Native Spanish (LA) speaker in Porlamar, Venezuela
"Do what you love and love what you do."
I would not say that I am an expert because that requires a lifetime of studies on a particular subject, but I can say that I have a vast knowledge about art and cultures. Having lived in 6 different countries and visited another dozen you learn a lot about the differences in the cultures of others.
I have been involved with translating almost my entire life. It started as a hobby when I was in my teens. I started translating Pablo Neruda’s poems as a way to impress the girls. It was my first encounter with this profession, only back then the intended outcome was for other reasons. Back then is when I realized that there is more to translating than just knowing the words. You have to take the source text and convert it to the other language while maintaining the tone and the intended message of the original. In the mid 90’s, I started doing this professionally and have continued ever since. Not always on a full-time basis like now, but regularly nonetheless. You have to love what you do and I love submerging myself in the books, poems, or whatever it is I am translating to make sure the outcome carries the same tone and message of the original. I have not found anything else that stimulates my brain as translating. That’s why I always produce excellent quality projects.
One of the main things that motivates me to do my best work is getting an uplifting comment or review from a client once they see the finished product. Don’t get me wrong, I like the money, but nothing feels better than reading a comment about how good your work is.