Enchanting themes, delicious recipes and plenty of atmosphere sought out for you in France, Italy, Sweden and Belgium
or get in touch with me here and now
Once a multilingual secretary, now a multilingual writer
My passion for writing has developed little by little, line by line. With a degree Multilingual Commercial Administration and some years of work experience with international companies in Ghent and Brussels, I moved to Sweden, in 1999, with my Swedish husband and our two children. A first move to set my course in my new country was enrolling on an intensive Swedish course. Initially intended as an integration accelerator, the course turned out to be an inspiring introduction to the University of Uppsala and, moreover, it put me on the track of further studies – language studies, indisputably entwined with the art of writing.
Studying French at a Swedish university
Choosing French studies eventually, was neither a coincidence nor a whim: my background as a Dutch spoken native of the French influenced city of Ghent, some years as a citizen and employee in bilingual Brussels, frequent work contacts and holidays in France – the French language had become part of my identity, and moving to Sweden made a silent desire emerge again: to further deepen my knowledge of the French language and culture, at some point in time. I studied Swedish at the Department of Scandinavian languages with the Department of Romance languages as a neighbour and I simply surrendered to the latter when I curiously looked into their course program for French studies. Whereas my language studies in Belgium had been focused on practical and commercial business French, studying French at my Swedish university provided insight into many other aspects of language, among others translation and writing (both academic and creative), and – last but not least, studying French at a Swedish university challenged even my Swedish language skills.
A portfolio born from the heart
Neither the selection of my portfolio categories and writing themes are a coincidence: having grown up in the heart of Europe naturally means that the culture, charm and flavours of the neighbour countries have left their mark on my personality and my tastes. I grew up with the French chanson and Flemish-Dutch Kleinkunst on the radio; with regular day trips to the cosy Netherlands; with the flavours of the French gastronomy in peace and harmony with our own delicious Belgian cuisine; with esteem for handicraft and artisanry to name a few. "Quality takes time" or "quality has its price" were well-established concepts, and my motto still now. All those influences followed with me to Sweden and now live in peace and harmony with the Swedish traditions.
Because Italian I couldn´t resist
A new opportunity came up just as we considered ourselves solidly settled in Sweden and my studies French nearly completed. It brought our three-kid-family to Italian spoken Ticino in Southern Switzerland (2007). Again an enriching experience and, apart from the usual relocation hassle, an invigorating treat: an ideal climate and paradise-like nature in a well-organised and safe country with lively and colourful Italy just around the corner – a blissful blend! Again a new language too, and what a language – could it be the most romantic of the romance languages? I was eager to learn, I struggled and was often confused – language misunderstandings and mistakes created fabulous anecdotes, but stubbornness paid off.
Alls well, that ends well
Eventually, we returned to Sweden and to our village, Sigtuna, in 2011. Once again I needed to set my course and it was at my trusted Swedish Alma Mater where the very rational decision "Sweden-again" and my nostalgia for the charm of Ticino and the Italian language and flair really prospered together. With a solid dive into the Italian language and culture, resulting in a bachelor degree French-Italian, I thus completed my "Uppsala years" with my mind already set to a future in which language and writing would play an essential role – writing about themes close to my heart and connected to the countries close to my heart.
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Besides language studies, I also studied linguistics at the University of Uppsala and an introductory course in Western philosophy at Stockholm University, the latter made me lose my bearings – useful!
To captivate, to have and to hold
I write high quality content for articles or reportage – appealing themes presented in fluid text, in an attractive and correct language. I write to captivate, to have and to hold your readers! (read more under categories for further orientation and to get into the atmosphere)
Language skills – professional competence – passion
Content writing and editing, as well as translating, were key tasks besides the organisational and administrative tasks during my career as a secretary. As a language student, writing and translating were a crucial part of the course curriculum along with a deepening into the many other dimensions of language and culture. Now I invest all those acquired skills and experiences passionately into my writing and journalism freelance activity. For the moment I write mostly in my mother tongue Dutch, but also in French, Italian and Swedish (occasionally in English)
Quality research – reliable sources
My language skills and working methods allow me to develop and maintain a professional network relevant to my activity (tourism, culture, gastronomy, etc.); to obtain and process material of excellent quality. I follow and consult quality media sources in the original language (newspapers, magazines, radio/TV, bloggers, etc.) I thoroughly select my theme's and sources. My portfolio has developed from personal travel experiences, complemented by quality research and material from reliable sources. I take pleasure in interviewing. My portfolio is continuously supplemented with attractive material. I organize reportage travel on my own initiative or on specific demand.
Head, heart and hands together
Thoroughly prepared themes, creativity and passion, curious senses and my photo camera are the basis for successful work. The pictures on this website are from my personal (extensive) photo portfolio. However, I am an amateur photographer and my photo material primarily serves as a memory support when composing reportage and editing content. Possibly, some photograph can fit an assignment, but my strength and focus lies in theme research, composing and writing content. For professional photographs I can help with finding professional solutions.
Columns and tinkering with language
Besides writing articles and reportage – column writing is truly a favourite activity. Furthermore, I am happy to assist with copy-editing and translating content. (read more LINK)
The countries of my inspiration
Gradually, my portfolio has strongly focused on France and Italy, but it definitely contains some beautiful material about Sweden too (and Belgium, to a limited extent). Sweden, my country of residence, is getting more and more popular, as much as a holiday destination or as a place of residence: for its vast, untouched and accessible nature; for its lifestyle en modernity; for its typical traditions; for plenty more. That Belgium holds a special place in my heart speaks for itself. Hence I can also suggest themes for these two countries.
How much do I charge ?
My fees are based on the usual rates within journalism, content editing and translation (Sweden, Europe). Satisfied clients are of utmost importance to me – as much as I believe that dedication and honest work disserve an honest remuneration.
Just want to boast ?
If you are not a content buyer but would like to promote your region, a craft or an artisanal product; or if you would like to share an authentic recipe or have an idea that fits in one of my portfolio categories – then let me know! I am always searching for fascinating themes and I always take pleasure in promoting ardour, talent or beauty – of course I would love to discuss that with you!
"Why be seduced by something as small as a front door in another country? Why fall in love with a place because it has trams and people seldom have curtains in their homes? [...] To condemn ourselves for these minute concerns is to ignore how rich in meaning details may be."
Life enjoyment
Traveling is an art, indeed. Traveling is life enjoyment, a revitalizing health cure. Leaving behind our daily concerns for a new setting, every now and then, is mind refreshing.
France and Italy, and all the good things in life
France and Italy keep on seducing and continuously attract admirers of culture and nature, as well as gastronomy lovers. What concerns Italy, I've got particularly attached to Piedmont, a region that besides the cultural attractiveness of its cities and its diverse nature, has a fertile soil and proudly promotes that with countless gastronomic festivals. But all of Italy, with its twenty regions, each with its own history and character, is and remains an inexhaustible source for all the good things in life: culture, nature and gastronomy. Of course, this also concerns France and it is my ambition to cultivate a portfolio with a broad spectrum of destinations and themes.
Regions, cities and villages – seasons and comfort facts
As well a region as a city or a village can be put in the spotlight through a particular curiosity, seasonal themes or events. For additional traveller's comfort at the destination, I eagerly investigate on local worth-knowing-facts or on relevant literature to add to the reader's travel bag.
... and a little bit of Sweden too
Although very focused on France and Italy, my travel portfolio also contains some content about Sweden.
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THE WALK© is also part of my travel reportage writings. For more information about this unique series > click here. (link!!)
"I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits, unless I spend four hours a day at least – and it is commonly more than that – sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements."
The magic formula
Keen walkers will for sure recognize themselves in this quote from Thoreau's Walking and I sincerely hope to be able to inspire many "not-yet-walkers" with my walking reportage. Who doesn't want to liberate the mind from all worldly engagements every now and then? Thoreau's magic formula is sauntering through the forests and over the hills – preferably every day. Sauntering is permitted, steady walking too!
Easy-going and unpretentious
THE WALK© is a unique and independent series as a result of my own desire for easy-going, unpretentious travelling with little luggage and lots of walking and started off with backpack-walking by the Italian lakes with overnight stays in modest rifugios where savoury dishes and geniality largely compensate for exhausted muscles. Meanwhile, I can't imagine a nicer holiday.
An ounce of preparation
Walking is one of the most elementary leisure activities and suitable to most, nevertheless, an ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure – from getting into shape before, to the choice of walking routes, accommodation and everything else in between and around. With THE WALK© I happily contribute with smart tips of all kinds. But rest assured: daredevil stunts aren't required for the routes that I carefully select – but adequate effort and deserved relaxation along with simple pleasure, are key concepts for the walks in this series.
Numerous pleasurable possibilities
Many of the routes can be combined with a rucksack-free day or with a short bus or boat trip, just to draw breath or to move on to another section of the journey. Sometimes the walks run entirely through silent and deserted nature, sometimes also through picturesque villages and a festive finish of the journey could be the cherry on the cake: why not round off in a romantic, historical setting to celebrate a successful walking journey?
No walk without food!
Some irresistible recipe discovered en route (because walking requires fuel!) might also find its way in an article from THE WALK©.
A good start is half the battle
For this series I cooperate with qualified tourist offices, guides, rifugios – because "a good start is half the battle"!
"Senza cultura non c'è libertà, non c'è scelta. Non c'è crescita sociale, né reale benessere."
Culture is welfare
"Without culture there is no freedom, no choice. There is no social growth, nor real welfare". I like the extent of meaning evoked by the words of Italian psychiatrist, sociologist and writer Crepet on culture – his words also fittingly formulate the idea behind my category CULTURAL TOURISM.
Culture – travel destination and armchair pleasure
In this category a cultural theme is always the starting point for selecting a travel destination – maybe it will even urge the reader to return to an already visited place or purely provide reading pleasure to the armchair traveller.
Culture is beauty
One doesn't have to be a connoisseur, it is sufficient to be sensitive to cultural beauty – and whether it brings restfulness to the mind or challenges our understanding, it will always enrich our lives in one way or the other.
Culture faceted
Artistic beauty, but also cultural traditions can be a central theme for a reportage or article in this category. Beauty expressed through one or another art form: it could be a painting or a sculpture or even a literary work – the starting point is that culture and the theme will dominate the trip. In this category I might as well illuminate just one particular detail of an artwork in order to approach the whole.
Don't hesitate to contact me for more information!
Wellbeing starts in the kitchen. Both simple and refined ingredients become art in the gastronomic kitchen and enjoyment at the table.
Inherited enthusiasm
Undoubtedly, my gastronomic interest has its origin in Belgium and in my mother's kitchen. Whether it was for the everyday meals, Sunday lunches or feast preparations – delightful kitchen odours were ever-present and triggered a healthy appetite and eagerness to be called to the table. I am simply brought up with great food and now blessed with a keen interest in cooking and appreciative family members (my guinea pigs).
Authentic flavours from France and Italy
Gastronomy is pure pleasure. Moreover, being surprised away from home, with tasty, well-prepared food and authentic flavours, is heaven! For me, "away from home" is often Italy or France where a rich soil, genuine traditions and creativity are the base for the culinary offering that continues enchanting and inspiring.
Sharing is caring
Of course, I want to share culinary pleasures and discoveries with others, and promote the territories of their origin. Whenever possible, I kindly try to wheedle an original preparation method or valuable hint out of the cook – or a rigorous search for authentic recipes will follow a tasting. Besides, eating well abroad, brings me to my cooking pots back home! – testing in my own kitchen is a must, always. I favour simple, honest ingredients and thorough preparations. I like to follow the seasons. Sometimes, a modern touch is added or the recipe gets adjusted with kindred ingredients in case of availability issues. My taste thrives in Piedmont, but again: also in this category I want to offer diversity – there is always a French or Italian (or Swedish, or Belgian) answer to the question "what shall we eat?" !
The best sauce
Quite some ultra-tasty dishes from the primitive but very decent rifugio kitchen and discovered on excursions from THE WALK© found their way to my culinary portfolio – I guess because "hunger (from walking) is still the best sauce!"
Food singularities
In this Gastronomy category, also one single gastronomic product can become an article's main theme because of its fascinating cultural and gastronomic characteristics (tasty recipe included, of course).
... some more delights
My gastronomy category started off with mostly French and Italian food recipes. However, even Swedish (and Belgian) recipes can be found in this portfolio category – obviously, because they are too delicious to be true!
"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever – Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness .."
Craftsmanship, quality and tradition
This category proposes article themes for those passionate about quality and tradition, for those who highly esteem craftsmanship. Both artisanally made user objects and consumer products or traditional manufacturing methods or techniques can be subject to writings in this category.
Peculiarities
Those in love with curiosities will enjoy learning more about a particular object, ornament or specific peculiarity discovered here and there.
Scarce goods and coincidence finds
A very brief summary for nevertheless a cherished category that grows slowly, but steadily. A category that requires patience and detective work as handcrafted goods seem to be rather scarce goods these days – and curiosity items are often coincidence finds as a result of looking around with an eagle's eye when out and about for my other categories.
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The silver pomegranate on the picture is a find from an antiques market in Piedmont and was a perfect fit for a specific reportage in the making then.
I write, therefore I am.
Column writing is a parallel activity to my article and reportage writing.
With column writing I offer readers a view on every day life in my country of residence (now Sweden, previously also Switzerland, Belgium) or on random travel incidents – inexhaustible sources, rich in meaning.
Cultural differences fascinate me, whether they suit me or confuse me – they always incite to further thought or consideration.
I tend to weave humor when narrating, but unavoidably, also criticism or frustration can be detected between the lines.
I dare to walk the philosopher’s path and nothing would please me more than to know that I prompt the reader to further reflection, maybe even to contributing with a precious bit to the complicated puzzle our world appears to be.
Translating is inevitable a part of a language-lover's existence.
It was part of my secretarial career and of my university language studies, it is part of my freelance journalism and writing activity – translating fits my passion for meticulous "tinkering" with language.
Nowadays, I prefer to stay within the field of my journalism categories. Sporadically, translation assignments from other business fields come my way, e.g. product or instruction sheets, which I happily take on, if possible.
I translate from French, Italian, Swedish and English to Dutch, my mother tongue (occasionally, in different directions between those languages)
Copyright © 2018 Sabine Claus Norden with FROONT