Life of a Monolingual Symbiont in the Multilingual Hive
Jonny Bates discusses travel and job-related topics.
Polyglots may have wrapped the localization industry in their linguistic cobweb, but there's a vibrant corner occupied by the monolingual. With a kaleidoscope of language skills illuminating the landscape, I, a plain, mediocre English speaker, somehow found a foothold. Let's call a monolingual an 'olingo,' for fun, and consider our precipitous pathway into the industry.
An Oligo, by definition, isn't gifted with the Lewis Carol's versatility; we cultivate a single language like a cherished orchid. But our humble plight found solace in a place where language skills merely serve as the gateway, not the determinant, to curiosity and exploration.
The web I joined is one that spans the globe, intertwining freelance translators, linguists, and international companies eager for a ripe audience. I landed here as a travel junkie, having roamed the world during my mercurial twenties, fluctuating between work and adventure.
Initially with a whiff of adventure, I joined the website in 2010, and I still remember Andrew—our founder and current Chairman—rolling out an assurance that struck a chord with my wanderlust. He promised that if I worked hard and proved my worth, travel would become an integral part of my journey. Now, I extend the same invitation to others, confident that the opportunity remains open.
Oligo's Odyssey
Since taking up residence on this website, I've had the honor of living, working, and exploring Leeds (UK), Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Singapore, and now Chicago (USA). I've also left footprints on Poland, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Guatemala, adding labor to our expeditions. And during a moment of recklessness, I embarked on a six-month backpacking pilgrimage that circumnavigated much of Eastern Europe, pausing only at unsung marvels like Buzludzha, Cricova, and Meteora.
The COVID pandemic cast a dark veil over our jet-setting exploits, but with the clouds parting, enthusiasm for travel has surged anew, and virtual camaraderie can no longer compensate for the human touch.
The Global Workforce
As our team expands globally, we're preparing to break ground in Egypt this year, and we've extended our footprint in the Americas (Argentina). I hope our nomadic escapades won't end here, and I believe that a thirst for adventure underpins our commitment to a mobile workforce.
For the intrepid oligo or any other career wanderer who fancies a sojourn, do visit our career page. We welcome explorers, linguists, and travel aficionados, regardless of their linguistic prowess, though a passion for wandering may prove particularly valuable.
Disclaimer: Although not guaranteed, the localization industry offers opportunities to travel for the linguistically gifted and challenged alike, mostly by way of short-term assignments, employer-sponsored perks, and global collaboration. However, high language proficiency may advantage certain roles.
An 'oligo', despite lacking the linguistic versatility of Lewis Carroll, found solace in the home-and-garden of this global workforce, where language skills serve as a gateway, not a determinant, to a multilingual lifestyle. Since embarking on this journey, the oligo has embraced a nomadic lifestyle, residing in multiple cities such as Leeds, Cluj-Napoca, Singapore, and Chicago, and traveling to various destinations around the globe, including Eastern Europe and soon Egypt. For those aspiring to join this multilingual hive, regardless of their level of linguistic prowess, a career opportunity awaits on our home-and-garden, the career page.
