Lost in Translation
I knew from the onset that moving to another county would not be without it's fair share of challenges. But I am finding that one of my biggest obstacles is to maneuver around in my daily life and in business in another language. Creating is the easy part, but it's the business part that provides its own little complications... things like calling my fabric suppliers about orders, communicating with customers over the telephone, and maintaining an online shop.
This explains my partial absence these past few days and even weeks. Although I have posted here and there, my creative time has been pushed to the side for other "maintenance" issues like translating my website. So in the meantime, I will drop in every now and then just to announce that I am not completely... lost in translation.
...und jetzt auf Deutsch.
Est ist eine riesige Herausforderung, im Ausland zu leben und funktionieren. Aber auch ein Geschäft aufzubauen mit Allem was dazu gehört -- ist was völlig anderes. Da gibt es soviele kleine Sachen, die man beherrschen muss... auch die bürokratische kram. Niemand kann es verstehen, ohne es selber gemacht zu haben. Du hast dein Mann, der dich unterstutzt -- eine tolle Sache! :) Einfach ist es zwar nicht, aber interresant, auf jeden Fall, nicht wahr?
ReplyDeleteIt truly is a great thing to have a husband that takes care of so much. I cannot imagine doing this alone, but yet I know there are many who do. Crazy thing is... I can remember the first time I flipped through a German magazine and all the words seemed so strange and foreign to me, and now, sometimes to my own amazement, things like reading your comment and understanding everything is not as big as it once was. (which I think is the first step for me) But now I have to work on step two, which is to be able to answer you back in German. But like you said, it really does make ones life interesting... aber ich kann ganz ehrlich sagen, mein leben ist nie langweilig.
ReplyDeleteI think what you are doing is fantastic, and that you are learning German is wonderful. You should be really proud of yourself. I love all of your creativity. Hamburg is not the easiest city to be creative in, with its conservative, Hanseatic way-- one must really search there for inspiration (sometimes in the form of an ICE ticket to berlin or bremen :) ) but it seems you are finding the muse to do some astounding work. It took me a long time to reach the point you are functioning at when I lived there, I did let the weather and the lack of smiling faces get me down to much. So let me just send you this "sunny" wish -- I think what you are doing is fabulous, and I wish you creative wonderful days ahead!!
ReplyDeleteHi Allison,
ReplyDeleteI can understand your situation. I've moved around three continents so far. I would love to create more, but my other obligations take up most of my time!
Glad you have such a supportive hubby. (mine is too, btw).
And I LOVE that gorgeous butterfly necklace!
Duni