After I finished the secondary education, I went to Paris and worked for two years as an au pair. During this period I discovered a profound interest in France and the French language. When I returned to the Netherlands I garnered a lot of experience working a variety of businesses. I began in the tourism industry and moved up to secretarial and head clerk positions. But language was clearly my calling and I was anxious to begin using my knowledge of the French language professionally. I decided to attend a course for professional translators at the ITV-Hogeschool (Institute of Higher Education for Interpreters and Translators) in Utrecht. Since then I have been employed full-time in the translation field and continue to enjoy my translation and teaching work.