Friday 28 December 2012

回顾2012



随着1221日的结束,末日之始,似乎让2013年变得更加特别,更让人珍惜。
2012年,是我人生中的放纵期。在事业高峰期绝然辞去工作,追寻旅游之梦。携下白领,背上背包,飞到纽澳独自行走。

纽国之旅,让我体验到了在国外工作的滋味。一下机时就到了事先安排好的了监狱客栈换宿。在监狱内,认识来自世界各地,志趣相投的背包旅客从而建立了奇妙的友谊。来自台湾的Sharon Jenny, 中国的Wendy,Joma ,香港的 kary,德国的JuliaManuel,索罗维尼亚的Bostjan, 爱尔兰的Shay,意大利的Iara, 少不了纽国的Rose Stella Frank,当然还有本地马国的RachelTang等等等。在监狱内所遇到的每一个背包客,都有自己的故事。遗憾的是,我少了时间和他们交谈以更了解当地风俗民情。

换宿之余,我侥幸的能在New Zealand Earthquake Royal Commission,工作。虽还是逃不过坐在办公楼的9-5这样的工作时间,但和一群金头发的外国人合作,帮助在地震受难的家眷,让我甚感荣幸。外国的工作环境,绝对比本地好得多。其中,结交到了来自美国的Nicole,是和我同期进入此公司打工的背包客。

辛苦工作了大半年,终于储够了钱开始了寰岛之旅。很高兴的是有致亲的朋友远从马国一起和我走了一趟。AliciaCinyee 就对是我人生中难得遇到的旅游知己。共同的兴趣,爱好,爱玩,寻刺激。绷带跳,12000尺空降,走在寒冷中,不知终点山路等刺激游戏,绝对是人生中无法忘怀的记忆。

当然,同学知己倩雯,惜平,美燕的环岛游,也让我们尝尽了纽国风光。纽国的风景如画,让人陶醉不已啊~

今年,也是我第一次踏入中国之土,和亲友到中国旅游探亲。平日旅行都有自己包办一起,此次全权都有旅行社负责,样样都准备好,让我感到有点不习惯。但是,初次和一群老人旅行,也算得上是难忘之旅。

在完全没有没有烦恼下,加上贵人帮助,整个旅程划下了完美的句点。虽说是恨不得这样的生活永远不会结束,但是,终究还是回到了现实。

回国后,脑袋里满满的问题,要如何开始日后的生活。应该朝什么方向前进。满满的抱负理想,却因为缺乏资金和最重要的勇气而作罢。我绕了一个大圈,最后回到了办公楼,回到了平凡,回到了约束,回到了原点。

我恨自己不够坚持,缺乏勇气去做自己想要做的事情。我不知道自己什么时候可以再有那种冲动,那种毅然决定辞职出走的冲动,让我再重新出发。但是,此次,我必须更理清自己的目标,坚持一点,有勇气的朝目标前进,不要在犯上同样的错误。我,不想再重新出发后,最后又回到原点。

2013绝对是个好时机,认真面对自己的人生。立下目标,努力前进。

各位,新年来临之际,大家一起出走,努力朝向自己的目标前进吧!

Monday 24 December 2012

Merry Christmas

While everyone is celebrating Christmas Eve, I am typing fast to get an urgent translation done for a client.

This regular client of mine called me at 8.30pm, asking me for a favor. Without second thought, I said YES.It is always my pleasure to be able to serve my client and to be trusted that I can deliver the job within timeline without compromising the quality.

Even though I can't celebrate Christmas Eve with family and friends, I am filled with satisfaction being able to send the job to the client before dawn.

I would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!!

Monday 6 August 2012

Request for Test Translation‏

Quite Frequently, I have been asked to provide a sample of my translation services to measure my competency. A couple of clients offered to pay for such effort. I did invoiced them however and am glad that i did got paid, which resulted in me getting further jobs.

My question is if I'm asked to do a test/sample translation, what is the magnitude of work that is considered sample? a couple paragraphs, and a lines here and there would be fine, but how do you find balance when a client needs his entire first job to be a test job? I believe that a maximum of two paragraphs will be a good starting point, whereby client can judge your ability, use of grammar and linguistic skills.  Shall there be more than that,  I would definitely would like to be remunerated accordingly.

Thursday 2 August 2012

How to Predict The Quality of the Translation‏

With advent of technology, and many technological tools available to make a translators job easier. Most of the tools like  spell checks, thesaurus  and synonyms available in your common office products, there are on-line translators that help make our job easier. However all these tools fail to accurately translate the content in its true spirit without the human interaction. A human translator and truly understand the true spirit of the words, and can accurately place them where needed. 

Thanks to internet we translators do have a platform to advertise our services and get more jobs. However a start-up translator always may be burdened with the creditability or image issues. When it comes to clients they would always like to check references, see previous work samples, or perhaps depend on comments/feedback left by previous clients. That is catch 22 situation, when a new translator needs to break in this business. And without such portfolio and feedback he/she might face difficulty in getting work. 

For new translators, their own work is their judge and feedback. The best way for a freelance translation business to lift off the ground is by creating a website. Explain your services in detail and give examples of translations -- they don't have to have been assigned by a client. Show potential customers that you can successfully translate from one language to another without losing context and meaning. Once you've established a website, you can advertise for free on websites like  mudah.my , db88, gumtree and many other classified websites.
 
If you're looking into a career in writing but want something specialized that every writer can't do, starting a freelance translation business might be the best career move for you.

Marketing communication fast, good and cheap?

Sometimes clients will demand their job done fast, good and cheap. This is especially true when they work with freelancers.

In reality, you can only have two of these at the same time.
If you want good and fast, there is no way it can be cheap. To get your job done, your freelancer must reschedule all other jobs, work long hours and spend at worst two or three days juggling with the backlog your job created. Priority always has a price.
If you want good and cheap, it cannot be fast. Jobs with fixed production deadlines and jobs that are more profitable will take priority. Your freelancer will be able to attend to this type of jobs only when there is nothing more urgent in the works.
If you want fast and cheap, it won’t be good. Even if your freelancer is willing to accept a job like this (his or her own reputation will be on line), there won’t be time to do any background research, plan the work in much detail or polish it to the usual standards. Quality will always suffer from being rushed.
This is why you should always plan for enough time and have a reasonable budget when ordering marketing copy, visual design, software development or any other creative job.

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Translation 2- I got another job

A potential client who once called three weeks ago, contacted me again yesterday.
He finally decided to let me handle the translation project. YAY!

It's about Birdnest this time. Hmmmm.... Yummy Yummy!

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Reading

Reading, was cultivated 6 years ago by my very first supervisor from first joined company. She is Nora Roberts' fan and she used to rent books in a book store located in SS2.

Since then, I love reading especially while traveling alone in New Zealand and Australia.

My favorite author is Jodi Picoult. My sister's keeper was my first from her. And, i can't stop reading hers then after. Nineteen minutes, Vanishing Acts, second glance, perfect match, plain truth, keeping faith, mercy, harvesting the heart, handle with care, change of heart, sing you home.....

There are always perfect conflicts and sometimes, ending is unpredictable! 

And the next is going to be The Pact, which this book fly all the way from Louisiana, the States.



So, what am i reading now? I was introduced this very great writer Paulo Coelho by my "inmate" from Jailhouse, Chch



Yes! Veronika Decides to Die. This is my very first book of his, and I believe he will surprise me as well.

Happy Reading!!

Monday 23 July 2012

Biking- Beginner Level

First of all, a big thanks to Sunfu Chong, borrowing us his bikes and bringing us around.

This is my first biking experience in KL city. I was pretty worried about the traffic but Sunfu is experience enough to avoid those high traffic roads.

It was an awesome experience and i definitely would like to try again! And, I realized, it is a good way to see KL city as well. So, couchsurfer, instead of driving, let's try biking instead. You can observe more!

See how i did it,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pnov7jCl9M&feature=youtu.be


Traveling

I traveled in New Zealand and Australia for 9 months (Aug2011-May 2012). It was indeed an amazing experience that i never regretted to quit my job during the peak of my career to realize my dream. One of the craziest things i did were Sky Dive and Bungy Jump.

Its really awesome to be able to fly in the sky, oversees the stunning view in Queenstown, New Zealand.


And my bungy video to share with you all. Yes! It did take lots of courage to do it. And i am glad i have the best travel buddies with me to make this happened!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150380495672895&set=vb.611877894&type=2&theater




Sunday 22 July 2012

Toastmastering

Toastmasters is a platform for individual to hone communication skill and leadership skill.

I am glad to be part of the member of ITC Bintang Toastmasters Club and this is a life changing experience for me.

Visit: itcbintang.blogspot.com 


The Translation Service

With one person approach, I can work directly with you, with that, you can get cost effective, quick and better service. 

About Myself
Mandarin is my mother tongue. English is my favourite language. With these two combined, I am passionate in translating and found satisfaction after a piece of work is done with compliment by the client. 

Experience
After graduated from university, I worked as Sales & Marketing Executive in a direct sales company. That position provided me the opportunity to proof read the translation of  magazine and bulletin. After a while, I volunteered myself to do the translation. Since then, I gained interest in translation. Being an in-house translator for almost 2 years, i started to explore outside market and get other jobs as well. There was where, i started to be a freelancer. 

Expertise
In general, most translators would be able to translate any types of document. However, there are certain areas where they specialised. These are my specialisation:- 

1) Multilevel Marketing Plan
2) Product Brochures and Flyers: Skin Care/ Personal Care/ Cosmetic/ Health Care/ Household
3) Corporate Power Point Presentation
4) Corporate Website 
5) Financial Investment

Clients (Directly or via their appointed agency)_
Direct Sales
Exfuze
Neways
  
Finance & Investment
The Gold Label
Index GB

Advertising
RTSF Media Malaysia

Skin Care
Praventac 
Clarin
Nutox
L'Occitane 
Ubermen

Telecommunication
REDTone

Security
IRIX 
Excillium Pte Ltd

Restaurant
BBQ Chicken

Trading
Manjung Ling Frozen Bird Nests 

Legal
Canterbury Earthquake Royal Commission

Why Choose Me?
5++ Years Good Records in Translation Business
Affordable and Negotiable Pricing
Responsible and Strive for Best 

Contact Me
Email: penny_cns@yahoo.com
Cell Phone: 012-2945400