Interviewer – COVID-19 has impacted everyone. How was it for you?
MM – COVID-19 changed my working patterns entirely, not only because workload varied but also because my family circumstances changed. However, I believe I turned the challenges into opportunities.

Interviewer – Why is that? Can you explain?
MM – To start, there was on the onset of the pandemic a lot of new work related to COVID-19. This led me to do some unplanned CPD on this subject to make sure my translated documents were as accurate as possible. Once the pandemic developed work slowed down a little bit and the World went into almost nonstop lockdowns. During these times, like everyone else, my social and family life changed. I could not see any family, as we could not travel either in the UK or Portugal, and friends were both far away and dealing with their own circumstances. Like many, I used this period to go back to basics: I started reading for pleasure again, re-upgraded software and knowledge on areas of my specialisms and did lots of work in the garden.

Interviewer – So, can we say you used this time to also improve your translation capabilities?
MM – Definitely. I also used this time to do some pro-bono work, translating an educational book on dugongs for Mozambique, written to educate and engage local people in dugong protection. Apart from that, I also accepted the invitation of CLUTRAD, a Western Africa Translation Club that aims to boost the local industry and professionals, to speak at some of their future events as a pro-bono contribution. It will be very rewarding to be able to share my experience with so many extraordinary colleagues that are now starting working in a sector and area of the World I have been serving for 20 years.

Interviewer – That all sounds good. Any short-term plans for the months ahead?
MM – On top of dealing with all the terrifying admin that is piling up on my desk, I am participating in CLUTRAD’s first International Conference at the end of October. This event is taking place online and will be high on my agenda in October. Workload is also catching up so it is time for good planning and project pre-booking.

This interview was first published in Monica Machado Translation Services Quarterly Newsletter. This and other interviews with Mónica can be read here.

Mónica Machado offers English to Portuguese Translation Services, for Portuguese-speaking African countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Portugal and Sao Tome and Principe in the areas of Oil and Gas, Agriculture and Farming, Environment, Shipping, Mining, Hydro Power, HSE and Social Sciences and International Humanitarian Aid. Fully certified translation services based in the UK. We can also translate and certify translations of educational qualifications, passports, company certificates of incorporation, birth and marriage certificates and similar documents.