Meet Yingdan Liu, a simultaneous translator living and working in Shanghai. We followed the Hunan native around for the day to see what she gets up to. She’s all business in the interpretation box but fun on the frisbee field. If you need a toastmaster at your wedding, she might be the one for the job. This woman loves to talk.

08:00 Wake up. Lie in bed and use my iPhone to check emails and Sina micro-blog. This is usually how I force myself to be completely awake. I’m amused by friends’ updates and some pop stars’ blog entries and feel excited for another day.

08:30 Get up and have breakfast with Mom, who is visiting me. This means a bowl of her delicious noodles. A nice breakfast makes me feel energetic and warm.

09:00 Work in my home office. This afternoon I have a half-day simultaneous interpretation, so I spend the whole morning on final preparations. Just received PowerPoints on all speakers last night, so I read all the PPTs, look up new words and terms and make a glossary in Excel. I’m trying my best to be focused this morning–no emails, no phone, no interruptions. I need to be 100 percent focused on researching and understanding more about the topic. Good preparation helps me stay calm and confident. I write down a few things that I want to clarify with the speakers before this afternoon’s meeting.

11:30 Have lunch and dress up for work. Print out glossary sheet. Excitement crawls up in my heart. It feels like I’m going to conquer another challenge and I envision how satisfied and happy I’ll be after it’s done.

12:00 On my way to the Portman Ritz-Carlton for the meeting. Conduct a final review of all the new words and terms I gathered this morning.

13:00 Arrive at the Portman and meet my interpretation partner. Chitchat with him for a while, then get familiar with the working environment and test the simultaneous interpretation equipment. Get the final agenda and some ad hoc materials from the conference organizers.

13:30 Audience members begin to arrive, followed by the speakers, with whom I clarify some questions I had this morning and get familiar with their accents. Use bathroom before meeting starts. My work place is a big wooden box at the back of the conference room, and I sit there for five minutes before the conference starts. Then I put on my earphones, take a deep breath, clear my mind and get ready for work. Kinda nervous, but more excited and energized.

14:00 I am fully concentrated on work. My partner and I take turns every 20 minutes. When he’s working, I just listen and relax, sometimes checking messages and returning missed calls. Since it’s peak season, it’s very easy to receive assignment enquiries during work from my existing clients or translation companies. When it’s my partner’s turn, I go outside and return calls to avoid missing work opportunities.

15:30 Tea break. Today’s refreshments are delicious. I eat a small piece of chocolate cake, a small piece of cheesecake and some fruit. Tea break is always a delightful moment for me. It gives a break to my mind and I get to enjoy delicate desserts. The wooden box is hot inside and tea break is a chance for me to go out and breathe cool air.

14:00 Back to work. I like doing half-day interpretations because they’re much less stressful and it gives me half the day to relax. Sometimes I have several days of interpretation in a row and have to prepare for work at night, which drains my energy. When the clock strikes 5pm, I smile and feel that victory is just around the corner.

19:00 Go to my China Advanced Toastmasters club meeting. Toastmasters is a non-profit organization that helps members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills. The club is 20-30 people who hold regular meetings (usually every week or two) to practice public speaking and evaluation skills. I always feel rejuvenated and inspired after every meeting, since other members’ speeches give me more knowledge and life inspiration.

21:00 It’s my frisbee friend Jud’s birthday dinner at Sichuan Citizen. We play frisbee two to three times per week and it’s very fun and has a strong spirit of sportsmanship. Gathering with my frisbee friends is always full of humor. The team is very international and I like being exposed to different cultures. Jud is a vegetarian, and it’s the first time I’ve ever had a birthday dinner solely of vegetables. My friends know that I’m a toastmaster, so I propose a toast. This dinner is an enjoyable and memorable end to my day.

23:00 Back home, take a shower. I say: “I’m grateful for all that I have,” before falling asleep

What do you think of Yingdan's day? Leave a comment below.