melting of ice and melting of brain

[dchenes]

I went off to the French coffee hour for the first time this semester. Today being Candlemas, there were crepes. Unfortunately I had just had breakfast.

After that I went off to the library and tried to do more research. It's amazingly difficult to find reviews of translations that actually mention the quality of the translation. Having to do this for an author who did a lot of writing before I was born is even worse. Tomorrow I go hunting in the New York Times Book Review microfilm.

I got a KentLingua message today about a translation company in Framingham, MA looking for French translators. If this were next year, I'd be all over applying for it. As it is, though, I don't think I'm qualified enough yet and I don't think I can apply in good conscience because I'm stuck out here for another year anyway. That's the rational side of my brain. The irrational side thinks a chance like this probably won't ever come up again and I should apply anyway. I'm telling the irrational side to shut up.

It's warm(ish) out today and the ice is melting. There's actually grass sticking out of it in places. I haven't seen bare grass since before Christmas. Quite the novel idea, it is.

I think it might be lunchtime.

Comments

[whuffle.livejournal.com]

Suggestion, call them anyhow. Just call, tell them that you saw the add and are interested. When they ask, tell them you are in GRADUATE program in Ohio and will be done next year. Ask if you can do some contract work for them via the internet while still in school. Ask if you can have an "Informational interview" or ask about summer positions. Express a lot of interest. Tell them you are trying to foster contacts in Boston and intend to move back here next year after school is done. When the call is over, put a reminder on your computer for 2 months from now. Then call them again. Then wait another few months. Repeat. Basically, be in contact often enough to pique their curiousity and to give them a reason to try you out, either for a contract job or for a summer thing. If not that then be in contact enough that you can call them when you are done with work and ask for a job and they will remember you. Its all about contacts and badgering. Now that I'm on the other side of the phone I see that even more than before. When I do an interview, I tell the new folks to call. When they start calling once, twice, three times a week, I don't forget about them. I see their eagerness and I put them on a job and give them a shot. Trust me, this is the way to do it. It may seem pushy but it works! Persevere.