AAA Translation - We'll Take You Global

AHA moments, global entrepreneurship and 2 countries

2018-11-02T13:09:00.001-07:00

My Neighbor Next Door is from...Finland

2015-10-12T14:05:00.002-07:00

A new blog monthly articles series from AAA Translation’s Susanne Evens, My Neighbor Next Door is from… aims to expand multi-cultural knowledge and break down divides by letting readers get to know immigrants from various countries…one neighbor, friend and/or business colleague at a time.

This month’s featured country is Finland. Finland is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, bordered by Sweden to the west, Norway to the north and Russia to the east. Estonia lies to the south across the Gulf of Finland. From the late 12th century until 1809, Finland was part Sweden. It was then incorporated into the Russia Empire as the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland, until the Russian Revolution of 1917 prompted the Finnish Declaration of Independence.

We recently interviewed Mia Eriksson, who was born and raised in Finland and has been a full-time neuroscience student at Texas Christian University (TCU) since 2012. She also works as a teaching assistant in a chemistry laboratory at TCU.

Q. What are the cultural differences you notice between Finland and the USA?
Everything is different. Here, people always smile, which can be exhausting. In Finland, people don’t smile as much. It’s not to be mean or rude. When someone in Finland smiles, you know it is genuine. Also, Finland is much more socialistic. Education all the way through university is free, and healthcare is free. Here, you have to pay a lot for that. Another difference: in Finland people stay to themselves more than here; we value privacy.

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?
I came to the US on a student visa in 2012 to start my studies at Texas Christian University.

Q. What is something most people don't know about Finland?
Finland is actually incredibly beautiful. We have cold winters with snow, but, in fact, it is not like that year-round. We have warm summers, and it is one of the most natural and greenest countries in the world.

Q. What do you miss the most about Finland?

I miss the privacy. I miss being able to just relax and be in my own little bubble, without having to worry about people thinking that I’m being rude or that something is wrong.

Q. What is the biggest misconception you encounter when people learn where you are originally from?

We do not have polar bears!

Q. Any other comments to add?

Don’t feel weird about asking somebody about their home country. I’ve heard the standard questions a million and one times so I have answers ready to go. I’d rather people ask than make assumptions.

Tips to Increase Your Odds of a Successful and Cost-Effective Translation Project

2015-09-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

As a business owner, department head or project leader, you want your HR documents, marketing collateral or other translated materials to be accurate and timely.

Because translations done WELL are paramount to your global success, we have several tips to help you directly influence the outcome, speed and cost-effectiveness of any translation project:

1)    Start with a well-written, simple piece. If the original marketing collateral or internal communications document is wordy, ambiguous or poorly written to begin with, the translated document will follow. Translators cannot rewrite. Their job is to accurately translate. To increase your success in the original language – and in the translated one(s) – make sure the piece is written really well.

2)    Be careful who translates for you. Someone may be bilingual, but that doesn’t mean they are an experienced translator, understand your industry or are up-to-date on the latest, localized language nuances in the market you’re trying to reach. It’s best to work with professionals who have teams of in-country, experienced translators.

3)    If you have preferred company lingo or branding guidelines, provide that to your translation company BEFORE the project begins.

4)    Be careful who proofreads your documents. You may have someone on your team who speaks Spanish, for example, but the nuances of Spanish in Mexico differ greatly from Spanish in Colombia. And even if someone is from the area, if they no longer live there, they are not as knowledgeable as an in-country translator and proofreader. AAA Translation’s founder and CEO Susanne Evens, for example, no longer translates German, despite growing up there. “I still speak German often and visit Germany, but I have lived in the U.S. too long to provide the kind of accuracy that I expect and get from someone who still lives there.”

Want to get more tips or learn how you can work with AAA Translation for your next translation, interpretation or global consulting project? Contact us at 636.530.1010 or visit www.aaatranslation.com to learn more.

AAA Translation August 2015 eNewsletter

2015-08-04T11:42:00.003-07:00

Feature Immigration Story

Our Founder and CEO, Susanne Evens, is featured in the latest St. Louis Mosaic Project's immigrant article series.

Born, raised and educated in Germany, Susanne originally moved to the United States in the 1980s - and she immediately loved her new city, St. Louis. Over the next several years, she relocated to many places in the U.S. and around the world, including back to her home country. In 1992, though, she decided to move to St. Louis to settle permanently. "The architecture reminded me of my home in Germany," she said. St. Louis quickly became her new home, and she has been an asset to the city's community ever since.

Within one week of her return to St. Louis, Susanne secured a job in the legal field, given her prior experience as a paralegal. Her original degree, however, was in international business, and she was trained as a foreign language correspondent.

Read the article...

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My Neighbor Next Door is from...England

A monthly blog feature from AAA Translation's Susanne Evens, My Neighbor Next Door is from... aims to expand multi-cultural knowledge and break down divides by letting readers get to know immigrants from various countries...one neighbor, friend and/or business colleague at a time.

This month's featured country is England. We recently interviewed Ronnie Crowley, who now lives in Fort Worth, Texas and works with Quindigo Management. She moved here in May 2002 from England with her husband and two children.

Q. What are the cultural differences between England and the USA?

One of the biggest differences I see is how patriotic the general American is. The flying of flags at their home is something I would very rarely consider doing in the UK. I didn't even own a union jack until I came to the USA. Another huge difference I have learned is that the average American is much more open to sharing about their personal thoughts and experiences. I've learned to expect to learn more about an American I've met today than what I know about someone I've known in the UK for 6 months! Americans also seem to be very interested in their heritage and where they come from and this is often part of the sharing. As a culture based on immigration, I'm guessing this is why roots are important.

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?

My husband's job. He works for an aircraft manufacturer who is partnered with a US company to develop a new plane for both countries

Q. What is something most people don't know about your original country?

Most people are surprised to learn that some newspapers in England published daily a "page 3 girl" in them. A page 3 girl is a topless model!

Read More...

New Clients

Cheers to our new client Synek! They manufacture and distribute a counter top beer dispenser system and believe that "beer is an art that deserves to be shared with the world."

And a big welcome to HKD Global, the world's largest manufacturer of high-quality tents, shelters and camping equipment.

Client Feedback

"AAA Translation has provided Arch Grants with exceptional and generous pro bono services. We've entrusted AAA Translation to provide us with quality, vetted and appropriate interpreters, and have been thrilled at the outcomes of all of our engagements. We would strongly recommend AAA Translation services for businesses looking for high-quality interpretation and translation services."

My Neighbor Next Door is from...England

2015-07-30T10:36:00.002-07:00

A monthly blog feature from AAA Translation’s Susanne Evens, My Neighbor Next Door is from… aims to expand multi-cultural knowledge and break down divides by letting readers get to know immigrants from various countries…one neighbor, friend and/or business colleague at a time.

This month’s featured country is England, which takes its name from the Angles, a Germanic tribe that settled there during the 5th and 6th centuries. In the 10th century, England became a unified state and since the 15th century, it has had a significant cultural and legal impact on the world.

We recently interviewed Ronnie Crowley, who now lives in Fort Worth, Texas and works with Quindigo Management. She moved here in May 2002 from England with her husband and two children.

Q. What are the cultural differences between England and the USA?

One of the biggest differences I see is how patriotic the general American is. The flying of flags at their home is something I would very rarely consider doing in the UK. I didn’t even own a union jack until I came to the USA. Another huge difference I have learned is that the average American is much more open to sharing about their personal thoughts and experiences. I’ve learned to expect to learn more about an American I’ve met today than what I know about someone I’ve known in the UK for 6 months! Americans also seem to be very interested in their heritage and where they come from and this is often part of the sharing. As a culture based on immigration, I’m guessing this is why roots are important.

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?
My husband’s job. He works for an aircraft manufacturer who is partnered with a US company to develop a new plane for both countries

Q. What is something most people don't know about your original country?

Most people are surprised to learn that some newspapers in England published daily a “page 3 girl” in them. A page 3 girl is a topless model!

Q. What do you miss the most?

Being able to buy a decent cup of tea when I’m out. Even Starbucks doesn’t teach them how to make it well. I’m always having to explain exactly how to do it -- and yes, I don’t want steamed milk!

Q. What is the biggest misconception you encounter when people learn where you are originally from?

People think that being from England, I have met the Queen or Princess Diana. It’s funny how many people have asked me this over the years! I’m not even a royalist, and there are many people I would prefer to meet. Another one would be that many people think we eat a Full English Breakfast regularly. When I lived in the UK I would only eat this when I was staying at a hotel and even then not every day.

Where to Turn for Trusted Help with Foreign Language Translation and Interpretation Services

2015-07-07T04:37:00.000-07:00

When you have foreign language-related business needs, it can be hard to determine where to turn for trusted help. As a professional translation, interpretation and global consulting firm, we have worked for over two decades serving clients across every industry. We can handle any language – anywhere – any time!

We partner with our clients to help set expectations, customize project plans, identify deliverables and provide accurate and timely services. Our repeat business and referral rate - greater than 90% - speaks for itself. And since 2004, the St. Louis Better Business Bureau has recognized our commitment to service excellence by giving us an A+ rating each year.

Our Services:
We offer a full range of language services, including:

Translation

Online – websites, social media content and technology-related translation (live chat, integration for apps, software and technology platforms)
Print – books, manuals, catalogs, marketing materials, HR materials, legal documents and more
Video – foreign language video production, subtitling and voiceovers

Localization
Interpreting

Simultaneous and consecutive interpretation for conferences, meetings and more
On Demand Telephone Interpreting 24/7/365

Language and cross-cultural training (individuals and groups)
Global consulting and market research

Our People:
Founded in 1994, AAA Translation has served clients across the world, spanning every industry and language, for more than two decades. Every team assigned to a project is made up of professionals with native fluency in the target language, subject matter/industry expertise and years of experience. Our interpretation teams are comprised of trained conference interpreters, managers with interpretation backgrounds and on-site technical support, armed with advanced equipment to facilitate simultaneous and consecutive interpretation.

Our expertise and advice has been featured on NPR, BusinessWeek.com, BrandChannel.com, International Enterprise Singapore, SWR3 Radio Germany and many more.

Our Clients:
Our clients include Energizer, Dale Carnegie, Sigma Aldrich, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hemophilia Association of America, Printing Industries of America, Reliv International, Sun Edison, Eaton and many more. JCI (Junior Chamber International) and Arch Grants recently made us official translation and interpretation partners.

“Audiences here in Mexico are singing your praises. The translation, they say, is some of the best they have seen. BRAVO for a job done well.”
~ Anheuser Busch, St. Louis, Missouri

“We trusted AAA Translation to provide interpretation services for one of our premier events, and our trust was well placed. AAA worked closely with us to make the interpretation affordable and the combination of the technology and interpreter they provided worked just as expected, making us and our speaker look good. AAA has earned my endorsement.”
~ Printing Industries of America

“The nature of automotive development frequently requires rapid change with little advance notice. AAA is a great help to us as they have consistently shown the ability to quickly and accurately translate our messages into multiple languages.”
~ Software Systems/Design Engineering, N.S. International Ltd.

"Translating instructional sports books isn’t easy, especially if the topics range from soccer to fitness, from coaching to scientific literature. But AAA Translation not only succeeds in delivering the translated text on time but always takes care to keep the literary standard. AAA Translation will always be our first address to translate our German books into the English language."
~ Meyer & Meyer Sport - Aachen, Germany and London, UK

AAA Translation July 2015 eNewsletter

2015-07-01T13:31:00.001-07:00

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July to Americans everywhere! Whether you'll be enjoying time with friends and family in the U.S. or celebrating abroad, we wish everyone a happy and safe Independence Day.

Need some ideas on how to celebrate?

1) Take a look at 4th of July celebrations by Americans held in countries all over the world.

2) Check out the 10 biggest 4th of July fireworks displays in the U.S., according to Conde Nast Traveler.

3) Independence Day celebrations aren't reserved for just the U.S. -- many other countries have their own celebrations on different dates with their own customs and traditions.

Let Freedom Ring!

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My Neighbor Next Door is from...Iraq

A monthly blog feature from AAA Translation, My Neighbor Next Door is from... aims to expand multicultural knowledge and break down divides by letting readers get to know immigrants from various countries...one neighbor, friend and/or business colleague at a time.

This month's featured country is Iraq. The country's name has been in use since before the 6th century. An Arabic folk etymology for the name is "deeply rooted, well-watered; fertile."

The region of the country between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, often referred to as Mesopotamia, is the world's oldest civilization. It is here that mankind first began to read, write, create laws and live in cities under an organized government. The area has been home to continuous successive civilizations since the 6th millennium BC.

We recently interviewed a man who immigrated to the U.S. from Iraq with his family when he was a child. First, they moved to Syria in 1993; from there, they came to the U.S. in 1997. Currently, he lives in Texas.

Q. What are the cultural differences between Iraq and the U.S.?

The United States is a melting pot of cultural diversity. There are many types of races and religions in the U.S., and it is wonderful. In Iraq, everyone was predominantly Muslim and born in Iraq.

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?

We came to the U.S. to seek a better life because Saddam Hussein was killing innocent people.

Q. What is something most people don't know about your original country?

There are regular houses there. Nobody in Iraq lives in stone houses in the middle of the desert. The scenery is beautiful. There are big houses in the city and paved roads. People drive the latest cars and have the latest technology. There are also a lot of McDonald's everywhere, and a vast number of mountains. In many ways, it is just like the U.S.

Q. What do you miss the most about Iraq?

I miss going to my grandma and grandpa's house and seeing my whole family there. I also miss the delicious kabobs and shwarmas. I can't seem to find kabobs and shwarmas in the U.S. that taste the same as they did back home. The meat was so tender and juicy and had the freshest vegetables.

Read More...

Vacation Time?

There is a huge disparity in the amount of paid time off Americans receive (we rank the lowest) versus other developed countries. Employers in the U.S. don't have to give staff paid leave, although many get the 10 national holidays. By contrast, Brazilians get as many as 41 days off while Austrians get 38. Most Europeans take several weeks off each summer, which is why European translation projects take longer in the summer (something to keep in mind when project planning).

Read the Article...

Did You Know?

AAA Translation can provide any or ALL of the following services:

Translation

Online
Print
Video

Localization
Interpretation (live or over the phone)
Global consulting
Market research
Language and cross-cultural training (individuals and groups)

Our teams have native fluency in the target language, subject matter/industry expertise and years of experience.

Click here for a one-page overview brochure.

My Neighbor Next Door is from...Iraq

2015-07-01T07:40:00.005-07:00

A monthly blog feature from AAA Translation’s Susanne Evens, My Neighbor Next Door is from… aims to expand multicultural knowledge and break down divides by letting readers get to know immigrants from various countries…one neighbor, friend and/or business colleague at a time.

This month’s featured country is Iraq. The country’s name has been in use since before the 6th century. An Arabic folk etymology for the name is "deeply rooted, well-watered; fertile.” The region of the country between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, often referred to as Mesopotamia, is the world's oldest civilization. It is here that mankind first began to read, write, create laws and live in cities under an organized government. The area has been home to continuous successive civilizations since the 6th millennium BC.

We recently interviewed a man who immigrated to the U.S. from Iraq with his family when he was a child. First, they moved to Syria in 1993; from there, they came to the U.S. in 1997. Currently, he lives in Texas.

Q. What are the cultural differences between Iraq and the U.S.?

A. The United States is a melting pot of cultural diversity. There are many types of races and religions in the U.S., and it is wonderful. In Iraq, everyone was predominantly Muslim and born in Iraq.

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?

A. We came to the U.S. to seek a better life because Saddam Hussein was killing innocent people.

Q. What is something most people don't know about your original country?

A. There are regular houses there. Nobody in Iraq lives in stone houses in the middle of the desert. The scenery is beautiful. There are big houses in the city and paved roads. People drive the latest cars and have the latest technology. There are also a lot of McDonald's everywhere, and a vast number of mountains. In many ways, it is just like the U.S.

Q. What do you miss the most?

A. I miss going to my grandparents' house and seeing my whole family there. I also miss the delicious kabobs and shwarmas. I can’t seem to find kabobs and shwarmas in the U.S. that taste the same as they did back home. The meat was so tender and juicy and had the freshest vegetables.

Q. What is the biggest misconception you encounter when people learn where you are originally from?

A. They seem to think everyone from Iraq is out to get them. They couldn’t be more wrong. Some of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life were from Iraq.

Q. Any other comments to add?

A. Throughout my time in Iraq, I hadn’t seen any crimes committed due to religious beliefs. There are crazy people nowadays that think being a Muslim is about killing people of other religions. That is a horrible thing to do. These self-proclaimed “Muslims” could be white, black or brown. Those are the real terrorists and those are the people who everyone should avoid.

AAA Translation June 2015 eNewsletter

2015-06-02T16:18:00.002-07:00

Multilingual Websites: Don't Make These 7 Common Mistakes

It should go without saying but we've seen it ignored too many times before to not mention it here. If you want to attract a market, make sure you are speaking their language. Don't assume that your customers speak your language well enough to skip translating your website into their language(s). If you want them to buy, your website must speak their language.

2. Don't use machine or automatic translation programs.
The results of using machine or automatic translation programs - rather than real humans who have translation experience and understand the nuances of both languages involved - is often disastrous, embarrassing and/or costly. There are so many examples to choose from. A recent one involves Taco Bell's new website in Japan. It was built using Google Translate, rather than a professional service. The result? Cheesy chips became "low quality chips" and Crunchwrap Supreme became "Supreme Court beef." It made some headlines before it was swiftly taken down.

3. Language translation isn't enough - don't skip other localization work.
Language translation is just one piece of what is called localization. The goal of localization work is to give a product or service the look and feel of having been created for the target market AND the company, eliminating, or at least minimizing, local sensitivities. Regardless of the language used, the online experience must be culturally relevant and correct.

Read the Full Article...

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My Neighbor Next Door is from...Mexico

A new blog feature from AAA Translation, My Neighbor Next Door is from... aims to expand multi-cultural knowledge and break down divides by letting readers get to know immigrants from various countries...one neighbor, friend and/or business colleague at a time.

This month's featured country is Mexico. The country's original name, Mēxihco, is the Nahuatl term for the heartland of the Aztec Empire, namely the Valley of Mexico, and its people, the Mexica, and surrounding territories which became the future State of Mexico as a division of New Spain prior to independence. After New Spain won independence from Spain, it was decided that the new country would be named after its capital, Mexico City, which was founded in 1524 on top of the ancient Mexica capital of Mexico-Tenochtitlan.

Mexico now has one of the world's largest economies and by 2050 is expected to become the world's seventh largest economy (according to PricewaterhouseCoopers) or possibly the fifth largest economy (according to Goldman Sachs).

We recently interviewed the multi-talented Zuilma Gonzalez who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in 2001. Zuilma is both a professional accountant AND photographer - www.zuilma.com.

Q. What are the cultural differences between Mexico and the USA?

The key differences I've found are in the areas of traffic laws, food and education (schools).

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?

My husband was offered a job in Fort Worth, Texas.

Q. What is the biggest misconception you encounter when people learn where you are originally from?

I have been very fortunate to have met smart people who don't see stereotypes. The only exception to this is a woman I met once at the gym (our kids played together at the kids' club). She thought she could hire me to teach her daughter Spanish while babysitting for her and pay less than the minimum wage rate. I politely declined :)

Multilingual Websites: Don't Make These 7 Common Mistakes

2015-06-02T06:35:00.001-07:00

With only 30% of the world speaking English and non-English speaking business opportunities on the rise every day, more and more websites simply MUST be multilingual.

When creating a website in multiple languages, avoid these 7 common mistakes:

1. Don’t ignore the language preferences of your target markets.

It should go without saying but we’ve seen it ignored too many times before to not mention it here. If you want to attract a market, make sure you are speaking their language. Don’t assume that your customers speak your language well enough to skip translating your website into their language(s). In a European Commission study based on a Gallup survey of language preferences among Internet users in 23 countries in the E.U. (where people often speak more than one language), nine out of 10 said that, when given a choice of languages, they always visited a website in their own language, and 42% said they never purchase products and services in other languages. Translation: if you want them to buy, your website must speak their language.

2. Don’t use machine or automatic translation programs.

The results of using machine or automatic translation programs – rather than real humans who have translation experience and understand the nuances of both languages involved – is often disastrous, embarrassing and/or costly. There are so many examples to choose from. A recent one involves Taco Bell's new website in Japan. It was built using Google Translate, rather than a professional service. The result? Cheesy chips became "low quality chips" and Crunchwrap Supreme became "Supreme Court beef." It made some headlines before it was swiftly taken down.

3. Language translation isn’t enough – don’t skip other localization work.

Language translation is just one piece (albeit a large piece) of what is called localization. The goal of localization work is to give a product or service the look and feel of having been created for the target market AND the company, eliminating, or at least minimizing, local sensitivities. Regardless of the language used, the online experience must be culturally relevant and correct. Conduct research to understand the cultural considerations for your target audience. You may need to adapt graphics, modify content, adapt the layout (the translated text may be larger or smaller than the original language site), convert text/graphics to use different currency or measurement symbols and change formatting for dates, addresses and phone numbers, etc.

4. Don’t make it difficult to find your multicultural websites on your main site.

Don’t make users hunt for your multilingual websites when they land on your main one. Access to multilingual websites should be made available in the global navigation at the top right on every page of your main site.

5. Don’t forget about SEO.

Use a stand-alone, dedicated URL for marketing and search engine optimization purposes. You can redirect it to another one that’s more in line with your brand or URL convention. Also – think beyond Google. Google is not used in China, for example, so it’s important to have search engine optimization that is tailored to the search engines used in the countries you are targeting.

6. Don’t build it and then forget it.

Plan for regular updates and maintenance to ensure that your multilingual website remains comparable to your main language’s site.

7. Don’t build it if you can’t support customers beyond the website.

You have a multilingual website that avoids all the missteps above…but what if a customer has problems or questions? Think beyond the website and integrate your multilingual website initiatives with your internal and customer support initiatives, such as in-language phone and email support.

Need help localizing and translating your multilingual websites? AAA Translation, founded in 1994, works in more than 150 languages, and our experienced team can help make your multilingual websites a success. We provide translation/localization, interpreting, multilingual customer service support, over-the-phone interpreting and more. Contact us toll-free at 844.293.3519 or learn more at www.aaatranslation.com.

My Neighbor Next Door is From...Mexico

2015-05-31T19:26:00.000-07:00

AAA Translation May 2015 eNewsletter

2015-05-07T10:15:00.001-07:00

My Neighbor is from...Germany

This month's featured country is Germany, Susanne's home country (she is a dual German-American citizen).

We recently interviewed journalist and entrepreneur Benjamin Bathke. Benjamin is originally from Germany and immigrated to the U.S. in 2011.

Q. What are the cultural differences between Germany and the USA?

One of the key differences between Germany and the U.S. is the prevailing aversion to risk in my motherland. While Americans tend to be more open to taking risks and starting their own companies, Germans are more traditional in their thinking and their actions when it comes to free enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Germany is also much less of a car-dominated society than the United States. Being smaller than Texas, but having roughly four times as many people, Germany is densely populated and possesses an extensive train system connecting cities many times per day. Moreover, a much larger percentage of the population rides their bikes to work. Generally speaking, Germans much less dependent on the automobile than people in the U.S.

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?

A Master's degree in Communications. And American Football.

Taco Bell Translation Bloopers

Taco Bell's new website in Japan made some headlines before it was swiftly taken down. It was apparently built using the Google Translate service, rather than a professional translator. The result? Cheesy chips became "low quality chips" and Crunchwrap Supreme became "Supreme Court beef."

Read the Article

Welcome New Clients

We're thrilled to welcome Pasco Systems and Allied Healthcare Products as our newest clients!

St. Louis Mosaic Project Announces Immigrant Entrepreneurship Advisory Board with Visit by U.S. SBA

2015-05-06T10:49:00.003-07:00

As the St. Louis entrepreneurial community continues to gather national accolades, the St. Louis Mosaic Project announces its Immigrant Entrepreneurship Advisory Board with the visit of Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. This occured at a roundtable discussion on May 1 at 10:00 am at the World Trade Center St. Louis. Betsy Cohen, Executive Director of the St. Louis Mosaic Project, emphasized the importance of Contreras-Sweet’s visit as “a fantastic opportunity for local immigrant entrepreneurs in our community to share their experiences and depict the breadth of our entrepreneurial community spanning from high tech start ups to neighborhood businesses.”

Contreras-Sweet, a successful entrepreneur and business executive, was appointed to lead the SBA in April 2014. In her role as Administrator, she continues to build upon her career in both the public and private sector, championing causes in diversity, accessibility to capital, and equal opportunities for all. Prior to her appointment, Contreras-Sweet founded the first Latino-formed commercial bank in California in more than 35 years and served as Vice President and Equity Partner for Westinghouse’s 7-Up / RC Bottling Company.

According to Cohen, “this visit is another piece to the St. Louis Mosaic Project’s commitment to supporting local immigrant entrepreneurs. Our Immigrant Entrepreneurship Program takes a holistic approach to helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into a reality. By connecting immigrants to the range of support and programming found in the St. Louis Ecosystem, entrepreneurs are equipped with the resources to grow or start their own businesses. “

The Mosaic Project’s Immigrant Entrepreneurship Advisory Board is:

Diego Abente – International Institute
Salim Awad – McQueen Awad LLC
Ola Ayeni – Claim Academy, eateria
Ed Bryant – St. Louis Minority Business Council
Eddie Davis – Center for Acceleration of African American Business
Susanne Evens – AAA Translation
Carmen Jacob – NextGen Information Services
Suchin and Shayn Prapaisilp – Global Foods, United Provisions
Raul Sanchez – Appcropolis
Geoffrey Soyiantet – Vitendo4Africa
Mark Sutherland – Elasticity
Sorin Vaduva – Serial Entrepreneur
Dr. Ibrahim Vajzovic – Real Estate, Professor
Francis Yueh – St. Louis Chinese American News
Michael Zambrana – Pangea Group

About the St. Louis Mosaic Project
The St. Louis Mosaic Project was launched in 2012 in response to an economic impact report, outlining St. Louis to be lagging in immigrant growth as well as highlighting the economic benefits of increasing its foreign-born population. The Mosaic Project’s goal is to transform St. Louis into the fastest growing metropolitan area for immigration by 2020 and promote regional prosperity through immigration and innovation. This regional initiative is professionally managed by the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, World Trade Center St. Louis and a 22- Member Committee.

For more information about The St. Louis Mosaic Project, please visit www.StlMosaicProject.org

My Neighbor Next Door is from...Germany

2015-05-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

A new blog feature from AAA Translation’s Susanne Evens, My Neighbor Next Door is from… aims to expand multi-cultural knowledge and break down divides by letting readers get to know immigrants from various countries…one neighbor, friend and/or business colleague at a time.

This month’s featured country is Germany, Susanne’s home country (she is a dual German-American citizen). The English word Germany derives from the Latin Germania, which Julius Caesar adopted for the peoples east of the Rhine. The German name Deutschland, originally diutisciu land – “the German lands” – is derived from deutsch, which descends from Old High German diutisc (meaning “popular”).

We recently interviewed journalist and entrepreneur Benjamin Bathke. Benjamin is originally from Germany and immigrated to the U.S. in 2011.

Q. What are the cultural differences between Germany and the USA?

A. One of the key differences between Germany and the U.S. is the prevailing aversion to risk in my motherland. While Americans tend to be more open to taking risks and starting their own companies, Germans are more traditional in their thinking and their actions when it comes to free enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Germans are also pretty straight-forward and speak their minds. Small talk is not quite as common as in the U.S., and striking up conversations with strangers happens less often.

Social interactions in the U.S. are generally much more cut and dried than in Germany. From the standard “How are you?” to “I appreciate it” to “Nice to meet you,” certain phrases are commonplace and part of everyday life.

Germany is also much less of a car-dominated society than the United States. Being smaller than Texas but having roughly four times as many people, Germany is densely populated and possesses an extensive train system connecting cities many times per day. Moreover, a much larger percentage of the population rides their bikes to work. Generally speaking, Germans much less dependent on the automobile than people in the U.S.

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?

A Master’s degree in Communications. And American Football.

Q. What is something most people don't know about your original country?

A. German culture and language is omnipresent in the U.S. – GerMericans are the biggest U.S. minority! There are tons of German last names, German city names and much more that reminds me of Germany on a daily basis. However, most people don’t know much about it. Did you know, for instance, that Zuckerberg means “sugar mountain”?

Q. What do you miss the most?

A. Mobility, in terms of transportation, but also socially and economically. It’s much easier to get around in Germany, even if you don’t have a car. What’s more, I feel like our health care and welfare system is more equitable.

Q. What is the biggest misconception you encounter when people learn where you are originally from?

A. Aside from a few outliers (high school kids) asking me if we had electricity in Germany when I was a foreign exchange student in Texas ten years ago, I’d say it’s the belief that many Germans drink beer out of glass boots. The culprit is the movie Beerfest, which made the term “Das Boot” popular, especially among young people in the U.S.
Q. Where do you live now? (city / state)

A. I live in St. Louis, Missouri

Q. Any other comments to add?

A. Wherever you grow up, your surroundings are your measuring stick. It’s easy to think the beliefs you hold growing up and the things you do are the universal truth. Coming to the U.S. not only taught me a lot about the American culture, but also what it means to be German. True self-discovery begins where your comfort zone ends – that’s why it’s vital to travel early and often.

AAA Translation April 2015 Monthly Newsletter - Arch Grants Selects AAA Translation and More

2015-04-03T12:18:00.002-07:00

My Neighbor is from...Cuba

This month's featured country is Cuba, the largest island in the Carribean. A multiethnic country, its people, culture and customs come from diverse origins. The exact meaning of the name Cuba is unclear, but it may be translated either as 'where fertile land is abundant' (cubao) or 'great place' (coabana).

We recently interviewed one of our cherished clients, Vince Estrada. Vince is originally from Cuba, immigrated to the U.S. more than 50 years ago and works with MTS World.

Q. What are the cultural differences between Cuba and the USA?

A. Having been a Spanish colony for nearly 4 centuries, Cuban cultural and ethnic roots are predominantly Spanish, with a mixture of African brought in with the slaves to work the sugar fields after the extinction of the native Indians. Throw in some US influence owing to the geographical proximity and investments and you have the Cuban culture. I believe this synergy produced a unique culture, distinct from that of other Latin American countries.

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?

A. My unwillingness to live under a Communist regime.

Arch Grants Selects AAA Translation as its Official Translation and Interpretation Partner

2015-03-31T14:11:00.002-07:00

Arch Grants Selects AAA Translation as its Official
Translation and Interpretation Partner

ST. LOUIS, MO – March 31, 2015 – Arch Grants, a nonprofit organization that accelerates economic development and community revitalization in St. Louis through entrepreneurship and philanthropy, has selected AAA Translation as its official translation and interpretation partner. Arch Grants provides $50,000 equity-free grants and pro bono support services to entrepreneurs willing to locate their early-stage businesses in St. Louis, and AAA Translation will now serve as its exclusive foreign language translation and interpretation partner, providing pro bono services to the organization’s grant recipients.

Through its rigorously competitive Global Startup Competition (held twice each year), Arch Grants retains and attracts the most innovative entrepreneurs to the St. Louis region. This program is an aggressive effort to inspire the next generation of employers, civic leaders and philanthropists for St. Louis. Since 2012, the organization has awarded over $3 million to 55 startup businesses that were willing to call St. Louis home.

“As an organization focused on attracting international entrepreneurs to St. Louis, it’s critical that we partner with a translation service provider like AAA Translation,” said Ben Burke, director of entrepreneurship at Arch Grants. “AAA Translation is highly-qualified, St. Louis-based, and always provides accurate, timely and dependable services in whatever language is needed.”

“We are honored to be selected as Arch Grant’s official partner for all of its language translation and interpretation needs,” said Susanne Evens, founder and CEO of AAA Translation. “They share our passion for philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, and the services they provide to their grant recipients have a vital impact on our area’s entrepreneurial culture and economic vitality.”

To learn more about AAA Translation, visit www.aaatranslation.com. To learn more about Arch Grants, visit www.archgrants.org.

###

About AAA Translation

Founded in 1994, AAA Translation provides professional translation, interpretation and global consulting services to help organizations succeed at both the local and international levels. The company’s core services include: accurate translation services into 150+ languages by experienced, certified translators; foreign language interpretation services using experienced, vetted interpreters and state-of-the-art equipment for worldwide conventions; and global consulting for international companies, with experts in fields that range from economics to law to religion. AAA Translation’s founder, Susanne Evens, is a sought-after expert on international communications and global business development. She is a regular contributor to the BusinessWeek Alliance/Market Advisory Board, and her advice and insights have been featured on: National Public Radio (NPR), BusinessWeek.com, BrandChannel.com Bloomberg Business News, Rankraiser.com, St. Louis Commerce Magazine, St. Louis Business Journal, CBX KMOX Radio, Pete the Planner Radio Show Indianapolis and International Enterprise Singapore. Learn more at www.aaatranslation.com.

About Arch Grants

Arch Grants is a nonprofit organization that accelerates economic development and community revitalization by providing $50,000 equity-free grants and pro bono support services to entrepreneurs willing to locate their early-stage businesses in St. Louis. Through the rigorously competitive Global Startup Competition, Arch Grants retains and attracts the most innovative entrepreneurs to the St. Louis region. This program is an aggressive effort to inspire the next generation of employers, civic leaders, and philanthropists for St. Louis. To learn more, please visit www.archgrants.org.

Media Contact:

Kelly Kirkendoll

Thrive PR for AAA Translation

kelly@thrivepublicrelations.com

817.236.6075

Ben Burke

Arch Grants

ben.burke@archgrants.org

314.305.0392

My Neighbor Next Door is from...CUBA

2015-03-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

A new blog feature from AAA Translation’s Susanne Evens, My Neighbor Next Door is from… aims to expand multi-cultural knowledge and break down divides by letting readers get to know immigrants from various countries…one neighbor, friend and/or business colleague at a time.

This month’s featured country is Cuba, the largest island in the Carribean. A multiethnic country, its people, culture and customs come from diverse origins. The exact meaning of the name Cuba is unclear, but it may be translated either as 'where fertile land is abundant' (cubao) or 'great place' (coabana).

We recently interviewed one of our cherished clients, Vince Estrada. Vince is originally from Cuba, immigrated to the U.S. more than 50 years ago and works with MTS World.

Q. What are the cultural differences between Cuba and the USA?
A. Having been a Spanish colony for nearly 4 centuries, Cuban cultural and ethnic roots are predominantly Spanish, with a mixture of African brought in with the slaves to work the sugar fields after the extinction of the native Indians. Throw in some US influence owing to the geographical proximity and investments and you have the Cuban culture. I believe this synergy produced a unique culture, distinct from that of other Latin American countries.

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?
A. My unwillingness to live under a Communist regime.

Q. What is something most people don't know about Cuba?
A. That Cuba was a very advanced society in many socio-economic fields prior to the takeover by the Communist regime.

Q. What do you miss the most?
A. The gregariousness of the Cuban people, the music, the weather, the food (although I get first-rate Cuban food at home!)

Q. What is the biggest misconception you encounter when people learn you are originally from Cuba?
A. That misconception is probably embedded in the comment “but you don’t look Cuban” when I mention my origin.

AAA Translation March 2015 Newsletter

2015-03-05T13:10:00.003-08:00

St. Patrick's Day Around the World

St. Patrick's Day, made an official Christian feast day in the early seventeenth century, is celebrated on March 17th each year. It commemorates Saint Patrick and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish. The largest celebrations are held in Dublin, Ireland, but there are plenty of other St. Patty's Day parties around the world...because, whether we have Irish heritage in our bloodline or not, everyone is a little bit Irish on St. Patty's Day!

Ireland
Ireland's national saint - St. Patrick - is celebrated throughout the country from March 14 to March 17. Dublin is home to the biggest celebrations (4 days of city-wide events), but parades, street carnivals and parties are also held in Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick and beyond.

Montserrat, Caribbean

Monsterrat has an interesting link to Ireland. In the 17th Century, Irish Catholic indentured servants were welcomed to the tiny volcanic island at a time when they were shunned in most other English-controlled islands of the Caribbean. The Irish mixed freely with the African slaves brought towork the English sugar plantations, and a unique Afro-Irish culture developed. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated each year with a week-long festival culminating in St Patrick's Day. It's also a commemoration of the slave uprising on the same day in 1768.

Read about more St. Patty's Day celebrations in cities/countries around the world...

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Junior Chamber International Selects AAA Translation as Its Official Translation Partner

Junior Chamber International (JCI), a nonprofit international organization celebrating the 100th anniversary of the JCI Movement, has selected AAA Translation as its official translation partner. Working with AAA Translation since 2010 in multiple languages, JCI has now named us as their exclusive translation provider.

Learn More...

Video Strategic Alliance

AAA Translation and Solstice Productions have formed a strategic partnership, allowing them to offer video production services -- such as video training for overseas employees, international marketing videos & multi-cultural closed captioning -- in more than 150 languages.

Learn more...

International Career Workshop

Susanne Evens, AAA Translation's Founder and CEO, will be presenting a workshop at the University of Missouri (UMSL) International Business Career Conference on March 6 (at 10am and 11am), titled "International Experience Can Land You That Job."

Want to book Susanne to speak at your event or organization? Contact us at info@aaatranslation.com.

AAA Translation and Solstice Productions Announce Strategic Alliance to Offer Video Services in 150 Languages

2015-03-05T12:14:00.000-08:00

ST. LOUIS, MO – March 5, 2015 - Solstice Productions and AAA Translation® announce a strategic alliance between the two St. Louis-based companies, allowing them to offer video messaging in more than 150 languages to help their clients expand globally.

“As businesses grow and the world shrinks, AAA Translation offers us the ability to craft video stories that are truly global, in hundreds of languages,” said Amanda Aschinger, co-founder and executive producer at Solstice Productions. “This alliance allows us to provide new services such as video training for overseas staff, marketing videos in multiple languages and add closed captioning in various languages (from Spanish to Chinese to Arabic and Zulu). Our business thrives on partnerships, and we're proud to partner with AAA Translation to help take our clients global.”

Since 1994, AAA Translation has provided consulting, translation and interpretation services for clients across a wide spectrum of industries, such as Anheuser Busch, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Meyer & Meyer Sport and Del Monte Foods. Solstice Productions, established in 1997, combines experience in storytelling and business development to craft strategic videos for clients of all sizes and industries. Their projects that range from training video series to long form interviews to marketing videos, corporate documentaries and more.

“With Solstice Productions as our strategic partner, we can provide all of our clients with a one stop shop for their foreign language video production needs,” said Susanne Evens, founder and CEO of AAA Translation. “Together, we can take our clients’ messages global and help them reach new markets.”

This new strategic partnership not only sets both Solstice Productions and AAA Translation apart, it will also provide businesses with a new level of communication/marketing tools.

For more information about these joint services, please contact either AAA Translation at 636-530-1010 or Solstice Productions at 314-322-8599. Additional information is also available at www.AAAtranslation.com and www.solsticeproductionsvideo.com.

###

About AAA Translation
Founded in 1994, AAA Translation provides professional translation, interpretation and global consulting services to help organizations succeed at both the local and international levels. The company’s core services include: accurate translation services into 150+ languages by experienced, certified translators; foreign language interpretation services using experienced, vetted interpreters and state-of-the-art equipment for worldwide conventions; and global consulting for international companies, with experts in fields that range from economics to law to religion. AAA Translation’s founder, Susanne Evens, is a sought-after expert on international communications and global business development. She is a regular contributor to the BusinessWeek Alliance/Market Advisory Board, and her advice and insights have been featured on: National Public Radio (NPR), BusinessWeek.com, BrandChannel.com Bloomberg Business News, Rankraiser.com, St. Louis Commerce Magazine, St. Louis Business Journal, CBX KMOX Radio, Pete the Planner Radio Show Indianapolis and International Enterprise Singapore. Learn more at www.aaatranslation.com.

About Solstice Productions
Established in 1997, the Solstice team has produced hundreds of hours of video content for clients in over 50 industries. Founding producers Oleg Passer and Amanda Aschinger combine a passion for storytelling and business development with over 20 years of producing, directing and writing experience to craft strategic videos for clients in small, mid and large businesses. The company’s projects range training video series to long form interviews to marketing videos and animation to corporate documentaries. Solstice has worked with subjects as varied as Major League Baseball, the Missouri History Museum, the National Parks Service, and ITEN (a nonprofit at the heart of the St. Louis tech startup scene). Oleg Passer’s work has been internationally broadcast by The Documentary Channel and has been featured online and in live presentation by outlets such as Washington University, The St. Louis Convention and Visitor’s Commission, and Popular Mechanics. Amanda Aschinger holds an MBA from Webster University, and has taught in the video department at Webster for almost a decade. She recently executive produced 60 episodes of a local TV show -- All About Business St. Louis. To learn more, visit www.solsticeproductionsvideo.com.

Media Contacts:

Kelly Kirkendoll
Thrive PR for AAA Translation
kelly@thrivepublicrelations.com
817.236.6075

Amanda Aschinger
Executive Producer, Solstice Productions
314-322-8599

Saint Patrick's Day Around the World

2015-03-05T09:09:00.002-08:00

St. Patrick’s Day, made an official Christian feast day in the early seventeenth century, is celebrated on March 17th each year. It commemorates Saint Patrick and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish. The largest celebrations are held in Dublin, Ireland, but there are plenty of other St. Patty’s Day parties around the world…because, whether we have Irish heritage in our bloodline or not, everyone is a little bit Irish on St. Patty’s Day!

Ireland
Ireland’s national saint – St. Patrick – is celebrated throughout the country from March 14 to March 17. Dublin is home to the biggest celebrations (4 days of city-wide events), but parades, street carnivals and parties are also held in Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick and beyond.

New York City, USA
With more than 150,000 participants, this is the world’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade each year. Started in 1762, it’s held along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on the Sunday before March 17. You can even watch it live on their website at nycstpatricksparade.org. It features floats, dancers, bagpipes, large crowds and plenty of green beer at the city’s Irish bars

Boston, USA
Considered to be the most Irish city in the U.S., Boston has a proud Irish heritage and holds the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the U.S.. It’s held in the predominantly Irish-American neighborhood of South Boston, better known as ‘Southie.’ Each year, this parade attracts around a million spectators and is also broadcast live on TV to overseas troops.
Additionally, festivals and exhibitions are held throughout March, including the Boston Flower and Garden show.

Chicago, USA
Chicago, literally, goes green for Saint Patrick’s Day. Most notably, the Chicago River is dyed green each year. Other festivities include the ‘greening’ of the home of the Chicago Bears football team, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower, Trump International Hotel & Tower, the Wrigley Building, Chicago Board of Trade, Millennium Park and other buildings.

Buenos Aires, Argentina
South America’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration takes place in Buenos Aires each year, with more than 50,000 people participating. Ten blocks of the city are closed to traffic, allowing green-clad party-goers to take to the streets. The parade on March 17 ends up in Plaza San Martin, while other celebrations also take place in Plaza Irlanda.

Munich, Germany
Like millions of Irish all over the world, the Munich Irish and their friends celebrate this national holiday. Since 1996, Munich has held an annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. This year, the parade will be held Sunday, March 15 at noon, followed by an after party.

Birmingham, England
One of the biggest in England, the Birmingham St. Patrick’s Day parade started in 1996 and has grown significantly since then. Traditionally, the week’s festivities start with a gala event at a local venue, with entertainment that includes Irish dancers and traditional Irish music. The week before the parade, other events are held celebrating Irish heritage and culture.

Montserrat, Caribbean
Monsterrat has an interesting link to Ireland. In the 17th Century, Irish Catholic indentured servants were welcomed to the tiny volcanic island at a time when they were shunned in most other English-controlled islands of the Caribbean. The Irish mixed freely with the African slaves brought to work the English sugar plantations, and a unique Afro-Irish culture developed. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year with a week-long festival culminating in St Patrick's Day. It’s also a commemoration of the slave uprising on the same day in 1768.

Sydney, Australia
Australia has marked St Patrick's Day since 1810, when the Governor of New South Wales Lachlan Macquarie declared the date an official day of celebration. Typically, the day is celebrated with entertainment, music and dancing before the main parade begins. The parade is said to be the second largest St. Patty’s Day parade, after New York City’s. Following the parade, there is a Family Day, where the Australian and Irish National Anthems are sung, followed by local Irish bands and musicians.

Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo proudly bills itself as the first St Patrick’s Day in the Northern Hemisphere and holds the largest celebration in Asia, with colorful costumes, marching bands and colorful floats. The parade, sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland, includes more than 1,500 participants and 50,000 visitors.

Junior Chamber International (JCI) Selects AAA Translation as its Official Translation Partner

2015-02-20T17:45:00.003-08:00

St. Louis, MO -- February 23, 2015 -- Junior Chamber International, a nonprofit international organization celebrating the 100th anniversary of the JCI Movement, has selected AAA Translation as its official translation partner. Working with AAA Translation since 2010 in multiple languages, JCI has now named the translation and global consulting company as its exclusive translation provider.

“As an organization focused on young, engaged citizens around the world, it’s important that we partner with a trusted, global-minded translation company that has the in-country resources we need across multiple languages,” said Arrey Obenson, JCI deputy secretary general. “AAA Translation has always surpassed our expectations, and we look forward to a long relationship together as we gather active citizens and help them create an impact in their communities.”

“We are honored to be selected as JCI’s official translation company for all of its language translation and localization needs,” said Susanne Evens, founder and CEO of AAA Translation. “They make a real impact in the world, and their passion and courage to address critical challenges is encouraging and inspiring.”

About AAA Translation
Founded in 1994, AAA Translation provides professional translation, interpretation and global consulting services to help organizations succeed at both the local and international levels. The company’s core services include: accurate translation services into 150+ languages by experienced, certified translators; foreign language interpretation services using experienced, vetted interpreters and state-of-the-art equipment for worldwide conventions; and global consulting for international companies, with experts in fields that range from economics to law to human resources to religion. AAA Translation’s founder, Susanne Evens, is a sought-after expert on international communications and global business development. She is a regular contributor to the BusinessWeek Alliance/Market Advisory Board, and her advice and insights have been featured on: National Public Radio (NPR), BusinessWeek.com, BrandChannel.com Bloomberg Business News, Rankraiser.com, St. Louis Commerce Magazine, St. Louis Business Journal, CBX KMOX Radio, Pete the Planner Radio Show Indianapolis and International Enterprise Singapore. Learn more at www.aaatranslation.com.

About JCI
JCI is a worldwide membership-based nonprofit organization of young active citizens ages 18 to 40 who are dedicated to creating positive change in their communities. Through projects in more than 5,000 communities across more than 100 countries, members seek targeted solutions to local problems, creating a global impact. Every November, JCI members, partners and friends from across the globe come together for the peak of the JCI year at JCI World Congress. They unite to share experiences, expand their global network and find new ways to create positive impact in their communities through targeted action. The JCI World Congress celebrates active citizenship and magnifies the impact of the JCI Movement. Learn more about JCI at www.jci.cc.

Media Contact:
Kelly Kirkendoll
Thrive PR
817.236.6075 or 972.330.2882
kelly@thrivepublicrelations.com

AAA Translation February 2015 Newsletter

2015-02-11T14:35:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day Around the World

Valentine's Day isn't just a U.S. holiday. Couples all over the world celebrate this love holiday by collectively spending millions of dollars, yen, euros and other currencies on February 14.

From Saudia Arabia (where the holiday is banned) to Japan (where only women give chocolate gifts) to the U.K. (where cards are sent anonymously), the traditions can vary significantly.

Here are a few examples:

Japan
Japan's tradition actually stems from a mistranslation in the 1950s, when chocolate companies began encouraging people to celebrate Valentine's Day there. An incorrect translation from one company gave Japanese consumers the idea that it was customary for women to give chocolate to men on the holiday. And that has become the tradition! Now the chocolate companies in Japan sell more than half of their annual sales during the week before Valentine's Day. Men are supposed to return gifts to women on a day called "White Day" (March 14), a Japanese creation.

Italy
In Italy, Valentine's Day was originally celebrated as the Spring Festival, where people (usually young people) gathered outside in gardens and tree arbors to enjoy poetry readings and music before taking a stroll with their beloved. Today, Italians prefer having romantic dinners and exchanging gifts. Chocolate is a favorite gift, and the bigger the chocolate, as the belief goes, the stronger the love you will have.

Saudi Arabia
Valentine's Day is actually BANNED in Saudi Arabia. In 2008, Saudi officials told florists and gift shops to remove all red items until after Valentine's Day, calling the celebration a sin as it "encourages immoral relations between unmarried men and women."

Click Here to Read More Examples...

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Strategic Alliance

AAA Translation and Growing Global HR Partners, LLC have formed a strategic partnership to make it easier for companies who want to successfully expand and hire employees all over the world. Learn more...

International Career Workshop

Susanne Evens, AAA Translation's Founder and CEO, will be presenting a workshop at the University of Missouri (UMSL) International Business Career Conference on March 6, titled "International Experience Can Land you That Job."

Want to book Susanne to speak at your event or organization? Contact us atinfo@aaatranslation.com.

Valentine's Day Traditions Around the World

2015-02-11T06:35:00.002-08:00

Valentine’s Day isn't just a U.S. holiday. Couples all over the world celebrate this love holiday by collectively spending millions of dollars, yen, euros and other currencies on February 14.

From Saudia Arabia (where the holiday is banned) to Japan (where only women give chocolate gifts) to the U.K. (where cards are sent anonymously), the traditions can vary significantly. Here are a few examples:

Japan
Japan’s tradition actually stems from a mistranslation in the 1950s, when chocolate companies began encouraging people to celebrate Valentine’s Day there. An incorrect translation from one company gave Japanese consumers the idea that it was customary for women to give chocolate to men on the holiday. And that has become the tradition! Now the chocolate companies in Japan sell more than half of their annual sales during the week before Valentine’s Day. Men are supposed to return gifts to women on a day called “White Day” (March 14), a Japanese creation.

Italy
In Italy, Valentine’s Day was originally celebrated as the Spring Festival, where people (usually young people) gathered outside in gardens and tree arbors to enjoy poetry readings and music before taking a stroll with their beloved. Today, Italians prefer having romantic dinners and exchanging gifts. Chocolate is a favorite gift, and the bigger the chocolate, as the belief goes, the stronger the love you will have.

Saudi Arabia
Valentine’s Day is actually BANNED in Saudi Arabia. In 2008, Saudi officials told florists and gift shops to remove all red items until after Valentine’s Day, calling the celebration a sin as it “encourages immoral relations between unmarried men and women.”

France
It’s often claimed that the first Valentine’s Day card originated in France when Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent love letters to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415. Today, card giving is not as popular as it used to be. Instead, the French celebrate with delicious cuisine, making restaurants popular and busy. February 14 in France is also considered the best time for a marriage proposal.

United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, it’s tradition to send Valentine’s Days cards anonymously, a custom dating back to Victorian times. Different parts of the country have their own unique traditions as well: in Norfolk, a mysterious Jack Valentine knocks on people’s doors and vanishes, leaving sweets for children. In Wales, Valentine’s Day comes just a few weeks after St Dwynwen’s (January 25), named after the Welsh patron saint of lovers.

Estonia
Valentine’s Day celebrations in Estonia have their own twist: February 14 is called “Friend’s Day,” so single people don’t feel left out. Gifts are typically given between friends and family members. Single people also get the chance to take a ride on a special “love bus” where they can meet others looking for love. This doesn’t mean there’s no romance for couples -- shops, restaurants and even streets are decorated with hearts and other symbols of love.

China
In China, the Valentine's Day festival is quite different than elsewhere in the world. The Chinese Valentine's Day falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month in the Chinese Calendar, so the day is also called ‘Festival of the Double Sevens' or Qi Xi - ‘The Night of Sevens'. Other popular names are ‘Seven Sister's Festival' and ‘Daughter's Festival'. There are specific and colorful rituals for the day, in addition to the usual exchange of flowers, cards and chocolates as tokens of love between lovers. Following the tradition, lovers visit the Temple of Matchmaker on the Chinese Valentine's Day and pray for their love and happiness and their possible marriage. Singles also visit to ask for luck in love.

India
Valentine's Day is a recent custom in India but has caught on quickly. Though some see it as a western import and hesitate to celebrate, a growing number of people participate in the day. Especially to the Indian youth, February 14 signifies love - a day when people express their affection for others. Just as several other countries, people in India also celebrate the day by exchanging cards and gifts.

AAA Translation and Growing Global HR Partners Announce Strategic Alliance

2015-01-13T08:47:00.006-08:00

AAA Translation and Growing Global HR Partners, LLC announce a strategic partnership between the two St. Louis-based companies, in order to leverage the companies' respective strengths to make it easier for companies who want to successfully expand and hire employees all over the world.

"The world is getting smaller. Businesses who are operating in a global economy often need to hire employees in international markets, yet the pay practices, benefits and other HR-related policies can vary significantly from country to country," said Susanne Evens, founder/CEO of AAA Translation. "We're excited to partner with a trusted resource that can help our clients who need top-notch global HR expertise."

"With more than 20 years of global consulting, translation and interpretation services for clients that range from Anheuser Busch to Meyer & Meyer Sports to Del Monte Foods, we are happy to partner with a service provider with HR experience in a variety of industries."

For more information about Growing Global HR Partners, go to www.globalhrpartners.org.

For more information about AAA Translation, go to www.aaatranslation.com.

AAA Translation January 2015 Newsletter

2015-01-13T07:00:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year from AAA Translation...

Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2015!

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Tips on Restaurant Tipping for International Business Travelers

Traveling internationally in the New Year?

Tipping in other countries can be confusing. Only in the U.S., for the most part, is it customary to tip 20% in a restaurant. In most European countries, like in Germany for example, patrons typically round up to the nearest dollar. If the bill is Euro 23, for instance, most Germans would round it up to 24 or, if the service was really good, 25. European employees in restaurants don't work for tips but have a salary, as they have to go through major training to even be able to serve and wait on people.

Before you travel to another country, research local customs and tipping practices. They can vary WIDELY. In Japan, a tip is an insult and considered an offensive display of wealth and pity. But in countries like Mexico, many service people rely on tips to provide for their families, and not tipping is a big faux pas.

To help, we have compiled tips on restaurant tipping for popular business travel locations. Click Here to read them...

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AAA Translation and Growing Global HR Partners

Announce Strategic Alliance

Welcoming a New Client

We're proud to announce that

SunEdison in Maryland

is one of our newest clients!

We're translating various documents from Italian, Spanish and French into English for them...

Promoting Education, Business & Cultural Exchange

Did you know? Our founder/CEO, Susanne Evens, serves as President of the St. Louis - Stuttgart Sister Cities, a 501 (c)(3) and the oldest Sister City for St. Louis (celebrating its 55th anniversary this year).

Interested in participating? Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available for the Winter Ball Karneval, an annual German Mardi Gras Ball, which raises funds for educational, business and cultural exchanges between the 2 cities. Click here for details.