United Kingdom Chapter

Technical Writing on the Continent Is Like Breakfast

By Kim Schrantz, UK member living in Luxembourg
(Excerpt taken from the UK newsletter, Forward, February 2006.)

Being a technical author on Continental Europe: what’s it like: culturally fulfilling, culturally difficult, even lonely or just different?

One could have the view that it is like a Continental breakfast. To the undiscerning palate, the Continental breakfast might be lacking: tasteless, cold, sparse; whereas the English breakfast is gratifying: filling, warm, a ‘home’ meal. In the same way, it is true that jobs here are sparse for English-speaking technical authors simply because there are less English-speaking jobs available in multi-lingual Europe. But that is not to say that there are no jobs at all. And so too is the atmosphere for foreigners more cold and challenging than when one lives in one’s homeland among one’s traditions. But that is not to say that there is not sincere warmth here also.

The UK is on an island, and physically cut off from its own European neighbours. (The UK even works hard to cut its own self off under the guise of nationalism.) And it is for these reasons that Brits need to make that extra effort not only to visit European countries, but to live and work in these countries that freely border one another and whose people move and mix. Living on the Continent is all about expanding horizons. And one thing is sure about my life and my European experience:

But enough about life. What about technical writing in particular? Of course, the most prominent technical writing topics that spring to mind are localisation and translation. And seeing as Continental European writers live everyday ‘sans frontiers’, suffice it to say that we do them better over here. Anyone seriously interested in localisation and translation needs to have lived in more than one country. And why not? It’s culturally broadening!

Tax and legal complexities makes a UK contractor’s IR35 belly-aching look like a child’s whining. I submit corporate taxes in three countries, personal taxes in two countries, VAT returns in two countries. And most returns are in foreign languages. In your case, if you contract on Continental Europe for any length of time, these are realities for you too.

Take the Continental step, and do it in a prepared way so that the journey is pleasant. Stepping out is what life is all about! Learn to savour the Continental breakfast!

Articles Written for the UK Chapter

Jan. 2006: Rising Phoenix, Tom Barnett. Introduces the Phoenix Chapter to UK members.

Feb. 2006: Celebrating in Phoenix, Tom Barnett. Some events happening with our chapter. (temporary link)