Tag Archives: translationjourney

It’s almost summer here in Athens, so what better time for a little look back at what I’ve been up to this season! The arrival of 2026 was shrouded in uncertainty, for me and for so many other translators, but ultimately I am happy to report a strong first half of the year and a couple of exciting projects that have been cooking away these past few months from my little desk here in Kipseli…

New artsy projects in full bloom

After the copywriting frenzy of last year was brought to an end by several in-house hires at Vans and icebreaker, I was excited to see what the new year would bring. In December of last year, I was delighted to start a collaboration with Impressionnismes, an online platform for research and insights into the history of impressionism, led by the art history department of Paris Nanterre University. The platform will be translated entirely into English, representing several months of work. Translating such a wealth of art history research allowed me to explore once again the terminology and principles encountered during my history of art degree, while the techniques and images further spurred my own artistic practice and learning process regarding tone and colour.

This project reminded me how important the translator’s eye is when handling this kind of task. From my first meeting with the client, I made it clear that I would not be using any AI in my translations, out of respect for the text and, on a more practical note, to not interrupt my own workflow. Underpinning my translations with my own research and close reading of the source allowed me to really dive into each artwork and each artist’s unique story, making sure my understanding was solid enough to do justice to each authors contribution.

In other exciting news, the start of the year brought a new collaboration with the publishing agency Elilocom. I was entrusted with my first few projects, the first being a fun and informative book soon to be published in English by DK providing screen-free ideas for kids’ games. Sometimes translating puzzles was a puzzle in itself, and crossing the cultural gap (how to translate “La Barbichette”, anyone?) was a bigger challenge than expected, demanding a certain amount of creativity and initiative. My favourite part of the project was, after the agency’s painstaking typesetting efforts, being able to see my translations appear among the lush illustrations of Hifumiyo, leading me to explore the artist’s catalogue more extensively – I’ll be taking notes for my own drawings!

Projects such as these, or my previous recipe book translation for Bocuse Edition, remind me just how fun and rewarding translation can be, and any chance to work hand-in-hand with typesetters, graphic designers, writers and photographers is always very satisfying. That feeling of taking part in a “production” has always been a strong driver for me and is a welcome reprieve from the often solitary, text-heavy work of translation.

A new language learning adventure

French has always been main focus throughout my career, and since university I have been an avid consumer of French music, literature and radio. Spanish developed as a natural extension of this, after my move to Spain in 2017 plunged me into Spanish and Valencian culture. Its similarities with French allowed me a decent amount of wiggle room for mistakes during the early stages. Now, Modern Greek is a different beast. From the mind-boggling cases to the three genders, its whole new perspective to using adverbs and a daunting passive voice, I am now confronted with the wall of grammar I ignored during my attempts at learning German back in 2016. The light at the end of the tunnel? Long conversations that go on late into the night over mezze, music from islands and mountains that tickles the ears and flows like water, a rich and diverse literary tradition waiting to be explored…

After starting my modern Greek classes in Lyon in a chilly traboule at La Maison des Passages, I am now continuing my classes at the Lexi Logos language school in Athens. Now a Greek learner of two years, I am transported back to the character-building experience of being a clumsy B1/B2 speaker, past the point of total inertia but not yet confident enough in group settings to quip or cut in, my vocabulary not yet sophisticated enough to take on poetry or fiction.

So far, I’ve been following the same approach as I did for French and Spanish: listening to Greek music extensively, reading graphic novels, making easy small talk with as many people I can, and joining local sketching and bouldering groups. The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far about modern Greek is its social dynamic. Fluency here isn’t so much about not making mistakes, it’s about speed. Greek culture is all about the parea, the big group of friends or family; if you can cut in and pull off a perfectly timed comment or joke without tripping over your cases, then that’s a proper level-up.

For now, my first goal is to pass the B2 level exam. Further down the line, I would like to take on C1 and start completing my first Greek to English translation projects. Living in Athens, I see how much amazing literature and insights into heritage and folklore are being published in Greek. One day, I would love to help to share modern Greek discourse and perspectives with English speaking audiences.

Gaining experience in public service interpreting for asylum seekers

Moving to Athens meant putting my Lyon-based interpreting work on hold and tackling a new market. Not yet comfortable enough in my Greek to take on commercial work in the city, I decided volunteering would be the best possible path to put my French skills to good use in a field where demand is high. Since October last year, I have been working on a weekly basis as a volunteer French/English interpreter for the NGO European Lawyers in Lesvos. In a nutshell, I provide interpreting during asylum interview prep meetings, mock interviews led by the association’s lawyers in the aim of preparing asylum seekers for their official asylum interview. After completing a training session provided by excellent interpreter and researcher Farah Shilandari, I began taking on my first meetings. So far, this work has exposed me to the varieties of French spoken throughout Francophone Africa, in countries such as Guinea, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and the Central African Republic.

Coming into this new kind of work, I was a little apprehensive at first about the emotional implications. Remaining neutral, professional yet still emotionally engaged requires quite a strong will, as the topics delt with are very sensitive. Losing composure while in the role of interpreter can infringe upon the translation process and transparency of communication, and this can become a bit of a juggling act between empathy and professionalism. However, coming from a family of social workers, nurses and mental health professionals, the role felt natural to me, and allowed me to turn my own principles and beliefs regarding migration and human rights into action.

So far, I have been grateful for the opportunity to use my French skills in such a meaningful way, and to help provide support for migrants in an increasingly cruel and hostile immigration landscape. Every session contributes to my own geopolitical and cultural awareness, informing me not only in my interpreting work but also in my translation work. I am also struck by the incredible strength of the association’s lawyers, most of whom are women. The challenges, however, of interpreting between three people, none of whom are speaking their native tongue, are substantial, and I am slowly acquiring methodologies to keep misunderstandings at a minimum.

On the horizon for 2026

Despite the ongoing shifts in the now AI-saturated market affected by financial instability and general cuts to arts funding, this year has been, and is still looking to be, rich in projects and culturo-linguistic adventures!  I recently wrapped up a long-overdue trip to visit family in the US, my work for the Impressionnismes platform will continue into the summer, and I’m continuing my fashion copywriting and tourism translations on the side. It will also be great to see some of my book translations go to print in the next few months. I am expecting to see more editorial and public sector projects coming my way throughout the year, and – fingers crossed – an exhibition or two! During my down time I will continue sketching, exploring, and practicing my Greek conjugation on the chatty shopkeepers of Kipseli.

What am I reading? Les furtifs by Alain Damasio and the graphic novel Mangas by Penelope Delta, illustrated by Konstantinos Sklavenitis

What am I listening to? BBCs “In Our Time”, an Arte series on Bertrand Belin, and the LIFO Άκου την επιστήμη podcast

What am I working to? My supplier of good vibes for over 10 years now: Fip Radio. Hier, aujourd’hui et à jamais !