Lost in Translation

If I worked in an office in the UK (or any other English speaking country) I would know everything that was going on. I would know what meetings I attended were about, I would know what forms someone was filling in, I would know what was being said on the phone, I would know who was being gossiped about and I would know what every poster on the wall said. Here, I know nothing, unless Sarey tells me. He is my ears and voice and has a really tough job!

When we were in a meeting at a school on his first day of work and 5 minutes had passed without a single word being translated, I eventually asked Sarey (with an element of frustration!) what was being said to which he replied, “Shh, I’ll tell you later”! However, after a few teething problems, he does a fantastic job!

There are times when I wonder if he translates all the information or paraphrases which in certain situations can be frustrating and likewise, there are times when I say a few words and takes 10 minutes to translate it into Khmer for our colleagues. Some conversations, through him, are such a jumble of questions and answers that they make no sense at all and remind me a little of my Year 3 teaching days (feels so long ago!). For example, I might’ve sent a message with 7 year old Perry to ask Mr Leeming what time assembly is today only to get Perry trundling back in a few minutes with the answer,

“He said, ''Yes if you can do his play duty on Tuesday''’’

“But Perry, I asked what time assembly is today”

“I know Miss, and that’s what he said!”

You’re left wondering where it all went wrong. Was my message not clear? did Perry get confused? or is Mr Leeming playing games? (Bless Perry by the way, and bless Mr Leeming and all who sail in him!) At times I find myself in similar situations with Sarey translating.

Sometimes I ask a question which Sarey translates and getting the answer back takes so long (I explain to Sarey in English, Sarey translates to colleague, colleague answers Sarey, Sarey translates to me) that I’ve forgotten what my question was in the first place.

But I think the biggest frustration, and something I really miss, is not understanding jokes! Khmers are very funny people (in more ways than one!) but many jokes just don’t translate or by the time they have been translated, the funny moment has passed. Sometimes Sarey and a colleague have such a laugh talking to each other that I find it quite disappointing when the answer I receive is simply, “he said yes”!

Needless to say I have quickly learnt how to say “Somtoh, Khnom ot yul” (Sorry, I don’t understand) and sometimes it is a real blessing to be a non-native speaking foreigner. For example, while Sarey translates for me, I have time to think of something else to say or some other intelligent sounding question to ask. It is without doubt though, however many frustrating times there are, I would be fairly useless without him!

Last night I was invited to Sarey's family home just outside Sisaphon where I met 4 of his 5 brothers, his parents and some friends. I was shown the land around his home where his family have a pond for catching fish, a collection of ducks, chickens and cows and plenty of fruit trees. It was a really lovely evening and as there are so many men in the family, Sarey's parents agreed to have me as their adopted daughter for a couple of years!