My Sickness Saga: Final Notes
This is it. Ten episodes in, and my Sick Leave Saga is wrapping up. Starting tomorrow, I’m back to normal working hours – full shifts, full chaos, and (hopefully) full energy. To be honest, this last week felt like a…
Jaz Beyond Teaching
Simplicity in Learning, Living, and Exploring
Jaz Beyond Teaching
Simplicity in Learning, Living, and Exploring
Personal Growth
This section is all about transformation – personal development, self-reflection, and the lessons learned through life’s challenges and successes. Whether you’re looking to grow in your career, relationships, or mindset, you’ll find stories and tips to help you on your path of self-improvement.
My Sick Leave Saga: Almost There
3 → 4 → 6 hours and counting This week I’m moving into the next and final phase of my work transition: working 6 hours a day, from 8:00 – 14:00. No breaks. Just straight hours of Kindergarten energy. Good…
My Sick Leave Saga: Easing Back, Breathing Deep
It’s been a couple of weeks since my last personal update – last Sunday, I featured an inspiring story of Ymonette (which I hope you read!), and now it’s time to return to my own little world of healing, learning,…
April Featured Person: Gill Concha
I first met Gill Concha over two decades ago, back in 2002, when we were both teachers at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Manila for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I remember him as someone who…
My Sick Leave Saga: Staying Productive (even with a back injury)
Let’s talk about one of those days that literally knocks you off your feet. Last, last Friday (28.03) at work, in the afternoon – about an hour before my shift was supposed to end – I was helping out in…
March Featured Person: Maila Rito
I first met Maila, or Mai as most people call her, 15 years ago when I was teaching in Thailand. At the time, she was an afterschool teacher at another school. Even then, her passion for education and her desire…
Mein Deutsch ist kaputt! Real Struggle of Learning German
Learning German has been quite an adventure, to say the least. Back in early 2019, while still in the UAE, I was planning to find a job in Germany. Many schools required at least a B1 certification, so I looked…
Pedagogical Day: Mindfulness, Resilience, and Unexpected Laughs
A little over a week ago, we had our Pedagogical Day, where we were offered different workshop groups – mostly in German. which included a three-part workshop. Since my German skills are still a work in progress, I naturally chose…
A battle of cough, confusion, and essential oils
Winter in Germany isn’t over yet, and neither is the battle against cold-season illnesses! The lingering chilly weather has been the perfect setup for my never-ending flu, fever, and – worst of all – this incredibly stubborn cough that just…
February Featured Person: Mila Castro Blasco
I met Sister Mila in the same place where I met our last month’s featured person, Sister Ces. They were in the same ward, and I was assigned there as a missionary. At that time, she was still single and…