Homestay > BARBARA

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

• Secondary school-leaving certificate (classical studies: Italian, Latin, Greek)
• Higher-education Diploma in Translation (English-German to Italian)
• Over 25 years active as a translator, interpreter and teacher of English, German and Italian to foreigners, private classes and business

I started as a translator in an Italian agency for a few years, then I moved to Ireland, where I first worked in IBM in customer service, then as a translator/localizer in the software industry in Dublin. I started my freelance business in 2001 and moved back to Italy. Since then, I’ve been passionately managing my language business, carrying out translation and proofreading from English to Italian and vice-versa, and from German into Italian, in various fields; I am also a business and consecutive interpreter and I teach English and German, as well as Italian for foreigners.

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
I have a passion for travelling, I love discovering new cultures and meeting people from all over the world. I like listening to rock music, but also to classical and ethnic music, I practice oriental dancing and hata yoga. I like reading, too. I love spending quality time with my family and organizing barbecues with friends, but I especially adore my 5-year old Labrador!

ACCOMMODATION, FACILITIES AND LOCAL AREA
The house where we live is beautifully located on the hills, not far from Reggio Emilia and only 3 km from the nearby town of Albinea, that can be reached easily by car, or by cycling or walking. We have a front and a back garden, on two levels: the outdoor area offers plenty of relaxation and privacy options, there is also a wooden garden cabin that can be used as an office or a soft corner with comfortable cushions, available to the guest. The house has three floors, the guest room is in the cosy and spacious basement area, and has a sofa-bed and a couch, a desk, a walk-in wardrobe, a TV and a fireplace. The room is beside the shared laundry room, where the guest’s private shower is located. The shared bathroom is on the ground floor.

MONTERICCO (Reggio Emilia)
The hamlet of Montericco forms part of Albinea, a foothill town that stands out for its landscape and natural beauties and for the presence of historic buildings of artistic importance, as well as a rich cultural offering all year round. Especially Montericco, with its Castle (to be seen only from the outside, as it is a private dwelling and in an excellent state of conservation), the church in Lombard-Gothic style Blessed Virgin of Lourdes and the neoclassical Church S. Maria dell’Oliveto, is surrounded by beautiful woods and numerous itineraries with hiking and cycling routes, a privileged location for those seeking respite from the nearby town of Reggio Emilia in the summer. Thanks to its particular microclimate, it also hosts the production of the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Reggio Emilia and the Lambrusco Reggiano wine. From Reggio Emilia you can easily access important cities such as Bologna, Florence or Milan with the high-speed train; or other nearby lovely towns by car or by train, such as Modena and Parma, but also Florence, Mantua, Verona and Cinque Terre on the coast.