In Spain, especially down here in the sweltering heat of Andalusia, life slows to a crawl during August. People pack up and head for the coast, where the temperatures are a bit lower and there is at least the chance of a cool breeze. With temperatures in Seville hitting forty degrees, you can’t blame them really! This year has apparently been the hottest for forty years, with the daily temperatures of over 40ºC most days all through July.
So, what if you’re not one of the lucky ones down at the beach?
Well, sadly I fall into this category at the moment. I am a freelance parent in August. I am working on a large project which was too good to turn down and there is no alternative but to work through at least the first three weeks of August. I had hoped it would be ready earlier and I would be able to take some more of this month as holiday and then start work again in September, but as often happens with a big project it has been held up by edits and isn’t ready yet for translation. It should come in on Monday.
Being a working parent adds another level of complication
Obviously, the kids are off school until September and have been since the last week of June. As I work from home, this means my quiet office space is no more. So, what to do? Well, we are lucky in that our village organises a really excellent (and massively subsidised) summer school for local kids where they can spend the mornings doing handicrafts, zumba, swimming and dancing. Mine went every day in July and could have gone this month too, but we thought they needed a break too, so they have gone to the beach with my husband and their cousins.
I drive down at the weekends and come back to swelter <work> during the week. It’s worked reasoanbly well so far. Obviously I miss them, but I know they are having a great time and once I’ve wrapped for the week I can jump in the car with the dog and head down for a couple of days rest. I must say, I get SO much done without all the little interruptions of family life. I’ve picked up a couple of new clients and been able to put in long hours as it’s just me and the dog to think about.
What other advantages of working in the summer are there?
A colleague of mine always works throughout August and says it is her busiest month in the entire year, she has her regular clients and also picks up other work from clients whose normal translators are on holiday. I have noticed this happen a little so far, but not much, but then we’re not far into August. My problem with this plan is, once again, being a working parent. My colleague takes a break later in the year, but I can’t really do that without the kids missing a big chunk of school, which I don’t want them to do for various reasons.
This year I’ve experiemented with working in August as it’s the only way to take on this large project, but I’m not sure it’s the best way to organise my summer. I think next year I’m going to take some time in August when the children are off school and then try to hit the ground running at the end of August. At least by then the municipal library will have longer opening hours and I can escape there if I need some air-conditioning and peace and quiet. Part of my “problem” is that the kids are off school for so long (23rd June to 15th Septemeber). If they even went back at the beginning of September it would solve a work/childcare issue as I’d only have August to sort out. As it is, there’s a week at the end of June before they can start summer school and two weeks of September before they go back to mainstream school. It’s a hard juggling act.
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