The Force is awakening in Japan

Halloween is coming.
There are Star Wars costumes on sale everywhere. You can be Darth Vader for ¥108,000 (there are cheaper versions, though... but lightsabers not included) or stormtroopers, or be a Wookie or Master Yoda.

And there are corners in book stores selling Star Wars books. There are even English readers for those interested in learning English through the Star Wars story (Episodes 1 to 6).

Star Wars is also in toy stores. Lightsabers, masks, toys, Lego, collectibles...

And tickets for the upcoming Episode VII "The Force Awakens" is already on sale!

The Force is awakening in Japan!

Today is International Translation Day! As 30 September is the feast day of St Jerome, the Bible translator who is considered the patron saint of translators.

Something to remember as I embark on my translator journey.

Another year

Another year, one more candle.

Time flies.

A month

It has been a month since moving to Japan.

I won't say I have settled down yet, things are still all over the place.

But I think I need to force myself to settle into a routine.

Time to work out a schedule, and stick to it.

Busy days

Since moving to Japan, things have been busy.

First is all the legal stuff, to get myself officially registered as a resident here. Then the financial stuff to get bank accounts and such.

There is also the need to sort out the room, with all the stuff that arrived from Singapore. Including getting new furniture and figuring out how to store all that stuff I brought over (mostly books...)

And there is the search for a stable income. Meanwhile, freelance translation is helping to tide things over.

Most of all, it is about trying to find a rhythm to life here.

Busy days... but I guess that's characteristic of all changes in life.

A new start

A new start... off to Japan!

Wish me luck!

The pursuit of money... not!

It is strange.

I left the navy, wanting to move on to another start in life. I am actually still very undecided on what to do for a living, but it probably will revolve around translation work, and teaching (English and/or taiji). Nothing fancy, make enough to make ends meet, enjoy the flowers while walking the road of life.

It seems like a strange idea to some people. They can't seem to get pass the "you mean you are not leaving so that you can make more money?"

People approach me with money-making ideas. Each of them think he has a great idea. I think so too. But I am not keen... because I am not in it for the pursuit of money. Yes, money is important; after all, this is a world in which you can't survive without money. And I am not going to be translating or teaching for free too, I do hope to earn money while doing those.

But I am not after earning lots of money, then retiring to a beach. No, that's not my dream, that's not my goal. But then, maybe, I think, maybe, it has to do with the way things are in Singapore. Our system here is such that you can't retire if you don't have money. Maybe that is why the average Singapore is more into the pursuit of money, than the pursuit of dreams. After all, pursuing dreams isn't going to keep you from starving here, not with the cost of living here.

Some movie said it, something along the line of, "We (mainland Chinese) pursue work so that we can pursue our dreams. You (Singaporeans) give up your dreams so that you can pursue work. (我们为了追求梦想而工作，你们为了工作而放弃梦想。)" Why do we work for money, when we should get money to work for us (to realise our dreams)?

I am the sifu, apparently

A farewell gift from my guys.

I am the monk Xuanzang because they say I am like their sifu (teacher). Which is quite touching because, I did try my best to teach them what I could. Besides making them deliver what they needed to do, I tried to develop them too, by teaching them what I know.

So when they remember "F.A.C.E", I was already very happy. Because I told them before, that if their work lack focus, awareness, clarity and effort, then they (and who they work for) will lose face. They remembered that, and even carved it onto a seal which was presented to me.

This little picture only made me all the more touched.

Anyway, they are following a new Xuanzang now, while I ride off to the Western Paradise (hopefully...)

A new start

After 18 years of being in the navy, today is the start of something new.

There will be many things that I will miss.

No more dusty Tanah Merah Coast Road.
No more wardroom dinners.
No more crew outings.
No more getting paid to play "games" aka CIC training.
No more conning ships.
No more working with the wonderful people in the navy.

But an end is also a beginning.

A new start.
A new hope.

Goodbye, navy family!

After 18 years, I am bidding farewell to the family that has been with me for half my life.

Eight and a half years of shipboard postings.

Serving onboard five different ships, three different classes, six different tours.

Sailing to fourteen different countries.

Most memorable sailing: RIMPAC 2010

Longest sailing: Attachment to Japan Training Squadron for Japan Training Cruise, lasting six months.

Topping Naval Warfare Officer Course.

Sent twice for long overseas courses, both to Japan: first for the academy, then for command and staff course.

Pioneer crew on two frigates.

Fired missiles, hunted submarines, landed helicopters.

Loaded rations, cleaned toilets, served dinner, waxed floors.

Ran on the deck, swam in the sea, jumped off ships.

Drank champagne while underway. (Shh!!!)

Movies under the stars, barbeques on the deck, fireworks from the sea.

Celebrating birthdays, recognising success, remembering anniversaries.

Learning from mistakes, learning not to make the same mistakes.

Playing diplomat, honing warfighting skills, driving ships, leading people.

Sad to go, proud to have served.

Value is relative

In a world where everyone farms, being able to do something different that people needs is valuable. And the less people who can do this and the more needed the skill, the more valuable it is. Because value is relative.

So we all ended up pursuing the "higher value jobs", the "white collared jobs", because back then, not everyone had those skills. Relatively, they were able to command a premium over other jobs. And people in those jobs could live a life that is much better materially compared to the rest.

But with education, those skills are becoming more widespread. Their value drops. Trying to aim for that same level of material comfort means having to work harder.

And once those common skills of the past start being forgotten, those who still remember them will gain in value. Because those skills are needed too, and with less people able to perform them, their relative value increases.

So if you are aiming for material comfort, you need to always pursue those skills that few people have. If you prefer to stick with the masses, you either have to work harder, or lower your expectations.

Being a translator

Trying to be a translator is difficult... there are many ways to be a translator, but they usually boil down to two types:

In-house translators
Some companies do hire translators as either a full-time or part-time job. The work is usually in a very specific field, like localisation of games and other software, or those in the publishing business, or firms providing legal services (usually patent-related). Unless you work in a firm that specialises in a certain field of translation (like patent translations), prospects are usually not that great.

Freelance translators
These are freelancers that work on a project basis. Work is found either by looking at advertisements placed by companies requiring translation help, or by registering with a translation agency that assigns work.

Getting work
Translation agencies
These companies have a list of freelancers registered with them. So when companies need help with translation, instead of placing ads, companies can just approach a translation agency for help. The translation agency will then assign the work to one of the freelancers under it, using its own system to determine who gets the job. Some have an internal bidding process, some assign jobs based on the assessment of job-freelancer fit, etc. There is some assurance of quality as agencies usually conduct their own assessments for freelancers registering with them.

One-man translation company
Some translators are so good, they can start their own businesses and companies will approach them for help. Compared to engaging an agency, directly getting help from such one-man translation companies has the advantage that you know exactly who is going to be doing the job for you.

Online Translation Agencies
These are like conventional agencies, except that they use the web fully for their businesses. Clients are charged a rate but only a small portion of that actually goes to the freelance translator. Most of the time, work is assigned in a bidding manner, so you can never be sure who you are going to get, and quality may vary from project to project. However, the rates charged are usually lower (due to lower running costs) and response is usually fast, so for short and simple projects, it may be worth trying your luck with these.

Freelancing has flexibility, but income is not stable and also not stagnant... you earn as much as you are willing to do, as long as you can find work. Until I can find a good reason to join a company as full-time in-house translator, freelancing seems to be the way to go.

Wish me luck!

Thoughts on IMDEX 2015

As a person who was frequently involved in IMDEX (a maritime defence exhibition held once every two years in Singapore), I must say that my short visit to IMDEX 2015 left me with some thoughts.

Compared to past years, IMDEX 2015 seemed to be less crowded, with less interesting displays. In fact, my walk around the booths didn't surprise me with any new and upcoming defence technology. The things on display were the routine, standard stuff. Yes, they are new stuff, but not the cutting edge stuff (during its time) that used to be on display. In fact, some booths didn't really have anything on display; they were just booths with the company's name and a few staff.

Maybe it was a bad idea to have IMDEX 2015 so close to another defence exhibition; just a week ago, there was a defence exhibition in Japan, the first since Japan decided to loosen its laws regarding export of military technology. From the news, it seems that the exhibition in Japan was a great success; it is expected, since defence contractors are probably looking at Japan being the up-and-coming player/market.

Maybe that's where all the good stuff went. And maybe that's why they didn't make it to Singapore in time.

Or maybe, IMDEX has lost its appeal. After all, it is the same broad programme year after year. And in this fast changing world, if you don't adapt or evolve in time, you risk becoming obsolete.

Prep for sea

Preparing to embark on a new journey in life.

Professional pride

The sushi chef is a professional, an expert in his field (making sushi). The guy working in the kitchen at a sushi chain is no expert, simply following a set of procedures. Both make sushi, but what's the difference? Ask Jiro.

Same tea leaves, same water. But the difference between tea made by me and a tea master?

There are things beyond the material form that cannot simply be seen by the eyes, felt by touch, heard by the ears or tasted by the tongue, but must be appreciated with the heart.