From a Cat’s Eye View

733 words, 4 minute read time

Teaching a curious cat how to ride an elevator was probably a big mistake. After all, I learned that I’ll be treated like a queen once I reach the Translation Department. And honestly, nothing beats being the center of attention, receiving head scratches (please mind the ears) or watching some of you jump and run away in fear.

Despite what the proverb says, curiosity didn’t kill the cat. After spending some time observing you, I’ve become somewhat familiar with your quirks and habits. But I must admit that there are some things I still don’t quite understand about you, translation students. This is a list of the three most important observations I have made:

1- Your Coffee Intake: Positively (Cat)astrophic

Many of you seem to believe that sleep is an option, and drinking two (or maybe more) cups of coffee will make 8 a.m. classes more bearable. It scares me. I’ve seen you chug it, with no regard for how hot it is, if you burn your tongue, or if you’re drinking it on an empty stomach. Some of you even repurposed an entire area on the sixth floor just to have a quick latte between classes (good job, that room was sad to look at).

I’m not denying the benefits of coffee. Quite the opposite, really. Students do look more focused once the caffeine kicks in, but I do wonder: when’s the crash coming? That fourth cup is just delaying the inevitable. Moderation is key, you know: moderate coffee intake, moderate sleeping hours… but I’ll stay quiet about that last one. After all, I do nap for 16 hours a day.

2 – Your Endless (Cat)alog of Books to Read

Considering your line of work, I thought reading would become second nature. And yet, I’ve seen you fall into reading slumps, “reading” some words but not understanding the context, or even catching a serious case of the post-book blues. What’s even more peculiar is that instead of getting out of that funk, some of you decide to add to your “to be read” list and never actually give it a chance. I’m not judging you; it’s the pile of books gathering dust on your shelf who is.

Speaking of books, it turns out that cats are a big deal in Japanese novels. For instance, look at the cover of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series. We’re everywhere! From titles to covers and even the stories themselves. But if you ask me, the one who actually steals the show (and who’s my personal hero, too) has to be the feline in The Cat Who Saved Books. Imagine reading about another curious cat working with a boy to literally save forgotten books? Now that’s something intriguing and definitely worth reading. I’m thinking about doing the same, actually. I can see it already: I’ll save people from reading slumps, and soon after my act of kindness will push them to write about me. It’s a win-win situation. You get your joy of reading back, and I get to enjoy being popular!

3- Your Stress Levels Reaching (Cat)aclysmic Heights…

…Especially when exam season rolls around. I’ve learned to avoid going up to your floors when I start seeing you overthink and mumble in three different languages about what you wrote in a paper. I’ve seen you lugging around glossaries and about 4 dictionaries only to use one, two or even none. Some older cats even told me that years ago, students would show up with suitcases just to carry them around.

That’s not all! I heard that most of you stress about going into room 513, the dreaded exam room. Let me give you a piece of advice: what happens in there, stays in there. There’s no need to worry! That is until deliberations happen, and your grades are posted in which case, I now understand why you’re so stressed.

Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’ve got some food to steal from the cafeteria and a few pigeons to chase around. In the meantime, let me ask: what are some noteworthy habits I have missed? Or what should I keep my eye on when I stroll through campus? And what department should I visit next? Don’t be shy, tell me. After all, a little curiosity never killed anyone; and certainly not an already curious cat.