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, email us at info@linguagreca.com for the Word template where you can fill in your answers & bio (incl. site/blog/social media) 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. Check out the previous interviews here.
Location: Ukraine
Desired location: “That place is best of all where we haven’t been at all…”
Current work title: Translator, editor, founder and owner of Translators Family
Languages you have studied or currently speak: English, German, Russian and Ukrainian.
The project you’re most proud of: Actually I’m most proud of one of my first projects. It was an English to Russian translation of a self-help book entitled “Love for All Eternity”, written by American author R.K. Relan. This project not only inspired me to start seriously translating for living, but also gave some great hints on family life with my future wife, who actually helped me with the translation.
Do you own a smartphone? A Samsung Galaxy SIII. I don’t have gadget addiction, so I don’t hanker after the latest iPhone!
Favorite time of the day: The middle of the day, when I have already completed some work and I still have enough time to get a bit more done.
Favorite gadget (apart from computer & smartphone): I’m something of an audiophile, so I’m more interested in serious hi-fi equipment than in the latest gadgets and gizmos.
How many hours per day do you usually work: About 10.
Are you an early-riser or a night-owl? Unfortunately, I’m a night owl, adapted to be available for both my European and American clients!
What do you listen to while you work? Being a music lover I listen to various genres of music. I always have something playing in the background. I prefer pop, rock, disco or funk in the morning and afternoon, and jazz, soul, lounge, and classical music in the evening. My favorite artists from my early childhood are Michael Jackson and Queen. My favorite instruments are the percussion instruments and violin.
Bonus question for localizers
Tell us a bit about your localization values: Collaborating with IT teams I offer my clients not only translation, but also web design and development, SEO, SMM and other services. In order to fully understand the localization process I learned the basics of web design, HTML coding, SEO and SMM. That’s how I know how to organize the process of website and software localization correctly.
And a few non-work related questions to get more personal.
Next city/country you want to visit: Italy, USA, Canada.
Favorite vacation place: I’m always visiting different places. Most of all I enjoyed my trip to London. You could spend your life in that city and never get tired of it.
Favorite book: I can’t name a favorite, because I always like the one I’m reading at the moment! At the moment I’m reading two books simultaneously, one in paper format: “Daniel Stein, Interpreter” by Ludmila Ulitskay; and another on my Kindle: “1984” by George Orwell. Both books are very thoughtful. I decided to read “Daniel Stein, Interpreter” not because it is about a translator and interpreter, but because I was highly impressed by the indefatigable resilience of the Jewish people after visiting Krakow and nearby Auschwitz concentration camp. This book is about a Polish Jew, who survived the horrors of Nazism, worked as an interpreter for the Gestapo, saved many lives, and finally became a Catholic priest.
Favorite song: One of my favorites is Michael Jackson’s “Working Day and Night” – pretty apt for me!
Author bio
Oleg Semerikov is an English to Russian and Ukrainian translator, specialized in technical, IT and business texts as well as in website and software localization. Since 2007 he has managed a team of translators called Translators Family as a family business. Oleg is responsible for the management, promotion, and success of his team, creating the concept and content of the website and project management system of his team. He has a lot of hobbies, including writing, reading, listening to music, dancing, working out in the gym, yoga, traveling, going to plays and concerts, learning new things. Visit the Translators Family’ blog dedicated to the translation business. Follow Oleg and Translators Family on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google+.
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.
You may also like
I love your written interviews.
Thanks for sharing.
Have wonderful days.
These interviews are so fab and unique! They provide great insight into colleagues’ work habits and schedules. Thanks so much for doing these!