In America
So I haven't updated in a really long time, and unfortunately today's update is going to be pretty short as it's already 3:10am and I need to go to bed very soon.
I have been back in America for about 2 weeks now. Much of the time has been spent sleeping at home, but I have also managed to hang out with some of my old high school friends as well as go out to dinner with my family at all my favorite restaurants in the area.
I even had the opportunity to go to Disneyland for the first time in many years, thanks to the lovely Jadice. We were of course accompanied by reinepsychotica and amehdaus. It honestly was nice to experience the magic again. I grew up so close to Disneyland that it was just another place for me, nothing magical or wonderful or even all that interesting. Sure it was fun to go, but you could always go. However, after probably 10 years of not going at all, I was able to enjoy the place like a kid again. I probably had the most fun just riding on all the little rides in Fantasy Land, seeing all the little animatronics and relaxing in the little cars. But California Screamin' was fun too, I admit it. Thanks for the great time, guys!
In addition to America-related things, I was offered a job in Yokohama which I have accepted. I will be selling anime-related merchandise, mostly dolls. Yes, it's a bit of an odd job, but it pays well and will actually require me to come back to the States every so often to manage stalls at places like Anime Expo and Comic Con. Going home on my company's dollar? Can't beat that. On the other hand, it's not directly related to my dream of being a translator in any way, so I'll have to do my freelance translation work in the evenings and weekends. Assuming, you know, I get any. Since I certainly haven't yet minus an offer I got from a friend of a friend which involved translating things of a... err.. sensitive nature. I had to turn that one down.
Speaking of translations, one of my former coworkers actually e-mailed me and asked them to do a translation for the old office. His explanation was that my successor is still new and unable to do translations quickly and accurately, so they need my help to do it. Unfortunately, therein lies the problem - they already have someone they hired to do the job working there, my successor. He is being paid to do that job, and yet they asked me to do the translation for free. I also don't remember that particular coworker giving me any leeway during my first few months in the job. I might have been new, but he sure as hell gave me all the work he could. So I felt this was a very unfair situation, and made sure my coworkers were aware of it. I began by explicitly writing out my rates as a freelance translator. Then I said that I would be willing to do this *one* translation for free in consideration for the 2 long years I worked there and all the help they gave me. But I concluded by stating that I would not be doing it for free again and I would charge them in full for any future translations. It was not easy saying such cold things to people I consider friends, but I am a professional translator, not a volunteer. This is how I make money. I cannot go around doing people favors all the time. They are perfectly free to send me translation requests whenever they want, but I expect fair compensation. I'm not their in-house translator anymore.
Alright, well it's now 3:30am, so I should probably hit the sack. Night.
I have been back in America for about 2 weeks now. Much of the time has been spent sleeping at home, but I have also managed to hang out with some of my old high school friends as well as go out to dinner with my family at all my favorite restaurants in the area.
I even had the opportunity to go to Disneyland for the first time in many years, thanks to the lovely Jadice. We were of course accompanied by reinepsychotica and amehdaus. It honestly was nice to experience the magic again. I grew up so close to Disneyland that it was just another place for me, nothing magical or wonderful or even all that interesting. Sure it was fun to go, but you could always go. However, after probably 10 years of not going at all, I was able to enjoy the place like a kid again. I probably had the most fun just riding on all the little rides in Fantasy Land, seeing all the little animatronics and relaxing in the little cars. But California Screamin' was fun too, I admit it. Thanks for the great time, guys!
In addition to America-related things, I was offered a job in Yokohama which I have accepted. I will be selling anime-related merchandise, mostly dolls. Yes, it's a bit of an odd job, but it pays well and will actually require me to come back to the States every so often to manage stalls at places like Anime Expo and Comic Con. Going home on my company's dollar? Can't beat that. On the other hand, it's not directly related to my dream of being a translator in any way, so I'll have to do my freelance translation work in the evenings and weekends. Assuming, you know, I get any. Since I certainly haven't yet minus an offer I got from a friend of a friend which involved translating things of a... err.. sensitive nature. I had to turn that one down.
Speaking of translations, one of my former coworkers actually e-mailed me and asked them to do a translation for the old office. His explanation was that my successor is still new and unable to do translations quickly and accurately, so they need my help to do it. Unfortunately, therein lies the problem - they already have someone they hired to do the job working there, my successor. He is being paid to do that job, and yet they asked me to do the translation for free. I also don't remember that particular coworker giving me any leeway during my first few months in the job. I might have been new, but he sure as hell gave me all the work he could. So I felt this was a very unfair situation, and made sure my coworkers were aware of it. I began by explicitly writing out my rates as a freelance translator. Then I said that I would be willing to do this *one* translation for free in consideration for the 2 long years I worked there and all the help they gave me. But I concluded by stating that I would not be doing it for free again and I would charge them in full for any future translations. It was not easy saying such cold things to people I consider friends, but I am a professional translator, not a volunteer. This is how I make money. I cannot go around doing people favors all the time. They are perfectly free to send me translation requests whenever they want, but I expect fair compensation. I'm not their in-house translator anymore.
Alright, well it's now 3:30am, so I should probably hit the sack. Night.