The glamour of it all
Note: Oh, LJ didn't lose it. I posted it... um... elsewhere *blushes*. Took it down from there, and here it is.
*Smacks self for posting in stupid place and wondering how the hell I managed it, but well..."
First, this entry is public - for a reason.
It all started (again) this morning by one of my translation clients saying 'I left a message on your voice mail last week', and me confessing I hadn't called back as my voice mail doesn't work when I'm in certain places (hoping that would be the end of that). This was followed by her asking if I had a nice holiday, me saying 'no, it was business', and then chit-chat about 'where were you'. Naturally, she started on about 'oh, that must be glamorous'. Not wishing to lose a client I said 'not quite as much as you may think' and changed the subject.
People, it is not glamorous and I don't try to make it out to be. And I'm awful tired of misconceptions in general, and about what I do and what I say about things in general and my work in particular.
So...
Basically, part of my work consists of sitting in conferences and taking notes of what is said (whether presentations or debates) and then summarising it. Rocket science it is not.
It takes concentration and the ability to write clear English that can be undertood by non-native speakers. The reports have to go out fast. and they have to be factual and as short as possible to cut translation costs into other official languages of the organisation, yet contain all the essentials. When you get speakers whose command of a language is somewhat lacking or who have a strong accent (and they speak really really fast as they know they have more subject matter than their slot allows for), it gets trickier. Very few meetings are recorded for reasons I won't go into, meaning no 'safety net'. And people can swear they didn't say something even though they did - and it's never they who are wrong. Another fun aspect *g*.
There's quite a bit of research involved, which is one of the parts that really appeals to me as I need a (basic) understanding of various rather specialised subjects. A lot of the subject matter fascinates me, although it can be a little gruesome at times (crime ain't pretty). I also have to use a little diplomacy as it's not a good idea to embarrass people when they lose the plot or get a name or a fact wrong, or if two people start yelling at each other.
Because I'm an 'external contractor', I have the advantage of not being part of the 'hierarchy', so can avoid office politics to a large extent and can socialise with all sorts of people. I meet great people and idiots. I get to see exotic places, but mainly it's a question of economy class flights, hotels and conference rooms with - occasionally - a few hours off. I love being in those places, but I have had a bellyful of airports and plane seats, thanks, not to mention hotels that after a while all look the same. But it's how I earn an (admittedly reasonable) living - I chose it and I'm a little idealistic about it in some ways. I don't think I'm alone in that, either. It actually helps when I'm so bloody tired I can hardly think.
I work with a great team, and the 'team spirit' when we're all in some Godawful bit of the world is another thing I like - although I don't get that as much at HQ, obviously. And yes, the 'missions' abroad are actually called 'missions' although I'm hardly trying to pretend they're something Exciting and Dangerous by calling them that.
There are a few perks like getting met at airports and avoiding a few formalities, but if you're at the other side of the world for just three days rather than about to have two weeks off on a beach, that's really helpful. To offset that a little, if it all sounds too 'pompous', imagine dragging not only a laptop but masses of documents around 3-4 airports and wondering if your bags with your business clothes are going to follow. Or trying to cope with jet lag in a warm, dark conference room when sleep seems a whole lot more interesting than summarising a highly technical presentation. I could go on *g*.
So - and here's the point - do I talk about my work on LJ or in general to a) give the impression that it is glamorous or b) to sound pompous or 'important'? No. Really - no. It's my job. It is how I earn (admittedly reasonable) money because I am reasonably competent at what I do. Just as other people are competent at what they do. Dammit, I'm fascinated by people who do all sorts of things (from students to professors, and from metalworkers to lawyers), and particularly those who are proud of what they do. And yes, of course I'm proud of some of the stuff I do. I think that's human.
But... there's a huge, huge line between being proud of what you do (and here I mean anything one does) than bragging about it. Also, talking about what you do doesn't mean you think what everybody else does is stupid. But that, of course, depends how your mind works.
And that's enough waffle for today. I have reports to write *g*
*Smacks self for posting in stupid place and wondering how the hell I managed it, but well..."
First, this entry is public - for a reason.
It all started (again) this morning by one of my translation clients saying 'I left a message on your voice mail last week', and me confessing I hadn't called back as my voice mail doesn't work when I'm in certain places (hoping that would be the end of that). This was followed by her asking if I had a nice holiday, me saying 'no, it was business', and then chit-chat about 'where were you'. Naturally, she started on about 'oh, that must be glamorous'. Not wishing to lose a client I said 'not quite as much as you may think' and changed the subject.
People, it is not glamorous and I don't try to make it out to be. And I'm awful tired of misconceptions in general, and about what I do and what I say about things in general and my work in particular.
So...
Basically, part of my work consists of sitting in conferences and taking notes of what is said (whether presentations or debates) and then summarising it. Rocket science it is not.
It takes concentration and the ability to write clear English that can be undertood by non-native speakers. The reports have to go out fast. and they have to be factual and as short as possible to cut translation costs into other official languages of the organisation, yet contain all the essentials. When you get speakers whose command of a language is somewhat lacking or who have a strong accent (and they speak really really fast as they know they have more subject matter than their slot allows for), it gets trickier. Very few meetings are recorded for reasons I won't go into, meaning no 'safety net'. And people can swear they didn't say something even though they did - and it's never they who are wrong. Another fun aspect *g*.
There's quite a bit of research involved, which is one of the parts that really appeals to me as I need a (basic) understanding of various rather specialised subjects. A lot of the subject matter fascinates me, although it can be a little gruesome at times (crime ain't pretty). I also have to use a little diplomacy as it's not a good idea to embarrass people when they lose the plot or get a name or a fact wrong, or if two people start yelling at each other.
Because I'm an 'external contractor', I have the advantage of not being part of the 'hierarchy', so can avoid office politics to a large extent and can socialise with all sorts of people. I meet great people and idiots. I get to see exotic places, but mainly it's a question of economy class flights, hotels and conference rooms with - occasionally - a few hours off. I love being in those places, but I have had a bellyful of airports and plane seats, thanks, not to mention hotels that after a while all look the same. But it's how I earn an (admittedly reasonable) living - I chose it and I'm a little idealistic about it in some ways. I don't think I'm alone in that, either. It actually helps when I'm so bloody tired I can hardly think.
I work with a great team, and the 'team spirit' when we're all in some Godawful bit of the world is another thing I like - although I don't get that as much at HQ, obviously. And yes, the 'missions' abroad are actually called 'missions' although I'm hardly trying to pretend they're something Exciting and Dangerous by calling them that.
There are a few perks like getting met at airports and avoiding a few formalities, but if you're at the other side of the world for just three days rather than about to have two weeks off on a beach, that's really helpful. To offset that a little, if it all sounds too 'pompous', imagine dragging not only a laptop but masses of documents around 3-4 airports and wondering if your bags with your business clothes are going to follow. Or trying to cope with jet lag in a warm, dark conference room when sleep seems a whole lot more interesting than summarising a highly technical presentation. I could go on *g*.
So - and here's the point - do I talk about my work on LJ or in general to a) give the impression that it is glamorous or b) to sound pompous or 'important'? No. Really - no. It's my job. It is how I earn (admittedly reasonable) money because I am reasonably competent at what I do. Just as other people are competent at what they do. Dammit, I'm fascinated by people who do all sorts of things (from students to professors, and from metalworkers to lawyers), and particularly those who are proud of what they do. And yes, of course I'm proud of some of the stuff I do. I think that's human.
But... there's a huge, huge line between being proud of what you do (and here I mean anything one does) than bragging about it. Also, talking about what you do doesn't mean you think what everybody else does is stupid. But that, of course, depends how your mind works.
And that's enough waffle for today. I have reports to write *g*