Nihan Pekmen

Brainstormer, Sales specialist

My name is Nihan Pekmen. I am living in Izmir, the third most populated city, on the Aegean coast of Turkey. I was always fond of reading and learning new stuff. I used to carry books to friends' houses instead of dolls. At that time elemantary education was for 5 years in my country. After that, I attended a private bilingual secondary-high school combo where I started learning English. During this time I had the chance to improve my English with tourists visiting Turkey and working as a volunteer translator at Cesme Festival for 3 years. But that was not enough for me.. Learning about and experiencing new cultures was always exciting. So after graduating from high school in Turkey, I have decided to expand my horizons and went to a small town in Mıchigan, USA as an exchange student where I studied senior year of high school once again. Then I came back to Turkey and attended Hacettepe University in Ankara majoring in food engineering. As an idealistic newly graduate, I have started working with my father. My father owns a speacialty sandwich restaurant and a bakery for almost 50 years. This specialty sandwich has become so popular that it has become one of the symbols of the city of Izmir. Eventhough working at family business sounds good unfortunately it is also very difficult. My translation adventure started in 2000. My first job was translating documentary series for a dubbing studio in Istanbul. Then in 2002 I have decided to switch careers and started working in GNC Live Well stores as Sales consultant. Since then I have been working in GNC but now as District Manager responsible for the stores in Aegean and Meditterenean Regions of Turkey. In 2004 I have started translating again. Eventhough working full time as sales consultant I have started making translation at nights instead of watching silly TV shows. This time I was a swore translator for a translation office in Izmir. In 2006 I made contacts with a publishing house in Istanbul and translated 2 books for them. One is about self improvement and the other is about the works and phylosophy of Rumi.

Food Engineering, sales, Translations