20 (or so) questions on how Charles Ek works
This series of posts was inspired by Lifehacker’s How I Work series, which I’ve been reading for quite some time and thoroughly enjoy. It’s about time we discover how our colleagues work and get to know them a little better.
If you want to participate in this fun series, send us an email at info@linguagreca.com so we can send you the Word template where you can fill in your answers and your bio (incl. your site/blog/social media links) and then send it back to us as an attachment along with your photo (optional but preferred). If you don’t like any of the questions, just delete them and add your own. You can read the previous interviews here.
Location: Ortona, a little town in Abruzzo, Italy
Desired location: Göttingen, Germany, where I studied for a semester.
Current work title: freelance Italian translator from English and German.
Desired work title: freelance translator. That’s what I want to be.
Languages you have studied or currently speak: I grew up with English as my father lived for many years in Australia. Then, at the university I also studied Spanish and German. I studied Chinese for one year, but even though it was fascinating, it wasn’t made for me.
The project you’re most proud of: the translation of an app for mobile payments.
Your current computer setup: a brand new and powerful laptop, because I’m always on the move.
Do you own a smartphone? Sure, I’m addicted to it!
Favorite time of the day: the night. I really can’t wake up early.
Favorite gadget (apart from computer & smartphone): I bought an iPad last year, but I’m not actually using it that often.
Next conference/event you’re planning to attend: FIT XXth World Congress, in Berlin.
How many hours per day do you usually work: 8-9 per day, or anyway as much as I need to complete my current translation projects.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? I’m definitely an introvert and this usually causes me some difficulties in establishing relationships. Anyway, my intention is to change this for 2014!
Are you an early-riser or a night-owl? Certainly a night-owl! I can’t wake up before 9 am, but I don’t go to bed before 1 am.
What do you listen to while you work? Some time ago I discovered Coffitivity, an app that plays coffee shop sounds and I usually use it matched with some random music from my iTunes. I really can’t work with no sound!
And a few non-work related questions to get more personal.
Your babies or pets, incl. names and ages: No babies yet, just one dog named Furba and a female cat named Gatto (I know, it’s a really original name indeed!)
Next city/country you want to visit: India is my biggest desire. I hope I can make it in 2014!
Favorite vacation place: Any place with seaside J
What are you currently reading? I just ordered three books about the translation industry and being a freelancer.
Author bio
Valentina Massari is an English and German into Italian translator for the technical, cosmetics and perfumery fields. After an experience in a translation agency, she fell in love with the translation world and since then she is working as a translator. To know more about Valentina visit her site www.faithfullyitalian.com, follow her on Twitter (@valemassari), or like her Facebook page Faithfully Italian Translations.
About the author
Catherine Christaki has been a full-time English-Greek translator since 2001 and co-owner of Lingua Greca Translations since 2012. She specializes in Information Technology, Medical, and Technical texts and loves writing for the Adventures in Technical Translation blog. She regularly shares her experience and insight on social media and blogging for translators, giving interviews and presenting at conferences. Connect with her on Twitter @LinguaGreca.
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Coffitivity sounds fascinating Valentina and I love the name "Furba"! Surely there's a good reason for that 🙂