Should I be doing this at all?

[Kama]

You might remember my plans to get accepted to the European Union's Translation Department. The plans consisted of two parts: one was the 5-month traineeship, for which i already applied and will know if I'm accepted by the end of December.

The other is the competition for a permament post at the EU. I applied for that as well, and the preselection tests will take place on November 27. The thing is, I'm not really sure I want to do this.

I always wanted to be a translator, and still do, but I'm not exactly sure if the EU thing is the kind of career I want to pursue. I am very comfortable with the company I'm working for right now. I do realize that this is not my dream job. The work is not demanding at all, and although I have lots so do, it's all fairly easy. However, I think it is a great start to become familiar with how companies work, with what to expect etc. I think I'm learning quite a lot without going through much stress. I think this is good. I think this will give me a lot of experience.

The EU, on the other hand, seems to me to be the exact opposite of this. It is a very important institution, it requires that the translations are really 100% perfect. It seems like it is a really stressfull job. I don't like stress. I don't like living under pressure. I don't think I'm ready for such a move yet, if I will ever be.

Of course, going to the preselection tests does not mean I will be accepted. Being accepted does not mean I have to take the job. Taking the job does not mean I have to stay there forever. And of course, granted I successfully pass all the stages, I might actually get to enjou the work very much. It might not prove so stressfull at all.

Still, I don't think I have any motivation at all to do it. You'd think I should, his being such a great opportunity to start such a promising career. But I simply don't care. I don't keep thinking how great it would be if I was accepted. I don't know how much of this is actually caused by the fact that i don't like changes, and how much is me feeling that I don't belong there - since I can't really tell if I don't, having never been there...

Ugh. I'm rambling, and I'm not really sure what I want to say or what i want to get from you... except that I obviously have doubts. Heh.

Oh, and for the tests, I need to learn the history of the EU. I know almost nothing about it, except for some general facts, and I I decide to go, I need to really start learning. And I so don't feel like it... I'm not interested in learning about the EU at all. I mean yes, i do find it interesting to read about, to find out about things... but not necessarily like this, and not necessarily for this very purpose.

Um.

:huh:

[Kama]

One thing I think I should add. The thing is I'm not worried if I will manage in this job. I think once I'm accepted, I would manage quite well. i'm a good translator, and I think I can manage just about any translating job.

It's also not the question of being afraid I won't pass the tests. Either I will, or I won't - not much stress in here, either.

The thing is - I'm not sure if I want to pass the tests. And what id the point of taking them at all if you don't want to pass them?

The real question I think is why I don't want to do it. Is it only because I'm comfortable with my situation right now and don't like changes? See, maybe partially it is. But I don't think it's the major point. I think that somwhow, I just don't see the EU as my life path. But then again, I might be wrong. *sigh*

:huh:
:huh:

[Another Guest]

*hug*

Kama, do it. If you hate it, you can quit. Always, always choose to do something rather than not (except for things for which there is no out), ESPECIALLY if it seems hard in ways you don't like things to be hard. You might hate it, but that's okay. You are a good translator, and you can always go back to where you are now if its beyond horrible.

Do it. No question. This is important. You can rant to Hatrack and GreNME when it sucks. :)

You need to be challenged. You're learning stuff, but I'll bet you could do your current job in your sleep. That's nice. It's time to go - the EU job sounds great. *hug* Go and do it.

[Kama]

Hmm.. I wasn't really expecting a different answer... :)

[celia60]

i have no idea.


good luck, kama.

[Noemon]

I've found that I enjoy my life, feel like I'm really living it, and remember it better when I'm operating a little bit outside of my comfort zone. Stagnation always feels like it will feel better than it actually does. If I were in your shoes, going for the EU job would the right thing to do. Since you're not me, though, your milage may vary.

[Grey Area]

As if it is any easier, consider this:

An EU position such as that would be impressive on anyone's resume.

But...

If you have other outlets for your creativity, you may not want a high stress job messing with your head.

And...

How does either position fit in with what you really want to do in life?

Finally...

Do you really know what you want to do in life? If not, wait until you do.

[Noemon]

Good point, Erik--the other things going on in your life will have to be taken into account.

It's worth pointing out, though, that if I'd waited until I knew what to do with my life before getting a job, I'd still be living at my parents house.

[Kama]

<-- is going to take the tests and then see what happens :)

[Noemon]

Good luck!

How do you say that in Polish?

[Another Guest]

I agree with Noemon.

Sometimes you just have to do it. If there isn't anything future-wise holding you where you are, go for it.

[Kama]

How do you say that in Polish?

Powodzenia :)

This:
Always, always choose to do something rather than not (except for things for which there is no out), ESPECIALLY if it seems hard in ways you don't like things to be hard

and this:

Stagnation always feels like it will feel better than it actually does.

are very wise statements :)

Thank you for your support :)

[Anna]

Good luck ! All my wishes for you. :)

[PatrickDarwinPoyfair]

Kama --

I think you should immigrate to the U.S. and marry John.... or Hobbes, or any number of the single guys that frequent this board. Just not at the same time. That's polygamy.

[OpheliaViolenta]

or Hobbes
:o Better hope Annie doesn't see that, Pat!

Kama, Noemon has pretty much said it. Viel Glück!

[Hobbes]

<--*Taken*
<--*Still appreciates Pat's avatar*

Hobbes :)

[Hobbes]

Whatever you do Kama, I'm sure you'll do it well, the best of luck! :D

Hobbes :)

[PatrickDarwinPoyfair]

*Did not know about the Hobbes/Annie thing**

Sorry.

[Grey Area]

I think you should immigrate to the U.S. and marry John.... or Hobbes, or any number of the single guys that frequent this board. Just not at the same time. That's polygamy.

That is an excellent endorsement of Serial Monogamy!

[Bok]

This is all just about a boy, isn't it?

;)

:ph34r:

-Bok

[Kama]

Naturally. Pat actually guessed this long ago. I'm thinking whether I should move to the US and marry John.

[Bob the Lawyer]

Pat, I've never been more stunned. You missed the Hobbes/Annie thing?
I don't know if a more blatant couple has ever existed, although things have toned down in the past little while.
Then again, maybe you just don't post on Sakeriver.

Anyway, good luck with it all, Kama!

[saxon75]

I don't think Pat's even been to Sakeriver since the first week it was up, and it really wasn't particularly blatant anywhere else.

I missed it myself for longer than I'm proud of, but we all know which club I'm in.

[Grey Area]

You didn't miss anything Pat, just a bunch of kissy posts!

But it was pretty obvious saxy....

[Leonide]

But it was pretty obvious saxy....

right.

i read: but it was pretty obviously sexy...

:lol:

[Noemon]

See, I saw all the kissing stuff, but I didn't realize that it was indicative of anything other than internet flirtation--kind of like how I don't seriously think that Kama has taken to topless dancing. It took me the longest time to pick up on it. Call me Captain Oblivious.

[Kamila]

<-- is always very serious when it comes to topless dancing

[katharina]

saxy, you are by far the brightest member of the Retarded Monkey club.

[saxon75]

Thanks, kat, although that would be much more of a compliment if there were any other members.

[Kama]

:mellow:

:blink:


(tomorrow)

[OpheliaViolenta]

Good luck! You'll do great! :)

[Kama]

I must say i'm really happy that I went. Thank you all for your support and encouragement. :) From what i could see, about half the people didn't turn up.

As for the tests - well, I did my best, so no matter what the results will be, i will be able to say that i took the challenge. There was a test on European Union, for which i was sort of prepared - I know I got at least a couple answers wrong, including some very obvious ones - but, oh well. Then, there was a test for verbal reasoning - I think i got most of it right (if there's one thing I'm good at, it's logical thinking ;)), although I could have had some more time. Then there was a translation from English into polish - a pretty easy general text, in the newspaper style. I'm not happy with my style in some places, but there was nothing I could do if I wanted to get it done on time. And, last but not least, a translation from German to Polish - the horror! The text was also very general, and the level of difficulty was, as far as I can judge - equal to the previous one. However, my German is much worse than my English, and the German syntax is horrible. I literally spent 10 minutes trying to figure out what one sentence meant, and another 5 trying to put the sense in polish. But the rest of the text was a bit easier, so I managed to translate it in two hours. Anyways, I'm tired, but happy :)


Oh, and apparently, I was on regional TV <_< :angry:

[Kama]

I'm shouting at everyone at home right now and get irritated by everything. i think I must be really tired and worn out. :ph34r:

[Starla*]

I'm shouting at everyone at home right now and get irritated by everything. i think I must be really tired and worn out.

:( :( :( ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Kama) )))))))))))))))))))))))))))

(<---------------also knows how you feel)

[Noemon]

Congratulations on having taken the test! When will you get your results?

Are you still irritated and prone to shouting? I hope not.

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving*!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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* Yes, that was a joke. No, I don't really think that Thanksgiving is celebrated in Poland.

[Kamila]

Results in January.

Irritation dissapeared after I got some sleep... until some stupid American decided to wish me a happy Thanksgiving. Don't they know we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Poland? :rolleyes: :angry:








:P

[Noemon]

You must have missed it when I said that I *knew* that they didn't celebrate Thanksgiving in Poland--or any place else in Russia, for that matter.

:P

[Noemon]

Looks like Kama isn't going to take the bait. :(

[Kama]

What bait? Everyone knows Poland is not in Russia, it's in Belarus.

[Noemon]

Obviously you know nothing about Poland.

[Kami]

Obviously I know more than you do.

[Noemon]

I know you are, but what am I?

[K.A.M.A]

Don't mind me, I'm just a computer program with a brain of the chicken. I barely know where Europe is. Except that it is a country west of the US. Or was it south?


:unsure:

[Noemon]

You're thinking of Austrailia. Europe is an island-continent in the southern hemisphere.

[Kama]

Oh. My. Stars.

:o



Dear Ms KUDLA,

The selection board for the above competition has now finished marking the pre-selection tests in which you participated.
I am pleased to inform you that your marks are sufficient for you to be included among the candidates invited to fill in the official application form.
You must duly complete and sign the application form, which must be accompanied by all the necessary supporting documents, as specified in the notice of competition. Failure to observe these requirements will invalidate your application. The original application form, together with the numbered annexes, must be sent by registered post no later than 08/02/2004 (postmark will act as proof of expedition) to the following address:

European Personnel Selection Office
EPSO/LA/11/03 Language Section - POLISH
Office: C-80 1/66
B-1049 Brussels


I would remind you that it is your responsibility to ensure that your completed application form, accompanied by all the necessary supporting documents, is posted in good time to meet the stated deadline.

After the documents and supporting evidence that you have submitted have been examined, the selection board will draw up a list of those who have fulfilled all the eligibility criteria specified in the notice of competition, and whose written test c) will be corrected. You will be informed of the result obtained in the written test c) and about the possible correction of your written test d) via your EPSO-profile, as soon as possible1.

Yours sincerely,
For the Chairman of the Selection Board
Theo DUIVENVOORDE

Acting Head of Unit



If i get the figures correct, I'm among the 300 who made it past the preselection tests, out of 1933 who applied and around 1500 who have showed up.

They will now be marking the actual translation.

:blink:

[GreNME]

WOO HOO!! KAMA R0X0RZ!!!

I knew you were good enough. And I know you're good enough to make the top of the list of applicants. You go, girl.

[celia60]

this is so exciting!

[Kama]

:ph34r:

[saxon75]

Congrats! (http://www.sakeriver.com/righton.gif)

[Noemon]

Kama, that's great! I'm not at all surprised--your language skills, from what I've seen, are nothing short of amazing--but nonetheless, that's fantastic! You're a shoe-in for the position, I think.

[OpheliaViolenta]

Yay Kama! :)

[Starla*]

YAY, KAMA!! That's really awesome--congrats! :D

[Kama]

Slight update.

They received my full application, which turned out to be complete enough (there was always a chance I forgot to put in some vital part of it, even though I checked it like 20 times)

They will now be checking the translations. Results in May.

[Zal]

I so would not have the patience to go through such a long process. How can you stand the wait?

[Kama]

<-- patient




plus, I don't have anything else to do, anyway :)

[Starla*]

Many congrats and good wishes to Kama. :)

[Kama]

*waiting*

:blink:

:huh:

[Ela]

Good luck, Kama! And congrats on getting this far. :)

[Kama]

The marking of the written tests is underway.
Candidates will be informed of the results of the written tests probably at the end of May 2004, via their EPSO-profile.


This is so stupid.

[Rakeesh]

What's wrong is tricking me by posting in this thread, dangit :angry:

[Kama]

Imagine how I'm feeling.

Jerk.


The good news is, my best friend who took part in the competition for secretaries (she didn't have her M.A. yet at the time, so she couldn'y try anything higher), was accepted to the oral exams. Yay for her. The bad news is her exams are going to take place between July and autumn (which includes August) so there's a chance mine will too. If I pass the written ones. But maybe not. Why on Earth am I worrying about it if I still don't know if I passed? *sigh*

I worry too much.

*nukes Brussels*

[SoberTillNoon]

Microwaving the vegetable, or destroying the country?

[Kama]

destroying the city which is the symbol and headquarters of the European Union.

[SoberTillNoon]

Ah, good, because microwaved brussel sprouts does not sound good.

[Kama]

Bleah.

I haven't had that thing since preschool, microwaved or otherwise.

[Kama]

*nostalgic bump*

this turned out nice.

And I have some pics of my apartment, too:

http://www.cammyk.republika.pl/1.jpg

http://www.cammyk.republika.pl/2.jpg

http://www.cammyk.republika.pl/3.jpg

http://www.cammyk.republika.pl/4.jpg

[GreNME]

Nice. It kinda reminds me a little of my first apartment, though my first apartment didn't have such nice doors (they were old, bland, and very utilitarian).

[Icarus]

I'm intrigued by the fact that all of your books are in banana boxes--of different brands.

(I also smiled when I recognized Lost Boys on your bookshelf!)

[Strider]

I smiled when I recognized a bottle of Kahlua on your shelf.

Good Job.

Kama stock just shot up 50 points.

[Kama]

you got me addicted, Greg.

[Icarus]

I'm more of a Bailey's guy myself.


Mmmmm . . . Bailey's.

Damn you, Greg!

[Kama]

Bailey's is to sweet.

[Leonide]

*agrees with Kama*

I don't even like coffee, but something about Kahlua...i don't know. it's good stuff.

[Icarus]

Originally posted by Kama@Mar 19 2006, 11:40 AM
Bailey's is to sweet.
*nod*

Bailey's : sweet :: Kahlua : crappy

[Strider]

I think what you meant to write was:

Kahlua : tastey :: Icarus : crappy

[Kama]

i keep reading that as creepy.

btw, is anyone here that doesn't read sakeriver gonna be in LA or Greensboro this August?

[Starla*]

Greensboro, South Carolina?

[Kama]

North. ;)

[Starla*]

yeah, i thought about that after i posted.

I could probably make arrangements....:)

[Kama]

Well then what are you waiting for?

;)