Wake me up when September… starts.

Hello, everyone!

How are you doing? I have been silent for a little while, I know. I gave you some hints about my future projects, but I have not revealed anything yet. I know, I know… I owe you all an apology.

I planned to spend the month of August organising the last part of this “sabbatical” year and it looks like I’m going to live many exciting adventures over the next few weeks.

First of all, thank you so much for your precious support! With your help I have been nominated in various translation-related categories for the Community Choice Awards hosted by ProZ.

Website >> One Sec Translations (www.onesec-translations.com)

Twitter >> Chiara Bartolozzi (@OneSec_ts)

Blog Post >> “Guest Post: Connecting with people” on Caroline Alberoni Translations Blog (http://caroltranslation.com/…/guest-post-connecting-with-p…/)

Other Social Media >> Instagram: onesectranslations (http://instagram.com/onesectranslations/)

Now, you can vote for your favourite one(s), so if you want to vote yours truly, follow this link >> http://www.proz.com/community-choice-awards and choose the related items.

The voting phase will be open until 22nd September. Then, discover the winners on International Translation Day (30th Sept)!

Secondly, as I told you in my previous post, I am leaving today to reach the wonderful city of Bordeaux. I will attend the 3rd IAPTI Conference and I am pretty excited about that, because it is my very first time as a participant in an International event.

5 – 6 September || Bordeaux, France

I will share a gorgeous flat with other colleagues and I am sure that we will have a lot of fun, as it will be both a sort of holiday and working time for everyone of us.

The roommates will be:

Caroline Alberoni: @AlberoniTrans (twitter) – Alberoni Translations (facebook) – @alberoni (Instagram)

Emma Becciu: @emmabecciu (twitter) – Knotty Translations (facebook) – @emmabecciu (Instagram)

Gala Gil Amat: @transGalator (twitter) – Transgalator (facebook) – instransgalator (Instagram)

Mila Rapizo: @mirapizo (twitter) – @mirapizo (Instagram)

Marta Prieto: @CalamburTrad (twitter)

And me: @OneSec_ts (twitter) – One Sec Translations (facebook) – @onesectranslations (Instagram)

Follow our real-time updates on facebook, twitter, and Instagram (I am sure we’ll share posts, tweets, and pictures). (I provided you with all our details so that you can find us online.)

Thirdly, I am going to launch a section on my website that it will be called The Honest Translator, which is intended to be a box encompassing my posts, guest posts, thoughts and anything else on being a freelancer (focusing mainly on being a translator) in the most honest way possible. I would like to create a space where people can talk their true selves without wearing any mask, discussing their added values and real expectations (basing them on what they really feel and want).

Yet, last but not least, I’m going to submit a questionnaire to a bunch of professionals that I would like to have as my guests for a new interview series that I will publish on my website. It will be a little bit different from those you usually read on other blogs, because I thought it as a fresh way to have a break. I hope that I could show you something as soon as possible. We’ll see. Maybe you could be one of those amazing colleagues I would like to feature on my blog. Stay tuned and you could discover it!

Well, I hope that you have enjoyed the reading. Feel free to comment or drop me a line about anything.

I’ve got to go, but…

See you soon!

~Chiara

• #TLL2015 – Favourite Language Lovers Contest •

THANK YOU SO MUCH! :))

#‎TLL2015‬
I’ve been nominated among your favourite language lovers! I didn’t expect it, so thank you so much! 🙂

But, now, it’s up to you!

Please, vote for my facebook page ▷ One Sec Translations ◃ in the category “Top 100 Language Facebook Pages 2015” (here ➡ http://en.bab.la/…/top-100-language-facebook-pages-2015-vot…) and my twitter account ▷ One Sec (Chiara) ◃ in the category “Top 100 Language Twitter Accounts 2015” (here ➡ http://en.bab.la/ne…/top-100-language-twitterers-2015-voting).
It’s a one shot, you can only vote once for each category.

Check the other categories (Language Learning Blogs, Language Professionals Blogs, and YouTube Channels) to vote your favourite people!

Game on!

***

Top Language Lovers 2015 || Lexiophiles | bab.la

Vote for my facebook page!

Vote for my twitter account!

***
#TLL2015
Ho ottenuto due nomination al concorso bab.la + Lexiophiles e appaio tra gli amanti della lingua preferiti dagli utenti! Non me lo aspettavo davvero, grazie mille a tutti!

Ora, però, tocca a voi!

Se vi piace la mia pagina facebook ▷ One Sec Translations ◃ la categoria in cui potete votarmi è “Top 100 Language Facebook Pages 2015” (cliccate qui http://en.bab.la/…/top-100-language-facebook-pages-2015… )
e per il mio account di twitter ▷ One Sec (Chiara) ◃ la categoria è “Top 100 Language Twitter Accounts 2015” (cliccate qui http://en.bab.la/…/top-100-language-twitterers-2015-voting ).

Potete esprimere la vostra preferenza una sola volta, quindi anche ricaricando la pagina e cliccando insistentemente verrà conteggiato un solo voto.

Date uno sguardo anche alle altre categorie (Language Learning Blogs, Language Professionals Blogs, and YouTube Channels) e votate i vostri link preferiti!

Che il voto abbia inizio! 😉

Nominate – Vote – Award

▶ New Year’s Resolutions: What I expect from myself in 2015

So… Here we are!

I told you in one of my last post that I was going to write down my 2015 resolutions.

 

Every year I find it harder, because I know that I would like to achieve, learn, gain, discover, live more and more than I can get eventually. However, life is strange and, sometimes, we just get what we deserve. Somebody calls it “destiny”, somebody calls it “luck”. As far as I’m concerned, I just think we should be just call it only “life”, because both in good times and bad times there’s something new to discover, which will lead  us to know ourselves better. Life teaches us how to proceed.

So, I’m very grateful for the bunch of lessons taught by experience, people I met, challenges I lost and meaningful goals I achieved. I’ve been living my 2014 trying to do my best.

Firstly, I set some goals. Indeed, I wanted to write more on my blog, so I gave it a try. My blog was very sad and I didn’t know who to properly use it or how to manage it. Now, there are a lot of people landing here every day, people who give me good advice on writing and freelancing. It’s a sharing place, I like it! It was a little goal to achieve, but it was my starting point.

I also started to use social media; I learnt a lot about timing, audience, hashtags, topics, how to catch up with your followers and so on. It has been a great experience and I want to take it with me to 2015.

I restyled my brand thanks to my friend Alice (she’s a graphic designer). We discussed and we argued, of course. I won’t lie. There were ups and downs; it wasn’t an easy journey, because, working together with friends, sometimes you feel like you can’t be completely honest. You think you may hurt them somehow, even if you know that work comes first and your friendship is put aside. We completed the new logo, which I showed you in April. We are getting late for publishing the complete version of the website, but technical issues arose. It’s a pity, but we are going to fix it. Stay tuned!

I attended some webinars and online courses, as I wanted to go deep into different topics. It was good, because you can share opinions with other attendees, and the teachers are very pleased to answer all your questions anytime. I met reliable professionals this way.

I lost two clients. I know it’s not my fault. I mean, that’s life! (As I said…) The contract expired and it wasn’t renewed. It was a one-year collaboration and each business has its rules. I fulfilled my tasks in full and they were satisfied of my job, of course. I’m not sad, because I felt scared at the very beginning. I thought I wasn’t good enough to handle such a big project, but I overcame my fear and I worked with passion: another goal achieved.

That said, I’m very proud of my 2014. I wish I could spend the forthcoming year improving my skills and shaping my professional path (and shaping myself accordingly).

Here’s my list of New Year’s Resolutions : 

▷ To trust my gut and be more confident;

▷ To finish reading all the books I bought as Christmas gifts. They are written by my colleagues, so I do need to save time to finish them and write a little review;

▷ To improve my writing skills;

▷ To enhance my brand by completing the website and marketing more;

▷ To write a good business plan (with a little help from my friends/colleagues);

▷ To attend the courses I already scheduled;

▷ To attend a translation conference or even a single event for translators;

▷ To find new clients by promoting my professional services, applying the “secrets” I’ve been learning so far;

▷ To save time regularly to help my friends, followers and colleagues, being available for suggestions and chatting;

▷  To put myself first, because I need to focus on what I want to become and achieve. I won’t let anyone steal my progress to realise their plans. I pictured my professional future in my mind, I’m working hard to make it real. I won’t give up!;

▷  To stop worrying about tiny, silly things like a missed call or answer. Everything has its time. I need to take mine!;

▷ To keep on training both my mind and body. I love to work out: it helps me concentrate and release stress staying healthy.

Destination Future

 Image credit: http://www.iavvocato.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The-future-net-exit.jpg

These are my resolutions.
The projection of what lies in my head and I would like to accomplish in 2015.

What about you?
What do you think about your future? 
Have you already written down your list?
How do you see yourselves in the next 12 months?

Drop me a line if you want, we could share some thoughts about it! 😉

 Wishing you a wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration and a lively start to the New Year!

 

See you in 2015!

 

xx

 ~Chiara

• Merry Christmas! •

May your holidays be happy and peaceful!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Merry Xmas, everyone!

• December • will be magic again!

Hello December! 🙂

Hey, there! How are you?

I want to welcome all the people who has just landed here either by chance or by choice.

It’s always a pleasure to have you in my blog. I was reading my stats and there has been a massive increase in number of visits.
I think I should start writing a little more often, which is an absolute must lately. I would like to start writing about my experience as a freelancer. I went through a lot this year. I must confess that I didn’t expect to have the chance to meet all these wondeful people, who at first were only “colleagues” but I can call “friends” now.
You are very precious stars in this wide sky where we work shining and standing out.

Thank you so much for the helpful suggestions, the ideas shared at night when we are working on neverending assignments, while drinking uncountable cups of coffee.

I’m so grateful for the new clients who popped up out of nowhere, thanks to social media and networking.
Furthermore, I had the chance to work for some of my entrepreneurial icons. I think I can’t be happier. I know it sound childish, but it was very important to me. You try to follow the steps of somebody who is a model for you from far and, one day, they notice you. It’s like, suddenly, you knew that you are going in the right direction. So, THANK YOU. 

I want to keep learning and feeding my hunger, because I want to answer all the questions I still have about this career, which is a multifaceted way of working. It allows you to choose how to organise your day – although, sometimes, you feel more like a juggler than a translator – and how to complete all the assignments in time preserving coherence and quality. Plus, I’m going to get rid of all the toxic aspects of this life I chose for myself.
There was a tough time when I wanted to give up, because I thought I couldn’t achieve my goals. I felt hopeless and it was a direct consequence of my choices. It wasn’t anybody else’s fault but mine. Therefore, I wanted to change something and I decided it was the right time to spread my wings and sore alone.
When you work with people who treat you like you were just the means to get what they want, well, that’s not cooperation, that’s exploitation.
Don’t allow anybody to poison your [working] life. I know a lot of people out there can relate to this point. So, just speak the truth, it will set you free. We can count only on ourselves. At the end of the day, we have to thank ourselves for any little thing we gained. Don’t let other people appropriate your success and results.

There’s only YOU in this equation. Choose wisely. Always be surrounded by people you like and who deserve your trust.

That said, I hope to have you here when I publish the New Year’s resolutions 2015. I’m planning something new and going to reveal some points in the last post of the year at the end of December. There’s a lot to do, but I know I can do it one step at a time.

Stay tuned!

Wishing you a great week!

See you soon,

~Chiara

December will be magic again by Kate Bush
(live piano version – Xmas version)

December will be magic again.
Take a husky to the ice
While Bing Crosby sings White Christmas. He makes you feel nice.
December will be magic again.
Old Saint Nicholas up the chimney,
Just a-popping up in my memory.

Ooh, dropping down in my parachute,
The white city, she is so beautiful
Upon the black-soot icicled roofs,
Ooh, and see how I fall.
See how I fall
(“Fall!”) [backwards]
Like the snow.

Come to cover the lovers.
(Cover the lovers,
But don’t you wake them up.)
Come to sparkle the dark up.
(Sparkle the dark up,
With just a touch of make-up.)
Come to cover the muck up.
(Cover the muck up,
Ooh, with a little luck.)

December will be magic again.
Light the canDLe-lights
To conjure Mr. Wilde
Into the Silent Night.
Ooh, it’s quiet inside,
Here in Oscar’s mind.

December will be magic again.
Don’t miss the brightest star.
Kiss under mistletoe.
I want to hear you laugh.
Don’t let the mystery go now.

Ooh, dropping down in my parachute,
The white city, she is so beautiful
Upon the black-soot icicled roofs,
Ooh, and see how I fall.
See how I fall
(“Fall!”) [backwards]
Like the snow.

Come to cover the lovers.
(Cover the lovers,
But don’t you wake them up.)
Come to sparkle the dark up.
(Sparkle the dark up,
With just a touch of make-up.)
Come to cover the muck up
(Cover the muck up,
Ooh, with a little luck.)

Oh, I’m coming to cover the lovers.
Ooh, and I’m coming to sparkle the dark up.

• November • How time flies!

Hello beautiful people!

How are you? Just half a month has already passed by. How time flies! 

I’ve just found out that I didn’t publish my “Hello, November” picture. So, here it is! 

 

Hello, November! Please, be good.

Have a great day!

~Chiara

• 30th September 2014 • International Translation Day

• Giornata Mondiale della Traduzione • 

Nel 2012, Alessandra Martelli scriveva così nel suo post celebrativo di questo giorno speciale: “I traduttori sono in mezzo a voi: vi facciamo compagnia quando leggete l’ultimo romanzo di Kathy Reichs sull’autobus, vi spieghiamo come utilizzare il frullatore nuovo, ci assicuriamo che possiate comprendere i rischi legati all’assunzione di un farmaco, traduciamo attentamente termini e condizioni d’uso dei servizi internet che usate ogni giorno (sì, anche le clausole scritte piccole piccole!), vi siamo accanto sul divano quando vedete lo spot di un’automobile tedesca in TV … […] Siamo in mezzo a voi. Pensateci, almeno ogni tanto”.

Perciò…
▷ Grazie a tutti i traduttori che svolgono ogni giorno un mestiere difficile, silenzioso ed a volte solitario.
▷ Grazie a tutti i linguisti e funamboli della parola; piccoli e grandi acrobati che camminano su quel filo sottile che separa le culture, cercando di non inciampare sulle sfumature di ogni lingua.
▷ Grazie per la dedizione, l’impegno e la voglia di comunicare con cui ogni giorno si affrontano dure giornate di lavoro o di studio.

▷Grazie a noi, eredi di San Girolamo.◃
Non vi deluderemo.

• Happy International Translation Day! • 30th September 2014 • 国际翻译日快乐！

• International Translation Day •

In 2012, in the post she wrote to celebrate this special day for translators, Alessandra Martelli stated, “Translators are all around you. We keep you company while you are reading the last novel by Kathy Reichs travelling on the bus, we explain you how to use your new blender, we make sure you understand risks associated with medication, we carefully translate usage terms and conditions of the Internet services you use every day (yes, even those clauses that are in very small print!), we sit next to you on the sofa when you are watching a German car spot advertising on TV  … […] We are among you. Think about us, once in a while.”

So,

▷ Thank you to all of the translators who perform a very hard, silent and (sometimes) lone job.
▷ Thank you to all of the linguists and funambulists performing with words. You are young and mature acrobats who perform the tightrope walking on the thin line between cultures, trying not to trip on the nuances of every language.
▷ Thank you for being so devoted, for your wholehearted commitment and the longing for communication, which are the strenghts that make you successfully deal with though working days and studies. Every day.

▷ Thanks to US, translators and heirs of Saint Jerome.◃
We won’t disappoint you. I promise.

//

Post by One Sec Translations.

• September • [Positive things challenge]

Hello friends, followers and occasional guests!

September is here. It’s back. A brand new month started this morning, 30 days at our disposal to make our dreams come true.

It has been a rainy day and, being meteoropathic, I’ve been worked up for the whole day. I have a lot to work on and I’m trying to find a balance between what I’d like to achieve and what I can accomplish.

It’s a hard way to the top, but I can walk through it. I’m confident! 😉

Hello September! Welcome back!

This post is not going to be long. I just want to share with you something I had been doing last week and I finished yesterday.

I carried out a nice challenge on facebook and I want to share it with you.

The challenge concerns the daily list of positive things happening for a week in your life. I’m going to copy and paste my week, so that I’ll have something to read in the future when I will feel dishearten or uninspired. 

“1. Day 1 of positive things:

1. This morning I went to the post office to pick up a parcel coming from China. It was the new hard cover for my mobile phone. I chose the picture, so right now I have a flawless Audrey Hepburn speaking on the phone printed on it ;
2. After coming back from holiday, my batteries are fully recharged and I feel positive and determined. It’s a very great feeling ; and
3. I’m working on different life-changing projects that are coming to life with a little help from inspiring, reliable, professional people. (I’m not going to tag you, so I hope you are reading between the lines. Yes, I’m talking to *YOU*! )

I challenge Sara and Elena to list 3 positive things a day for 7 days, inviting at least one person each day to do the same.
My friend Brenda gave me the chance to express my thoughts. Thank you, hun. You are special! 😉

“2. I apologise for the delay in writing out the day 2 of positive things. Let me briefly recap my three positive facts:

1. I had a Müller Mix yogurt for breakfast. Today’s choice: India. Delicious!;
2. This afternoon, I’m going to take the first step towards several new ideas I’d like to develop over the next months. I’m going to meet other professionals to talk those projects over; and
3. I’m still enjoying the great feeling coming from the good time I spent last weekend. I met a bunch of new, funny, interesting people and I also went shopping. What else? 😀

I challenge Clara and Sofia to list 3 positive things a day for 7 days, inviting at least one person each day to do the same.
Have a great day, girls! xx

“3. Day 3 of positive things:

1. Finally, this morning, the postman brought me a wonderful gift I bought for myself: Balance Your Words. Stepping in the translation industry (written and designed by my colleague Sara Colombo). I’m very curious and I can’t wait to start reading it. A big thank you to the lovely translator Valentina for her suggestion. I followed your advice! ;
2. I’ve just reconnected to my WiFi, which is a very good thing. I need the Internet to carry out research, but the connection is unstable. I’m already planning what to do in case I can’t retrieve it later. #nevermissaminute ; and
3. I’m having a cup of coffee in my #rainycup, and the smiley mascot printed on it makes me feel very happy.

As I mentioned you in my post, I challenge my e-friends Sara, Valentina and Valeria to list 3 positive things a day for 7 days, inviting at least one person each day to do the same.

“4. Day 4 of positive things:

1. This morning, my friend (and colleague) Sara and I received a new little translation assignment to complete by tomorrow morning. It was totally unexpected, because we were told by the client that there wasn’t any assignment ready for us. I’m going to proofread my part of the job, so it will be ready for the double-checking tomorrow ;
2. In the afternoon I took my sister Miriam shopping at the mall. We always have a lot of fun together. I do love to spend time with her (and she’s got a great taste in fashion. Indeed, she is my personal shopper) ; and
3. Since I love singing, I’d like to record a new cover song that I will upload on my online soundcloud channel. I hope to find some time for doing it.

As I promised (actually it looked like a threat, I’m sorry! ), I challenge my e-friends Emeline to list 3 positive things a day for 7 days, inviting at least one person each day to do the same.

“5. (Belated) Day 5 of positive things:

1. Received a phone call from one of my client for an urgent translation assignment and then lost it in 2 minutes (I’d just like to stress that it wasn’t my fault). Sounds like I broke my record! Last time it happened in about 30 minutes. XD *shit happens*;
2. The client has just sent an email closing it with “Happy weekend!” 😥 ; and
3. I’m going to carve out time to do my mani. I love nail polish!

I challenge my colleagues Jessica and Judit to list 3 positive things a day for 7 days, inviting at least one person each day to do the same. Enjoy the game!

“6. and 7. Day 6 and 7 of positive things:

1. I want to thank Brenda. She passed the baton to me, so I could start writing down my positives. I’m closing this challenge writing about her, and this is emblematic of the great circle of life. Thank you hun for helping me, and thank you so much for your words and support. I hope this could be the beginning of something bigger for both of us. ;
2. Today is Saint Julian’s Day. I went to the typical local Fair with my dear friend Marzia and I wandered about the stands, looking for something to buy (shopaholic mode ON), but the rain poured down on us so we went home earlier than expected; and
3. I feel lucky. Listing all these positive things I’ve found out I have a lot to smile about. I’m putting a lot of efforts in what I love the most, trying to achieve the goals I set for myself. I’m surrounded by wonderful people: my parents, my sister, my family, my partner, and my friends. Plus, I’m grateful for the support I get from my [new and long standing] colleagues and e-friends. I promise I’ll do my best. #keepgoing

Lastly, I want to finish the challenge asking my friend Fatima to list 3 positive things a day for 7 days, inviting at least one person each day to do the same. Love you, hun. Enjoy the game!”

I’m sure we all have something to be thankful for and people who believe in us and our talents. When we feel hopeless, we should just accept the challenge and redo the list. The answers to all our questions are inside ourselves. We just have to read them.

Good night!

~Chiara

Chiuso per ferie • Gone on holiday/vacation • Estoy de vacaciones

Perfino il traduttore stacanovista ha bisogno di una piccola vacanza di tanto in tanto. Deve rimettere in ordine la confusione degli ultimi incarichi e riprendersi dopo aver ordinato tutti i file e catalogato le basi terminologiche ed i glossari. È tutto pronto! Fatture ed email inviate e telefonate agli ultimi clienti distratti fatte.

Anche il corpo ha bisogno del suo riposo, perciò questo è il momento di distendere la mente e lasciare che ogni muscolo si goda il meritato relax. 

Io sarò in viaggio per qualche giorno. Pubblicherò qualche foto e cercherò di utilizzare i social media per condividere qualche ricordo. 😉 Potete seguirmi su twitter o su facebook!

Nel frattempo auguro buon lavoro a chi sarà impegnato anche nelle prossime settimane e buone ferie a chi le farà in questi giorni come me o ne sta già godendo i benefici. 🙂

A presto.

 

~Chiara

 

Chiuso per ferie • Gone on holiday/vacation • Estoy de vacaciones

• August •

HELLO AUGUST! Welcome back!

Today is 1st August. A brand new month has started today, so I have 31 days to plan, create, change something (or everything) in my life.

I’m still working on my brand and the services I want to share with all the people who follow me on social media and through the Internet. These people are *YOU*.

I want to thank you all for being there. You have the power to make a normal day be awesome. You give me the energy to pursue this amazing career I chose for myself. Freelancing is hard work, but I’m putting all my efforts into studying and practicing. I hope to succeed as a freelance translator.

I’m surrounded by the most fabulous professionals in the world. I hope I won’t disappoint you. 🙂

I’m going to keep going. I’ll do my best, I promise.

 

~Chiara