Tag: San Francisco
So, I quit my job. Then picked up my boyfriend at the airport. In the 20 minute ride home we decided we would move from Charleston, SC to San Francisco, CA.
I’m not kidding. But why?
Because I’m worth it. I mean this in all aspects of “worth.” My time, education, experiences, patience, happiness, and morals all deserved more. I’m still head over heels in love with my career as a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP). I just was no longer in love with the constant conflict I was living at my job. So I peaced out.
My first experience with Accent Reduction was in graduate school with a client from India and I was hooked. However, coming out of school I went to work in Pediatrics and then transitioned to Geriatrics. It was when I was working with adults again that I realized how much I missed Accent Modification or Reduction. So I started it back up. Within a session I was hooked, again. This was the day AstiNova was born. Tada!
Why San Francisco? Because I couldn’t freaking help it. The culture just tied me up and dragged me here. Well, we considered Australia or New Zealand too. Maybe next time. I can’t explain the city lights, background hum, the taste or the feel of each and every different neighborhood. I’m in love with the motivated people. I couldn’t have asked for a more creative and innovative “new home” to grow in.
Stop.
Stop whatever you’re doing and relocate your life. Where is it? Where is it heading? Where do you want it to go? If your life isn’t aimed where you want to be then you won’t get there. I want my life to learn, grow, and change. I want full control over my career. I want to work with people who want to change and improve. I want happiness. So I changed the course of my life and career. You don’t need to go to the extremes that I have gone to. But you do need to reevaluate your life- and do so often. I always want to be exactly where I am. If I wake up one day and find {here} is somewhere else… then I’ll make a change to get there.
Side Note: If you ever get the chance to drive across the country- Do it. America is absolutely gorgeous. It’s incredible the changes that occur from state to state.
I love Food.
There, I said it.
Splitting my time between San Francisco and Charleston, SC I’ve become very spoiled by the amazing food in both of these cities. I’m in love with the farm-to-table, fusion, and true authentic cuisines offered in these two spots. So when I stumbled across this article from Thrillist I had to share it.
Even though I specialize in the Pronunciation of the English Language- I don’t always know the correct pronunciation for many international words and phrases. There have been many times where I’ve asked a server or chef how to pronounce an item on a menu. How else would I learn? I wasn’t born knowing the right way to say everything. Thankfully, like you, I was born wanting to learn to say it correctly.
So dive on into this fun site and see how well you pronounce some frequently requested foodie items!
How to Pronounce the 16 Most Confusing Food Words by Kristin Hunt
Karen
I get this question all the time:
“Wait, You work on Accent Reduction with Americans too?!”
My Answer: Hell yes.
Lately I can’t seem to keep up with all of the new publications regarding American Accents or Dialects. A favorite of mine is this article from Business Insider “22 Maps That Show How American’s Speak English Totally Differently From Each Other.”
Isn’t it such a fun website? I really enjoyed reading the question or word for each slide and trying to figure out how I would naturally say it. I was born and raised just outside of Boston, Massachusetts but have lived in Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina as well. I currently split my time between Charleston, SC and San Francisco, CA. So my exposure to different pronunciations is pretty extreme compared to many who have only lived in one state. I get to hear so many different types of accents here in the States.
Most people assume that “Accent Reduction Training” is for those that were born outside of the USA. Wrong! No matter where you were born, what your first language was, or what language you prominently speak- Accent Reduction Training is an option for you. Many American born individuals seek out Accent Reduction Training for what we call “Accent Neutralization.” I train using only General English or also called Neutral American English.
I love when my friends or clients from other countries come to visit the States. It isn’t long before they note the differences between the Boston Accent, Southern Drawl and the San Franciscan accent. It’s about 2 seconds later that they start poking fun at each accent.
Do you have a favorite American Accent?