I flunked. And may I take this moment to crudely say GODDF***ingDAMMMIT!!!!

For those of you not keeping up, it was a test for a translation company. I didn't "held to the criterion", as they put it. "The quality of the translation was not good enough..."

Yea.. it's quite a bummer... but I'll have you know I'm not too upset actually... it's my Hebrew that failed me after all-- as I never did study it professionally nor planned too, ever. In fact, I have no passion towards Hebrew whatsoever... and mayhap that's a clear enough statement that I shouldn't have tried it to begin with. But then again, we don't always know the answers before we try...


Ah well, now that I'm done with it, I'm aiming for compters... "system administration"... which sounds like something I'd be better-suited for. No need to worry about the quality of my Hebrew there... I kinda feel relieved.

Well, that's a shame. But it was just a test for one company, after all, and it taught you a lot about the kinds of difficulties potential clients will want or need you to address. Not to say you shouldn't do the computer thing, but quitting after a single set back (especially such as this, which barely qualifies) won't get you ten feet in the bumper cars of life. Chin up, and keep at it! You've got what it takes.

Well, shoot, Honey--I'm sorry. One of those "learning experiences", I guess.

Our pastor told an interesting story this morning--I doubt you'll ever need this exact thing, but the idea of being open/aware of the unexpected might help you at some time in the future. Okay--

It was about 1940, and a telegraph office had advertised for a new position. On the designated day, eight men showed up and sat down in the waiting room, where they could hear the telegraph clicking madly from the adjoining room. The supervisor's door was shut. Suddenly, one of the men got up and walked right into the supervisor's office without even knocking. A few minutes later, the supervisor came out and told the others to leave because that man had gotten the job. One the seven couldn't stand it, and asked how that guy had achieved getting the job when the rest hadn't even had a chance to be interviewed. Whereupon the supervisor pointed out that the whole time they'd been sitting there, the telegraph clicks had been spelling out, "Whoever understands this, come right in--the job is yours".

That reminds me of another thing I read, Jackie. I can't recall exactly, I think it was from Erma Bombeck.

She was looking to hire a house cleaner and put out an ad in the paper. Several people answered the ad. On the day of the interview, she placed a broom on the floor of the porch. One after one, the women who came for the interview walked by the broom. Only one woman stopped to pick up the broom. She got the job.

When we hire, it doesn't matter how good you are at everything else, if you can't catch crickets barehanded, you can't work for us. Sometimes it's one stupid little thing that makes the difference.

> crickets barehanded

rats. that class was eliminated due to budget cuts...

i could work for you Elizabeth! i have even caught a bird (a blue jay!) but not bare handed--Jay's have sharp beaks!i did manage to pop a hat box on him, (and then got the lid on the hat box with out his escaping!)

one of my friends has a gecko--i am all to familiar with catching crickets!

inselpeter, actually this was probably my best practical chance to get into the translation business (believed me, I've looked around)... but the job was solely about translating English to Hebrew, in which case one deals with Hebraic words much more than English ones. I didn't like the thought of it... although I get your angle about not giving up, and gaining experience... but sometimes you have to know when you're going the wrong way. I do like the thought of having to deal with English in whatever I do, in which case computers seems perfect for that.

Oh.. and I liked that anecdote, Jackie...very apt. ...same with Elizabeth's metaphor... I was never any good at catching crickets.

Elizabeth wasn't talking metaphorically Logwood. She actually needs somebody able to catch crickets. She owns a pet shop.

This is what is fun about this place - the wide variety of individuals.

What's the word for fear of crickets? (I could never work in EC's shop, and the second round on a lot of Fear Factor shows would end my participation right there--not that I could do ANY of the stunts, mind you.) They...they...jump at you, and, and, they have...legs... [horror]
For those of you not familiar w/ Fear Factor, if the stunt is to eat bugs or worms, they're always alive and moving...and some of them bite, pinch, or sting.

What's the word for fear of crickets?

protobaseballphobia?

Sorry about your test, Logwood. I do share the opinion of other AWADers, though, that if you still think you'd like to work as a translator, you shouldn't let just one little obstacle get in your way. I'm also saying this because there'd always be opportunities for you to work translating from Hebrew into English, no?

On the other hand, if you were just trying this as one option, and are happy to move on to your other options, then by all means do what you feel you want to do next. I'm sure it will all be great!

But it's not just "one little obstacle"... fact is my Hebrew is so horrible it needs serious rehauling to turn me into a good translator (and I mean "horrible" for what you expect from a native). You can't just be a translator trusting your native knowledge, you have to learn and love both languages.

As for Hebrew into English, the demand is so low it's not really worth it. But either way -- yes, I was just trying it as an option..

Thanks you all for the replies.

Why do you hate Hebrew?

I don't know... maybe it grew stale on me since I speak it, hear it and see everyday for the pass 20 years? maybe it's because it's just a small language for a small country, and I much desire to speak and think in "global terms"? maybe it's because I find Hebrew awfully limiting... or maybe it's because computers and particularly the internet (to both of which I'm addicted) are essentially English-based (not to mention TV)? maybe it's because I sense a mentality here that knowing English is highly venerated? or maybe it's because I find something more "graceful" in English? ..gee I really don't know, maybe it's all these reasons? or maybe sometimes you just love thing because you just do and hate things because you just do-- could be that too? there really isn't a clear cut answer, I could probably come up with 50 more reasons more if you give me time. Here's something you don't wanna read too far into eh?

Languagehat posted a link to a history of hebrew, fwiw at this point.