Today is one year since Tea Translations was born. One year of efforts, risks and unexpected adventures. One year of experience I will never forget.
Thousands of translated words, thousands of e-mails sent, thousands of new words learned.
Thank all of you for faith, support and good energy!
It seems it was a very good idea after all 🙂
New Year, new ideas, new energy and fighting spirit.
After celebrations in Prague it is time to come back to everyday life, do all the paperwork, finish all the tasks and find new customers. I’m ready to work and learn hard.
I’m coming back to Sosnowiec and my cabin translation course, I’m planning to become sworn translator this year and I’m planning to find a stable business partner and change my one-person business into two-person company.
And one more New Year’s resolution: I will respect my health and I won’t take more work that I am capable to deal with efficiently.
Life’s ain’t easy when you are a freelancer.
Things I’ve learned so far:
1. It’s extremely important to at least take a look at the text format before you agree to do anything. Because you may spend 2 hours just trying to convert received file into readable format.
2. When something can break down, it will be your Internet connection.
3. Whoever said translating is not an extreme sport was definitely wrong. It’s a job for tough people.
4. Be careful what you wish for.
Today is the last day of school year. Another school year that I spent teaching English, since very first day of September till now.
I was teaching in Czech primary schools and high schools, I was teaching in kindergarden, I was a substitute teacher in language schools, I was teaching as private tutor at home….
it’s funny, since when I was younger I told myself that I will never ever teach anyone. And there it goes.
Obviously, every student of English Department claims that there are many other career options and that they will write and translate books (of course I still hope for that).
With me it was always the problem that I felt I’m just too shy to teach. Guess what? I’m not. And actually I kind of like it. I met amazing people this year – teachers, student’s, student’s families. And who knows, maybe maybe one day I will really go to China and teach language there.
After all – never say never!
Or „advanced bureaucracy”
Two months have passed without me noticing it. And, – as it is stated in my agreement – the time came to deal with the shopping made from EU money.
Here’s a piece of information kind of obvious, but always worth reminding.
1. Agreements, agreements, agreements. Agreements are important because without agreement you cannot convince the advertising company to distribute the leafleats for you. Or to hang the banners and posters. Or to do anyhing apart from giving you two carton boxes full of papers and saying „good luck”.
2. There is fine, fine line between netto and brutto. (said cpt. Statement Obvious)
3. If you get a foreign invoice and you need to deliver it to the labor office, you have to translate it with the help of sworn translator. Even if you are translator yourself and the invoice is for CAT tools.
4. officialism is dark and full of terrors.
Also, I probably have sprained wrist. Not because of officialism. Because of martial arts.
Over and out
Or
„Small Ann, big business”
Hello, hello, mic testing
One…
Two..
Three..
Seems that you can hear me loud and clear.
I guess it is worth to start with some sort of introduction and presentation. My name is Ann and I’m a freelance translator. Or – more accurate – I’m trying to be an independent translator, run my own business and not go insane.
So, how did it happen?
I finished my studies and tried to find job. Didn’t go that smooth because english studies do not seem to be very prospective field. We know English and we can communicate but we are lacking more precise skills. Being unemployed right after the studies is kind of depressing. I do not like being depressed, I like to take risks and challenge myself. Therefore „Tea Translations” project came to life. I got some money from EU and was allowed to do some shopping (laptop, office furniture, stuff), and I kicked off. It is currently my second month in the business now. Ten more to go – I need to be on my own for a whole year.I’m still a little bit confused, scared and at the same time amazed. Everything is new for me. Everything is interesting. Every day I make mistakes and learn something new.
And this is pretty much what this blog will be about. Learning. Experiencing. Taking risk.
And of course drinking tea and translating.
