More than 20 years ago, the Chilean Consul General in Vancouver asked me if I could interpret, and organize the interpreting team, for an APEC working group meeting which Chile was hosting that year and which would take place in Vancouver.
I had done other conference interpretations previously, but I had never done anything at that level. I knew this was going to be different; as it was another level of meetings and participants than what I was used to.
I studied like there was no tomorrow, and had practiced more than ever before. When the day came and I was at the booth, I knew I was ready. I had prepared myself. I had done my homework.
And then, when the first speaker started with the welcoming remarks, I froze. Nothing was coming from my mouth. Everybody in the room slowly began to turn to look towards the interpreting booth – all the eyes of the delegates were on me – and nothing was uttered from my mouth until my cabin partner slapped me on the back, and then, like something from a tale, I began repeating simultaneously all the welcoming speech from the beginning.
I missed nothing, I was able to go at my own pace several sentences behind the speaker, something that I have never been able to repeat. When finished, I could see the pride in the faces of the Chilean delegation.
During the break, I was asked if I always waited that long to start interpreting. They could not believe I was so nervous that no words were coming.
I will always treasure my APEC interpretation; it was when I “born” as an interpreter.
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