At the end of 2020 I started freelancing for Quill, the world’s leading Performance Content production platform for ecommerce businesses. They decided to invite me for a brief interview and I thought it would be a fitting introduction on my own website too. It will give you an insight into my world and you can catch a glimpse of the person hidden behind the facade.
Read the original here.
I’m currently in…
Budapest. It’s my permanent base these days from where I take off sometimes to discover various parts of the world.
When I’m not freelancing, I enjoy…
Travelling. It would be more correct to say though that I enjoy ‘living’ at places which are the complete opposite of my birthplace – while freelancing. I am not the kind of traveller who spends a weekend somewhere for fun or simply for an opportunity to take beautiful photos. Although I do take loads of photos. Wherever I go, I prefer full immersion. It has its beauty beyond all question, as well as its challenges. After I spend a longer period somewhere, it’s difficult to return to the old ways, but thankfully, there are always new ways to discover. I have had the opportunity to meet some really interesting people along the way, at times we only have a day or a couple of weeks to share. The few negative experiences that inevitably occur during travelling fade away with time but the positive effects of those seemingly chance encounters will stay with you. You never know where these brief and random connections will lead you, and if you are super lucky, these people even stay in your life in the long run.
I am a researcher by qualification, with a PhD in Inner Asian Studies, focusing on Tibet and Mongolia, and thanks to my years in the academia, I could work and study in Mongolia on several occasions. I visited Russia many times, once for my studies, and a few more times to spend time with my twin sister, who lived in Moscow for several years. I have a master’s degree in African Studies from SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), and although I planned my London life for a year, I stayed there for 4 years. I love London with all its challenges, and very likely I will never stop entertaining the idea of returning permanently. PS, I am open for opportunities!
One of my most significant professional achievements was…
The translation industry is extremely competitive, it’s inundated with linguists at various levels of their career, and the demand for my language pair is relatively limited. Against all odds, I managed to build and keep a loyal client base which is still growing, and seeing the ever-increasing number of requests I receive, I often feel I am still just scratching the surface.
Although working as a full-time translator was not my plan A, I was more into writing and research for many years, I enjoy the openness of my work. Open in the sense that it makes real and imaginary borders disappear. On an average day I am greeted with ‘Aloha’ from Hawaii in the morning, then someone else says ‘Obrigado’ from Brazil in the evening after finishing a project, and when I notice a Tibetan name in the signature of an email that arrives from India, it’s difficult to contain myself, stay professional and not ask a million questions to the person on the other side of the screen. It makes me feel that there are really no borders between us, which I truly believe in.
Among my main fields of interest are education and human rights, and this year is about obtaining more work in the development sector. As for the long-term plan, I would like to return to writing in some form, at least in part-time.
If I could share one piece of advice it would be…
Relax. Your mind, above all.
The last book I read was…
Mark Manson, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. I have to admit, I was tempted to give up on this book shortly after I started reading, for I have never seen that four-letter word being written on a single page so many times. I mean in every sentence in the first chapter of the book. It is a novel way to catch the reader’s attention but it seems to work. It is great writing, the author is witty, his sarcasm is entertaining, and the message he conveys should be widely distributed. The conclusion is that although life naturally comes with struggles and misery, if we wisely and smartly choose what we are ready to struggle for, then we can lead a happy and balanced life. It doesn’t sound like an extraordinary discovery but you have to achieve a high level of awareness to live by this principle.