Interpretation is Hard - Fate is sealed

March 8, 2008 on 3:54 pm | In About | | Email This Post

Well,  things didn’t turn out as I hoped!

Actually, it’s funny.

In Japanese there is an expression that is extremely apporpiate now.

「大どんでん返し」(dai donden-gaeshi)

どんでん返し is when something totally unexpected happens, something so crazy that it is the OPPOSITE of what you would normally expect.

Anyway. This is crazy.

My wife was selected for the PeaceBoat translation position, but I wasn’t!

It’s crazy, because she was totally expecting not to pass. I however, thought I had a chance. I always knew that it would be harder for me to get through, because on the boat Japanese to English interpretation (my strong point) is needed less than English to Japanese… But with the double exam, and the follow-up call with the director… I really thought things were going well.

Oh well.

I didn’t get any clear reason as to why I wasn’t selected. Which, I’m not really surprised about. Japanese usually don’t specifically point out areas for improvement in people. Then again, if it were America I’m sure they would have simply only contacted those who were selected, and just used the lack of contact as a way to tell those who were not selected, “better luck next time”.

In fact, the letter I received was filled with  complements and how they had to make such a tough decision and yada yada yada.

So anyway. Blah. If our schedule works out, my wife will going going around the world on Peace Boat! And I guess I’ll have 3 months to do my thing, whatever my thing at that time happens to be.

Uncertainty! Gotta love it.

I’ll try this again when I get another 3 months of free time in my life…

I’m not too bummed though, so no one worry about me!

We now return to our regularly scheduled JapanNewbie blogging.

- Harvey

Related Posts... (in theory)   Interpretation is Hard - Revenge    Interpretation is Hard - The Aftermath    Interpretation is Hard  

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11 Comments »

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  1. Gravatar

    Maybe the one who did the hiring thought your lady was cute so he wants to have 3 months to try and pick her up while your not around???

    Or…not:)

    Comment by Chris — March 8, 2008 #

  2. Gravatar

    That would be so uncool! Luckily the coordinator is a lady. Maybe they only want women translators or something. I dunno. Lame!

    Comment by harvey — March 9, 2008 #

  3. Gravatar

    Nothing much to say. :o( Hope you get in next time you try it. Now, looking forward to more JapanNewbie blog posts :o)

    Comment by Blake — March 9, 2008 #

  4. Gravatar

    Don’t let it get you down, Harvey. As you yourself put it, interpretation is hard hard hard.

    Comment by Chris — March 9, 2008 #

  5. Gravatar

    OMG! Isn’t this like the first time that you’ve ever failed at anything?

    Oh well…387-1 is not such a bad record to have.

    Comment by Joe — March 10, 2008 #

  6. Gravatar

    BTW, I notice that every time you have a multi-part series on this site things always turn out for the worst. First Mr. Wasabi died, then your wife ends up leaving you for The Hippie Boat.

    Maybe you should just leave us wondering from now on?

    Comment by Joe — March 10, 2008 #

  7. Gravatar

    Hey, Joe, whaddya know?

    I got another multi-part series coming up!

    Let’s hope this doesn’t end in disaster as well.

    Stay tuned.

    Comment by harvey — March 10, 2008 #

  8. Gravatar

    Probably you have something to do here in Osaka now!
    まだ大阪で何かしなきゃならないことがあるんかも、多分！

    Comment by kayo — March 10, 2008 #

  9. Gravatar

    Argh! I won’t let it get me down! ファイト！

    Comment by harvey — March 10, 2008 #

  10. Gravatar

    Whoa!

    Double plus bragging points to the wife!

    Comment by Clive — March 17, 2008 #

  11. Gravatar

    Over three months of celebacy awaits! Ganbare!

    Comment by Joe — May 14, 2008 #

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