Month: September 2016

Happy International Translation Day!

International Day is celebrated on September 30. It commemorates St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators, who translated the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin. The celebration was first organized by the International Federation of Translators in 1991. The holiday promotes the profession of translation and describes the important role that translators play in our global environment. (Source 1 and Source 2)

How to write about International Translation Day:

  • Do you know another language? Which language(s) do you know and how did you learn them?
  • Is there a language that you’d like to learn? Which language and why?
  • Have you ever done any translation, either verbally or on paper? How did you find the experience?
  • Have you ever worked with a translator? How did it feel?

Life in the sandwich generation

As you read this, I will be attending the first day of a three day conference in Stamford, CT.

I always find traveling stressful, especially because the conference is just the beginning of a fast (and long) solo trip to Canada to see my parents. In between, I’m stopping near the border to visit my son in his new apartment. Just to be clear, my son is only tolerating my visit because he needs a vehicle for grocery shopping!

My travels this week remind me that I am definitely a member of the “sandwich generation,” although I’ve gotten off pretty easily (thankfully) given that my parents are healthy and my children are independent. I’m definitely at a point in life when I cherish time with my parents and children. Hopefully, within the next decade or two, my son will feel the same way about me!

 

Today, write about a special time with a family member.

Reviewed: Mindfulness as Medicine: A Story of Healing and Spirit

I selected this book because the author was a physician before she became a Buddhist nun. She also contracted Lyme disease in 2011. Since  I am interested in healing and my husband contracted Lyme disease last summer, I thought this book would be a perfect fit.

Ultimately, Mindfulness as Medicine has very little to do with any type of disease. It is about the author’s experience as a nun and learning to be compassionate toward herself. The essence of the book is that you can’t be helpful and loving to others unless you’ve learned to love yourself. You do this by being aware of what’s going on in your mind and body, and treating yourself with kindness.

This book is an interesting memoir and a look inside Buddhist beliefs. I think it would be helpful for anyone who has a chronic condition and is looking for a way to accept their disease and take care of themselves. It is not a book you would read, however, if you were looking for any kind of medical insight into your illness.

What is “On the Fritz”?

“On the Fritz” means that something is malfunctioning or broken. The expression first appeared in 1902 and referred to a person or situation that was in bad condition. It is believed this expression came from the 1897 comic strip called The Katzenjammer Kids (the oldest comic strip still in syndication). This comic follows the rebellious actions of twin brothers Hans and Fritz. It is believed that “On the Fritz” refers to bad actions perpetrated by Fritz, although it is odd that Hans is not included in this expression. (Source)