| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | The translators' world, a world of the lonesome ? Thread poster: Maria-Letitia Chiculita (X)
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Alex ST 
Indonesia
Local time: 06:26
Member (2009)
English to Indonesian
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| Wonderful Job | Aug 4, 2009 |
It has been quite long that employment becomes a dilemma for many workers in the world. Especially in developing countries, the price of a worker becomes very low in value. Why?, because there are so many people while there are so rare job available. In many situations workers work exploitatively. What makes us very concern is many of the workers are qualified, but still there is no power to bargain, surrender to receive low remuneration and unsatisfied working circumstances. Are they, the worke... See more It has been quite long that employment becomes a dilemma for many workers in the world. Especially in developing countries, the price of a worker becomes very low in value. Why?, because there are so many people while there are so rare job available. In many situations workers work exploitatively. What makes us very concern is many of the workers are qualified, but still there is no power to bargain, surrender to receive low remuneration and unsatisfied working circumstances. Are they, the workers, lonely? You could guess.
Those sympathizing situation are not experienced by translators. I do think so. Please advise me if I am wrong here. If they become very active in communication, they are alive, survives in this sector of working. Unfortunately, there are many translators are not confident with their working fields. Some do very little even none to promote himself. Well, in this case they can't be survived. So, it will be depended on the translator himself. The working environment, for sure, quarantees for better living and cheerful life. But, the response to this environment could create a contraproductive result.
Well. am I lonely to be translator? Something for sure, I am happy, survived and many people to talk to from the whole world. How do you think, is that lonely? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:26
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Yaotl Altan
Mexico
Local time: 17:26
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
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| Happy hermits | Oct 9, 2009 |
Yes, we're hermits but we are happier than the average professionist, isn't it?
| | | | | Hermits? I wish. | Oct 9, 2009 |
Freelance translation has brought me in more contact with people around the world than any other activity I have engaged in. Really nice, interesting people for the most part, but so many that retreating to a cave for ten years often sounds like a really cool option. There are so many opportunities to interact with colleagues and customers if one has a bit of initiative, and it's so much more rewarding than your typical forced association in an office environment. But often a lot of endurance is... See more Freelance translation has brought me in more contact with people around the world than any other activity I have engaged in. Really nice, interesting people for the most part, but so many that retreating to a cave for ten years often sounds like a really cool option. There are so many opportunities to interact with colleagues and customers if one has a bit of initiative, and it's so much more rewarding than your typical forced association in an office environment. But often a lot of endurance is still called for. ▲ Collapse
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| Hermit crabette | Oct 9, 2009 |
I taught for close on twenty years and by the end of them was one step away from total meltdown. I live in rural Wales, my partner leaves early, gets home late and so I spend most days alone with my decrepit 17 1/2 year old cat (very poorly, please think of us tomorrow as we take Flossie to vet for results of blood test and check-up) and my laptop. And it's bliss. I'm asked if I'm lonely, nope, do I miss teaching? NO I F******ING DON'T (saving the Moderator some time here, I'm in enough trou... See more I taught for close on twenty years and by the end of them was one step away from total meltdown. I live in rural Wales, my partner leaves early, gets home late and so I spend most days alone with my decrepit 17 1/2 year old cat (very poorly, please think of us tomorrow as we take Flossie to vet for results of blood test and check-up) and my laptop. And it's bliss. I'm asked if I'm lonely, nope, do I miss teaching? NO I F******ING DON'T (saving the Moderator some time here, I'm in enough trouble tonight!).
I love not knowing if I'll be translating a hotel brochure or furniture specifications and not suffering the cyclical uphill climb of the academic year.
If I choose, I socialise but it's my choice to see or speak to people so, I'm happier in my working life now than I have been in years.
(re-reading this, I have a feeling I've turned into the Grinch) ▲ Collapse
| | | | | My 4th country now | Oct 10, 2009 |
During my translation carreer, I have been moving countries every few years. Not because I had to, but because I chose to. How could I have accomplished that with a different job?
| | | | Tatty
Local time: 01:26
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Became an interpreter | Oct 10, 2009 |
Yes, translating was too lonely for me so now I go out interpreting to combat the solitude. I'm always trying to get myself out of the door.
| | | | | Grinches of the translating world, unite! | Oct 10, 2009 |
Susanna Garcia wrote:
If I choose, I socialise but it's my choice to see or speak to people so, I'm happier in my working life now than I have been in years.
I could not have said it better myself. I can socialize as much as I *want* to. Sometimes a lot, sometimes not at all, and it's wonderful decoupling that from my means of paying the bills.
[Edited at 2009-10-11 11:17 GMT]
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:26
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Since I live in the centre of an enormous international city, all I have to do is look through the window to see the whole world passing by, speaking every imaginable language. This morning I had a chat with a passing engineer from Denmark.
It's true - spending so much time working alone makes you a very friendly, sociable person always ready to speak to strangers and enjoying company whenever and wherever it's available.
 ... See more Since I live in the centre of an enormous international city, all I have to do is look through the window to see the whole world passing by, speaking every imaginable language. This morning I had a chat with a passing engineer from Denmark.
It's true - spending so much time working alone makes you a very friendly, sociable person always ready to speak to strangers and enjoying company whenever and wherever it's available.
[Edited at 2009-10-10 18:25 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Happy to work on my own | Oct 11, 2009 |
I was a legal professional for years working in large and small offices for a lot longer working hours than normal even on weekends and Bank Holidays.
I had no communication at all with my fellow collegues and almost felt like one of these dusty, forgotten old books on the shelves around me.
The effect: I got ill from all the stressing work load and really felt as if I was eaten by my job.
I even had to stop working at all!
After two years I was finally able to get back t... See more I was a legal professional for years working in large and small offices for a lot longer working hours than normal even on weekends and Bank Holidays.
I had no communication at all with my fellow collegues and almost felt like one of these dusty, forgotten old books on the shelves around me.
The effect: I got ill from all the stressing work load and really felt as if I was eaten by my job.
I even had to stop working at all!
After two years I was finally able to get back to my old life and made new plans.
As I had translated for years alreay, had married in th meantime and moved from Germany to England I started as a legal advisor and advocate for a disabled organisation. Office politics again and I gave my notice as I didn't wanted to be involved at all.
My husband unhappy with his job as a software architect started our own translation agency and now we are busy getting enough work in but we are happy.
Noone telling us what and when to do, able to decide whether to have a lovely day on the coast or working in the office instead. But the most I love is: I am able to do the housework around my job as a translator and studying for my Masters Degree in Legal Translation and helping my husband with his studies in Law!
Life can be so wonderful, if you are not dependant on any office politics.
The downside: the daily struggle to earn enough money is at least in the beginning quite hard although I am in the lucky position to know a lot of legal professionals who are happy to know me as a focused and hardworking knowledgeable English and German law professional with a lot of experience in both subjects. I really ahve enough work to do and I am always busy. The only thing I hate is the negotiations with the clients about the rates.
And if I am getting bored: I read your articles on the forum!
Have a lovely Sunday, folks! I have to work! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:26
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Office politics | Oct 11, 2009 |
Yes, it's the office politics I don't miss. Having once had a high-profile career and intense office politics where everyone was jostling for power, gossiping, playing dirty tricks etc., I'm very glad to be away from all of that. And as long as you work hard to ensure you're getting enough translating jobs, the income is not bad!
Ok now in between doing some translating I'm off to make a minestrone and maybe hoover my flat....
| | | | | self-discipline and procrastination (der innere Schweinehund) | Oct 11, 2009 |
I would like to know how seasoned freelancers manage to exert self-discipline.
Whenever I have an important translation to do and at last sit down to it, I find myself clearing up my e-mail in-tray, paying some bills, doing some networking, even sharpening my pencils and that sort of thing. These are all ways of procrastinating, to prevent me from really starting.
Is (or rather was) this a problem for beginners? Does it get better?
What is the role of the ... See more I would like to know how seasoned freelancers manage to exert self-discipline.
Whenever I have an important translation to do and at last sit down to it, I find myself clearing up my e-mail in-tray, paying some bills, doing some networking, even sharpening my pencils and that sort of thing. These are all ways of procrastinating, to prevent me from really starting.
Is (or rather was) this a problem for beginners? Does it get better?
What is the role of the deadline set by your client?
How do people manage to overcome what we in German call our "inneren Schweinehund", a kind of slothful "time hog" which prevents one from doing what one knows ought to be done?
Would like to hear what others think
Diana ▲ Collapse
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:26
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Schweinehund | Oct 11, 2009 |
British Diana wrote:
"inneren Schweinehund"
Rather than fighting my "inneren Schweinehund", I'd rather call it "clearing all the other things out of the way so that I won't be worrying about them while I'm doing the translation".
Before starting on a big job I like to get everything else out of the way - I don't think that's procrastinating, it's just time management.
[Edited at 2009-10-11 13:41 GMT]
| | | | | Time Management? | Oct 11, 2009 |
Nicely put, Tom
Dear Diana, I do hope it gets better over time, although I know it wont. Only if I have a really, really interesting and compelling text to translate or proofread, I can't seem to even stop to read e-mails. But that's very rare (I am just thinking about that last manual I just sent off this afternoon *yawn*)
And about solitude: I love it! I have never been a very social person, i.e. spend n... See more Nicely put, Tom
Dear Diana, I do hope it gets better over time, although I know it wont. Only if I have a really, really interesting and compelling text to translate or proofread, I can't seem to even stop to read e-mails. But that's very rare (I am just thinking about that last manual I just sent off this afternoon *yawn*)
And about solitude: I love it! I have never been a very social person, i.e. spend nights away in discos, bars or god-knows-what. I have, however, always had that one or two people around I can count on, and whom I can count on to contact me and drag me out of my home and away from work.
Otherwise I still have e-mail, Skype and telephone - and that's about enough contact for me
But working alone without all those well-discussed "advantages" in multi-worker offices is something my family (parents and grandparents) don't understand. They have always been very social people, never spending a day without talking to or meeting friends if ever possible.
It's a pity they don't speak English (very well) and don't want to read this thread. It would have shed light on the advantages of freelancing
Thanks opening this thread. It's been nice to read
[Bearbeitet am 2009-10-11 16:23 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Freelancers working alone are probably healthier | Oct 11, 2009 |
Christina Heger wrote:
But working alone without all those well-discussed "advantages" in multi-worker offices is something my family (parents and grandparents) don't understand.
One of the "advantages" that I am pleased to do without is getting sick from exposure to sick colleagues at work. I have noticed far fewer colds and flus over the past 8 years since I ditched the company office routine again.
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