Name: Stéphanie
Pronoun(s): she/her
Nationality: Norwegian
Hometown: Oslo, Norway
Current location: Strasbourg, France
Occupation: translator and Norwegian lecturer
Meet Stéphanie
I grew up in a multilingual family in Oslo, Norway, with parents who worked in the cultural sector (opera, ballet, editing, translation). This environment turned me into a little language nerd, which I still am today!
I spent all my formative years in Norway, and initially dreamt of being an antiques expert like on the Antiques Roadshow. However, after a change of path and working for a few years, I spent at year at a university in Manchester, met a wonderful Frenchman, and finished my degree in Strasbourg.
Now I’m working as a freelance translator (like my mother), and as a Norwegian lecturer at the University of Strasbourg.
The dream is to able to make a name for myself with Norwegian publishers and work full time as a translator, translating all kinds of fiction – historical fiction, crime, young adult, fantasy, comics …
I love the flexibility of the work and being able to bend and shape a story in a new language, making it accessible to Norwegian speakers all while being true to the source text.
On Education
Did you study at a university outside your home country? If yes, why?
Yes, I’d started studying Art History in Oslo just out of high school, but I dropped out after a little over a year because I lost my part-time job at an auction house in the 2008 crisis, which was my main motivation for studying what I did.
After working as a receptionist for an IT company for a few years (a job I enjoyed very much!), I decided it was time to leave little Norway and study translation in the UK.
Just before leaving for Manchester, I met the man who is now my husband at a wedding in France
So, after a year in the UK, I transferred to the University of Strasbourg, where I finished my English degree in 2017.
If you’ve been an international student before, what is something that challenged you?
I found adapting to the local evaluation system particularly challenging, but more so in France than in the UK. The French way of approaching analysis in Humanities with a three-part commentary seems very rigid at first. Once you get the hang of it however, you can really work it to your advantage and create a harmonious and coherent analysis. It’s like a template, a supportive framework you can weave your words around. The relief you feel when you are able to adapt is wonderful.
Professional Background
What has working outside your native country taught you about yourself and the culture you come from?
Even though I grew up in the French system in Norway and have had an easier time integrating in France than those who are completely new to French culture, I’m still very much Scandinavian at heart.
In my experience, the French value a complete separation of the professional and private spheres. By that I mean you do not share anything about your private life at work because this can expose weaknesses and let work seep into your home life. Many Scandinavians however, prefer a little more laid-back approach. Sharing a few private anecdotes with colleagues creates a more “koselig” (nice, cozy) and understanding atmosphere at work, thereby protecting your private sphere.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
When you translate fiction, you get the privilege of travelling into and recreating entire worlds in your native language. It’s a great joy and an immense responsibility at the same time.
Nothing beats the feeling of getting a turn of phrase just right to evoke the atmosphere or image you wanted to create
Moreover, I have awesome colleagues all over the world. We have an amazing sense of community where we can ask questions and help each other with even the tiniest translation challenges.
Did you ever feel unsure of your career path?
I still do! I’ve changed my mind about my career path several times in the past 10-15 years. Will I be able to do this, am I good enough, am I disciplined enough, will I make enough money, is it a viable long-term career path …? There are so many questions, but as the world becomes more and more changeable, I try to adapt as best I can. For now, teaching feels wonderfully safe and stable while still challenging to me, but I still hope to make a name for myself in translation in the next 5-10 years.
On Lifestyle
Do you speak a second language? More than one other language?
Yes, in addition to my native Norwegian I speak English, French and Dutch fluently, as well as some basic German and Italian. I grew up with a Norwegian mom and a Dutch dad who each taught me their native tongue, and was then sent to French school. I was obsessed with television growing up, so I learned English pretty much on my own before being taught it in school, by watching American 90s sitcoms with subtitles.
Learning and speaking foreign languages has always been a natural part of my life, and I’m lucky to have been able to make a career out of it
Which has been your favorite country/city to live in?
I love living in Strasbourg, where I live now! Before moving here, I never thought I’d be living in France one day. Strasbourg has all the best aspects of French art de vivre, with a more laid-back Germanic vibe.
The architecture is so beautiful and varied, and shows the rich history of the city
My husband and I both enjoy exploring Strasbourg so much that we created Strafari, which is a bilingual website about Strasbourg, as a joint project, as well as an Instagram account (@strafari) where we share our tips about and photos of Strasbourg.
One last question
What advice would you give to a young person who knows they want to travel but aren’t sure where that fits in with the rest of their lives?
The great thing about travel is that it’s not forever if you don’t want it to be! There are wonderful (and more or less affordable) university options abroad, as well as work, volunteering and charity programs, or you can just travel for a while!
Any way you look at it, stepping outside of the cultural bubble you grew up in and learning to adapt to new situations is an enriching experience that will help you grow personally and/or professionally
Broadening your horizons, learning a new language, challenging yourself, experiencing a culture that is different to your own will add to your life story no matter what, whether you settle somewhere else, find your career path, or “just” return home with a few new anecdotes to share.
Editor’s note: This interview has been lightly edited for concision and clarity.
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Thank you for reading Fearless Friday No 15. Stéphanie!
If you connected with Stéphanie’s story, she invites you to connect with her on the following platforms:
Instagram: @strafari
English website: https://strafaristrasbourg.wordpress.com/ (English)
French Website: https://strafari.wordpress.com/ (French)
Fearless Friday Features such as “Fearless Friday No 15. Stéphanie” are posted every Friday evening, France time.
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