For years, I’ve wondered if there’s something wrong with me because I’ve never been able to get organized. By “get organized” I mean adopting and consistently using some sort of calendar, reminder, to-do organizer, time management system so that: I don’t have to keep it all in my head; and I can use my time…
I’ve been trying to write this post for the last several days – and failing miserably. Everybody always writes these wonderful, detailed, reflective year-end summary posts. I wanted to do the same, but my inspiration seemed to be running dry. Truth be told, my 2012 did not have much variety… rather, it was dominated by…
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…
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net “Centuries-old churches, crystalline turquoise waters, rich historical and religious traditions, vibrant culture, delicious and colorful cuisine, joyful popular festivals, and warm and affectionate people.” This is pretty much how Bahia is portrayed in the tourist publications I translate. Despite the sometimes excessively rosy picture painted of the state (listing the entire stretch of…
Image source 1. A clothes dryer In the world in which I grew up, the existence of clothes dryers was simply a given. Even if you didn’t have one at home, there’d always be one in the basement of your apartment complex or dorm, or in a nearby laundromat. Not in Salvador. First of all, clothes…
A while back, Jennifer and I were chatting about building our own houses, and she mentioned that she’d design hers to have “just enough closets.” I love this perspective, because let’s face it: ample storage space just begs to be filled with stuff… which is then harder to part with once acquired. One of my…
Image source The good news: We’re moving! To a place 5 minutes away, right next door to Christian’s parents’, and the rent will be half as much as it is now. The bad news: It needs a new coat of paint, but first the cracked walls need to be fixed. We have to pay for this ourselves because…
Image source The bus I was riding was assaulted tonight. One stop after I got on, four teenagers boarded the bus. One of them tried to climb in through the window, and the guy who collects the fares let them all slip under the turnstile and enter without paying, which I thought was odd. Just…
Image source The other day, I was walking home from the bakery when one of Christian’s longtime friends waved at me from the door of her house. “Come over here and chat a minute!” she said. Seeing as one of my goals for this year is to develop relationships, I was happy for the opportunity….
Image by Arthur Ganson Ever since I came back to Brazil to stay (in June 2010), I’ve been extremely busy… usually bordering on overloaded. Trying to juggle my U.S.-based work, two teaching jobs, and translation projects has left me with practically zero free time. I’ve stayed up nights crying from the stress and even taken…
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Born Again Brazilian (not religion, just Brazilian says:
Ok, I'm going to try this system. I just can't get...
Jenny says:
Congratulations, Shayna. It sounds like you're really making an impact!...
kafran says:
"Pau" means "Dick" too =)
David Dallas says:
Nice post!!!
David Dallas says:
Hi, my last name is "Dallas" but I am brazilian, Your...
