Category: freelance translation

Elements of a Dream

August 27, 2022 by Cassandra Johnson

Big dreams at times seem almost abstract. People may even notice they seem more accessible the younger we are. Children can have the biggest dreams about who they want to become, how they live and especially how perfectly and/or exciting adult life will be.

We can be daunted at different stages. Sometimes such a result can arrive very early on. Shyness alone could be a powerful teacher or very literally, some of our first schoolteachers can be the ones to discourage or encourage whether we step back or move forward respectfully. Parents, other adults and other children also find their spots as inhibitors or positive catalysts. Sometimes well-meaning warnings prohibit us from meeting our efforts as well.

Additionally, purposeful negativity, sinister words and actions keep us from our motivation or alternately stimulate the wills of those who always or at times are adamant against the disbelief and discouragement and set about proving people wrong.

Daunting is daunting however, and natural failures could be the precursor to drives taken forward or those drives taken back. Present at the worst end of the spectrum is mistreatment also affecting our mental and physical capacity to move forward.

The path ahead?

What have I learned from others in listening, reading, writing and watching?

I have learned the biggest guides to staying the course can come from various foundations, but they consistently appear in moments of hope and inspiration and are what we should seek out (no matter how small) to eventually provide momentum. Momentum, in turn, means encouragement. There is the sure sign of our ability to progress. In varying amounts, it can be the catalyst, when we take notice and appreciate each accomplishment. There is possibility at every level.  

I found lately that goals not specifically imagined are not the same as goals not reached. Dreams not specifically pictured are not the same as dreams unfulfilled.

I imagined volunteering abroad. I imagined myself traveling in general. I thought of working for myself as a freelance translator and I wanted to build my social time around quality moments with family and friends without the limitations of company rules. I am doing them all.

Though not exactly in the details I could have imagined, I am slowly doing more of what matters to me and less of the other.

Works in progress and works accomplished. I am preparing myself to grow, ready to take advantage of the time I have here.

Dive

July 28, 2022 by Cassandra Johnson

Nice how often I get to and got to play interpreter before I more recently became a full-time freelance translator. I will say translation (writing) is my preferred method, but the prior practice and interactions were catalysts for one of my ultimate goals and sometimes just background settings.

Language immersion has been my joy. Writing and reading is a sweet escape and pieces of an intellectual high. I participated comfortingly in the literary interpretation discussions we would have in class over any number of themes: the classics in Greek, Shakespeare, (oh the word play – what sometimes seemed liked translating English into more English was its own sport), history, art, literature from every continent, our own social studies with humanity interlacing our pains.

Challenging was fascinating too. I liked the debates.

I listened and was listened to. Perspectives.

Real life finally became more of what I wanted. Debating, interpreting and translating. Peru was one of the foremost backdrops. I gained more momentum and motivation especially about what I really want to do with my life.

One spontaneous day was taping for the nearby local television station in Paracas. A second surprise was interpreting at another nearby city’s local community center. I felt thoroughly caught off guard by the NGO Director but to his credit, if he had told me, I probably would have gotten fairly nervous and performed a lot less naturally. I would have second guessed myself about publicly speaking in my native language as well.

The first was just an interview but since I did not know the extent of what people would be inquiring about at the community center, I was able to focus on what everyone brought me in the moment. I could present what he was saying in his overall speech from English to Spanish and in turn, let him know what their questions and comments were.

When people are looking at you and waiting, the rest of the day suddenly seems irrelevant. Before I really was aware of the practice of being present, so many moments like this got me there. They happened a lot when I was living remotely and just volunteering and just sitting near the fire in the cool desert evenings. Moments suddenly just happened and there was no thought of needing more entertainment than we could provide ourselves.

Another part of my life goals was laid out before me. Thanks to David for tricking me (I was not the only one). Sometimes we just do not know all we are capable of until we are called to do so much more.

Distracted

March 28 by Cassandra Johnson

I am in the Politics and Prose bookstore, in my now DC neighborhood and I wander to the back wall of the travel section.

The last time I was there, I picked up the Lonely Planet edition of Cuba, a book showcasing the off-the beaten-path places to see in the country which still are noted accordingly, and the ones which are not because of the ironic knowledge. Still I like both the tried and true and the little known.

Going back to the office was challenging after 10 days in Cuba, however this was never so real as how I felt after living in Peru and Bolivia.

Not being ready to be back in the US and facing off with the reverse culture shock I had been forewarned about, I realized I could temporarily transition back by staying in a traveler’s hostel before securing another DC apartment. I would also continue my search for desired NGO and/or development work which I was for now more certain I had the field experience.

Years ago, my horizon had been so broadened that I was ironically too open-minded about my own chances and how people would see me back in the States. The ready circumstances or chances I had to orchestrate the next steps was not how I imagined them to be. Perhaps my heart was just too much abroad. Perhaps, I was unfortunate not to get the chances I needed in time.

I did work. I became ill and after finally getting better in the ER and hospital, I leaned towards what was supposedly stable though dulling to my senses. Unfortunately, the work was similar to what I only wanted to do for a little time when I moved to this area years ago, before doing more with international development. I was at another non-profit trade association and unfortunately, I became skillful at the department in which I worked and my knowledge of the operations as I was inclined to do. I imagine most of us are inclined to master our day-to-day responsibility and what is expected of us, so I became proficient at those operations and once again unfortunately, my tenure geared more towards the inner workings of a trade association. Perhaps in a fortunate way, I had to seek out my own international endeavors and my life still mirrored the experiences I sought out during and after my college years. My friends were international and locally from different backgrounds and I was friends with those who represented the mainstream and my own minority background as well.

Perhaps seeking out my own development work here and disaster relief abroad has molded me into being more appreciative of what I have been able to do and kept me from being burned out. Now I get the chance to select from a second passion and do that as I travel. Still, I recall the confusion of coming back and trying to make everything fit and employers keeping me to the box that I submitted to as well because though the work was something to which I was acclimated and had many perks, this was not my first choice. I dedicated about 15 years to organizations that did not truly speak to me. Thank goodness for travel, cool coworkers, other interests on the side and a willpower, though delayed at times, which will not let go.

Progress. Weather Permitting.

January 31, 2022 by Cassandra Johnson
Image Credit by Mesym of Pixabay

Relying on my resilience to go the next route, especially as I am reminded there is a difference between contentment and complacency. Work on my own is good but it can be better, like other elements of life. They can be good. I cannot complain but they can be better. Therefore, hold me accountable to hitting the road virtually and otherwise doing what is truly required.

I can be gracious and want more, realizing a lot of us do not note how much we deserve or are capable of completing.

Life feeds us challenges in circumstances and people, not even so clever. We may even let them believe they are clever (picking our battles) and for me, navigating some of the gloom and those who just cannot bring themselves to believe in me is a challenge. I imagine the challenge this must present in a lot of people’s experiences. Even those who believe in mediocre accomplishments for you can detract from your natural fans and the support system you do have; those people who you may incidentally sometimes not notice as much, because there is no need to defend or prove yourself to them. I try to focus more on the supporters these days; the people who expect a lot and are impressed by what I’ve experienced, completed, and what the future may hold. Hopefully everyone has those people. They do not or refuse to know another version of you.

Was resilience taught? Maybe acquired. Mario Bros said a lot about me. Interesting. Oddly. Obsessively? Work followed by reward. I still believe in efforts and returns and enjoying the challenge (in a lot of instances) and the satisfaction of coming out ahead. Such a simple hard concept but I was driven to lean into it. The song I noted in the post You Are Here taught me this, but then again also maybe this was just another highlight to the ideology I was getting on how working hard pays off.

Of course, one learns differently and sometimes roughly of how the concept is not always true. Yet, the ideal theory seems to also work and how can we not have some faith in that. People with real talent become stars and athletes and star athletes. Movies and books teach us to identify with the happy honest outcome, keen on integrity, and we see the possibility. Hope is necessary.

So I’m turning over this level of achievement and the next pages require even more refinement even if there are some moments I temporarily feel defeated (naturally – thinking I have given in). Sometimes I just need a moment and then I’m hitting the pavement again in person and virtually mostly as it gets safer, putting myself more out there in my freelance and other work. Couldn’t I have infinite chances just so long as I can press pause and/or keep starting the level over. Oh sigh at not being Mario, perhaps, but I will work with what I got.😉

Any given day

DECEMBER 22, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON

The familiarity of the unusual. I made fast friends with a couple at Machu Picchu after we had just been toured around by a guide who inquired if we wanted to be taken through the world wonder together. Going it alone and learning would have been fine but there was a nice touch to officially hearing history and stories from him and the other tour groups along the way. As her boyfriend took a hike there after the tour, the girlfriend and I sat in the cafe discussing our travels. I thought how nicely the day had been salvaged (see my agitated and first wonder of the world recap). After all, I was not supposed to be alone but I had lost my original official tour and hiking package earlier that day.

About a month in, I had a fairly decent idea of an agenda after Pisco, Ica (departing from my initial decision to stay there throughout my entire time in South America) and I was already in Cusco, Machu Picchu. I had a good idea of the cities and countries I wanted to find myself in, but I was saving room for spontaneity too and even delays. You have to expect delays and other possible issues as well.

I also realized I was not ready for my time to be limited. As I spoke with my tour buddy, she talked about Argentina. Her home country was now my invitation. She wrote her address and contact information so neatly. The thing about this time is how I knew her offer was not empty. She fully meant if I made it to Argentina on this volunteer and now backpacking mission, I should visit her and her boyfriend there.

How absurd if I happened upon this information now, right? How unreasonable if I tried to link up with them, but somehow someway in another world and time and perspective, life has taught me it can be uniquely surprising. I never even considered I would go to Cuba, especially considering the barriers, but I was there in several cities over ten days. It may not be entirely insane and normal to see the Argentinian couple again. I am still close to a lot of people, so it makes more sense to see them with detailed plans. So while I have no possible plans to recount those memories together with the friendly pair, I see their invitation as symbolic of the many people I have met and will continue to meet.

My international itinerary stays Argentina bound now for the moment, fully expecting it be part of some repeat visits as Peru has come to be.

No need to apply pressure. No need to take on too much anymore, similar to how some jobs expect you to be wholly self-sacrificing. (Oops sorry: the flashbacks)

No need to be under additional strain, especially not needing to live experiences as a check list per se. Check lists help me regularly but I am ruling out some practices which have shown up unnecessarily, at least where I can help it.

Life is not easy in a lot of ways, but we can also make hard work out of too many expectations and inner and outside pressures. We can do better and cheers to other avenues coming our way.

Then it’s gone

November 30, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON

I was sad to leave Cusco but a big part of me was ready. The volunteer work I did during the weekdays there was so different from the work we did in Pisco, so I had some affirmation that I was drawn to the right place when I did my first volunteer work abroad and signed up to do reconstruction work in Pisco, Peru. (I felt I could have stayed for even longer).

I realized Pisco still seems like going back to a second home as I was able to finally revisit.

Reconstruction work was so different from my office job at the time. The work was different for a lot of us, and we wanted it that way. The work was also something people would not expect or recall I had signed up to do. Some people still forget. They think of gigs like teaching English and though I have been involved in ESL, there is something more innate in me when I look at natural disaster recovery. Still yanking at me is the empowerment of both the workers and those who have been struggling to overcome what is so seemingly daunting.

Perhaps because of some struggles I have had in my also knowingly privileged life in the US, I wonder about all the work people can do if they have a chance not to have to worry about meeting their basic needs and furthermore what can happen when they participate in the transition.

After work in Cusco and a lot of play and exploration of historic and beautiful surroundings, I was almost ready to come back to D.C. Almost.

You Are Here

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON

Discouragement is part of the territory. Sometimes pain is self-inflicted. Sometimes we consider ourselves not to be reaching enough of our goals fast enough.

There was an incredibly simple song I enjoyed in primary school. Beginning with “little by little”*, there was such a polite nudge and a naturally successful logic to the ending of “little by lot”

I have been known to overwork in some fashions, obsessively moving towards some ends. However, I have become wiser in avoiding so much additional strain. The bruises have their own lessons.

Life’s leaps have not been exactly what I would imagine them to be, but I am fortunate to have the freedom to test my limits.

Work has been my latest attempt but getting to work for myself took considerable courage and I need some more. Nothing is certain.

Imagining exactly what something is like before you try is not expected. Personally, going away to college was one thing. Moving to a city where I did not know anyone was another.

Liberation and fears are included with your steps forward. You get discouraged some days and on other days you see your dreams as plausible.

Experiences up or down can hopefully change us for the better. My stress and pains have prepared me a little more. Discouragement can also have a way of giving us more to consider. Can we get past our believed and true obstacles? Success is the reminder.

Traveling alone to another country was better than I could have ever invented in my head. The trips like the leaps sometimes feel so natural. I have had these nudges to continue going where my goals are shifting and the what-ifs torment me way more than what seems impossible.

Figuring out our own puzzles is reaffirming as well as just giving ourselves the chance to try.

And Again

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON

I finally got the chance to visit my family again since lockdown. The visit was much needed. I first talked about the gift of getting to see them here. You May Go Home Again.

Now I just need to get there more often.

I need to get there as often as I plan to travel abroad again. Navigating this new world is tricky. I was at first uneasy about flying for the first time since the pandemic, but the airline and airport was pretty organized. It would be nice if we had reached a definitive goal in which we could all be sure or almost certain that we could not get ill, but uncertainty has lingered with us for what seems longer than 2 years. 2020 remains surreal to me. Life still feels adjacent because I think we may have also thought there would be a clear point when we could go without certain precautions, when cases would be mild. I imagine there could be a day when we see this but now the picture looks a lot more like adjusting to the new normal.

Being able to do more cautiously has been comforting. Knowing there is a lot to get through is daunting. Maybe life is not knowing exactly what we need to do next yet and figuring out our most responsible alternatives as we go.

Connection is needed and I am glad I got to do some more this past month. A variety of connection is needed, and better answers are welcome. We can be assured and admit what we do not always know. So I personally imagine I will keep making new decisions as I go. The path may not always be clear. The destination still calls us there.

Good Health

AUGUST 25, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON

I think I have determined for me and some others, we may crave more variety than we know, hence the empty feeling of falling into a rut. What we may need is challenging work, a type of routine, dependability, spontaneity, vacation, and rest in different amounts depending on what drives us. Too much of one at any time has left us stuck, I am seeing.

Image Credit: Gerd Alrmann

We may crave variety more than we know while we also need stability. The wistful feeling of falling into some monotony while establishing a reliable routine became more apparent to me recently as routines became incredibly routine. I did not mind doing what was needed but I began to see how we all have to really take care of ourselves and have the proper outlets, entertainment, and recuperation.

In the natural flow of life, I found I seek comforts but also want to be challenged. I want to be pleasantly surprised, feeling safe with some place where I can continue to take risks.

Just when there has been enough rest and vacation, I actually find it nice to have the challenge of fulfilling work where I am accomplishing something.

Just when feeling like work is relentless and not wanting to deal with any stress that comes with communicating work politics and meeting proper deadlines, a nice getaway filled with idyllic scenery is a great touch or a staycation is a nice reset.

Within the layers, we can revel in a night out with friends dancing and laughing or a quiet walk outside with just a headset in tow. Working from a different part of my home office or mixing remote work with office work when I was still at my last company, I began to look forward to both and the change in scenery. Inserting some variety helped me appreciate the options. Distinguishing between what I prefer and what I do not like, which could also change, fit my big picture.

A healthy emotional state can be hard to maintain and should not be expected. We remember being “only human” and “there is no such thing as perfection” but those sentiments still seem rejected, striving in ways that sometimes are not perfectly attainable and forgetting some significant wins.

We still have a lot of possibilities for what life may bring and I would like to find my way by mixing it up. Variety, it’s true, is the spice of life*. Even in our interests, we should consider uncovering as much as we can.

A Way Back

JULY 30, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON

Waking up in Cusco. Waking up in Guayaquil. Waking up in San Juan. Really, I do not mind waking up in my current home in the US, but there is definitely a pull towards the places I have been and especially resided in for a while.

Photo Pixabay

I have enjoyed DC for the time I have been living here, and I miss my home state and family as well. What I also plan for is living, playing and working between all of the above. I am excited to finally get to travel in the coming month. Let’s hope.

Hopefully we will all be able to move about as safely as possible.

I moved to this new home base about 15 years ago but did not know if I would stay here permanently, Initially my love was more than likely for the idea of moving to another big city apart from the one I lived in during college. I guess I should use the term district rather than city although eventual statehood is the aim.

I knew living here would be another interesting experience for me with a different variety of opportunities. This would be living as that everyday adult who did not have to worry about finals anymore😊

I compared what was to come via my love of reading (and campus life) before I had stocked up on so many of life’s up and downs. I fully looked forward to what was to come but braced myself for some difficulties as well. They did come, but through my efforts, I know I am fortunate to have met and spent time with all the people who have happened across my life. I count myself as lucky that I know people from different parts of this world. When I was a little girl, I imagined traveling but did not know how much a reality this could be for me.

Expecting to continue,  I am a lot less the pessimistic optimist I used to be in which I was full of hope but careful to brace myself. Naturally, we do not want to be vulnerable, and life is far from perfect.  Many times I  was surprised when some goals were completed. Then I realized I was surprised at my surprise because I did not realize I had also been prepping all along for some milestones not to be reached.  I have become better. I am realistic but I am still hopeful and now a little braver about going for what I want.

I will still need to adjust to a lot. I am still just getting acclimated to working for just me and mindset is interesting when you have gotten so used to working for other people. Though I am a fairly disciplined person, the deadlines are what helps the most in my now  location independent workdays. They are needed.

So there is one question I still consider. Since I have only explored this somewhat, I wonder how good I will be at navigating working while traveling, especially with my old habits of working too much. I am inspired by so many of you. Typically, I am wondering what work I should be getting done next.

Then again, perhaps this is more the old me relating to the demands of someone else’s company, their clients or customers and performance reviews. Sure, there were likeable elements, but no denying how non-workdays are looked forward to by many employers and employees for a reason.

Currently, I still have pressure but a notably different push when completing assignments for an individual client or agency as I am doing now.

Well, there is no rush to figure everything out all at once. Just getting back out on my first trip after a long hiatus has me excited. I won’t be working. No hurry to get it right on this first time out. Just in a hurry to see my family again.