On your marks, get set, go! March 12, the announcement comes: a suspected case of coronavirus infection in the large IMO family and our world changes. Closure of the building, now we work from our homes, each one alone but united in a team spirit: this is how we guarantee the continuity of our vital translation services. 
  
Individual and collective organization, we adapt quickly, we communicate effectively but now with an internet connection rather than across our colleagues’ desks.

Computer, laptop, tablet, phone what the hell, we are in the 21st century and what's more, impossible is not French (allegedly says the Corsican chap, err…Napoleon). 

A quick overview, each of us starts with what we have to hand: those in shared rooms without tables, those with babies and toddlers, and even one, freshly arrived from France to take up their duties, without ever meeting colleagues face to face.

Mutual help is immediate and comforting.

The flexible schedule is just that, thank goodness.

The virus is taunting us, forcing us to learn, adapt, work and super-fast so we are not caught with our pants down.

Team work, a hackneyed phrase but this is where it shines through; we pull together, we provide support to each other. A flood of e-mails about the new work organization: charts, time sheets, document distribution (who does what and when), daily report of potential COVID-19 symptoms, lists of equipment (pitifully short), purchasing advice (desk, chair, second screen, no luxury, just essential. When did we ever realise how important a good chair was?

But don't worry: the number of tabs and the list of "favorite" links on the computer are getting longer and longer, and that's all there is to it. 

Objective number one: translate documents, but uh ... preferably with the help of the brand new, beautiful translation and terminology support system. But there’s a hitch: our training on this modern age magic lantern was suddenly interrupted. Immediate immersion is unavoidable and effective. Especially, thanks to colleagues who are already familiar with this digital Swiss Army Knife, who go out of their way to lend a virtual helping hand to the more hesitant. 

We listen to each other, we give more than usual, we look for solutions, and we get it done. Overheating due to increased volume of urgent documents? Come on, the fate of seafarers stuck on board ships at sea for weeks, months, sets the record straight: for us, in short, we’re the lucky ones. Virtual routine (think pilates, Zumba and language classes) ahead? Not quite…
 the question comes of a cautious return to the office; hesitation or aspiration? 
  
An application to join AMFIE has cut my questions short: I got on my bike and headed back to the IMO - certifying a photocopy of a passport doesn't wait! 

Catherine Bécour