Looking Back (2018) & Ahead (2019)

It's December, which means it's time for my annual blog post 😅

2018

This year I accomplished a few of my resolutions for once: I lost weight, increased my GPA, got accepted to grad schools, worked on my languages (duh), and sold a cross stitch. 

There were also a few things that weren't on my list. In winter I officially declared a minor in German Studies at UCSB. In spring, I gained an officer position in my club and finished my junior year of college. Over the summer I prepared my grad school applications. This fall I was accepted to four UK universities and I finished my major requirements. I also wrote a featured blog post about how I've overcome my anxiety disorder. And, most excitingly, I finished my first paid translation project this week!

2019

I will be finishing my B.A. this June! And as long as I get the finances together, I will be starting a one-year M.A. in Professional Translation for European Languages at Newcastle University in England this September. I am super excited, as I can't wait to learn more about the craft and I have wanted a graduate degree for quite some time. And, of course, I've never traveled outside of the US so it will be an adventure. A few of my goals for the new year are:

• Graduate with a 3.3 GPA
• Save enough money for grad school
• Read 3 novels in Spanish
• Improve my German
• Learn basic Korean
• Continue losing weight
• Be more active on my blog!

Wherever you are, whoever you are, I hope 2019 brings you happiness and self-improvement. 

Cheers,

Emily Anne Williams

TRANSLATION: Súbeme la radio by Enrique Iglesias

As most of you know, I've wanted to be a translator since I was in high school. This past academic year, I enrolled in an introductory seminar about translation and I've been wanting to do more ever since. So, I thought I would try my hand at one of my favorite songs "Súbeme la radio" by Enrique Iglesias. It's not perfect, especially since this is only the third draft, but I like what I've come up with so far. I've included the official lyric video for the song below. Note: most translators don't translate word-for-word, but rather what flows and fits best. I approached this piece more as a text than a song, so I did not attempt to make it rhyme or fit a certain tempo. I do not own any rights to this song, just to the translation.

Please enjoy!

 Súbeme la radio por Enrique Iglesias
“Turn up the Radio” by Enrique Iglesias, translation by Emily Anne Williams

Turn up the radio
Br-bring me something

[CHORUS]
Turn up the radio, this is my song
Feel the bass rising
Bring me something to numb the pain
Today we'll reunite the sun and moon
Turn up the radio, this is my song
Feel the bass rising
Bring me something to numb the pain
Today we'll reunite the sun and moon

Nothing matters anymore
Not the day, not the hour
If I've lost it all,
Then you've left me in darkness

I swear I believe

I'm trying my best

Time is moving slowly

And it's killing me (and it's killing me) 

If the night falls and you don't answer

I swear I'll spend sleepless nights

Waiting at your door

Singing under a full moon

[CHORUS]

Running from the past

Every single morning

I fail to find a way 

To erase our history

Drinking to your health (drinking to your health)

While I hold my breath

All I'm asking you (all I'm asking you)

Is to break this silence (is to break this silence)

[CHORUS]

I'm becoming crazy and desperate in search of your love

Don't leave me in this loneliness, I'm begging you

I'm asking you truthfully, come back to me

If you call, I promise we'll dance

And I want to see you now

I can't take it anymore

I want to keep you warm

Just one more time

I can't take it anymore

I want to see you now

Oh oh oh

I'm not lying (oh oh oh)

I'm still waiting for you (oh oh oh)

You know how much I love you

I can't live like this (no)

I'm not lying (oh oh oh)

I'm still waiting for you (oh oh oh)

You know how much I love you

I can't live like this (no)

[CHORUS]

Turn up the radio

Br-bring me something

Turn up the radio