How exactly do you translate the words “search room” into Filipino?

By “search room” I mean the room where you conduct body searches.  I am afraid I cannot continue explaining as this would only lead to more confusion and sexual mistranslation.  Suffice it to say that the documents I’m translating have to do with Customs and the people they arrest.

I was sorely tempted to write “silid kapkapan” but logic prevailed and I went with the English words.  Technically I’m supposed to translate from Traditional Chinese to Filipino, but when words (or the translator’s brain) fails it’s pretty much necessary to just go with the English version.  After all, English is this country’s national language, too, right?

It’s a lame excuse, but if the people paying me don’t complain I don’t think I’ll be losing sleep over it.

I have this theory that watching Chinese/Taiwanese/HK telenovelas brings me more translation projects.  I can’t explain it really, but around the time I started watching It Started with a Kiss, I clinched by most lucrative translation job.  Same thing happened when I watched They Kiss Again.  Now I’m watching that tearjerker of a soap, Family, and I got this job.

Coincidence?

I don’t think so.  Luck, maybe, or some sort of cosmic alignment.

Either way it’s fine by me.

The only problem is whether or not I can handle this lifestyle.  I’ve been having episodes of random vertigo-ish dizziness these past few days.  Someone told me it might be irreversible brain damage, but that’s impossible.  My brain is damaged enough as it is; it can’t get any worse than that.

I just hope to survive this very, very busy weekend.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 4th, 2008 at 12:40 pm and is filed under work. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.