Who, what, where, why and how?

My career trajectory hasn't exactly been straightforward, mind you. I've been a music student, stage manager, book seller, wine merchant, tour guide, taxi driver and copywriter (it's been an interesting life!). I've talked Italian to winemakers, scuba company operators and tourists (among others). And somehow it's all come together and I'm combining my wine, tourism and scuba knowledge, my copywriting expertise, and my love of Italian language and culture, as a translator.

As someone once said, no life experience is ever wasted: if you wait long enough, it's all useful sooner or later. 

Translation is both frustrating and satisfying. Frustrating, because there's always another, possibly better way of expressing something in the target language (the one you're translating into), or an elusive word that's on the tip of your tongue but won't reach the page. Very satisfying when you finish a difficult passage and you know you've nailed it - though that's much rarer than feeling you could still tweak it! 

It's a constant learning process; obviously so at the moment, while I'm studying for my MA in Translation, but no doubt for the rest of my career as well. There's always a word or acronym you haven't come across before, a way of looking at things that hadn't occurred to you, a turn of phrase that takes you by surprise. That's part of the fun. I'm a great believer in life-long learning; in fact, I don't think it's possible for humans to stop learning, unless there's something seriously wrong with them.

So here's to the journey - I look forward to your company.