When you think back to a particular time in your life, it's certain impressions which stick in your mind. I don't really remember all that much about the projects I was involved with when I worked for EMI in Belgium for six months in 1997, at least not in vivid detail, but the smell of waffles being grilled in a Belgian metro station took me back to that time in an instant. And with it came a wealth of emotions as well - loneliness, unhappiness in the job, but also a sense of freedom and excitement at being in this fascinating, contrary city.
And so it is that I started to wonder about the emotions which would come rushing back if one day some smell catapulted me back to autumn 2003. Probably a mix of hope and fear for the future, a Popstars-like sense of living under a sword of Damocles, the quite extraordinary sense of adrenaline and fear-fuelled super-alertness you experience when interpreting a challenging speaker, the sense of being just another fresh-faced newbie trying to make their fortune in this linguists' Hollywood.
There seem to be no half-measures in life any more. Work demands total concentration, and then is completely, utterly over; home-time. Off switch. It's the complete opposite of managing projects in an office (thank God). It has plusses and minuses; on the one hand, each meeting is a clean slate, making it easier to put bad days behind you. On the other, you're a real hostage to fortune - what language is that Commission representative going to speak when he opens his mouth? Is it going to be one of "yours"? Is he going to be "difficult"?
And so on...
Posted by Eurodan at November 19, 2003 9:38 PMSuch excitement. You are in your element, dear boy. Long may it continue.
And how is your Fleming?
Posted by: matt at November 20, 2003 12:40 AMGod! These blogs are hard to read on my phone sitting here in a Brighton bar. Smells, like music have such a wonderful direct route into your emotional memories. Your incredible ability to under estimate your talents ("another newbie...") never ceases to amaze me. When will you realise that you are the ultimate in linguistic super computers (amongst other things?) And when do we get to hear the intimate details about your new Flemish friend?
Posted by: Shyboy at November 20, 2003 7:12 PMFinally I get around to visiting your blog, after saving a text message you sent me *many* months ago!
Looking good!
Haven't seen you in ages, my friend -- hope you're well. :)
Posted by: Frimlin at November 20, 2003 10:20 PM