Meet Annabelle Saucet

By Paula Arellano Geoffroy, 25 April 2025

Freelance interpreter and instructor Annabelle Saucet (LinkedIn: annabelle-saucet) joined SENSE in January. She is currently based in Hoorn, the Netherlands. I invited her to share a bit about her interesting story, and here’s what she had to tell.

Can you tell us about your background and where you are from?

I’m British, born in London. Having grown up in a multicultural family, some of whom visited regularly from different continents, I’ve been exposed to many cultures from a young age. I’ve loved learning languages since then and, being very pragmatic, I pursued translation studies. I then chose a career that allowed for travel, language learning, social connections as well as cultural immersion and exchange: teaching English. This led me to all the other professional opportunities I’ve had, and I am so grateful for them. My current adventure is here, in North Holland.

Why did you decide to settle in the Netherlands?

I’ve got to be honest, I came here for love… and my husband is here for work. Moving to North Holland was a good career move for him, so here we are! As a couple, we’ve lived in England, France and Japan before. We’re no strangers to the expat life. We’re happy here. My impression of the Netherlands so far is that it is a well-developed and structured country with a rich history, and friendly people. I can’t wait to keep improving my Dutch and continue learning about the culture and people here.

What kind of projects have you worked on?

I’ve worked as a language teacher (EFL), a bilingual teacher trainer, a translator and interpreter (French-English), and a Montessori guide.

My passion is learning, and creating meaningful experiences. Andragogy and pedagogy fascinate and inspire me, as does culture. I love living abroad because life is full of challenges, discoveries and interesting connections. I believe that being surrounded by other cultures enriches my journey of self-improvement, brings new and fascinating things to learn about, and challenges my own stance and perspective.

How did you arrive at interpreting as a profession?

I’ve always wanted to use my skills to make a contribution to the world. As a teacher or trainer, I would strive to create meaningful learning experiences. As an interpreter, I believe I am choosing a practical and impactful way to contribute by facilitating exchanges to ensure connection and understanding.

Since the move to the Netherlands, I remain practical and realistic. My language pairing is French-English, and I no longer live in a French or English-speaking country. I cannot deny my passion for learning, so I am also open to opportunities in education, learning and development, anywhere I can draw on previous experience, transferable skills, and a well-set desire for my work to be meaningful and impactful.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Dance! Movement to music will always put a smile on my face. Currently, Zumba and step class, although I’d like to return to Cuban salsa, and try jive rock. I also enjoy exploring new places, dressmaking, meditation, Iyengar yoga, board games, studying Dutch and Italian, and maintaining my French.

Where did you learn about SENSE and why did you decide to join?

I most likely started with Google, the beginning of many searches. Community is really important, especially when living abroad. If you think about your favourite colleague or friends, you’ll remember that your relationship with them coloured your experience of wherever you lived/worked. People don’t stay in a job if they have terrible colleagues, or at any class if they don’t like the instructor. Social connections make or break any experience, and as I am settling here, I hope to find people I can truly connect with.