Like every Asian mum, my mother wanted me to become a doctor.
Of course it is now very clear to her that this ain't gonna happen, but back in my adolescence days she really tried. She made me take Science instead of Arts in high school, even going so far as to telling me she would not pay my tuition if I pick Arts. My grades, like the career of Frente after Bizarre Love Triangle, dropped drastically. I became this anti-social underachiever who basically does not give a fuck about pretty much anything. It was a self-defence mechanism - if you suck bad, don't care too much about it.
It took me some good years to recuperate from hating everything and banging my head to loud music (like all teenagers, although some never grow out of it), and I graduated high school with all my hopes on theatre school. I considered myself practical and efficient, and the career of a stage manager seemed so exciting. I dreamed of becoming a successful stage manager, touring with the best theatre troupe, traveling all over the world. What I did not realize back then though, was that I am too lazy to work handle the workload of a stage manager.
After getting my theatre diploma I struggled for a year in the theatre business, with limited success: turns out, if you suck in school, it doesn't necessarily mean you will be good at other things. In frustration and disappointment I realized one thing: it's a job, and why would I want to turn my enjoyment into a job? I instantly shifted my career goal to what I am good at: translation. I sucked at school but I have always had a knack for languages, and doing translation is something I can do at home, without having to wake up early for office hours or interact with people physically. I cannot think of a better job.
So now I am a freelance translator, occasional stage manager, good time alcoholic, shoestring traveler...whatever feels good. Welcome to my blog.
Of course it is now very clear to her that this ain't gonna happen, but back in my adolescence days she really tried. She made me take Science instead of Arts in high school, even going so far as to telling me she would not pay my tuition if I pick Arts. My grades, like the career of Frente after Bizarre Love Triangle, dropped drastically. I became this anti-social underachiever who basically does not give a fuck about pretty much anything. It was a self-defence mechanism - if you suck bad, don't care too much about it.
It took me some good years to recuperate from hating everything and banging my head to loud music (like all teenagers, although some never grow out of it), and I graduated high school with all my hopes on theatre school. I considered myself practical and efficient, and the career of a stage manager seemed so exciting. I dreamed of becoming a successful stage manager, touring with the best theatre troupe, traveling all over the world. What I did not realize back then though, was that I am too lazy to work handle the workload of a stage manager.
After getting my theatre diploma I struggled for a year in the theatre business, with limited success: turns out, if you suck in school, it doesn't necessarily mean you will be good at other things. In frustration and disappointment I realized one thing: it's a job, and why would I want to turn my enjoyment into a job? I instantly shifted my career goal to what I am good at: translation. I sucked at school but I have always had a knack for languages, and doing translation is something I can do at home, without having to wake up early for office hours or interact with people physically. I cannot think of a better job.
So now I am a freelance translator, occasional stage manager, good time alcoholic, shoestring traveler...whatever feels good. Welcome to my blog.
