2011年8月29日 星期一

They said it's actually a "feel-good call"

「很奇妙的是我從來不瞭解這個人,但是我以為我愛上過他。就像為了什麼偶像著迷,但其實你總只是從海報和照片上看見他。」所以我們需要偶像明星。著魔的時候打個電話除魅。

多數的浪漫電影和小說會告訴我,「你只是不懂愛」「你要知道愛就是會有痛苦」。
但我感覺事情不需要這麼麻煩,這麼麻煩的話我寧願不要。他們說「但是你不能選擇,因為這是愛啊。」

So I hate romantic novels and it's official.




2011年8月23日 星期二

[口譯工作筆記] Sometimes all they need is an insurance!

I could not sleep well nor eat well in the past week since I was offered to facilitate smooth cross-cultural communication in the one-on-one investment interview today. Biotech+Finance+ten last-minute slides=Pressure*Pressure.

Pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, channels, hemolyasis centers, IVD, liposome, monoclonal antibody, CRAM, GMP, cGMP, FDA, SFDA-- and then balance sheet, income statement, industry trend, currency impact, China market, stock prices, and so on. Ah, and it's all in CI, no place to hide.

But I didn't speak a sentence at all. AT ALL.

The speakers came in with their presentation and talked in fluent English, average English, Chingish, or simply lousy English. These speakers represent their companies to be interviewed by two analysts from a top 5 global asset management company, and sometimes the P, VP, CEO, CFO would show up too.

One of the interviewers only speak English-- and that's why I was asked to be there in the first place.

But since they all talked in English, silence would be the best policy for me as an interpreter. I don't want to interrupt, let alone embarrasing them.

I sat quite, listening attentively with reassuring smiles. Fetch water, find booklets, lend my computer to those who insisted they need slides in the computer screen to talk with.

Around noon, one of the analysts politely told me they really don't need interpreter and suggested me to confirm with the organizer (who paid me). My contact said "but the last two speakers did ask for interpreter," and so I was kept.

It turned out that the last two speakers spoke in ok English. Dah.

According to the organizer, representatives from local companies did request interpreting service because they were not confident and needed to make sure there'd be someone helping. And the two asset management company people said they actually prefer an interpreter sitting with them instead of someone from the broker.

Bottom line-- I got paid. Paid well. Maybe for them it's like buying an insurance. Should interpretation is needed, I could be of help. If no one needed me, that's even better-- they communicated well!