I’ve always liked to write. I wrote stories as a child, and even dipped my toes in some amateur poetry in high school and college (that will never see the light of day). In the last year or so, I’ve tried to pursue a more regular writing routine to keep my creativity at the forefront. … Continue reading How writing helps me as an editor
Blog
Going back to school
A few weeks ago, I finished a month-long course to become a certified English teacher. I had been thinking if I should do this course for a while, and I finally decided to put the money down based on a few factors: It will supplement my editing work, and especially help me support non-native English … Continue reading Going back to school
Some things that scare me
I’ve been listening to the 10 Things That Scare Me podcast a lot lately. I find it fascinating (and reassuring) to hear how many people fear moths, like me. People fear so many things, some of which I've never thought about. It turns out a lot of men fear becoming irrelevant. (Surprise, surprise.) But in … Continue reading Some things that scare me
Tips for integrating into a new culture
Even though I’ve spent the last five years living in a foreign country, I have yet to shake the feeling of being an outsider. Part of that is my own stubbornness. Taking steps to embrace my environment is still something I have to consciously work on every day. But here are a few things I … Continue reading Tips for integrating into a new culture
Walking through the Peaceful Revolution
This summer has flown by and left me very sweaty but content in its wake. A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog article for the local online magazine, The Leipzig Glocal. You can read it here. I learned so much about this impressive historical movement while participating in one of my favorite activities: walking … Continue reading Walking through the Peaceful Revolution
Learning German in the subtitles
Watching Netflix shows with German subtitles is the laziest way to “study”, which is also the best I can do in this recent heatwave. I’ve been writing down a few brilliant translations I’ve learned over the past two months. These make me feel like I’m getting closer to understanding the essence of German culture (or, … Continue reading Learning German in the subtitles
A weekend of idleness in Berlin
I have impressed myself by how much time I can spend not doing much at all. In nice weather, and sometimes even on a rainy day, my idleness takes on a forward motion as I wander up and down streets, pausing here and there, going nowhere in particular. A month ago, I read Flâneuse: Women … Continue reading A weekend of idleness in Berlin
How proofreading calms me
I am a nervous person. I have a lot of anxieties flying around in my head at any given moment. Sometimes I picture my anxious brain as the Loony Tunes Tasmanian devil. When it starts to worry, it sets off in a chaotic, spinning path that can destroy entire afternoons. I’ve tried meditation, but it … Continue reading How proofreading calms me
My English
Here is a scenario that has happened to me several times as an expat: I am in a group of international people, and I am the only native English speaker. Someone will stumble over a word or phrase and heads swivel in my direction and ask, “How do you say…?” Due to performance pressure, my … Continue reading My English
More space
A few days after we arrived, I realized what was different. We had taken several walks around our new neighborhood, trying to feel out the landscape. The nearest large street by our apartment is a popular strip with cafes and shops. It was sunny, so plenty of people were outside. I guessed that Germans were … Continue reading More space
