Things are getting back to “normal” here again after the annual upheaval that is Semana Santa. Part of me really likes how everybody’s routines are totally disrupted during this week, even if they don’t attend any of the processions. I know that if I didn’t live next to the cathedral I wouldn’t bother going out to see them (though I did the first few years I lived here) and I know I would miss that. Sure, it’s a week of unpaid holidays and getting out my front door can sometimes be difficult because of the crowds, but it’s also kind of refreshing to have things shaken up a bit. As usual, this year all of my students (all = 4) cancelled classes for the week, but I ended up working more than ever…
I don’t want to count my chickens yet but I was asked to set up a social media package for someone, which may end up becoming a source of income as this person wants me to update their blog, twitter, facebook, etc. Still working out the fees. There will be one for setting up the various accounts (gmail, wordpress blog, twitter, facebook, linkedin, flickr, youtube) which is fairly easy to work out based on the time it took me. But as far as what to charge for daily maintenance … well, I have a figure in mind but first we are going to do a one month trial. If all goes well, then it’ll become a steady part-time job that could end up covering the loss of the apartment next door in June. And if I get a few more classes plus more bookings for tapas tours (first one so far is in May) that could make up for impending loss of flatmate Nog. Which, okay, would still leave me treading water in the same financially precarious state I am in at the moment, but at least I wouldn’t be worse off. And trust me, friends, that glimmer of hope is a huge relief right now.
Otherwise and that … Tal has got The Store all set up and I am working on getting the shelves stocked, though it’s proving to be quite difficult as most artists and artisans don’t have enough profit margin to sell their things at a wholesale price. But the search continues. And I still haven’t forgotten the e-book. Which brings me up to five possible part-time jobs.
My last multi-tasking az update was almost a year ago and at that time I had started back on chemo and all the plans I’d made had pretty much fallen apart. The whole point of getting these five jobs going is that at least two, and maybe three, of them could still be done if/when I get sick again. Which, without the “cushion” I had last time of that bit of income from renting the apartment next door and a flatmate paying half the rent & bills, is something I cannot even think about without breaking into a panic. So I am trying to stay focused on what I CAN do right now, keep working on building up my various client bases, and hope like hell that my next PET scan in June comes back clean.
Oh, and also remember to BREATHE.
There, that’s better…
casa azahar 
Breathing is good. I’m sure your PET scan will be fine. Stop worrying about it. I read somewhere that the key to staying sane is to identify what things you have control over and to let go of worrying about things you have no control over. Realize as I say this that I am WELL aware of how easy that statement is to make and how next-to-impossible it is to actually put into practice. I have spent waaaay too many early morning hours awake and agonizing over things that fall into the “I can’t control this so let it go” category! I’m very lucky I have Jim to keep me focused. I have been worrying about the massage clientele (or lack thereof) and trying to decide whether I should break down and advertise. And yet, when I look at my schedule for the next month, it seems that perhaps I should start worrying about having enough time to keep up the garden, since it appears that the massage clientele have magically started filling in the blanks of my book while I wasn’t paying attention.
In the midst of all your multi tasking, don’t forget to get out and enjoy the fresh air once in a while. . .
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That’s great that your clients have magically appeared. Things are quite a bit different here. I’ve been advertising since September, in the local paper, on the internet, and by putting up posters once a week at the university. And … nuthin. The only new classes I have managed to get have been through friends. Meanwhile, Nog has been losing students for this or that reason, and there aren’t any new ones coming along for him either, which is why he will probably be going back to the UK soon.
It really is bad here. Businesses are doing badly, unemployment is rising. So even if, say, Nog wanted to try and find some other sort of work, there just isn’t any. And things like private language classes are the sort of “luxury” that people tend to give up first when they are trying to make ends meet.
I do try to not worry about things I have no control over and focus on what I can do, but it is neither easy or simple. And I really cannot help but worry about the next PET scan because – hello! – I have a terminal illness. And well, okay, I may end up being one of those “miracle cases” that totally beats the odds, but frankly I know I will be lucky just to be one of the 50% that survives for five years after diagnosis. So making plans for the future takes on a whole other dimension, especially when just getting through the day is sometimes hard enough.
And now … off to yoga class!
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I didn’t know you were about to lose the apartment next door…..
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Yeah, they wanted to take it back last year but then took pity on me because I was sick. It’s a real shame because although it’s not a lot of income it at least helped pay the bills. And there’s no real reason for them to want it back as they have always received their rent, even when I didn’t have a “full house” next door and it came out of my own pocket. I think the landlord’s daughter wants to take over managing it so she can jack up the rent. Whatever. It was good while it lasted.
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It’s time to re-jigger your advertising strategy; wherever you’re advertising ain’t working. Why don’t you try to contact those dreadful English package tour companies and offer Spanish Over Tapas lessons? That’s the kind of add-on they might actually like, and they’ve got shitloads of tourists. Teaching them restaurant Spanish while guiding them around shops and restaurants will be a doddle for you, and they’ll do your advertising for you.
I’m ramping back up with the classes after a long layoff; my first one is going to be Blogging for Writers, taught via Skype and you’re welcome to sit in if you want. The problem with advertising social media online is, you only reach people who are already using social media. You’re going to get more of a pickup if you Follow everyone in Seville you can find on Twitter (use Twellow http://www.twellow.com/twellowhood/ to find Sevillianistas) and then use Twitter to advertise gourmet tours or whatever geared for locals. Advertise Spanish Over Tapas to your expat contacts. Etc. God knows, it’s a PIA, but you’re doing better now and even one registration is really heartening. I’ve found Twitter to be the BEST avenue for getting people to actually ACT.
Good luck. I know it’s a slog, but it’s worth it. Surely the city of Seville is big enough to contain enough people who appreciate your talent and wisdom that you can make a living.
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Yep, the ol’ advertising strategy clearly isn’t working for English classes. Not only are fewer people in the market for private classes these days, but there really is a glut of “teachers” on the market offering “classes” for 6 euros. Clearly these are visiting foreign students just wanting to make some beer money, but it doesn’t help actual qualified teachers when potiential clients see this.
Yes, I agree with you that Twitter is excellent for making biz contacts. I have some tapas tours booked through someone in the UK that I met on Twitter who is organising “gastronomic trips” for her clients. For her Seville days she is booking my chef friend Ruth in the mornings for a cooking class, and me in the evenings for a tapas tour. Have you seen my page for the Sevilla Tapas Tours?
I’d actually like to find more work I can do from home – I am dead serious when I say I need to be prepared for the next recurrence. And I think you know that I’m not being “negative” when I say that. I think I am being extremely practical because if I am going to get through The Next One I will need to have work I can do at home, and preferably in my pyjamas, with a very flexible schedule. So things like Skype classes would be good. I’ll email you about that, okay?
And thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.
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