A warm welcome and a thank you for visiting me!
My speciality is to translate from Dutch, Afrikaans and French to English. My wife ensures a high quality by critically proofreading all my work (and is she critical!). We do this from Greyton (http://bea.xsi.co.za/) , a small village, 150km from Cape Town.
Born in the DRC, I attended school in Bukavu, Kivu Province, where I grew up speaking French and Swahili. From 1955 to 1958 I studied in Culemborg, in the Netherlands, where I learned Dutch. A German "Baron" invited me to spend my school holidays at his castle in Germany. The idea was that his daughters would learn French from me ... they taught me German instead!
We left the Congo in 1960 due to the debacle and arrived in South Africa, where I learned English and Afrikaans. I read for the MBA at the "Graduate School of Business" of the University of Stellenbosch in 1975.
My business career has been very varied
(+- 16 different industries- see CV). I have worked in Belgium for an American Company. I was responsible inter alia for Sales and Translation of Catalogues and all communications in the specific languages for the Dutch, Belgian, Luxemburgese and French Markets.
My wife and I speak (both) French and Dutch only at home; English and Afrikaans daily with the community. My experience with translations started in the Netherlands in 1956. I belonged to an International Group and was involved in simultaneous translations at international meetings. Since then I have continued to do this on an ad hoc basis.
Being from "The old school", I adhere to the following principles:
1- A promise I make is a promise I keep.
2- I deliver on or before the promised time.
3- If I cannot, I will let you know before time.
4- I rather turn a job down (and have) than let YOU down!
5- I thrive on a job well done.
For the past 8 years I have been working with a French-speaking client on a regular basis. I am active as a Management and Business Consultant, advising inter alia on legal issues. I am also involved as their correspondence consultant. I draft all types of correspondence (in French, English and Afrikaans), submit these for approval and then translate in whatever language is necessary. The client signs all correspondence. I translate the answers from whatever language it comes and when called upon, act as interpreter at meetings.
I thrive on challenges and enjoy solving problems. Modern technology allows us to live in a small village and yet still be part of the global arena.
You are most welcome to contact me for whatever reason: even for just a chat. Send me your telephone number if you wish and I will phone you.
Jim Reeves, the singer, is right: "A stranger is just a friend you do not know!"
And so are you!
Wessel
