Interview Series: 5. Ramona Amuza – MintTranslations
My May translator and interpreter is Ramona Amuza. Ramona runs MintTranslations and her languages are English-Romanian-Spanish. She also does a lot of charity work and is a real community-giver. Find out all about MintTranslations and Ramona below:
1. So Ramona, tell me, what is it like running MintTranslations?
It can be a bit of a rollercoaster. There are times when it seems that I don’t even have time for a cuppa and, then, there are the quiet moments. Learning to manage the ups and downs of the business has been challenging at times, but I really enjoy it.
2. So what’s a typical day like, if there is such thing, at MintTranslations?
My days always start with a cup of coffee and breakfast. I like to take an hour or so to myself before plunging into work. I’ll typically spend the morning translating and the afternoon taking care of the admin, marketing and accounting side of the business. I find that I’m at my best between 9am-1pm, so I try to allocate that time to the most important tasks.
3. And why translation and interpreting?
I’ve always been interested in languages and I love reading. Being able to combine the two seemed like a no-brainer. In fact, growing up in communist Romania, I remember learning Bulgarian from watching cartoons (I’ve sadly forgotten it now). I studied English & French at school and sort of picked up Spanish from the TV, just because I loved it so much (notice the trend here?). I started translating when I was 14, as it was part of my course work. In 2010 I decided to become a professional translator and interpreter. I had no official experience, so I began volunteering at local charities that needed people with my language skills. Before I knew it, I was offered a job and the fairy tale began.
4. And what other things do you do in addition to translation and interpreting?
For the last seven years, I’ve been running and project managing a service for the Romanian-speaking Roma community in Bristol. This work is very intense and rewarding, as I get to help and support one of the most vulnerable communities in the UK. I have become a specialist in this field and I often lead cultural awareness sessions for public and private organisations, as well as for the general public. I also organise a variety of workshops for the Roma and the wider communities, including art and dance and story time workshops.
5. And when you are not working, what do you do?
I love dancing! When I moved to the United Kingdom I didn’t know anyone and I felt lonely. As I had been a folklore dancer in Romania, I decided to give salsa dancing a go. I went to a local class and I have been hooked ever since. I now travel all around the UK and the world attending congresses and even assisting and/or teaching classes.
6. So do you think your dancing will take you to any places from your bucket list?
I’ve always dreamed of doing a tour of Latin America. I’m hoping I’ll be able to take a few months off in the next few years and spend some time there. I’d also like to visit Indonesia and a few more African countries.
7. Any other plans for the future?
I’ve started a distance learning MA in Translations Studies (ES>EN) at the University of Portsmouth last year, as I would like to gradually move towards taking on more translation work in the future. In an ideal world, this will allow me to travel to faraway places and spend more time with my family. I’d also love to improve my Italian and Portuguese, but that may well have to wait until I finish my MA.
Ramona is a Romanian-English-Spanish translator and interpreter specialising in business, healthcare and law. She is passionate about making a difference in the world and often volunteers her time to help support those who are most vulnerable in our society. She runs MintTranslations and you can find her on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
