Rafa Lombardino, Portuguese to English & English to Portuguese translator, tells Bewords more about her thoughts on translation.

 Dear readers, please feel free to react and discuss/comment on this interview (here on the blog)!

1. Could you kindly tell us and our readers about your personal and professional background in a few words?

I started working as a freelance translator back in 1997, when my day job was teaching English to young kids, teenagers, and adults. Three years late, while I was in college pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, I started working with a professor who was also a professional translator. That's when I realized that translating was a viable career path.

2. What does it feel to be independent and what are the associated advantages and limits?

I currently work at Word Awareness, Inc., a small network of professional translators established in Southern California. I'm the founder and director, which gives me a lot of freedom as to whom I'll be working with, since we only collaborate with translators we really trust. The best part is that we were able to become a cohesive team that acts as language consultants to help our clients achieve their goals. The only limitations in our current setup is that, since we're a small group, we can only take so much volume, but this limitation is good in a sense that we provide quality services as opposed to worrying about quantity and hiring anyone despite their qualifications just to secure a large contract.

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I am a self-educated freelance translator English – Dutch (both directions). After years of telesales and credit management activities I decided it was time for a change and I emigrated to the South of France, thinking that it wouldn’t be difficult to find a job  since I had done so before when I emigrated to Ireland, and ended up utilising my language skills to earn a living as a freelance translator

2. Tell us please a bit more about your current professional situation and status. What does it feel to be independent and what are the associated advantages and limits?

I am a auto-entrepreneur and I intend to stay that as long as possible (it is a French statute for small entrepreneurs without employees, with various benefits and limitations). I really took a plunge into the unknown when I set up shop, but for the first time in my life I decide which work I do – major stress reducing factor! The limitations are that one is never certain of what lies ahead, but with an increasing client base that uncertainty gradually fades.

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