Show Notes
Day 30 · Cheers to Right Now This weekend, I went to my friend's housewarming party. Here's the thing. She didn't buy the place. She rented it. But it's still a big deal. Ten years in the US. This is her first time living in a house. Honestly, international student life isn't all that fancy. You're moving abroad, learning English, finding a job, then the H1B lottery. She kept going year after year. Reapplying, waiting, refusing to quit. This year, she finally got picked. The H1B came through. She said she's safe for three years now. She really deserves this moment. Honestly, anyone who keeps going knows this feeling. So I made this episode for her. We raised our glasses. Cheers to right now.
Day 31 · Beta is Here Hey, are you guys ready? And I've got some good news for you today. First of all, you guys are crazy. I mean, I never expected this many people to love TingMate. So I started working on the app launch. But honestly, the process is slower than I thought. So in the meantime, I built something for you. Yeah! I built a beta version of TingMate. There's a web version, an iOS test app, and an Android install file. I only have limited spots for beta testing. I'd love to hear what you think. Your feedback will literally shape the real launch. So if you want to give it a try, check today's cover. Add me on WeChat. The ID's already on the cover and show notes. Thank you for being here for each other.
Day 32 · That "Morning" Monday morning, and I slept in. I drank way too much at the housewarming last night. I can't really drink much, but I just love a good drink. I threw on some clothes and rushed out the door. Just my luck, the elevator was slow. I snuck into the office, hoping no one would notice. Then I saw him. My boss was right by the door. He looked up and said, "Morning!" Real chill. I forced a smile and said, "Morning!" back. Just as chill. I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop. My heart was still racing. He glanced at the clock. Then he looked back at me, still smiling. He didn't say a word. He didn't need to. I got the message. Loud and clear. I started typing twice as fast.
Day 33 · What a Morning Listen, I'm not kidding. This just happened this morning. I woke up pretty early. So I planned to walk my dog for a bit longer. We were on the lakeside path around the apartment. All of a sudden, I saw a snake right on the path. My neighbors actually keep talking about snakes in the group chat. But I didn't really take it seriously. That snake was about five feet long. My dog and the snake just froze. I stood there watching them. Dead silent. I even thought about calling 911. Then the snake stuck its tongue out at me. Oh my gosh, what do I do? Is it venomous? But then she just slithered away. What a way to start the day.
Day 34 · What a Way to End the Night Listen, I'm so done with this. So I just got pulled over on my way home. I was driving back from dinner at my friend's place. I came up to this stop sign at the corner. And I stopped. I swear, I stopped. But the cop said I didn't come to a full stop. I've been in the States for three years now. And this is the third time. Like, the third! Every single time, it's the middle of the night. There's literally no other car on the road. I mean, you'd see the headlights from a mile away. Are these cops just trying to hit their quota or what? And now I owe, like, three hundred bucks. And to make matters worse, my insurance is gonna go up. And the cop even said, "Drive safe, have a good night." Honestly, what a way to end the night.
More from TingMate · English Learning
📝 Today's sentences ① I went to Costco again. ② And I bought a huge box of strawberries. ③ It looked like such a good deal. ④ But it's just the two of us. ⑤ There's no way we can finish it. ⑥ Half of it went bad in the fridge. ⑦ I do this every single time. ⑧ I know it's a trap, but I can't help it. ⑨ The big packs are always cheaper per unit. ⑩ It feels like I'm losing money if I don't. ⑪ But I always end up wasting more. ⑫ And I'll do the exact same thing next time. ⑬ I guess I just never learn.
📝 Today's sentences ① My hair is getting long again. ② But I keep avoiding the haircut. ③ Getting one here is expensive. ④ It's like sixty or seventy bucks, before tip. ⑤ And it's kind of a gamble. ⑥ They don't always know how to cut Asian hair. ⑦ Last time, I came home and fixed it myself. ⑧ So I'd rather just wait. ⑨ And get it all done back home. ⑩ It's cheaper there, and they do it right. ⑪ But you know how I am. ⑫ Some things I just save for home. ⑬ So now I've got one more excuse to fly home.
📝 Today's sentences ① I was at the store today, using self-checkout. ② I scanned a few things and bagged them. ③ Then the machine started beeping at me. ④ It kept saying, unexpected item in the bagging area. ⑤ But I didn't do anything wrong. ⑥ I took it out and put it back. ⑦ It still wouldn't work. ⑧ The line behind me kept getting longer. ⑨ I felt like everyone was staring at me. ⑩ I was so embarrassed. ⑪ Finally, I had to wave down an employee. ⑫ She tapped one button, and it was fine. ⑬ Next time, I'm just going with a real cashier.
📝 Today's sentences ① I've been back in Austin for a few days now. ② And I finally figured out what I miss most. ③ It's not the California sunshine. ④ It's the little café right by my old place. ⑤ Back there, it was within walking distance. ⑥ I could just shuffle over in my slippers. ⑦ Here, everything is a drive. ⑧ If I want a coffee, I have to get on the road. ⑨ That's a half hour round trip. ⑩ So now I just make it at home. ⑪ But it's not the same. ⑫ Maybe it's not really about the coffee. ⑬ It's the whole way of life that came with it.
📝 Today's sentences ① I just landed back in Austin. ② The heat hit me the second I stepped outside. ③ It's like walking straight into a wall. ④ Three weeks of Bay Area weather, gone just like that. ⑤ And I already miss it. ⑥ I got in my car and cranked up the AC all the way. ⑦ On the drive home, I kept asking myself why. ⑧ Why do I keep doing this to myself? ⑨ But deep down, I already know the answer. ⑩ There's no state income tax in Texas. ⑪ And my rent here is about half the Bay Area price. ⑫ So I wiped the sweat off and reminded myself. ⑬ This is what I signed up for. ⑭ Maybe I'll get used to it in a few days. ⑮ I'm here now, but my heart hasn't caught up yet.