Translation Notes 12: Not Taking the Ordinary Path

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The formal training began in the unit’s sheet metal workshop that morning. I found the whole morning to be very fulfilling; I watched carefully as the workers carried out their tasks, and through conversations with them, I learned some basic principles of sheet metal work. This helped me put the theoretical concepts I had learned from books into practice, laying a solid foundation for my future translation work (it felt like I was preparing a report). Actually, the boss didn’t initially plan for me to go to the workshop for training; it was my own idea that I brought up in my summary. Perhaps because he saw how eager I was to learn and improve myself, the boss agreed. I guess one should spend time in the sheet metal workshop, and then move on to other workshops. I really think one needs to learn to plan what to do each day and how to carry out those plans, striving to improve oneself every day – that’s what an employee should do.