It's been fun --- now off to Japan

Bruce Humes wrote:
Proz.com has given me a new way of thinking about translation as a business, and convinced me that working within a group is quite often the way to go.

Kevin Yang wrote:

Bruce,

That was a big decision! I can imagine it would take lots of courage and will power to finalize it. A strategic career move? A personal interest? Or both? I am so comfortable to be where I am, and I can’t think of what would motivate me to make a move like that. With your talent and skills, I am confident to say that you will be successful in Japan. If you can survive in China, you can survive anywhere!

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your participation in the Chinese Forum and KudoZ question services. You have demonstrated and set an example for us what a professional translator should be in carrying out the translator's ethics and pursuing the highest quality possible in translation. I am very impressed by your performance at ProZ.com. Your emails to me also bring me another level of understanding about you.

I was shocked to read in your message about the brutalities you suffered in Shenzhen. It sounds very much like an uncharted territory dominated by mobs and hooligans. I hope the judicial system there could bring the justice to you. Thank goodness, you have recovered from it and did not have any permanent damage. The emotional scare can only be healed by time and association with the good friends. I also hope you can understand that you can find bad guys everywhere, and not all the Chinese people are like that.

You are considered as one of us now, so don’t be a stranger. You are always welcomed here. Remember, you always can find us here no matter where you go. This is a platform across countries and borders.

Drop by when you can and great luck with your endeavors!

Kevin



[Edited at 2003-06-06 15:44]

Bruce Humes wrote:

Many thanks, Kevin, and others who have posted such nice comments.

I do want to clarify three things:

1) Shenzhen does have a "security problem," since it is basically an "immigrant" city with a very large floating population. Pickpocketing is a way of life on the streets of Shenzhen, but is so professionally done that one rarely ends up fighting about it!

2) My experience of meeting with violence during a robbery is rare as far as I know. I was attacked very suddenly from behind and unfortunately -- I can remember only a few seconds of the encounter -- did put up quite a fight. Most people here say that is the reason I was knifed; Normally, robbers just move on with their booty without injuring anyone, and there are many stories of stolen ID cards being sent back by mail to their owners!

3) My decision to go to Japan has nothing to do with my injury. I have been keen to study Japanese literature for 20 years now. I feel very at home in Shenzhen and China in general, and look forward to visiting frequently and eventually moving back to write, translate and teach. Shenzhen in particular is a neat place, due to its lovely sub-tropical vegetation and weather, and the fact that the city -- unlike Shanghai, for instance -- is comprised almost entirely of Chinese from all over the country. This makes life here interesting, challenging and rewarding, providing you are an outgoing type willing to socialize.

Bruce