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I am an in-house translator at the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Japan. I have been lucky enough to have had many interesting jobs and experiences over the years. Please have a look at my resume and contact me if you are interested in luring me away from my current pursuits.

Recent Employment History

IN-HOUSE TRANSLATOR

January 2006 to present. National Institute for Environmental Studies. Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JAPAN.

I work for both the Center for Global Environmental Research and the Office for Public Relations and International Coordination. I translate and edit documents, design websites, and welcome international guests to the institute.

FREELANCE TRANSLATOR, PROOFREADER, WEB DESIGNER

April 2002 to December 2005. Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JAPAN.

I did various part-time jobs and worked on a number of freelance projects while completing my master's degree in Library and Information Science. I had part-time, contractual positions with Tsukuba City Hall (translating and designing the city's monthly English newsletter and the official English website) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) (proofreading and translating).

EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR

August 2000 to February 2002. Japan Society. Toronto, Ontario, CANADA.

The Japan Society serves as a liaison between the executives at Canadian and Japanese companies. It organizes networking opportunities, offers language classes, and strives to be a source of detailed information on the Japanese economic situation. My position combined event co-ordination with the daily duties of running an office. I was responsible for producing newsletters, revitalising our web presence, and keeping accurate and up-to-date accounting records. I also taught Japanese language classes and administered our three email lists (Japan-related jobs, news, and local events).

CO-ORDINATOR FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

August 1997 to August 2000. Aizu Wakamatsu Int'l Association. Aizu Wakamatsu, JAPAN.

Designed library database, created vertical reference files, offered advice and counselling to non-Japanese residents, created network of over 200 members, created monthly newsletter, designed English and Japanese web site, taught English, Japanese, and French language classes, organized events, translated and interpreted in meetings, schools, hospitals, and as a tour guide.

ASSISTANT LANGUAGE TEACHER

August 1995 to July 1997. Tajima Junior High School. Tajima, JAPAN.

Planned lessons, designed work sheets, study sheets and materials for games, undertook new projects to keep English alive in a small rural town in Japan.

Education

Master of Library and Information Science (2005)

University of Tsukuba, Japan.

Studying Library and Information Science, focusing on Canadian Library Advocacy. Monbusho Scholarship. Student Award. Thesis Award.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Linguistics (1995)

Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.

Earned Provincial Scholarship and scholarship for high standing in faculty.

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (1990)

Trafalgar Castle School, Whitby, Canada.

Earned Governor General's Academic Medal for graduating with the highest average in the school (1990) and yearly bursaries.

Skills and Interests

Computers

• SOFTWARE: Highly skilled user of email, word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs
• INTERNET: Able to use the internet for research, creating web pages (Designed pages for Alien Times newsletter, Aizu Wakamatsu International Association, Frugal Japan, Japan Canada Community Network, Japanese Social Services, Japan Society, Japanese Visitors Association, Nihongo Benriya, Tell and Sell Japan, Toronto JET Alumni Association, Tsukuba City Hall, Tsukuba International School, etc.)

Community

• Tsukuba, Japan: Volunteer board member of Tsukuba International School, volunteer web designer for several NPOs, owner and moderator of several mailing lists designed to help local residents.
• Toronto, Canada: Served as board member of Japanese Social Services, executive member of JET Alumni Association, founding member of Japanese Visitors Association, member of Canada Japan Society of Toronto, volunteer website co-ordinator for several NPOs.

Languages

• JAPANESE: Japanese proficiency (Level 2), Kanji proficiency (Level 5)
• FRENCH: Studied at the university level

Theatre Arts

• Performed in high school and university

Driving

• Possess clean Canadian and Japanese drivers licenses

Leisure

• Enjoy photography, reading, watching movies, and listening to music

Travel

Long-term

• GREAT BRITAIN
  • Aug 1990 to Jul 1991, worked in Hertfordshire, travelled to Scotland, Wales, and various parts of England.
• JAPAN
  • Sept 1995 to Aug 2000: worked in Fukushima
  • April 2002 to present: working and studying in Ibaraki
  • Visited: Akita, Chiba, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ishikawa, Kagawa, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kyoto, Miyagi, Nagano, Nara, Niigata, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saitama, Shiga, Tochigi, Tokyo, Yamagata

Short-term

• CANADA: Calgary, Edmonton, Fredericton, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Vancouver, Victoria
• FRANCE: Paris, Loire Valley
• GERMANY: Berlin, Potsdam, Stralsund, Hamburg, Lubeck, Bad Sooden Allendorf, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Tuebingen, Munich, Dachau
• HONG KONG
• INDONESIA: Jakarta
• MACAU
• MALAWI: Lilongwe
• MALAYSIA: Kuala Lumpur
• MOZAMBIQUE: Ulongue
• SOUTH AFRICA: Johannesburg
• SOUTH KOREA: Seoul
• THAILAND: Ayuthaya, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Ko Phi Phi
• UNITED STATES: New York, Michigan, Florida
• ZAMBIA: Livingstone, Mfuwe

Peek at some of my travel photos.