Author: cupsandcomments

Fun posts, serious recommendations, random thoughts, and a little insight--all focused on coffee. ☕

2023 Resolution Check

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

In January I posted a set of teacher resolutions for the year.

For many teachers, the academic year is either half over, or nearing it’s end. For the rest of us, the calendar year is approaching its halfway point. So, given the time of year — whether academic or calendar — I thought it important to revisit my teacher-resolutions.

On my list were:

  • Make a schedule, and stick to it, for writing here on C is for Camacho
    • Still working on this one . . .
  • Renew all education licenses
    • One state’s worth of licenses were renewed at the end of 2022, the other state’s license I decided not to renew . . .
  • Attend an educational conference
    • Thanks to my current role, it looks like I will have to attend a conference in Salvador, Brazil–so: in progress!
  • Take one class or training on a subject, methodology, or technology tool that has interested me in the past year
    • I have not done this yet, but I also feel like moving to a whole new country has occupied all my time for learning new things. So: sort of done?
  • Continue to expand my educational profile/resume
    • I took a job in another country. I am absolutely expanding my educational range and resume.

As you can see, I am making some progress. I am meeting some originally intended goals.

At the same time, I have made some revisions. No one is beholden to their original plan because plans cannot be complete in their original form. Things change. I have adapted accordingly.

I think it’s important to circle-back, to hold oneself accountable. I enjoy reflecting on what I thought this year would be like, versus what it actually looks like–but what about you? How’s your year going? Any resolutions–teacher or otherwise–you’d like to share about? What did you meet, adjust, or remove altogether?

Teaching & Living Abroad: Brazil 🇧🇷

Roughly two years ago, I shared that I was starting a new chapter, and a long-held teaching and personal dream: living and working abroad.

I moved to Turkey for one job, and it didn’t work out as expected. I got another role in Turkey, and that role ultimately floundered as well. It was quite the turn-of-events.

Leading up to my move to Turkey, I felt that I was about to embark on something life-changing. I was going to move and live abroad for years, maybe forever. I really felt it in my soul. Six months later I was back home.

It was an adventure to say the least. Was it difficult? Yes. Would I do it again? I don’t know.

I enjoyed being a tourist and the opportunity to travel while between jobs, but uprooting myself, disrupting my routine and my career, just to be back to square one (just six months later)–I don’t know if I could do that again . . .

Fast forward two years, I was applying to live and work abroad again. But this time I was applying with experience, with knowledge of what went wrong previously, and a list of non-negotiables.

It came down to two opportunities: one in South Korea 🇰🇷, one in Brazil 🇧🇷.

In June of 2022 I signed to begin a life in Brazil 🇧🇷 –start date: February 2023. In the ensuing six months I was cautious. I tried not to put so much weight or pressure on myself, or this opportunity. I knew from experience that anything could change, anything could fall through.

Well, 2023 is here, and I have been in Brazil 🇧🇷 for 3 months. It hasn’t been easy; it’s actually been the most difficult cultural and language adjustment to date for me. But I’m doing it.

I once shared that it is a risk and a privilege to do something like this, to move abroad, to live abroad, to work abroad. Moving away from everything familiar takes gumption. Tremendous courage. Doing it again, when the first time didn’t work out, takes even more gumption, even more courage.

I don’t know if I made the right decision–Brazil 🇧🇷 over South Korea 🇰🇷. I don’t know if this is the best career move. I do know that trying again was brave, that pursuing a dream is brave, and that just as I want my students to be brave, so too must I be brave . . .

Teacher Humor

“A teacher’s nightmare: Tying a wet shoelace when it has NOT been raining!”

–Unknown

Note: I never tied shoes, even when I taught kindergarten. Among many reasons–this eventually was one! 🤪

Photo by Raka Rachgo on Unsplash

Writing & Editing Services

I shared earlier this year that I am adding to my portfolio here, and expanding my reach for writing clients.

I have a whole new page detailing what I do and what I have done. However, it was a laundry list of possibilities–shown below:

When I shared my page, and announced my availability, I got a lot of questions. I loved the questions because I love talking about my work! But I also noticed some repetition in what was asked.

Writing is everywhere, and we all have different needs, but we may not know exactly what to ask for–so let me take this opportunity to expand upon, and explain, what I do.

Writing services:

  • editing + thought partner: I edit written work according to need, topic, etc. And when I say “thought partner” I mean I am essentially your springboard. I am the outside person you can read to, I am the first look that can tell you the initial impression of the work, I am the one that listens as you think things through.
  • guest writing: I can contribute to your anthology, blog, column, etc.

Editing services offered:

  • copyediting: this can include basic editing corrections, like punctuation and spelling, but is generally more concerned with grammar, word choice, as well as the overall improvement of a written piece.
  • mechanical editing: this is my favorite–it is the meticulous look at grammar, coherence, and word choice. It is the assurance of consistent capitalization, word choice, and formatting. In academia, this also means adherence to formatting styles (APA, Chicago, MLA).
  • substantive editing: also known as developmental or content editing, substantive editing means looking at the big picture. I look for flow–does it make sense? I look for content and structure–is this the best format and order? Substantive editing regularly means providing praise, and/or recommendation, on the structure of the paper.

What can this look like?

Now, although this is what is listed, and shown, it is not all that I can do.

Obviously as the writing world evolves, I will evolve with it. As I get more types of written pieces, I will gain more traction into the nuanced needs of admission essays vs. dissertations, manuscripts vs. blog posts, etc. Finally, I am always looking for growth–perhaps you have a different manual or set of guidelines for your written work, perhaps you are writing in English and it’s a foreign language for you so you want more insight into how it has been translated, whatever the case: let’s talk about it! And if you have nothing at this time, I hope–that at the very least–reading and learning about the different types of editing made for an interesting read.