When I first started working as a full time translator, I made a point of answering my emails as soon as possible, so that I wouldn’t miss any chances. I guess I was desperate for the business. Now, I could do a much better job of answering my emails, but there’s a reason for that. …

Don’t be desperate Read More »

Today was the first day of the year the outdoor 50m pool was open, and I made the most of it. I was the only one there for the first 10 or so minutes, but not before at least 3 of the lifeguards had told me that the water was 27℃. They made it sound …

27℃ Read More »

By putting your ideas onto paper, or by fleshing them out for example in a daily blog format, it gives you a new perspective on them that allows you to more deeply consider them from different points of view. If ideas stay in your head, sometimes it can be hard to come to any conclusions, …

Information and insights Read More »

There’s one part of culture in Japan that is the exact opposite in New Zealand that was highlighted yesterday when I took my car in for a WOF (warrant of fitness). We all have an image of Japanese cars as being safe and reliable, and able to run for years, right? In New Zealand, at …

100,000km or 10 years Read More »

So I caved in. The little stamp on my concession card said I hadn’t been to the pool since January 23. I hadn’t gone because the pool is full (in NZ English those two words rhyme) of elderly people and I didn’t want to risk passing anything on to them (I’m not sick, don’t worry). …

Back in action Read More »

I figured out why I haven’t been writing as much or doing as much in the mornings. It’s fatigue. I have a new found respect for people who have to get up early everyday and go to work. I’ve been doing that for the past month or so and it’s taking its toll. I guess …

Fatigue taking its toll Read More »

TLDR: watch things in your native tongue with subtitles in the target language So here’s a trick I picked up with a bit of luck. I did my undergrad at a university that was half Japanese students, half everyone else (it’s a good uni called IPU in Palmerston North), and I had a few Japanese …

My trick for learning vocabulary in a second language Read More »