I'm a conscientious objector, scholar, parent, always looking to expand my horizons. I taught English in a refugee camp, in Florida at a community college, and lately in China. I'm not anti-technology, just somewhat techno-sceptic. I don't use a mobile phone, I do ride a bike and walk a lot! I use a software program named Clavia Sinica to help me read stuff in Chinese, and right now that's what keeps me busy! To relax I enjoy all kinds of odd music, from ukulele to glass harmonica (I used to play bassoon, so maybe that's what caused my predilection for odd sounding instruments!). I'm a combination Midwesterner/NewYorker, born in Alaska, college in Florida and California(one summer), with a certificate in computer programming from DePaul U. in Chicago. I worked in Everglades National Park for a year or two, spent about 20 years as a computer programmer, and in 2003 did some volunteer work for the New Zealand Dept. of Conservation. I met my current partner, Wilma V. there, and now we live together in Amsterdam, NL. I'm developing myself as a translator/interpreter, because I'm fascinated by Chinese, especially the written language, and hope I can provide a service by helping bridge the language barrier. My M.A. in East Asian Studies from 1976 is pretty rusty, but my year in China in 2008 helped awaken some neurons in my cerebral cortex that must have been slumbering for 30 years or so!
antarctic ice sheets, architecture, building stone, China, climatology, flea markets, ghost towns, Martin Denny, natural science, oceanic art, 19th century travel books, and the works of H. Melville.
If you are translating proper names (like 'Walter Reed' or 'Dean Kamen'), search for them on the viswiki.com site. Once you find a page with the names you seek, then switch over to the page that has the same content, but in the language you are translating into. Voila, you then know how the proper name is written in the target language! Also, the National Academies Press has lots of great PDF downloads on many subjects, so be a subscriber, and never lack for useful FREE information on a wide variety of subjects! http://www.nap.edu/
translating from English to Chinese, rock-climbing, mineral resources, animal behavior, mnemonics, transliteration, and if you think native English speakers can't master Chinese (and your reasons).
public speaking
I just finished translating "Dean Kamen previews a prosthetic Arm" -- thanks to Wenbing Liang, who did a great job correcting all my errors, and to luo jiakui as well for additional comments.
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