Our Interpreters

In the world of remote interpreting, I come across many calls on a day-to-day basis and each one of them is an opportunity for me to bridge the gap between 2 different language speaking people. One such incident that I can recall  is  when my phone rang urgently. On the line was an elderly gentleman, a new immigrant and a relatively new driver who spoke only Punjabi. He was in a panic because he'd just been in a car accident, and the other person spoke only English. 

He struggled to explain in English what happened, but in Punjabi, he spoke freely. He told me he was new to Canada and still learning the roads. It was clear he felt overwhelmed and confused after the accident.  With my understanding and language skills, I translated his part of the story to the person from his insurance company who was on the call with us. I made sure every detail was clear. Even though we spoke different languages, we all wanted to help the elderly man feel better.

As we talked, he started to calm down. With each translated word, he seemed to feel a bit better. Through our teamwork, we didn't just translate words—we built a bridge of understanding and support.  When the call ended, he thanked me a lot. He felt better knowing that I helped him tell his story. It showed me how important it is to help people, especially when they're in trouble.

Looking back, I realized how powerful language can be. Even though we spoke different languages, we could still connect and help each other. It reminded me that kindness and understanding can make a big difference, no matter the language we speak.

As I said goodbye to both him and the insurance company person, I felt proud. Even though it was just one call, it showed me that being an interpreter isn't just about translating words. It's about making people feel heard and supported, no matter what challenges they face.