Since graduating from UC Santa Cruz in 2011, my challenge has been to link my passion for language and culture with a viable career. Language and culture has always been the compass steering the direction of my life. It has influenced where I’ve decided to work, where I’ve lived (France, Brazil, Taiwan), and molded the person that I am today: ambitious, culturally aware, and multi-lingual.
After college I worked as a legal assistant at an immigration law firm. The real learning came when interacting with the clients themselves, most of whom spoke little to no English. It was during these interactions that I began to grasp the dynamic between language and culture. Mundane things such as scheduling an appointment or explaining legal documents required more than just saying it in a client’s native language – it required also being adept at understanding the nuances of the client’s culture. This employment eventually led to my living and volunteering at an NGO in Brazil for six months in 2012.
Upon returning from Brazil, I began working as a “language app reviewer” at Apple. This position required me to review apps for markets in South America. During my time at Apple I saw first hand the intersection between language, culture and technology. Every day I reviewed a variety of apps; each app represented a different ambition. Since I reviewed in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, the apps that caught my eye were those that were adapted to multiple countries. I loved comparing the differences in language usage, imagery, and app functionality.
While this position at Apple ensured a stable future, long-term growth was limited. Furthermore, I had begun learning Chinese and set my sights on becoming fluent. It was always only natural, seeing how massive the Chinese app market was becoming. Believing Chinese had the potential to move my life in a new and exciting direction, I left Apple and moved to Taiwan in 2016, where I currently reside. While living there, I have dedicated myself entirely to learning Chinese and have achieved an upper intermediate level.
I’ve chosen a careen in Localization because it offers a unique platform to develop in-demand technological skills, without having to sacrifice my passion for language and culture.
