The Traveling Interpreter

Do you consider yourself a professional, a newbie or perhaps someone thinking about returning to the profession? Are you a member of any association? Let’s talk about the benefits of belonging and actively participating in professional associations.

If you are an interpreter and/or a translator, you should know that you have to invest in your career as an independent freelancer or as a staff member as well. You must hone your skills and maintain your credentials, if you are accredited or certified.

Professional associations are organizations that offer professional development, opportunities for networking, and provide information about job opportunities. Language service providers are always looking for good professionals and the profession continues to grow amid Covid 19 times.

So, where do you go to obtain these skills now that most, if not all, in person conferences have been either cancelled or postponed?

Conferences are being cancelled or postponed until 2021 unless they are held online through a variety of virtual platforms. The American Translators Association or ATA (www.atanet.org) recently announced that they are going fully virtual this year for the first time in the history of the organization. ATA is the largest organization of professional interpreters and translators in the world!

Arizona Translators and Interpreters ATI Annual Conference (www.atiinc.org), an organization that offers professional development for interpreters and translators in Arizona, is also going virtual this year. ATI has been attracting top quality speakers at its annual event for approximately ten years.

The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators or NAJIT’s (www.najit.org) Annual Conference is also one of the most important events of the year for judiciary interpreters and translators.

Now, getting back to the benefits of attending these events, the results can be immeasurable. I have always been asked how I began my career as a translator and interpreter. My answer is always the same. I went back to school at 38 and became a members of ATA and NAJIT. The rest is history!

Most of these conferences offer a job fair with dozens of exhibitors eager to connect with professionals. There are workshops, speed networking events, social activities, and training sessions galore. So, yes. You would absolutely benefit from attending such gatherings.

Immediately after becoming a member of the ATA, the first thing I did was create a profile in the directory which, in those days, was a printed product with thousands of names of members all over the world divided by language combination, location, etc. Now, of course, the directory is available online. This benefit alone, changed my life forever. The jobs I have been able to obtained just because someone has found me on that directory are endless. Not to mention the friendships that you forge along the way. That alone is PRICELESS!

I remember the first 2 or 3 years I attended the ATA conference it was because I went to market my services. However, I realized after a few years that the real reason I went to the ATA conference was to see my friends and colleagues. OK. So I also liked most sessions, too. It is great to be able to network and acquire professional development while having a wonderful social experience at the same time. Come on, who hates that?

So I’m all for getting the maximum benefit from your local and national associations.

Also, depending on the type of interpreter you are, you may also join medical interpreting associations. They are key to staying current in your field. The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters and the Certification Commission for Health Interpreters (CCHI) are the certifying bodies in the medical interpreting arena. The International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) is also a very well-known organization in that area.

For interpreters that venture into the international scene, there is IAPTI, the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters. Also FIT, the International Federation of Translators (www.fit.org) and many other organizations.

If you want to make a name for yourself and become visible in the profession, you should definitely consider becoming a member of your local AND national organizations. It is important that you invest in your career. Additionally, if you are certified, you will want to maintain your credential by attending professional development events that offer credit educational units or CEUs. Invest in your career! Invest in you!

Until next time, be well and stay healthy.

 

 

If you are listed on the directory of a translators and/or interpreters organization, you have most likely been targeted by scammers or are about to be. Beware, the Nigerian scam is alive and well, and claiming victims every day.

Some of us independent contractors who are interpreters and/or translators, market and advertise on social media. Furthermore, many of us have our names listed in the directories of one or more professional organizations. These directories provide feeding grounds for crooks looking to take advantage of vulnerable, naive colleagues who are anxious to ger work.

Scam email messages are usually easily identifiable. You just need to know what to look for in these “hook” emails sent by the thousands to innocent members of our profession. Make sure you don’t fall prey to these “too good to be true” schemes.

These are some examples of what the messages look like:

• No company name or address
• No initial caps
• No periods
• Poor grammar
• They do not know your language combination
• The file to be translated, if included, is always approximately 11,000 words
• The file to be translated is always the same

These are some examples of how negotiations will be done:

• The rate you provide, however high, is always accepted
• The payment is done almost immediately, sometimes in advance
• The payment is ALWAYS done via cashier’s checks
• The payment is ALWAYS made out for more than what was originally agreed
• The scammer claims a “mistake” has been made
• The “client” asks for reimbursement of the “overpaid” difference
• The victim complies
• The victim gets notification that the cashier’s check is fraudulent

I know of many colleagues that have been taken to the cleaners because of these ruthless criminals. Unlike the well-known Nigerian scam known to many as the “Nigerian Prince scam” (where someone overseas generally claims to be royalty or have access to newly acquired fortunes/financial opportunities) which is easier to spot, these schemes that target translators and interpreters are a lot more creative.

Sometimes the scammers take on other people’s identities that can appear to be “real” folks, thus creating a false sense of legitimacy to its victims. If you receive one of these types of emails, do not reply.

In an article published by CNBC’s Make It in April of 2019, Dr. Frank McAndrew, a social psychologist and professor at Illinois’ Knox College, stated that the reason these scams are so effective is that they present victims with a “perfect storm of temptations.” Exorbitantly high rates and immediate compensation are usually an irresistible cocktail.

While the Nigerian prince-style schemes can cost a lot if you fall for them, investment fraud and romance scams are the most expensive for victims. According to ADT. Americans lost over $26 million to scams in 2018. As long as these scams keep working, criminals will continue to use them to target innocent people.

Please, be careful when opening or responding to emails. Some attachments can infect your computer with viruses so be more careful when opening any files. Also, exercise caution when replying to messages from people who you do not know. Do not provide them with any of your personal information.

Just a word to the wise, if they make it a point to tell you that they found your name in any organization’s directory, be suspicious. It is most likely than not that this will be a scam/spam email. To flush them out, let them know that you only accept payment via PayPal and see if they reply. Don’t be surprised to hear crickets after that.

Where to report:

• https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds
• https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/nigerian-letter-or-419-fraud

Sources:

• https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/18/nigerian-prince-scams-still-rake-in-over-700000-dollars-a-year.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_scam
• https://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/nigerian/reporting.htm

 

Until next time… Be safe and stay healthy!

 

Hi all,

It’s been a while since I posted anything and, boy, it seems as if it was a lifetime ago. Last year was fast and furious and this year, well, let’s just say it is not moving fast enough. What do you think?

With the arrival of Covid-19 a.k.a. coronavirus, life seems to have come to a screeching halt, at least for most of us independent contractors in the translation and interpreting profession. Courts are closed; hospitals have changed their safety protocols, many businesses have also closed or are limited in their ability to operate. You’ve seen it. It is a whole new ballgame!

First, I hope and pray that you and yours are all safe and healthy. That is the most important thing. The rest will come. It is sad that most of us don’t realize that health is the most important fact in our lives as without it, we are nothing. Therefore, I sure hope you are all taking the necessary measures to protect yourselves from any exposure to this virus. Second, for those of you still in the trenches, please make sure that you are well prepared. Gloves, masks and protective eyewear MUST be used to ensure your safety.

Those of you working in detention centers are especially susceptible to the virus and it is your responsibility to protect yourself as best you can. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Exercise social distancing of 3 -6 feet from anyone else whenever possible.

In addition to that, you should make sure to have hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and/or spray and tissues. You should also have a first aid kit in your vehicle at all times. Another recommendation is keep your gas tank full. You never know when a situation could arise where you may need to go a long way before refueling. Water access is another essential. If you are allowed to do so, bring your own water with you. Some detention facilities do not permit it.

Regarding PPE (personal protective equipment), there are a lot of fraudulent sites “selling” N95 masks and other PPE products online, so do your own due diligence and research before you make any purchases. Make sure that you can verify the following:

• seller is a legitimate business
• product availability
• product’s delivery information
• package tracking information

There will be many changes in the coming months and years after this worldwide emergency is over which will affect the way business is conducted at all levels of government as well as private industry. Remember, in order to stay relevant and competitive, you must remain dependable, available and flexible. You must also be able to easily adjust to the changes ahead – that’s the trick!

These are challenging times. Make the best out of it. Be smart, be safe and stay healthy my friends!!

 

After 20 years of experience as an interpreter, I thought I had seen it all. I was so wrong about that. Enter Respondent John Doe, his partner of 20 years and 4 of the most beautiful children I have ever seen, all teenagers between the ages of 12 and 16 years old. At first, I thought, “wow, what a beautiful family.” I would soon realize nothing could be further from the truth!

The male respondent was there for his final hearing and was visually upset. He kept interrupting me, the judge, the government attorney and his own attorney. The judge had begun to go through the exhibits and the respondent didn’t recognize some of the terminology. Additionally, his attorney had mentioned that the respondent was not legally married but that he had been in a relationship with his partner of almost 20 years. John Doe went off on his attorney about that very fact. In his view, they were “legally” married and there was no challenging that very fact. The judge, whose patience was already being tested by John Doe’s behavior, began to lose his patience because of the respondent’s demeanor in the courtroom. Luckily, the defense attorney quickly addressed the court and explained that his client had been a victim of a gunshot to his head years before, was prone to these outbursts, but meant no disrespect to the court.

The court took a recess in order to have John Doe calm down. The defense attorney looked like he wanted to cry! I’ll never forget the way those children looked at their father. I felt so sad and helpless!

Interpreters often face these types of situations in the courtroom. Therefore, it is extremely important that we are able to identify mental health issues, if at all possible. In this case, the defense attorney was able to save the day by effectively presenting his case after a brief postponement, during which he was able to control his client.

After doing a little research about mental health in the courtroom, I found some very interesting facts. If at all possible, the following points will help communication flow more effectively.

• Pre-session is often necessary, if allowed
• Complete focus without interruption (no distractions, i.e. phones ringing)
• Consecutive vs Simultaneous
• Flow management required from the interpreter
• Cross-cultural knowledge
• Post-session desired, if allowed

If you are a mental health interpreter, or a community or court interpreter for that matter, then I recommend a great read: Challenges and Complexities of Mental Health Interpreting, June 1st, 2011, presented by Anita Coelho Diabate, Vice President, International Medical Interpreters Association. In our world, you never know when you may need some guidance and information.

Until next time, be safe, be well, be happy!

For many of us working as independent contractors and freelance interpreters, the government shutdown had devastating consequences. Many of my colleagues have one or more government workers in the family. Many of them were unable to fulfill their financial obligations, and to top it off, this came right after the holidays.

When the government shutdown ended cut short on Friday, January 25, 2019, I knew my phone would be ringing soon. Well, the call came that Monday, and off I went to a place I had never visited before in the United States.

I arrived at the airport promptly on Monday, happy to finally be able to go back to work. Well, it was not meant to be. The plane had mechanical problems and the airline was unable to get me to my destination that day, so off back to my house I went. When something goes completely array, be sure that there is divine intervention at work. The next day, I tried again and arrived in Louisville, KY (which was 13 degrees F at the time and snowing cats and dogs), ready to face the weather.

Just a few pointers for future reference for us traveling interpreters. Always carry a sweater… or two. You never know when you will be faced with sub-freezing temperatures. Extra socks, an umbrella, thermal underwear, gloves and a scarf. If you are a female, do not wear high heels in extreme cold weather or snowy weather. You can end up on the ground, and that can have dire consequences. Dress in layers, if you are not completely prepared and/or without an available winter coat. Protect your head as a large percentage of your heat escapes through the area of your neck and the top of your head, and, of course,  stay well hydrated at all times.

Until next time, keep warm and safe this winter!

 

 

 

 

 

For many of us working as independent contractors and freelance interpreters, the government shutdown had devastating consequences. Many of my colleagues have one or more government workers in the family. Many of them were unable to fulfill their financial obligations, and to top it off, this came right after the holidays.

When the government shutdown ended on Friday, January 25, 2019, I knew my phone would be ringing soon. Well, the call came that Monday, and off I went to a place I had never visited before in the United States, Louisville, Kentucky.

I arrived at the airport promptly on Monday, happy to finally be able to go back to work. Well, it was not meant to be. The plane had mechanical problems and the airline was unable to get me to my destination that day, so back to my house I went. By the way, when something goes completely array, I can assure you that there is divine intervention at work. My flight was supposed to stop in Minneapolis/San Paul (the Twin Cities) before heading to Louisville, and temperatures there plummeted to -20º F that day.

The next day, I tried again and arrived in Louisville, KY (which was 13º F at the time, and snowing cats and dogs), ready to face the weather.

Just a few pointers for future reference for us traveling interpreters. Always carry a sweater… or two. You never know when you will be faced with sub-freezing temperatures. Thick socks, an umbrella, thermal underwear, gloves and a scarf. If it snows, and your shoes are not waterproof, a plastic bag around your socks will do the trick. If you are a female, do not wear high heels in extreme cold weather or snowy weather. You can end up on the ground, and that can have dire consequences. Also, dress in layers, if you are not completely prepared and/or without an available winter coat. Always protect your head, as a large percentage of your heat escapes through the area of your neck and the top of your head. And, of course,  stay well hydrated at all times.

Until next time, keep warm and safe this winter!

Are you ready for the Holidays? I have been traveling for the last month or two, and so preparing for the holidays has not been easy. I have worked in courts in San Diego, California, New Orleans and Jena, Louisiana, Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, Phoenix, Arizona, and Houston, Texas, just to mention a few.

Therefore, after months of hard work, my family and I are finally planning a well-deserved Xmas vacation in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Pearl of the Caribbean!

I am a native of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, one of the largest cities on the Island. Puerto Rico, as you may know, was hard hit last year after Hurricane Maria practically destroyed the entire Island. Many people died during the hurricane and afterwards, as a result of the lack of medication for many patients of cancer and other chronic diseases.

I visited in March, 2018, and I cried every day I was there. I had never seen Puerto Rico in such bad shape and had never ever seen the desperation I saw in the eyes of the poor and the elderly. It was obvious to me that it would take many years for Puerto Rico to recover from the devastation Maria had caused, especially in the mountainous regions in the center of the Island, and in Vieques and Culebra, two island municipalities off the eastern coast of the mainland.

There was a sense of loss and sorrow throughout the Island. Even in my hometown of Mayagüez (located on the Island’s west coast) which was not hard hit in comparison to other municipalities, there was lots of damage and many areas still with no electricity and no running water six months after the hurricane. The Metropolitan Area of San Juan was in need of lots of repairs, as electricity was still not completely restored in most of that zone. Some of the most luxurious and famous hotels were closed until 2019.

When I retuned again in July of this year, to my surprise and delight, there were visible signs of recovery all over. The cruise liners were docked at the ports where thousands of tourists were back walking the streets of Old San Juan, shopping and contributing to the local economy. Hotels were full and local businesses were thriving. It was certainly a wonderful thing to see.

Now, as I prepare to return for my first Christmas holiday in San Juan in many years, I am dying with anticipation of my trip. I am looking forward to spending time with my family and enjoying the warmth of the sun, the white sand, the spectacular beaches, the lively music, our delicious food, and our unique blend of cultures.

If you have never visited my amazing island of Puerto Rico, make it a point to do so at least once. I promise you won’t regret it. As I say whenever anyone asks me about the place of my birth and my youth, it is a magical place worth exploring at least once in a lifetime.

I can asure you, there is nothing like spending the Holidays in Puerto Rico. Happy Holidays!

I have not written much the last couple of months. I had a writer’s block and just could not figure out how to get my mojo back. Enter a last minute trip to work at a remote location in Louisiana. What an experience!

Here’s a few tips for traveling interpreters. Always carry an umbrella. You never know when the sky is going to break. Always carry socks even if the forecast is “sunny and warm”. A sweater, plenty of water, steno pads, multiple pens, and make sure you have multiple map applications. A sandwich or fruit is always a good idea as most detention centers are located far away from restaurants and convenient stores.

If torrential rain gets in the way, maintain a good attitude. No one wants to work with a grouchy interpreter. Get there early. Don’t carry a lot of jewelry as you will most likely have to remove all or most of it in order to enter a secure facility.

Don’t ever lose your sense of humor. No one likes a Debbie Downer.

This year’s conference theme is Great Challenges, Greater Opportunities in Language Services. Marjory Bancroft has been selected as keynote speaker. Marjory Bancroft directs Cross-Cultural Communications, the only national training agency for medical and community interpreting, with more than 280 licensed trainers in 35 states, DC, Guam and six other countries.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet and listen to one of the most recognized trainers in our profession.

For more information, visit ATI’s website at http://www.atiinc.org.

 

The largest gathering of professional translators and interpreters takes place every year and it is an event you should not miss if you want to step up your game.

Join us for ATA’s 59th Annual Conference. Make plans to attend in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 24-27, 2018, along with 1,800 attendees from more than 60 countries.

Learn more about ATA’s Annual Conference:http://www.atanet.org/conf