Hey everyone~

This is going to be hard....this is also in the forum...

I'm really really sorry everyone, but I'm going to take a whole month off translating. That means everything I translate, manhua, manga and novels will all have to be on hold. I've every resigned/on hiatus in the other groups I translate for, but this group...is a bit harder.

It's a really hard decision to choose focusing on translating this month or studying, and I don't really know which one I'll regret more if I don't do. If I don't get in, I'm going to be disappointed that I didn't spend more effort translating and letting all of you guys read the next volume, but if I don't try for it....well, I don't know...

You see...I...got into the training group for the NZ selection camp for the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO). It's about a group of 80-90 people, I think (?) who are vying for around 25 spots in the camp, which will be determined with a second test/exam.

I took the first test/exam 29 Oct last year (the day after my birthday) and I didn't even study for it, mainly because I did it for fun and the other being how close it was to my birthday (I mean, who studies then?). Shockingly I actually did very well and scored in the top 10%. I even scored higher (by quite a bit apparently) than the smartest student in my year, technically my "rival," except sadly, I've never really won against her except on small tests. She got in as well and I don't really want to lose again...(but I lose all the time so who cares)
Anyway, I don't know what the cut-off was, but I probably scored somewhere between 20-35. Based on the results of the first test, it's not entirely impossible for me not to get into the camp (my only aim) with a little study, but it will still be super competitive.

I focused on translating manga/manhua (of all sorts) and the rest of Gu Fang vol01 + some of vol02 mostly throughout my summer hols (in southern hemisphere countries) rather than studying and I've been putting off studying for it until now, a month before the second test. That means I have to make a decision -- give up the camp for translating, or give up translating for the camp, and unfortunately for everyone, I choose the latter.

I really wish I translated more in the summer hols of Gu Fang novel, everyone. Though, I wish the author put in a bit more humour, 'cause I would've translated wayyyy faster then. Translating is hard, novels even harder than usual, but the upbeat are always a lot easier to interpret. I could complain more here, but I'll leave it at that.

So although my decision is very selfish, I hope everyone will respect it. unsure emoticon
I'll post online whether I get in or not after the test. It'll probably be a horrible disappointment anyway (and then I feel depressed blah blah blah D:)

My apologies everyone,
xah.
x_xah@hotmail.co.nz

P.S: Since I'm planning to study hardcore, I plan to shut off my wifi completely for a month, meaning I won't be contactable via facebook for a while. I will check my emails and the forum at school occasionally (but facebook is blocked). Send anything, queries, feedback, complaints and other evil comments (?) to my email or leave a message in the forum. I shall see it, mwahaha. Today is going to be my last day properly/fully online, so feel free to ask/yell/stalk me for anything as after this, my replies will feel a bit detached.

Good luck!

Good luck on your studies, xah!

While I am always grateful for your translations, your studies should always have priority.

xah, go kick some butt!

Do your best! We are cheering for you!

...although we can't guarantee how much sweets are going to be thrown around when you return

Or that we'll clean up after ourselves!

Hopefully you did better on the exam than you think!
 
Im sure myself and many others can & will wait patiently for you to resume translations when you dont have as much studying/schoolwork to do - life can sometimes become a balancing act of choices and the volumes will still be there where you left them, but competing to be selected for the Chemistry Olympiad is such a cool and rare opportunity (with a cherry on top that you could try to surpass that other girl!).

Rooting for you from the north Western Hemisphere where I hope winter will finally be on its last legs of -40C windchill weather.