(no subject)
So far, this week has been busy, tiring, and AMAZING. I'll post a full entry on it when I have more time, but until then, here are a few of the things that happened (although they aren't in any particular order):
First and foremost, I got to hear a great Belgian boys choir who sing some excellent hymns.
Translating, translating, interpreting, interpreting, translating, interpreting, interpreting, interpreting, translating, interpreting, interpreting.
While I was interpreting a speech that the mayor of Shibushi was giving (live and in front of a fairly big crowd), he looked over at where I was and said, "This is completely different than what I have written here, should we stop?"
I know much more about Belgium now than I did before.
I learned that bamboo cuts like paper...except it's much thicker, sharper and more painful.
I got to have dinner with some of my students' families for the first time.
I learned that when I use my camera to tape something and I don't have much arm support, it looks like a bad bootleg video.
Nami, one of my favorite students, lunged at me while yelling, "DON'T SAY IT! DON'T TELL HIM THAT!"
Three of my former students, two guys from the choir and I danced around like we had some mental issues while singing a children's song using nothing but the syllable "la".
My opinion that I'm pretty good at interpreting from Japanese to English, but terrible at interpreting from English to Japanese became nothing if not stronger.
Considering the above statement, being asked to translate someone's English into Japanese in front of a news camera is terrifying.
My theory was reinforced: Japanese students and signatures when there are foreigners around are like sharks and food when there's blood in the water.
I learned that working 13 1/2 hours on a Saturday CAN be fun!
...and nerve-wracking!
Students whom you haven't met for one and a half years will be really happy if you remember their names.
Tomorrow, too, I have plans for a day trip, so I'll be sure to add anything interesting from that into my next post.
First and foremost, I got to hear a great Belgian boys choir who sing some excellent hymns.
Translating, translating, interpreting, interpreting, translating, interpreting, interpreting, interpreting, translating, interpreting, interpreting.
While I was interpreting a speech that the mayor of Shibushi was giving (live and in front of a fairly big crowd), he looked over at where I was and said, "This is completely different than what I have written here, should we stop?"
I know much more about Belgium now than I did before.
I learned that bamboo cuts like paper...except it's much thicker, sharper and more painful.
I got to have dinner with some of my students' families for the first time.
I learned that when I use my camera to tape something and I don't have much arm support, it looks like a bad bootleg video.
Nami, one of my favorite students, lunged at me while yelling, "DON'T SAY IT! DON'T TELL HIM THAT!"
Three of my former students, two guys from the choir and I danced around like we had some mental issues while singing a children's song using nothing but the syllable "la".
My opinion that I'm pretty good at interpreting from Japanese to English, but terrible at interpreting from English to Japanese became nothing if not stronger.
Considering the above statement, being asked to translate someone's English into Japanese in front of a news camera is terrifying.
My theory was reinforced: Japanese students and signatures when there are foreigners around are like sharks and food when there's blood in the water.
I learned that working 13 1/2 hours on a Saturday CAN be fun!
...and nerve-wracking!
Students whom you haven't met for one and a half years will be really happy if you remember their names.
Tomorrow, too, I have plans for a day trip, so I'll be sure to add anything interesting from that into my next post.