I like round-ups. Reading the ones posted by my colleagues feels like stepping into a vibrant, bustling square teeming with excitement, surrounded by talented people sharing insights about their specializations, occasionally bumping into moments of vulnerability, when someone decides to talk about obstacles and setbacks they have encountered on their journey. I enjoy reading these candid revelations because they provide a more nuanced understanding of our professional landscape.
I like quantifying my own achievements and looking back at them with satisfaction (when things go well) or with a critical eye (when there's something that requires action).
I like round-ups, but I am also aware that the tracking system I use to record my project information could benefit from some improvement. So, with a promise to myself to refine this system in the near future, I present the product of my reflections and perception on the past few months, solely based on unscientific and vaguely reliable data, scattered doodles and cherished memories regarding my two lines of work, which are: ๐ฎvideo game localization (the blue line on the graphic) and ๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ซforeign language teaching (the pink line on the graphic).
๐ฎ I had a strong start in December, when I started working on a 53000 thousand-word project involving software documentation.
This task coincided with a scheduled weekend with my family and the Christmas holidays. In the past, when I first started working in the translation field, I would have plunged myself head-on into work, succumbing to the pressure of the task.
This time, having acquired more experience and time-management skills, I must say I am pleased with the way I handled the pressure of such a big project: with careful planning, I managed to enjoy a relaxing time with my relatives and dedicate myself to this demanding project which required extensive research and continuous team communication. It was my first major project in this field and I'm grateful for having learned so many new things, not only in terms of professional development but also in balancing personal free time and professional commitments.
๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ซ I continued teaching my Chinese lessons (started in October) to 1st and 3rd-year university students. Just before Christmas break, I organized a lesson about Chinese culture, including a simple tea ceremony and games involving writing characters. I also learned a thing or two about programming languages and, with the help of my husband who works in software development, I created my own personal online bingo with Chinese characters for students to play with. Finally, I distributed lovely, little hongbao ็บขๅ with a lucky charm and a cookie to encourage students and wish them luck with their studies!
๐ฎ In January I translated an entire lovely and engaging mobile game called Hero Tales and was credited in it, finally having the chance to collaborate with a dear colleague of mine who was my reviewer. I cannot stress enough how enriching it is to work alongside a colleague on the same project. The possibility to exchange ideas, share knowledge and offer constructive feedback significantly enhances the quality of the final product and, at least for me, provides a more satisfying professional experience.
๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ซ Chinese lessons progressed smoothly overall, though I did encounter some friction with a few students who lacked motivation. This situation, in response, motivated me to create even more engaging and interactive lessons and develop new strategies designed to capture their interest and foster a more dynamic learning environment.
๐ฎ February was a slow month and, of course, I received a big project (which I had to decline) during the only week I was away for my trip to Tokyo (which was a dream!).
โจI have lost count of the number of gachapon machines I've approached under the forlorn gaze of my husband. But I regret nothing.
โจ On another personal note, in February I started playing Dungeons and Dragons! It has long been a dream of mine, and when the opportunity showed up, I immediately took it. I've joined a company of adventures and we now meet up every week to dive into incredibly fun and immersive stories! Stepping out of my comfort zone to meet new people has been incredibly rewarding, making each session a cherished experience since I genuinely enjoy the kind of experience D&D provides: spending time as partย of a community with shared interests.
๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ซ Teaching activities were suspended in February because students had to take their exams, so I took advantage of this downtime to prepare new lessons and update those from previous years, incorporating fresh ideas and refining existing materials to accommodate my student's learning styles, which are different each year!
๐ฎ March and April were slow months regarding video game localization: a long-term project I had been working on was canceled, and some organizational changes in other companies led to a decreased demand for my services, hence resulting in less work. It was a tough period, and a wake-up call to start reaching out to more potential clients. On the bright side, I happily and smoothly collaborated with a new client on a small project related to board games, and will be credited for it (yay!). During these months, I also received the great news about more credits with my name being added to another game I've worked on (the complete list of the games I'm credited in can be found on my portfolio page).
๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ซ The slow months in localization were compensated by more endeavors poured into teaching: aside from my Chinese lessons, I started teaching an English course for preschool students (with the help of a teddy bear called Maxi). It was incredible observing the joy and enthusiasm of my young students, although the songs I used to teach them English had an unexpected side effect: they got stuck in my head for months, playing in a continuous loop in my mind, often popping up at the most random moments. Against his will, my husband also learned to sing them all.
๐ฎOh, what a marvelous and super-packed May!
I worked on ๐THE DREAM PROJECT๐ of my career as a video game localizer so far. I'm sure every translator has one. When I received the assignment, I could barely contain the excitement. Although, in some cases, peeking behind the scenes of your dream project risks transforming into a "never meet your heroes" situation, I could not be happier to have participated in this project and can't wait to see the result of my work.
Moreover, in May I also worked on another big project where I could give free rein to my imagination and transcreation skills: making up names for animals, objects and quirky characters... you name it, I've done it all and I loved every second!
๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ซ May was a true "may-hem" concerning teaching too! Aside from my Chinese lessons for university students and English lessons for preschoolers, I started teaching yet another English course for primary school students. It was a super busy month but, thanks to careful planning, I managed to take care of everything with very satisfying results: working with students, especially young children, provides lots of challenges but also incredibly deep connections on a personal level which I will always cherish and remember.
โจ On a personal note, in May I attended a concert in Bologna: Thirty Seconds to Mars! It was my first time listening to them live, such a great energy and an unforgettable night!
๐ฎIn June I worked on a fun and enjoyable project that required meticulous attention to a specific language register, a project I'll be able to reveal when it'll be published, as I will be credited in it for my contribution (yay!)
๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ซJune marked the final stretch for all the courses I had been teaching over the previous months, allowing me to reap the fruits of not only my hard work but also that of my students: university students, preschoolers and primary school students all took their "final exams". In a sense, I did too, as it was my first time organizing two final representations with children of different ages. The events were designed to put into practice what they had learned in our lessons and proudly showcase their new skills and knowledge to their parents. I can say that the culmination of our efforts was a success!
I believe that's all for my not-entirely-precise-and-somewhat-imaginative round-up: despite its informal nature, I had fun creating it as it reflects the joys and challenges I've encountered and offers a glimpse into my professional journey of the past few months.
I still don't know what July will bring in terms of professional commitments, all I know is that I am about to go on a trip to Cornwall and will come back reinvigorated: hopefully, this much-needed break will refresh my spirit and provide me with the energy to tackle new and exciting tasks ahead!