- Name: Christina Kolb
- Age: 30
- Home town: Sibratsgfäll, Austria
- Education: Masters in Conference Interpreting
- Current position: Freelance Translator, Interpreter, and Paragliding Instructor
- Bio: After years of travelling the world, doing whatever jobs were coming her way, Christina decided to go back to school to pursue a formal education in translating and interpreting. Now she's her own boss, travelling the world, chasing her favourite paragliding destinations, while making money as a digital nomad translator, picking up as much or as little work as she wants to do on any given day.
- Countries I've worked in: Austria, Iceland, France, India, Ecuador
- Sector / subsectors: Media and Communication, Languages, Translation
- Areas of expertise: Translation, Interpretation, Paragliding, Snowboarding
- Country: Worldwide
- Region: South America, Europe
- Sector: Communications, Extreme sports, Tourism & hospitality
- Degree subject: Translation & interpreting
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Who are you and what do you do?
Meet Christina Kolb, freelance translator and interpreter.
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How did you get to where you are now?
Christina tells us about the final straw that sent her back to school; finding out she was earning 30% less than a male co-worker doing the same work at a factory.
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You mentioned that paragliding is your passion. Tell us more about that.
Christina discovered her passion for paragliding between quitting her factory job and starting school. Her digital nomad translating life has given her the freedom to chase the wind to the best paragliding spots in the world - but paradoxically, has her checking her phone more than ever before.
Tags: freelance digital nomad -
What does an average week look like for you?
Christina tells us that despite the freedom to choose how much work you do or don't want to do, in any location you choose... you still might end up spending 10 hours in a McDonald's.
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Talk to us about the different fields, streams and specializations within the translation sector.
Christina gives us the lay of the land when it comes to translating; from specializations to streams, how mistakes can sometimes make the difference between life and death, and how the best interpreter is the one you don't remember.
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You have a formal background in translating and interpreting. Can you talk to us about receiving education in this field? Is it necessary or helpful?
Christina talks about the perks of education in the field of translating, from wages to defending yourself from criticism.
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What's your best advice for someone trying to get their foot in the door in this field?
Christina breaks down tips for someone heading down the translating/interpreting path, including knowing what you want your active languages to be, your passive languages to be, why you shouldn't neglect your mother tongue, and why you might be in school longer than you think.
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Do you have tips on how to find clients and jobs?
Christina warns that your first jobs might be volunteer work, but once you've gotten some references you can find paying clients.
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How did you find your clients?
Christina recommends using online platforms and tools to your advantage, and tell us the pros and cons of working for agencies.
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But translation isn't the only thing you do, you're also a certified paragliding instructor. Tell us more about that.
When Christina isn't translating, she's teaching people how to fly. Literally.
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How does one become a paragliding instructor?
Christina explains how you have to think about what country you want to work in.
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Can you talk to us about some of the challenges of working cross culturally?
Christina talks about how your own mood in a moment can affect how you see and perceive another culture; and why she thinks everyone should go to India once.
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Can you talk about what you enjoy most about living this lifestyle?
Christina tells us how much things change from travelling as a teenager, to now travelling as an adult while working professionally.
Tags: digital nomad passion
