What to read on holiday

Are you planning a holiday? Do you usually take books with you? Choosing a book to read on holiday can be tricky; that's why I thought of writing a post about it. Maybe you'll find these tips helpful.

FOR A LONG-HOUR JOURNEY I would suggest a page turner, for example a detective story or a family saga. The latest mystery best seller is a very wise choice. It will keep you company and make your journey much more interesting.

FOR A QUIET HOLIDAY I would suggest a slow-paced, reflective book which will help you slow down and appreciate the little details of life. In this case, a classic is the best choice.

FOR A HOLIDAY IN A FAMOUS CITY I would suggest a novel that is taking place in this very city. It will give you a special feeling of the place that will stay with you forever.

FOR A STAYCATION I would suggest a huge biography or a historical book or novel that you have always wanted to read but didn't get round to. Being on holiday at home will enable you to look up things about the book much easier.

TO RECONNECT WITH YOUR JOB I would suggest reading a popular science book on your profession. While on holiday, sometimes we feel estranged from our professions. That’s why, I think, reading such a book can help us look at our jobs with the eyes of a newcomer.

Be careful: while a sad book can certainly ruin your mood and your holiday, a super-interesting novel can monopolise your attention and alienate you from your trip. Choose wisely!

Thanks for reading and enjoy your trip! 

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5 things translators do better

After a long day's toil, having worked hard on difficult translations, sometimes I really feel like reading a pick-me-up blog post! Don't you agree? That's why I chose this topic. Indeed, we should never forget what makes us special. We are versatile, diligent, and indispensable; we are translators! And here are the 5 things that we do better. Ready?

#1 WE PLAN BETTER

Since we always have to deal with a deadline and a bulk of text, we have learned to plan better. So, what do we do? We break the goal into small, manageable goals which seem less overwhelming. What's more, we are used to think in terms of deadlines, which makes keeping track of our goals much easier.   

#2 WE COMMUNICATE BETTER

As translators we know very well that it's not always possible to communicate everything with words. We are very much aware of the importance of the things that are left unsaid. Moreover, translation has made us always communicate clearly and concisely because we understand very well the importance of using the right word.

#3 WE WRITE BETTER

We also write clearly and concisely, making it easy for the reader to follow what we want to say. Since we have struggled so many times with obscure texts, we know very well how hard it is for the readers to follow a difficult text. That's why we always make sure that our texts are readable.

#4 WE READ BETTER

This sensitivity of ours regarding the nuances of writing makes us also better readers. We always read carefully and deeply. Besides, we usually try to work out how certain sentences would be translated into another language! This procedure is what I call deep reading! There's no deeper reading than this!

#5 WE COPE BETTER

We cope better because we are dealing with the impossible. Transforming a text into a text which reads as if it were written originally in another language, for some seems an impossible task. And here we are, the most diligent workers of words, transforming the impossible into the possible. Who is more able to cope better with difficulties in life than us translators?

What do you think? :)

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Let the children play

I was very happy that so many people liked my previous post: It’s better late than never for freelance translators. However, I would like to point out that while for most things in life it’s better late than never, there are some things that must happen at the correct moment. But before I continue, I’d like to say that while I haven’t got children myself, I used to be a child, and people who are not parents should not be excluded from the discussion a priori. All voices have something to contribute, right?

So, what I’m trying to say is that while it is possible to do a lot of things later in life, it is impossible to relive your childhood. That’s why for me it goes without saying that no-one should mess with a child’s childhood.

My own childhood is a very special place that I enjoy to revisit quite often. I am capable of locating this precious feeling of being a child. I can recall how it feels to be open to every possibility, how it feels to be fresh, innocent and receptive. A certain song, a comic book, a movie can send me straight back to that special place, giving me at the same time a new lease of life, and strength to keep going. I can remember exactly what excited me as a child: a new book, learning English, exploring geography and astronomy… and this excitement is ever alive with me, even in my darkest moments.

It is impossible to experience being a child again. Our childhood happens only once. That’s why it is extremely important to let children be children. They are entitled to have this special place of their childhood to accompany them as adults. Some people don’t understand it. That’s why we see certain parents relying on their children, assigning to them roles and responsibilities that the children cannot resume. Usually these parents feel especially ‘proud’ of their little ‘lambs dressed as muttons’. But that’s just not right.

Childhood is about making mistakes. About playing. About being innocent. About exploring the world. About making silly declarations or ludicrous revolutions. I know that it is very difficult to become a good parent and that we should not judge. But when you think that it is impossible to become a child ever again, you realise that, after keeping children healthy and fed and clean, we must protect their childhood. Let the children play.

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How many things you love can you share in 10 minutes?

Olga Arakelyan was the first to share in ten minutes the things she loves.

Then, her blog post inspired Alina Cincan from Inbox Translation to ask a group of fellow translators to do exactly the same. I feel so happy that she included me in this group as well. And I have to say, after reading Alina’s post I feel I know her on a more personal level.

Hopefully the same will happen to you with me and my list.

It is great to be able to connect like this through blogging, and I'm grateful to have met all of you.

So, how many of these things can I share in just ten minutes?

1. Books. I read a lot of books. Around forty a year. And I’m buying more books than my bookcases can hold.

2. Language learning materials and dictionaries. I am addicted to them!

3. Good food, preferably exotic and difficult to pronounce. I also love trying new recipes!

4. The Acropolis. If I don’t go downtown to see the Acropolis from afar at least once a month, something’s not quite right with me.

5. Walking in Athens. In this respect, I’m a flâneur… love to stroll about, catching glimpses of this ever-changing city.

6. All things English.

7. JethroTull.

8. Christmas decorations. One can never have too many!

9. Travelling and exploring new places.

10. The sea.

11. Snow.

12. Cats.

13. Maps and geography. Since I was a kid, I was always on the lookout for the most faraway places and said: I shall go there one day!

14. Icelandic mythology… trolls, giants, Loki, etc.

15. Antique surveying instruments.

16. Astronomy.

17. Mount Hymettus.

18. Birdwatching.

19. Gardening.

20. Baking bread.

Thank you so much Alina for having such a wonderful idea. Looking forward to your next one!

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Everything is fiction

At  some point in my life, someone told me that everything in life is sales. I do not agree.

Everything is fiction.

Everything is fiction because our lives are much affected by fiction. Or better, because the way we perceive our lives has everything to do with fiction.

I mean, the stories we heard in childhood have created templates in our minds. And when we miss some of the facts in a situation, these templates help us fill these gaps. For instance, this happens when we look upon a situation and we try to impose a plot on it. And why is that?

Because we have got used to look at situations the way we look at stories.

But most of the times we forget that there may not be any underlying plot, and so we read more into the situation than there really is. This can lead to terrible misunderstandings and confusion.

A case in point: imagine a very beautiful girl, and her stepmother. The stepmother does not like the girl. What is happening in your mind when I tell you this story? Do you imagine a wicked stepmother that tries to emulate, belittle, and even kill the girl? If I mention to you that a horrible accident has happened, which thoughts come first to your mind? That the girl is the villain, or the other way round?

Now try to remember moments in your life when your thoughts were shaped by means of the stories you know. Did you read more into the situation than there really was? Did you use knowledge from stories in order to fill the gaps?

Stories are stories. Nothing more. Sometimes they help us understand things, sometimes they don’t. Some stories were created a long time ago, but now things have changed. Women do not wait for the Prince Charming. Or does society expect them to do so?

Do you follow any stories without realising it? Do they shape your mind for you?

Why not choose which stories we’ve got to keep, and which stories we should give up?

And then create new stories. Stories in which we are winners, we are creative, we are the best we can be.

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