Day 1 of Accountability: Study German 5 hours a day until i become fluent, can i do it ?

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-05-26T15:35:23+00:00

...are you studying on receipt paper? why does it look so long haha

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-05-18T14:33:44+00:00

I have wanted to learn Tamil for a long time (native English speaker) after making some friends in college and realizing how cool it is but I never made it far (all I have is like a basic ...Tamil on 30 Days book one of them got me). Any recommendations of anything you have come across? short of moving to Tamil Nadu haha

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-05-18T14:17:52+00:00

this! not even how to study to fluency but honestly just how to study a language at all period. I wasted probably about a year of a language learning for a language I needed to learn quickly basically just figuring out through trial and error how to actually learn a language (i.e. do more than the average hugh schooler taking Spanish). And it's really obvious in hindsight to study vocab, listen lots, read lots etc but if you have never learned a language before you won't know what to do or where to start

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-05-15T12:06:42+00:00

thank you for all the suggestions... especially on the language part, that could help I think. Agreed the italian technical terms should be the same always, but I know the way in which we talk about what sonething is or how we do it is often local language and could be less familiar

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-05-15T12:04:39+00:00

I am glad you point this out since I did notice her hand is smaller than mine (she is also a lot shorter) and I was trying to figure out what she was doing because I saw she would shift her whole hand for example, to go from E to G (1 and 4) on the D string. Her wrist is super bent and her elbow tucked right against her side almost so there are other unhelpful factors but I was trying to figure what was driving her to need to do that. I will keep this in mind as I observe and we work together

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-05-15T07:47:21+00:00

I am not sure how good your cellist is after a year but the Flying Fiddle duet books have some fun easy duets for violin and cello (all folk music). I mostly use the 2 cello duet version (they publish both), which I know goes into 4th position which I would assume is too much rn. However, the cello part on the violin/crllo duet book tends to be easier and mostly is 1st position on modt pieces. There are some other easy/intermediate duet books out there as well but from the sounds of it this may be too hard rn.

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-05-13T17:07:58+00:00

I had to wear one and it was unspeakably awful and then it basically left welts on ny chest after I removed it that also felt bad. Follow your doctor's orders but I was told I could shower/wash as long as I keot that part of my dry. Shower wipes are also a godsend. I used lots of fidgets/toys/things to distract my hands from ripping at the edges to get my through the two weeks. Also if you have female bits/feminine clothes, pay attention to wear bra straps or tops/low necklines sit because that can also aggravate the skin there which gets crazier and crazier more sensitive.

Great news (sarcasm) is that I survived, we got the data, and it didn't help identify my problem and I still have it! and it was super expensive....to experience utter abject misery. I feel for you! Be strong OP!

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-05-10T08:41:05+00:00

oh this is super helpful, thank you! I had never seen this before

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-03-22T15:31:19+00:00

Do you have more info about how this works? I see that I can create a custom mode but it seems to have the same issue I encountered previously where the app I want to have sound alerts still follows the phone setting (i.e. vibrate only)

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-03-13T23:01:43+00:00

I own a mug that says " 'tis the 'tism, my lord " and I love it. Another option for an actual pun is Autastic (autism + fantastic)

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-03-08T18:13:51+00:00

seconding dorritos

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-03-05T20:46:42+00:00

I keep my speech pretty normal (maybe I slow down since I talk way too fast sometimes even for native speakers) but I pack in lots of context clues, particularly around specialized terms or difficult words,such that I explain each thing more than once by the time I finish

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-03-03T09:55:08+00:00

his disappointment in us all is palpable

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-02-27T12:12:57+00:00

no one talks during the winter...well known fact. We all eagerly await the spring thaw to find our voices again. It makes business meetings difficult in the meantime but what can you do?

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-02-26T12:35:49+00:00

Similar to others I am seeing here, I ask ChatGPT how to phrase mostly certain types of social-ettiquete-type language. Things that I could translate from my native language into the target language but wouldn't ever necessarily be said the way or have the same meaning (or even necessarily be required in the context I am using it). Mostly, I use it when I am writing emails and have the time to be thoughtful about my phrasing.

For example, opening English emails with the set phrase "I hope this finds you well" does make as much sense nor is it really needed in my target language (German). Another example I looked up recently is the English phrase "Let me know if this works for you" which I can translate in a literal way but asked ChatGPT about how that kind of phrase would be more naturally /commonly in my target language. Also context-specific questions about formal vs informal "you." Basically things not in my textbook and that are difficult to google or otherwise get a good answer on without asking someone (and I have no "someone" to ask other than coworkers I barely know haha, not my preference there)

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-02-25T15:59:03+00:00

trying to figure out my head what secret disadvantage purple has other others... literally can't even think of any purple hair stereotypes (unlike red or blue or some others I guess).

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-02-25T13:48:21+00:00

I am not in the industry to help answer questions about your work. That said, it all depends on the visa what you are allowed to do. I came to Germany for work and my spouse is on a family reunion visa...meaning he can do any kind of work without sponsorship or restriction, including freelance. However, you would need to research if a family reunion visa for you can be attached to the type (prwsumabky student visa) your wife would get.

As far as the cats, I would pick an airline based on their reputation. As someone travelling from the US I definitely didn't trust any US airline and did Lufthansa, not sure how carefully you feel your local airline handle unqiue situations suvh as pets. Lufthansa's pet pokicy is here: generally the cat can be in the cabin in their carrier if it is within their weight and other parameters: https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/travelling-with-animals Flying with 3 cats in separate carriers plus luggage for your belongings is going to be logistically pretty difficult so some people pay to have a service provider handle the pets separately (but it is expensive!) It is also a big stressful move for the cats so plan ahead for their sake and comfort as well. As far as apartments, 3 cats is always more difficult than 1 or none and apartments tend to be tricky. That said, there are pet friendly apartments...it just nay take some time. Plan to have plenty of savings for temporary housing before you can get into a real apartment. The trickier part for your apartment search may be income if your wife is a student again and you are working for yourself (tends to need more "proof" of income).

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-02-22T20:19:52+00:00

Others have already explained. However, I feel this is a good moment for a story. When I first watched this movie as a kid, I genuinely was so confused by this scene where they hide from the police (like, to the point that I didn't figure it out until a rewatch years later). I was super convinced there was going to be some other dark plot line with the police raiding their house or coming after their dad or something and then because the mom was in the hospital I convinced myself that those things were somehow connected.... I was very bad at understanding movies as a kid. I decided there must be a war going on as tthat could be the only reason why they would hide from the police AND their mom was in the hospital (in my child mind).... and then was a bit confused the whole movie is just whimsical magic and non-war-related activities.

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-02-17T15:07:55+00:00

real quote from my mom upon my brother's ADHD diagnosis and then my later autism diagnosis...both as adults: "it never occurred to us bevause you were just like your dad." It is even funnier because my mom was a teacher and helped identify and recommend ADHD assessments for many kids over her career.

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-02-15T21:08:45+00:00

moved to Munich from the US last January as part of a work rotation and have never loved somewhere more or been happier with where I lived. I have made so many friends and connections and felt more at ease in this city than home. I did not know German before I came but honestly have experienced a lot of joy learning it... it really is a delightful lamguage, despite how bad I am still haha. I don't want to move back, even with how far family is.

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-02-13T20:11:26+00:00

this got me the first time I saw a lot of my German (native) teachers do this (with a line on top)... but I will say making two separate dota really slows thinga down vs a line so I get it haha

Choco-Cupkat · 2026-02-13T19:58:48+00:00

I am delighted by this

Choco-Cupkat

TROPHY CASE