It comes up more often than you’d think – what “you want to be”. English teachers in Japan rarely plan to do it for life. There’s something else we’d like to become but for now, for whatever reason, teaching English works just fine.
When I say I want to be an interpreter the response has been more negative than positive. “Oh my friend is an interpreter, she has all these awful stories.” “Don’t do that, there’s no money in it!” “I hear the market for Japanese – English interpretation is going down… Chinese would have been more practical.”
My answer to all those people is RAGH! Commenter number one – I have “awful stories” from every job I’ve ever held. Your point? Commenter number dos – I’m not looking to be a millionaire, just to make a living doing something I love. Commenter number 三 – what’s the point of studying something for years and years if you don’t like it?
I recently came across a song from Marina and the Diamonds that expresses my point perfectly:
People like to tell you what you’re gonna be
It’s not my problem if you don’t see what I see
And I do not give a damn if you don’t believe
So there. Pfffffffffft.
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Amen, Pffffff everyone. If you want to do what you love do it no matter what people say or question!!!!!!
Comment by Aimee April 19, 2010 @ 9:54 pmDo what you want to do.
Comment by Yan Lu April 19, 2010 @ 11:49 pmWho care what other people’s awful stories, it’s their story. You can have a wonderful experiences :-)
Do it!
Comment by Marush April 20, 2010 @ 11:59 amIf you want to become an interpreter, go for it! People saying that there’s no money in interpreting or that demand is drying up are just plain wrong. Rates for top interpreters in Tokyo start at US $1,000/day, and the top interpreters’ schedules are always booked solid.
Even if there wasn’t good money in interpreting, I’d still say to go for it. I think people should do what they love, and the money will follow.
Comment by Ryan Ginstrom April 20, 2010 @ 2:21 pmIf you become one of the few that even have an opportunity to do what you love to do, you end up being the happiest and luckiest person in the world, regardless of anything else. On the other hand, who gives a shit what other people think?!? If that were the case, you wouldn’t be where you are now! The people giving you feedback probably missed their opportinity….
Comment by Karri April 28, 2010 @ 1:36 amHey, I found your blog through the language learning forum (I’m the one who posted the thing about Japanese slang). So you’re in Kawasaki? I’m in Yokohama!
I used to want to be an interpreter too, but I changed my mind… But if it’s really what you want to do, totally go for it. It doesn’t matter what people think. =)
Comment by Jana May 23, 2010 @ 2:44 pm