the mentality of so many young people has changed.
One more month...and then I am DONE with the University!!!
Language Latitudes
Proficient, accurate and innovative Spanish language instruction, tutoring and translation
How does that grab you? :)
*---------------------*
Last week in class a student insinuated that I am a b**ch since I am not canceling class the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Of course, my department very generously gives each student 2 free absences each term to use as they wish with no participation penalties for those days...one of which could be used the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. As I am documenting the case to the Dean of Students for disrespectful behavior and upsetting the classroom environment, I receive an email from her, hoping that I was not "offended" by her asking if I was canceling that class. Little does she know...
I would never have even thought of talking to a teacher, ANYONE who gives me a grade, in such a manner, especially to his/her face, and in the middle of class at that. I am astounded that student morals have declined so much that, not only they think they can speak however they wish to those in authority, but that they have right to request that the classes for which their parents are spending good money canceled at their beck and call. I realize she is in the minority...but the fact that this has occurred goes to show how much the mentality of so many young people has changed.
One more month...and then I am DONE with the University!!!
jueves, 26 de octubre de 2006
back to the basics...
Tried for a new blog look but I can't seem to make it work out for me. Frustrating...sure hope my new business idea doesn't work out that same way. jajaja
Family has come and gone for a two-week visit, which was wonderful and fun and great to catch up with everyone and their lives. My kids really enjoyed their new cousin and all the time they got to spend with their 'Amma.
I have just now made it official to my department that I am not coming back for the Spring semester. I'm nervous...kind of feels like I'm jumping off the edge of the world.
Now trying to find a snazzy but simple name to use to market myself...SpanishSavvy? As an independent Spanish teacher-continuing ed., tutor, translation work...if anyone has any other great ideas, let me know and I will choose the winner! I'd like to soon get my own domain name and a website up and working, email, and publicity, business cards, etc. to get the word out.
Sigh...so much, and yet it is so exciting at the same time. A new personal challenge.
Family has come and gone for a two-week visit, which was wonderful and fun and great to catch up with everyone and their lives. My kids really enjoyed their new cousin and all the time they got to spend with their 'Amma.
I have just now made it official to my department that I am not coming back for the Spring semester. I'm nervous...kind of feels like I'm jumping off the edge of the world.
Now trying to find a snazzy but simple name to use to market myself...SpanishSavvy? As an independent Spanish teacher-continuing ed., tutor, translation work...if anyone has any other great ideas, let me know and I will choose the winner! I'd like to soon get my own domain name and a website up and working, email, and publicity, business cards, etc. to get the word out.
Sigh...so much, and yet it is so exciting at the same time. A new personal challenge.
jueves, 5 de octubre de 2006
hitting me over the head...
It is so funny how, when God wants me to see something, He can make it so blatantly obvious as to what path I am supposed to take. Maybe He just does not want me missing this clue...and then again, maybe it is just My Time to have finally figured it out. I wonder often what takes
Over the past two weeks I have had various people in various situations, both knowing I am a language teacher and not, approach me in different ways about teaching courses outside of the University setting...a setting which has, by the way, offered great security of a job and a paycheck, as well as a way to keep my foot in my profession while being a mother and to get me out of the house for some sanity time each week while school is in session. One woman offered me a position teaching young children after school in a local primary school. I had to turn that down as I have no time for that now--also being that I, personally, don't particularly enjoy teaching children. Another woman, a Korean lady with whom I was speaking Japanese at the time wanted to know on behalf of herself and another friend if I teach any Spanish classes outside of the University, just for adults. Not two minutes later my daughter greeted a lady in Spanish and the lady responded back to her, then just opened up to me about how she is taking a class through the local Parks and Recreation program with somebody retired who obviously speaks the language but who does not know how to teach the language. She about flipped when I mentioned I teach at the local university.
Then it hit me while driving my children home.
Why don't I go independent?
I can develop courses, plans, for 10 classes over a 5 week period for adults. Easily. Of any level...beginning, intermediate, a reading club, a film group...anything, without the pressure of University politics, without the need to give exams...teaching FOR THE LOVE OF TEACHING, to THOSE WHO WANT TO LEARN.
I would need to maintain myself professionally, perhaps with two weeks a year abroad in an intensive language program, as such access would be limited to me, since I get that now as faculty at the University. MQE said that, if I can make enough to afford it, then sure.
Why I never thought of this before I have no idea...perhaps because it wasn't the right time. I have now over 15 years of teaching experience under my belt, in various disciplines, the majority of which is language, and can completely see myself succeeding with a plan like this. I am so enthusiastic about this that I would love to take the next term off and start to develop my business.
This thought has completely reignited a fire that was starting to burn out with the University teaching and the feeling that I was treading water and no longer going anywhere. Perhaps this is the direction in which I am meant to go...
...right???? I will gladly take any suggestions, advice or opinions...
Over the past two weeks I have had various people in various situations, both knowing I am a language teacher and not, approach me in different ways about teaching courses outside of the University setting...a setting which has, by the way, offered great security of a job and a paycheck, as well as a way to keep my foot in my profession while being a mother and to get me out of the house for some sanity time each week while school is in session. One woman offered me a position teaching young children after school in a local primary school. I had to turn that down as I have no time for that now--also being that I, personally, don't particularly enjoy teaching children. Another woman, a Korean lady with whom I was speaking Japanese at the time wanted to know on behalf of herself and another friend if I teach any Spanish classes outside of the University, just for adults. Not two minutes later my daughter greeted a lady in Spanish and the lady responded back to her, then just opened up to me about how she is taking a class through the local Parks and Recreation program with somebody retired who obviously speaks the language but who does not know how to teach the language. She about flipped when I mentioned I teach at the local university.
Then it hit me while driving my children home.
Why don't I go independent?
I can develop courses, plans, for 10 classes over a 5 week period for adults. Easily. Of any level...beginning, intermediate, a reading club, a film group...anything, without the pressure of University politics, without the need to give exams...teaching FOR THE LOVE OF TEACHING, to THOSE WHO WANT TO LEARN.
I would need to maintain myself professionally, perhaps with two weeks a year abroad in an intensive language program, as such access would be limited to me, since I get that now as faculty at the University. MQE said that, if I can make enough to afford it, then sure.
Why I never thought of this before I have no idea...perhaps because it wasn't the right time. I have now over 15 years of teaching experience under my belt, in various disciplines, the majority of which is language, and can completely see myself succeeding with a plan like this. I am so enthusiastic about this that I would love to take the next term off and start to develop my business.
This thought has completely reignited a fire that was starting to burn out with the University teaching and the feeling that I was treading water and no longer going anywhere. Perhaps this is the direction in which I am meant to go...
...right???? I will gladly take any suggestions, advice or opinions...
viernes, 15 de septiembre de 2006
Terrific Twos
I once read that it is not fair to get angry over something your child does if it is fact your own fault for having allowed the possibility to be fulfilled. I soooooooooo need to keep this in mind now that the Young Prince is two. This did start well before two, as in the time when he flooded the entire kitchen. And when he vaselined his entire changing table, hair and floor in his room. Today, in the minute-and-a-half it took me to wash out the poopie diaper downstairs and throw it into the bucket and get back upstairs, he managed to open and dump the entire $%^&*^*@ bottle of bubble bath (Whole Paycheck EXPENSIVE no additives no fragrance all natural bubble bath, I might add, specially formulated for my children's seemingly extra-sensitive skin) into the bathtub.
Okay, I left it out and in his reach, so it is all my fault, really, for permitting him the opportunity to further expand his world exploration activities. That does NOT halt the flow of explitives, however, that my mouth automatically seems to emit when events of this nature occur under my supervision.
Sigh. I am so tired. He is such a good boy, really...he is just such a boy.
Okay, I left it out and in his reach, so it is all my fault, really, for permitting him the opportunity to further expand his world exploration activities. That does NOT halt the flow of explitives, however, that my mouth automatically seems to emit when events of this nature occur under my supervision.
Sigh. I am so tired. He is such a good boy, really...he is just such a boy.
lunes, 11 de septiembre de 2006
news fast
In the past few years I have begun the custom of taking "news fasts". They are becoming noticeably more and more prevalent in my life, not only as my children grow older and more inquisitive but also as my personal degree of stress rises with the horrific news items with which I daily find myself bombarded.
Today and this weekend has been no exception. As one who always has a radio on in the house, with music to accompany my every step, I decided on Sunday to turn off the radio altogether, as the remembrances of 9.11 began to flood the airwaves. This was a tragedy in our country, a wake-up call from the innocence and very sheltered existence in which most of us Americans lived--and perhaps continue to live--and it also brings me back to a very sad and shaky point in my personal life that I almost daily try to forget. However, when my 4-year old (going on 15, I might add) starts to ask questions like, "Mommy, what is terrorist?" or "What does bombing mean?" I know it is time to turn OFF the radio and turn ON the parenting.
The events of 9.11.01 and the subsequent occurrances have inundated and invaded our private homes since. Maybe we have no right to expect otherwise--we have, admittedly, lived in ignorance for so long while so many other world citizens have had to awaken and fall asleep under the reign of terror. Neither do we have the right to pity ourselves. Neither do we have the right to drop bombs on a country that has no tie to this attack, sacrifice our own citizens and those of other countries who stand as guards of our own while paid piddly wages, when it has been precisely in the name of vengeance of 9.11 that this war was initially waged.
The current government states that we who are not supporters of the war are thus not supporters of America, not supporters of the troops and are, in essence, consipirators with terrrorists calling for the demise of the American union. This is not true. I am shocked and astounded at the closed-mindedness with which this Administration has dealt with post-9.11 issues, both domestic and international, and often find myself having to defend myself as US citizen when abroad or speaking with those from other countries. Yet this is not a situation in which the answers are black-and-white. We need, therefore, to pray for the ability to listen to the wisdom of other countries and cultures, especially those who have had to deal daily with such terrorist issues; to pray for the open-mindedness of our leaders to accept, consider and apply such wisdom; to pray for the dissipation of arrogance amongst our leaders which leads to a closed-minded, narrowly-focused and often misbalanced approach to possible solutions; and to pray for the ability to listen and act in an educated manner.
Today and this weekend has been no exception. As one who always has a radio on in the house, with music to accompany my every step, I decided on Sunday to turn off the radio altogether, as the remembrances of 9.11 began to flood the airwaves. This was a tragedy in our country, a wake-up call from the innocence and very sheltered existence in which most of us Americans lived--and perhaps continue to live--and it also brings me back to a very sad and shaky point in my personal life that I almost daily try to forget. However, when my 4-year old (going on 15, I might add) starts to ask questions like, "Mommy, what is terrorist?" or "What does bombing mean?" I know it is time to turn OFF the radio and turn ON the parenting.
The events of 9.11.01 and the subsequent occurrances have inundated and invaded our private homes since. Maybe we have no right to expect otherwise--we have, admittedly, lived in ignorance for so long while so many other world citizens have had to awaken and fall asleep under the reign of terror. Neither do we have the right to pity ourselves. Neither do we have the right to drop bombs on a country that has no tie to this attack, sacrifice our own citizens and those of other countries who stand as guards of our own while paid piddly wages, when it has been precisely in the name of vengeance of 9.11 that this war was initially waged.
The current government states that we who are not supporters of the war are thus not supporters of America, not supporters of the troops and are, in essence, consipirators with terrrorists calling for the demise of the American union. This is not true. I am shocked and astounded at the closed-mindedness with which this Administration has dealt with post-9.11 issues, both domestic and international, and often find myself having to defend myself as US citizen when abroad or speaking with those from other countries. Yet this is not a situation in which the answers are black-and-white. We need, therefore, to pray for the ability to listen to the wisdom of other countries and cultures, especially those who have had to deal daily with such terrorist issues; to pray for the open-mindedness of our leaders to accept, consider and apply such wisdom; to pray for the dissipation of arrogance amongst our leaders which leads to a closed-minded, narrowly-focused and often misbalanced approach to possible solutions; and to pray for the ability to listen and act in an educated manner.
lunes, 4 de septiembre de 2006
death of a hero...?
New York could have been bombed today and...
...the news would have come in second to the death of the Crocodile Hunter.
He was great entertainment, especially for the kids.
But what lesson have we learned?
DO NOT TOUCH WILD ANIMALS! DO NOT PLAY WITH WILD ANIMALS! DO NOT PROVOKE WILD ANIMALS!
...the news would have come in second to the death of the Crocodile Hunter.
He was great entertainment, especially for the kids.
But what lesson have we learned?
DO NOT TOUCH WILD ANIMALS! DO NOT PLAY WITH WILD ANIMALS! DO NOT PROVOKE WILD ANIMALS!
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