From being an interpreter, to needing an interpreter: the lesson I didn’t expect to learn while serving in Peace Corps

Thanks to “Facebook memories” a funny reminisce of a status I posted 5 years ago as an American Sign Language(ASL) Interpreting student  came up saying – “The more and more I go through this interpreting program the more I question how well I actually know English.”

 

Languages are, crazy to say the least. Its like we spend our entire lives exposed and learning this thing that we don’t even realize we are learning, yet at the same time no one ever perfects it. How could we? Language is ever changing. I’ve been speaking, listening, reading, studying, and constantly exposed to English. Yet, while in my Bachelor’s I questioned if I was really was a master of English. Studying to be an interpreter requires endless hours studying another language, while challenging your skills in your own language. It took learning not just words, but meaning. Yes, textbooks help, to an extent, but not like getting out there and talking. When it came to getting a message in one language and then exporting that into another language all while not changing meaning was tough! It really made me question how well I knew how to control my use of language.

 

Now, as I’ve experienced Teaching English as a Second Language or Foreign Language, I again find myself questioning what I know. English has some silly rules. Namibia isn’t the first foreign country I teach in and one common factor I would fear is learners asking “well why do we do ___________?” “ Wait why don’t you say that letter”. Grammar is very tricky. I give people who learn English as a language other than their native language A LOT of credit. I giving anyone learning a language or languages in general a lot of credit! It is not an easy task at all. Trust me, I know!

 

After, I completed my B.A in ASL – English interpretation I found myself working as an interpreter for a few years. Working as an interpreter brings a vast variety of situations that call for you. In some situations I can admit, my rookie shoes had me at times thinking “how do I interpret this with what I know and what I’m confident I can do” , sometimes giving a summarized version of a sentence, or pausing for a moment trying to think of the best way to say what needs to be said. There were a couple times clients would get frustrated with my processing time. I don’t blame this for one-minute, it’s an awkward situation. Most of my clients knew I was new on the scene and gave me some leeway but that by no means that should have been their responsibility.

 

Now that I’m Namibia, a land of many languages I find myself taking on a new language, Rukwangali. Though we are at the 7-month anniversary of this experience, I am nowhere near fluent. I am still learning and practicing the language every day. This has placed me in a position where I find myself needing an interpreter at work meetings or clinics. However, that isn’t exactly something supplied by the Peace Corps. I mean we gotta learn somehow right? Luckily, there is usually a colleague willing to help tell me what is going on in the meeting or announcement, or whatever it may be. Keep in mind these are people are doing this to be nice, not professionally trained, simply kind hearted individuals. Since their attendance is also required distractions are easy to come by.  Sometimes I would be sitting for a few minutes of the presenter talking and then when I ask if anything has been said I get a message like “oh yeah, she is talking about the plans”…. Or something like “Its about that one boy and girl who live that side Rundu”. Very vague summaries. This is nice because it gives me some guidance, but no content. This would sometimes make me anxious, uncomfortable, or even annoyed.

 

To walk into a situation, and put what information you will get in the hands of another person takes a lot of trust. How do I know if I’m being lied to? Is this all the information I need or was that just the parts you needed? If everyone else is laughing why am I not? What’s so funny!? ….. I do have to note, English is not the first language of my colleagues helping me out. Sometimes English is even their third language. So why am I so, temperamental with their assistance? What this has really brought me to realize is: To be an interpreter, or even the person trying to help out someone is a lot of work, verbally and mentally. To be the person awaiting an interpretation or message is a lot of work, verbally and mentally. It’s a dynamic that demands a relationship. There must be trust to some extent, and empathy from all ends. Neither chair is an easy seat to sit in, but both positions deserve respect. Serving brings me humility constantly. Its good to be in a position where you are surrounded by opportunities that expand you, yet gives a closer look all at once.

Don't you miss your family and friends?

A couple questions I’ve been asked regularly are “is it hard to be away from your family?” or “Don’t you miss your friends?”. Or often I’m asked what’s the hardest part about being in Peace Corps? Well of coarse its being away from loved ones. In my short seven months of service, back on the States side I’ve had one of my longest known friends get engaged to her high school sweetheart and they have been together over 10 years! I’ve had births enter the world. My niece Savannah (who is my everything) had her very first volleyball game, where she also made the team captain, and though I once made it a priority to be at every game I possibly could, I was now on the opposite side of the world. And though it hurts, I also lost people. I’ll be honest, yeah; it is hard to be away from your family.

            Call me lucky though, because even through the nostalgia, (not to mention an ocean and vast distances of land) I don’t think I could feel any closer to people back home. Where I once went many days with out talking to family, we now make it a point to talk once a week. Don’t get me wrong, internet isn’t always reliable, but the fact that we each put in the effort is priceless. I have friends I hadn’t seen in months or years sending letters. Any volunteer can tell you, getting mail is one hella good feeling.  I’m even more beyond fortunate to have a supportive circle shooting me messages on Facebook or email saying “hey girl what can we do to help, is there anything you need”. A couple times some of my learners or host family member have been able to be featured in FaceTime and Skype calls, and boy does it turn into talk of the school for a week. Yeah, I miss my family and friends, but I’m also with my family and friends.

            See nothing can every replace friends and family from “home” but one of the greatest gifts of service is the relationships gained while serving. Today my host mom (who is a member of the school board) and toddler niece had to come by the school I’m teaching at. Well, when I walked back to the offices for my free period my host niece saw me and with a huge cheesy 4-teeth smile and wobbly steps came at me. My heart seriously melted. Some of the friendships I’ve made both in the network of volunteers and locals are relationships I could never forget.  I get eager to visit my Bunya host mom telling people, “yeah this weekend I’m going to visit my mom”. My host sister is seriously one of my best friends. Just as my sister back home is. This, this is magic. There is a certain amount of sacrifice with serving in the Peace Corps and living over seas, but the rewards that come along with service are incomparable. 

The Wild Game

For many people when you think of Africa, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is the vast amounts of wildlife. Lions on the prowel for fresh gazelle meat. Zebras galloping freely in the Savannas. Watering holes surrounded with elephants, rhinos, and wildebeest. Rafiki the baboon wondering around with his stick giving enlightening words of wisdom and discovery just as he does in The Lion King. With all the land and various types of climates through out the continent, Africa has a little bit of everything to offer when it comes to wildlife.

Growing up in New Mexico I lived life on desert sands surrounded by mountains and the wildlife it has to offer. Spending a good amount of time one the family farm, and having pets of my own developed me into an animal lover. I loved driving round staring out the window or riding in the back of my dad's truck just looking at birds and envying their freedom to fly. Trying to spot a deer or any other animal hiding in the forest always brought joy. I would even try to fall asleep and play with the chickens only to get upset with my mom's disapproval of the idea. Any animal (even the spiders I run away screaming from) intrigues me still to this day.

Though I am not a believer in hunting just for the sake of hanging the kill on your wall, I do believe in survival. This has been a battle I've had with myself for many years. My love for animals lead to me completely appalling the idea of any animal dying. My dad is a hunter. Every year himself along with other family members and friends would apply for hunts, typically for deer and elk. When they came home proud of their successful hunt with their kill nicely wrapped in the back of the truck I would typically be left uneasy when I was little. How can this happen to Bambi?!  Later the animal would be taken to a local butcher to be cut either for cooking or making jerky. I loved jerky! My family would then explain to me where the jerky came from. That hamburgers came from an animal, and guess what, chicken nuggets come from chickens! Eventually I became a vegetarian for quite some time. However, I have been eating meat again for the past couple years. As the Lion King taught me, there is a circle of life. I still love animals, but I also enjoy meats. A big reason I began eating meat again evolved around the fact that I tend to travel a lot, and with that I want to take in the culture of the new area I am living in; a big role typically being played with food. As I would research embarking into these new customs I realized meat was often featured in the dish. I'd also like to note, I do believe a person can take in a new culture with out having to surrender their own morals. However, for myself and the fact that I do have celiac, I didn't want to show up to these new host families and right off the bat give a list a mile long of the foods I can't eat since they have gluten, and the foods I choose not to eat due to them being meat. I must admit, the decision to not be vegetarian did lead me to some taste dishes (both stateside and abroad), and back to my love of jerky.

Here in Namibia, in the Southern West tip of Africa the wildlife is plentiful. With Namibia being one of the sunniest countries in the world it also offers an eclectic selection of climates. The west coast kisses the Atlantic's ocean rough salty touch. The Kavango and Capri region dance along the rivers and river lands. Etosha holds legends of her salt pans miles long and wind, and the famous game park. Where as the south is also known to have rumors of a snow fall from time to time flirting the idea of a white winter, though I don't expect dreams of a white Christmas ever forming thought.

Here, just as in America, along with every other country has its own selection of both farmed, hunted, and protected animals. In doing some internet research, along with talking with colleagues I was able to learn about some of the hunts that take place, both in the past traditionally and now.

A couple popularly hunted animals are Kudu, Eland, and Sprinbok which are often administered into "Bilton", a treat similar to jerky seasoned in a variety of ways.

Kudu, these animals are HUGE

Springbok, very fast!

An Eland, I have not personally seen this animal, yet

Fish is a very popular dish, especially here in the Kavango region where I am located. It is also common to find locals hunting Fuche which is an African dove. Fuche doesn't have much meat on it, but it is pretty tasty.

A fuche

Warthogs are another meaty treat that some hunt here in Namibia.

In the past Elephants were hunted, especially for their tusks and meat (being that they are so large), but that is not the case anymore. Some debate was raised over this in a group conversations with locals. Some said that if an elephant were to kill someone, that the village can then hunt the elephant and feed its meet to its people for "justice", others said only rangers can kill an elephant, and some said elephants are protected animals. The exact answer I am unsure of. 

Another animal that was debated about was crocodile. For the same reason as the elephant. Some said its okay to kill a crocodile if it kills or attacks a human and that when its killed its meat is distributed to the family of the person attacked. 

I heard giraffe can also be hunted, but I'm a bit unsure of this. They are so big I don't know how that could be done. I was also under the impression they are endangered but I'm not positive. 

The main farmed animals are Cow, Goats, and Chicken. Pork is very few and in between on the menu. However it can be regularly found on hotel restaurant menus or in touristy places like in Windhoek. I don't believe any of my host families have ever prepared bacon or pork chops with any meal. Since being in Namibia I've ate more goat then I ever imagined I would eat in a life time. Also, sometimes dog and donkey is whats on the menu. Though that came as culture shock at first and took me back for a moment, it was also a humbling moment to learn of such delectables. In some countries cattle worshiped, and definitely not a meal. However, in places such as America I for one do not think twice before diving into a burger loaded with green chile and bacon. 

Here they also believe in using the whole animal. We eat the meat, intestines, sometimes even the brains. I tend to be "full" when brains of anything is what's being served. I know, I shouldn't be so picky or ungrateful especially considering a meal for special events is a "smiley" which is the head and brain of goat. After the animal is consumed its fur is typically used to make clothing, rugs, or shoes. 

Some of the protected animals are as you could imagine: Rhinos, Porcupine, Pangolins, Cheetahs, Hippos, Zebras, and the King of it all, lions. 

*This topic was suggested in the "Talk to me" section located on the right. I'd love to know what else you'd like to know about, just leave a comment with your request.