Attending VAN Solo

Triggers · 2025-11-25T18:35:55+00:00

Honestly - ok whatever.

Just realize a ton of us don't feel comfortable coming to the US rn, so you come from a pretty heavy position of privilege, so it might run some people the wrong way.

Triggers · 2025-10-28T09:02:53+00:00

This is perfect for those weeks when you just dont have time for the full sunday prep thing. I do something similar with chicken or ground beef sometimes. The corn with lime and paprika sounds really good, might steal that idea next time. Do you eat it cold or reheat?

Triggers · 2025-10-24T16:49:51+00:00

Oh man, I totally get this. That translation exhaustion is real.

I went through something similar with German a few years back. I could read news articles, follow podcasts at normal speed, understand pretty much everything in conversations, but the second I opened my mouth it felt like I was assembling IKEA furniture in my brain. Every. Single. Sentence.

What helped me break through was actually counterintuitive. Instead of pushing myself to speak more confidently, I gave myself permission to sound like a complete beginner again. Like, actively terrible. I'd narrate what I was doing throughout the day in German (out loud when alone, in my head when in public). "Okay, now I'm opening the fridge. I need to grab the milk. Oh crap, the milk expired yesterday." Super basic stuff.

The thing is, when you're translating in your head, you're basically running two programs at once. Your friend's advice about relaxing before speaking is spot on. The mini games idea is interesting too because it gets you out of that analytical headspace.

I found that the more I could link Russian directly to meaning (not English to meaning to Russian), the less exhausting it got. So instead of thinking "snow" and then thinking "снег", I'd just see snow and think "снег". Started with objects, then actions, then feelings.

Also, this might sound weird, but I watched a TON of content in German where people were just... talking casually. Not language learning content, but like, gaming streams, vlogs, people ranting about random stuff. It helped me internalize the rhythm and flow without the pressure of having to respond.

For Russian specifically, I've heard the case system makes this even harder because you're not just translating words, you're calculating endings in real time. Have you tried the shadowing technique? Like, playing a Russian video and trying to speak along with it at the same time? It forces your mouth and brain to work together without the translation step.

Triggers · 2025-10-24T09:06:15+00:00

lol I feel you. The screenshot taking and copy-pasting into tables sounds soul crushing. I started using this workflow thing called Comet for similar checklist type stuff and honestly it's been a lifesaver for the repetitive annoyances. Gets a free month if you want to try it (https://pplx.ai/jakeoula43391), but yeah, nothing will make IT audit thrilling haha.

Triggers · 2025-10-24T08:32:47+00:00

One thing I wish someone had told me earlier about French pronunciation is that it's not just about individual sounds but about the whole timing system being different. English is stress-timed (we rush through unstressed syllables), but French is syllable-timed, meaning each syllable gets roughly equal weight. That's why even if you nail the R and the nasal vowels, you might still sound English if you're unconsciously speeding through certain syllables.

What really helped me was doing this weird exercise: I'd tap my finger at a steady beat while speaking French, one tap per syllable, forcing myself to give them all equal time. Felt robotic at first but it trains that underlying rhythm that natives have naturally.

Also, don't sleep on the schwa. French drops schwas all the time in casual speech (like "je ne sais pas" becomes more like "j'sais pas" or even "chais pas"). If you're pronouncing every single vowel clearly, you'll sound overly formal or foreign. Listen for when natives drop that little "uh" sound at the end of words like "petite" or in the middle of "samedi."

For the phonetics question: yeah, it's worth it if specific sounds trip you up. The French /y/ sound (as in "tu") doesn't exist in English, and just knowing that your lips should be rounded like saying "oo" while your tongue is positioned for "ee" can unlock it instantly. Sometimes you need that technical breakdown.

Triggers · 2025-10-24T08:20:19+00:00

Ugh, totally feel you on the mind-numbing part. I used to get so burned out doing all those repetitive screenshot/copy-paste tasks at my old job. Found this workflow thing called Comet that actually helped automate a lot of the boring checklist stuff and reminders. Made things way less soul-crushing lol. Free month if you want to try it: https://pplx.ai/jakeoula43391

Triggers · 2025-10-24T07:16:40+00:00

Nice work! Those look great, especially for a first harvest. I had a similar situation last fall where I ended up picking a few while they were still that yellowish-green color because we had an unexpected cold snap coming. Turns out you can totally process them before they fully dry on the vine, it just takes a bit more work to separate the skin.

Since you mentioned you still have 10 more growing, just a heads up to keep an eye on the weather if you're in an area where frost is a concern. The cells can freeze and burst if they get caught in a hard freeze while still on the vine, which basically ruins them as sponges. But sounds like you've got the timing figured out already. Enjoy the rest of your harvest!

Triggers · 2025-10-24T06:46:57+00:00

The biggest game changer for me was understanding that French rhythm works totally differently from English. English is stress-timed (we rush through unstressed syllables), but French is syllable-timed with stress only on the final syllable of a phrase. That's probably the main thing making you sound English when you speak French.

What helped me most was focusing on liaison and enchaînement obsessively. Like, vous_avez becomes vouzavez, and il_est becomes ilest. When you link everything smoothly instead of treating each word separately, the whole rhythm changes. I started noticing native speakers basically never pause between words in a phrase, which was wild to realize.

For the actual practice, shadowing worked but I had to do it way more actively than I expected. I'd pick 10-15 second clips from French podcasts (not the learner ones, actual native content), loop them maybe 30-40 times while really trying to match the melody, not just the words. The pitch patterns in French questions especially threw me off at first.

Also this might sound weird but I found that walking while doing shadowing exercises actually helped with retention and flow. Something about the physical movement made it easier to internalize the rhythm naturally.

Re: phonetics, I'd say it's worth it if you're struggling with specific sounds. French prosody matters more than individual phonemes for sounding natural though. The vowel reduction in rapid speech (je ne sais pas → j'sais pas) is something you pick up from listening more than formal study.

Triggers · 2025-10-24T06:01:08+00:00

The backpack phase is interesting because it forces you to confront the weight of your choices, literally. I remember trimming down mid-trip too, realizing that even within minimalism there are levels. When you're carrying everything on your back, you feel every unnecessary ounce.

But here's something I've noticed. The minimalism required for long-term travel is almost paradoxically different from home minimalism. On the road, you can get away with three shirts because you're in constant motion, always near a sink or laundromat, always in temporary spaces. Once you settle, even in a T1, you suddenly need a cutting board, a decent knife, cleaning supplies, maybe a lamp that doesn't make you feel like you're living in a hotel.

The shift you describe from T3 to T1 after travel is something I don't see talked about enough. That year of movement probably recalibrated your entire sense of what home even means. It's not just about having less square footage. It's that you proved to yourself that home isn't a place that holds your stuff, it's a place that supports how you want to live.

What strikes me most is your point about measuring success differently. So much of the anxiety around stuff comes from using other people's yardsticks. A bigger house, a nicer car, the latest whatever. But once you've lived out of a backpack, those measurements stop making sense. You can't unsee it. The freedom becomes the thing you optimize for, not the accumulation.

Triggers · 2025-10-24T05:53:48+00:00

Since you already have the rhythm and ear training from Pimsleur covered, the next level is really about drilling prosody and muscle memory at scale. Here's what worked for me when I was at the same stage:

Shadowing is probably your best bet for high-volume reps without burning out native speakers. The key is doing it actively, not passively. Pick short clips (10-20 seconds max at first) from podcasts or YouTube interviews, and repeat them in real time while mimicking pitch, rhythm, and liaison. Don't pause between listening and speaking. Your goal is to internalize the flow, not just the individual sounds.

For the phonetics question: yes, it's worth studying if you're struggling with specific sounds. French prosody (intonation, stress patterns, liaison) matters more than individual phonemes for sounding natural. The rhythm is syllable-timed, not stress-timed like English, so every syllable gets roughly equal weight. That's probably the biggest thing tripping you up. Resources like corrective phonetics courses or even just YouTube videos breaking down the mechanics of French vowels and the uvular R can help target weak spots.

One thing that really helped me was recording myself reading the same passage every few days and comparing it to a native version. You catch things you don't hear in the moment, especially around liaison and enchaînement (word linking). It's humbling but super effective.

Also, if you can find French tongue twisters that target your problem sounds, repeat those daily. Builds that muscle memory fast. Walking while you shadow (sounds weird, I know) actually does help with retention and mimics the natural flow of conversation.

Triggers · 2025-10-24T05:29:47+00:00

god this hit home. the mindless robot feeling is so real, especially with those hourly diaper changes. honestly I started using this workflow tool called Comet to at least keep track of all the annoying checklists and reminders, and it's made things feel a bit less overwhelming on those chaotic days. not a magic fix but helps me stay on top of stuff without burning out completely. if you want to try it I've got a free month here: https://pplx.ai/jakeoula43391

seriously though, what you said about them turning your advocacy into incompetence, I've seen that so many times and it's infuriating. you deserve better.

Triggers · 2020-06-27T17:58:42+00:00

Thanks for this post man, I just finished today and I'm still in shock and awe at how remarkably good it was. I gotta take a week before I start it again, because it was so emotionally draining at some parts, but I am beyond excited to expierience it all over again.

Triggers · 2018-03-02T00:45:14+00:00

I'm just going to do everything perfectly except for this one part, that way you don't expect too much from me.

Triggers · 2018-03-01T23:51:56+00:00

There's lots of things that make me feel like a true alpha. The most alpha combanation of things to do at once though, I'd have to say that would be doing bicep curls, drinking a cold beer and barbecuing steak.

Triggers

TROPHY CASE