About a year ago, the opportunity to move to Germany presented itself. I laughed. Why would I ever move to Germany?
Six months later, I started seriously considering it as an option. Soon after that, I started studying German. Now I am writing this blog post as I sit in my living room in Aachen, Germany. How things change!
What this move means for my clients:
- I am now living on Central European Time (GMT+1). I still try to do most of my work during normal business hours, but my late-night habits mean that I often see emails from US clients as they arrive in my inbox.
- I can more easily work with clients and partners in Europe, including UK clients looking for a native US English speaker and clients in Spain looking for a translator who specializes in business, marketing, and international development.
What this move means for me:
- I am now able to visit Spain more easily—in fact, I traveled to Barcelona in November!
- I am discovering new resources, both local (such as the Asociación para el fomento del hermanamiento Aquisgrán-Toledo) and regional/national (such as the BDÜ, the Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators in Germany).
- I am learning German. I won’t be translating from German any time soon, but learning a new language keeps me thinking about language issues in general. And it’s fun!
I want to thank everyone who has been patient with my transition to a new country. It is a long process, and I’m sure surprises will pop up along the way. However, I am excited about what this new country—and new year!—have to offer.
2 Comments
Be sure to look up Karen Leube. She lives there with her husband and is a translator. She used to teach at Germersheim. I’ll DM her e-mail address.
Actually, thanks to Abigail Dahlberg I was able to get in touch with Karen before arriving in Aachen. We met recently when she introduced me to a group of BDÜ translators in the area. She has been great!