Dubai Diary
Well folks,
i am back from Dubai. In fact, i wanted to publish this much earlier today, but was not able to do it because i was a bit busy.
Lemme just briefly tell you what this post is all about.
I had been to Dubai on an interpretation assignment from March 20th till March 23rd. We left India on 20th in the night and came back on 24th in the early morning. Today's post will consist of the things i noted down almost everyday after reaching Dubai. Some of the musings have been written in the airplane, some at the airport, some even at the convention site, when i was able to get brief 30 minute breathers from my job. Do let me know what are your comments.
Last but not the least, hope you enjoy it!
Regards,
P r a s a d....
March 20th, airborne....
Hi friends,
I am writing this entry in the airplane, on my way to Dubai. Luckily i was told by my prof that my laptop was needed and thus was able to write this post. Really feels nice to say something in real time. Although i doubt whether you will be able to read this in real time ;-)
Well, my job is quite fixed. I mean i have to take the opportunity head on. Former Spanish Premier, Foreign Minister of Lebanon, CEOs of Coca-Cola, Gartner, Forbes, Proctor and Gamble, what not! And we are gonna interprete for them simultaneously, without any material. I know this post is sounding just like the last post, but that will definitely make you all aware of the fact that background information and knowledge is so very important for an interpreter. Although in Consecutive Interpretation, you have some time at hand to take notes and understand the subject matter about which the speaker is speaking. But Simultaneous interpretation means listening to the speaker and reproducing what he is saying with minimum time lag. Just try this out whenever a newsperson starts news in, say for example, Hindi or French, and you try to talk the same things in English. And vice-versa. I guess you will understand what simultaneous interpretation is, through this exercise.
Anyways, a challenge is a challenge. As my Guru is saying, now that we have taken the plunge, we have to face it and make the most of the opportunity. There is no use showing our back! Hope i come back alive from Dubai ;-)
Nothing exciting about the flight. Indian Airlines took off at the scheduled time - 30 minutes after the announced time of departure. And then the routine stuff.....seems i am just aboard another domestic flight. Hope the flight doesn't end in the Gulf ;-)
See ya guys, this was my post for March 20th. I am categorically writing this because i don't know when i'll be putting this on the blog. Enjoy!
Regards,
P r a s a d....
22nd March 2006, Dubai Convention Center, Venue of the 40th IAA International Congress
Hi folks,
well the day started awfully for me. I mean i was so tired due to all the hassles that i went through for the whole day that i overslept. And that meant that everybody got late beause of me! But anyways, we were in time at the venue. I did the first presentation that was by Sergio Zyman, CEO of Coca-Cola. Due to the hell-like start of the day, i was not able to concentrate in the beginning, but finally catched up sometime around the middle of the presentation. Then there was this panel discussion, a coffee break and then Jay Rasulo, CEO of Disney Parks. That was also testing as he was fast. I've finally come to understand the reality of simultaneous interpretation - no matter what, the speakers don't care about you and speak at their will. So you need to be on your toes always and work hard. I think in course of time, i will get used to it and make the most of the early exposure i'm getting.
It' really fun writing the blog as i am able to write my feelings in real time. Unfortunately, i haven't got the wireless internet card that would enable me to access wireless networks, otherwise i would really have made the blog more interesting to all the readers. I am sorry but you all are going to read this information with a delay of about two days. Hope it'll be interesting though.
One thing is for sure, this conference has really given me the chance to see some really good commercials. At the same time, there was a point in this presentation by the Disney CEO, where he mentioned that there is a common trend that everybody wants to identify with. And at the same time, there are individual likes and dislikes. A good global brand is one that balances the two. I'm really learning a lot. I wish i could remain a freelance interpreter forever. But it's difficult. Just as it was mentioned in one of the books about freeters, job is like marriage. You come across so many girls that you feel like flirting with, but once you marry, you can't ditch your partner. The same is true in the case of jobs too. You do tend to search for that comfort zone which can help you "settle" in life. You can either choose between a settled, but bound life or a free, but uncertain life. I know i am getting philosophical and nonsensical too. So better stop it all and let you all take a break too.
Enjoy the day. I have another presentation to interprete for and then the awards ceremony. So not much actually. It's really good that one can do simultaneous interpretation in pairs. I just can't imagine a single person slogging the whole day. Of course, i should be prepared for it, since there don't seem many people who would be competetive enough to do the job. I'm really looking forward to have experience of simultaneous interpretation with my seniors and other people so that i would be able to learn more.
I stop here now. See ya later.
Regards,
P r a s a d....
23rd March 2006
Hi folks,
well yesterday we were able to finish off early as the last speaker didn't turn up. So it was a nice evening that was to be spent in the beautiful city of Dubai. I was cursing this city just two days back when i was stranded at the airport without the visa. But i could also see the magnificient aspects of Dubai yesterday. The Burj al Arabia, Dubai's seven star hotel was amazing. Although i cudn't enter it, i was able to see it from outside. It's simply amazing. Then we also went to the Bur Dubai area. Of course there were many areas that were left unexplored, but finally we were satisfied. Shopped a bit. I mean a G-Shock for myself, a Panasonic chordless telephone for aai-baba, and some other stuff. Loved to shop here but wanted more money. So next time i am at Dubai, will shop a lot.
Actually now i am almost back to India. It was a nice flight, the attendants being really very very kind. Well, i am just forced to think about many things. I mean i have a class tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. That implies that i won't be sleeping after i am back to India. Then there is another class, where i switch my role to that of a teacher's. That is at 6 in the evening. Oh, my God! I never thought i would have such a hectic day. But actually it's not hectic at all, if i look at my professor's schedule. So many things to do! So many things to learn. Life is really too short and there are too many things to do.
Anyways, just to sum up my Dubai trip, let me tell you the people i interpreted for.
It started with Norman Pearlstine, Senior Advisor, Time Warner Co., and then there was Tateo Mataki, CEO, Dentsu, Allen Rosenshine, Chairman BBDO, Sergio Zyman, former CEO, Coca-Cola, Steve Forbes, CEO Forbes, Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks, Jack Klues, Chairman Publicis Groupe Media, Jim Stengel, Global Marketing Officer, Proctor and Gamble, Gregory Lee, CEO, Samsung Electronics, Bob Greenberg, CEO, CCO, R/GA, Etc.
Well, the list seems to be too much high-profile, but believe me, without any sort of slightest background knowledge, i was made to carry out simultaneous interpretation for these people. Of course, i didn't shy away from the challenge, neither did i cut out a sorry picture i guess, but i was definitely not satisfied with whatever performance i put. As rightly said by one of our Arabic interpreters, we share the destiny of having the same "painful profession", and have to live with it. It was really a nice experience to meet some amazing people.
So that's all for real time blogging from the interpretation front. Will be back to the blog as soon as possible. Till then, keep track.
My laptop's battery is almost over. So i have to stop now.
Regards to all,
P r a s a d....
i am back from Dubai. In fact, i wanted to publish this much earlier today, but was not able to do it because i was a bit busy.
Lemme just briefly tell you what this post is all about.
I had been to Dubai on an interpretation assignment from March 20th till March 23rd. We left India on 20th in the night and came back on 24th in the early morning. Today's post will consist of the things i noted down almost everyday after reaching Dubai. Some of the musings have been written in the airplane, some at the airport, some even at the convention site, when i was able to get brief 30 minute breathers from my job. Do let me know what are your comments.
Last but not the least, hope you enjoy it!
Regards,
P r a s a d....
March 20th, airborne....
Hi friends,
I am writing this entry in the airplane, on my way to Dubai. Luckily i was told by my prof that my laptop was needed and thus was able to write this post. Really feels nice to say something in real time. Although i doubt whether you will be able to read this in real time ;-)
Well, my job is quite fixed. I mean i have to take the opportunity head on. Former Spanish Premier, Foreign Minister of Lebanon, CEOs of Coca-Cola, Gartner, Forbes, Proctor and Gamble, what not! And we are gonna interprete for them simultaneously, without any material. I know this post is sounding just like the last post, but that will definitely make you all aware of the fact that background information and knowledge is so very important for an interpreter. Although in Consecutive Interpretation, you have some time at hand to take notes and understand the subject matter about which the speaker is speaking. But Simultaneous interpretation means listening to the speaker and reproducing what he is saying with minimum time lag. Just try this out whenever a newsperson starts news in, say for example, Hindi or French, and you try to talk the same things in English. And vice-versa. I guess you will understand what simultaneous interpretation is, through this exercise.
Anyways, a challenge is a challenge. As my Guru is saying, now that we have taken the plunge, we have to face it and make the most of the opportunity. There is no use showing our back! Hope i come back alive from Dubai ;-)
Nothing exciting about the flight. Indian Airlines took off at the scheduled time - 30 minutes after the announced time of departure. And then the routine stuff.....seems i am just aboard another domestic flight. Hope the flight doesn't end in the Gulf ;-)
See ya guys, this was my post for March 20th. I am categorically writing this because i don't know when i'll be putting this on the blog. Enjoy!
Regards,
P r a s a d....
22nd March 2006, Dubai Convention Center, Venue of the 40th IAA International Congress
Hi folks,
well the day started awfully for me. I mean i was so tired due to all the hassles that i went through for the whole day that i overslept. And that meant that everybody got late beause of me! But anyways, we were in time at the venue. I did the first presentation that was by Sergio Zyman, CEO of Coca-Cola. Due to the hell-like start of the day, i was not able to concentrate in the beginning, but finally catched up sometime around the middle of the presentation. Then there was this panel discussion, a coffee break and then Jay Rasulo, CEO of Disney Parks. That was also testing as he was fast. I've finally come to understand the reality of simultaneous interpretation - no matter what, the speakers don't care about you and speak at their will. So you need to be on your toes always and work hard. I think in course of time, i will get used to it and make the most of the early exposure i'm getting.
It' really fun writing the blog as i am able to write my feelings in real time. Unfortunately, i haven't got the wireless internet card that would enable me to access wireless networks, otherwise i would really have made the blog more interesting to all the readers. I am sorry but you all are going to read this information with a delay of about two days. Hope it'll be interesting though.
One thing is for sure, this conference has really given me the chance to see some really good commercials. At the same time, there was a point in this presentation by the Disney CEO, where he mentioned that there is a common trend that everybody wants to identify with. And at the same time, there are individual likes and dislikes. A good global brand is one that balances the two. I'm really learning a lot. I wish i could remain a freelance interpreter forever. But it's difficult. Just as it was mentioned in one of the books about freeters, job is like marriage. You come across so many girls that you feel like flirting with, but once you marry, you can't ditch your partner. The same is true in the case of jobs too. You do tend to search for that comfort zone which can help you "settle" in life. You can either choose between a settled, but bound life or a free, but uncertain life. I know i am getting philosophical and nonsensical too. So better stop it all and let you all take a break too.
Enjoy the day. I have another presentation to interprete for and then the awards ceremony. So not much actually. It's really good that one can do simultaneous interpretation in pairs. I just can't imagine a single person slogging the whole day. Of course, i should be prepared for it, since there don't seem many people who would be competetive enough to do the job. I'm really looking forward to have experience of simultaneous interpretation with my seniors and other people so that i would be able to learn more.
I stop here now. See ya later.
Regards,
P r a s a d....
23rd March 2006
Hi folks,
well yesterday we were able to finish off early as the last speaker didn't turn up. So it was a nice evening that was to be spent in the beautiful city of Dubai. I was cursing this city just two days back when i was stranded at the airport without the visa. But i could also see the magnificient aspects of Dubai yesterday. The Burj al Arabia, Dubai's seven star hotel was amazing. Although i cudn't enter it, i was able to see it from outside. It's simply amazing. Then we also went to the Bur Dubai area. Of course there were many areas that were left unexplored, but finally we were satisfied. Shopped a bit. I mean a G-Shock for myself, a Panasonic chordless telephone for aai-baba, and some other stuff. Loved to shop here but wanted more money. So next time i am at Dubai, will shop a lot.
Actually now i am almost back to India. It was a nice flight, the attendants being really very very kind. Well, i am just forced to think about many things. I mean i have a class tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. That implies that i won't be sleeping after i am back to India. Then there is another class, where i switch my role to that of a teacher's. That is at 6 in the evening. Oh, my God! I never thought i would have such a hectic day. But actually it's not hectic at all, if i look at my professor's schedule. So many things to do! So many things to learn. Life is really too short and there are too many things to do.
Anyways, just to sum up my Dubai trip, let me tell you the people i interpreted for.
It started with Norman Pearlstine, Senior Advisor, Time Warner Co., and then there was Tateo Mataki, CEO, Dentsu, Allen Rosenshine, Chairman BBDO, Sergio Zyman, former CEO, Coca-Cola, Steve Forbes, CEO Forbes, Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks, Jack Klues, Chairman Publicis Groupe Media, Jim Stengel, Global Marketing Officer, Proctor and Gamble, Gregory Lee, CEO, Samsung Electronics, Bob Greenberg, CEO, CCO, R/GA, Etc.
Well, the list seems to be too much high-profile, but believe me, without any sort of slightest background knowledge, i was made to carry out simultaneous interpretation for these people. Of course, i didn't shy away from the challenge, neither did i cut out a sorry picture i guess, but i was definitely not satisfied with whatever performance i put. As rightly said by one of our Arabic interpreters, we share the destiny of having the same "painful profession", and have to live with it. It was really a nice experience to meet some amazing people.
So that's all for real time blogging from the interpretation front. Will be back to the blog as soon as possible. Till then, keep track.
My laptop's battery is almost over. So i have to stop now.
Regards to all,
P r a s a d....
posted by Prasad at 2:57 am
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