This article was originally posted on WomenLearnThai.com.
The Interpreter’s Journal…
Most people know me as an author of Thai and Lao language learning products. But in the United States I also have a flourishing career as a legal and medical Thai and Lao interpreter.
And at long last, I’ve put down the story in my latest book, The Interpreter’s Journal.
In three posts I’ll share teasers: How it Started, Mistakes and Misinterpretations, and Studying Foreign Languages.
I hope you enjoy reading my book as much as I enjoyed writing it!
The Interpreter’s Journal: How It Started…
“You must be the girl that people told me about.”
She was a beautiful young woman with black hair down to her waist. Her colorful sarong made her a striking sight in the plain surroundings of the restaurant.
“I’m looking for someone to help me,” she said. “And they told me to come here.”
She was in her early twenties, and since I was the younger one, I instinctively greeted her with a wai – hands pressed together, prayerlike – to show respect.
Her words carried a sense of need, and her eyes darted around to see if anyone was within earshot. “I was told that you speak good English,” she continued. “And that you teach kids. I’ve got these letters from my German boyfriend. He’s been writing me in English. I kind of understand them, but I want you to translate them properly for me, and I want you to help me write him back in English.”
Moments before, I’d been in the room above my mother’s simple restaurant in Yasothon, northeast Thailand, studying for my high-school exams, but unbeknown to me, this event would open a new world of opportunity. How could I have known – this smalltown Thai girl of fifteen – that this day would be the beginning of my career as a professional interpreter, and that this chance meeting would, years later, lead me to the Federal and State courts of California?
I learned that her nickname was Oy, which means sugarcane, so I called her Pee Oy because she was older than me. Oy handed me three envelopes, each addressed in precise handwriting, and I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful foreign stamps. I opened each letter and read a paragraph at a time, then translated the meaning into Thai.
The letters were filled with sweet words and promises to take care of Oy. I was lucky because they were quite simple, so I didn’t have any problems with the words. But they seemed the most romantic words I’d ever read, and I must have blushed a bit. I explained softly so that nobody could overhear her story and start gossiping. But after the final letter, I couldn’t contain myself any longer, and blurted out, “Sounds like you’ll be going to Germany soon.” Oy looked around to see if anyone had heard. “Yes, he wants me to go to live there. I think he wants to marry me. Can you help me write back? Okay?”
I didn’t need to think for a second. “Sure, I can do that.” As the delicious aromas of Thai cooking filled the air, she revealed to me her hopes, her joys, and her love for her German boyfriend.
I took notes, then excused myself and scurried upstairs to find the special writing paper I’d been given as a New Year present. Only the best paper would do for this letter. Back downstairs, Oy sat in amazement as I composed her reply in English, then rewrote it in my finest penmanship.
After the letter was finished, Oy and I talked for a long time as customers came in, ate their meals, left and were replaced by others. She told me that she had met her boyfriend when she left her village to go to work in the beach resort of Pattaya. I’d heard about girls from the area going to Pattaya and getting jobs. Many of them sent money back to their parents, and it seemed like a good and honorable thing to do.
Nobody understood English in Oy’s village. That’s why she had to ask around for someone who could help her. And this was the first time I realized that I could “make merit” – do a good deed and accumulate good karma – by helping someone through my language ability.
It also impressed me when Oy handed me 200 baht for the work. With the baht then at eighteen to the US dollar, my first translation job had earned me eleven dollars. It had only taken two hours, and at fifteen years old I had never earned so much money. Wow. A lot of people around there would have to work for days to earn that much. I started to get the idea that this might be a good career to pursue.
I used my newfound wealth to buy audiotapes and English-language books from ads in the English-language Student Weekly. I was inspired, and I set about my English studies more intensely.
Oy came back to see me one more time, about six weeks later, for another translation. It was during Songkran, in April – the traditional New Year water festival – and the hottest time of the year. I came home soaking wet from the water festivities in town, and saw her at one of the tables near the back of the restaurant. She was happy to see me, greeting me with a big smile, animated as she waved a new letter in the air. Yes, she had received a marriage proposal, and wanted to write back with her answer – an emphatic yes. She also wanted to make a note of her dowry requirements.
I never did see Oy again. I assumed she’d worked out all the details and was happily in the arms of her German husband. Not only did Oy provide me with my first translation assignment, she also gave me my first glimpse of a Thai-Western relationship. Before this, I’d never dreamed that a Thai girl could marry a Western man and live in another country.
Teaser: The Interpreter’s Journal (in three installments):
How it Started
Mistakes And Misinterpretations
Studying Foreign Languages
The Interpreter’s Journal can be purchased at amazon.com (Kindle and hard copy) amazon.co.uk (Kindle), and Paiboonpublishing.com.
Benjawan Poomsan Becker on WLT…
Interview: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Learn Thai with Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Review: Three-Way Talking Thai Dictionary: Mac and PC
iPhone App: Talking Thai–English–Thai Dictionary
Thai for Beginners iPhone App
Snap, thank you very much for your best wishes. It’s encouraging to hear from readers that people enjoy the Paiboon products. We try to make them as user-friendly and high quality as possible.
The Interpreter’s Journal is something different from my other language books. I tell readers about the story of my childhood and my work experience using my language skills. I hope you will like this book, too. Kop kun ka.
Benjawan, thanks so much for sharing part of your story with us, and Catherine, thanks for posting it. It was a captivating read and may I say, I enjoy (would be lost without) my Paiboon products. My efforts to study Thai really don’t do them justice. Good luck with The Interpreter’s Journal, I’m certain it will be a great success.
Talen,
The next two teasers should be fun for you as well. Catherine will post them in the next few days.
Benjawan
Hi Martyn,
In my book, I wrote about my experiences with my name. Computers automatically change Benjawan to Benjamin. Many times, I have to call the credit card company to send me a new card with the correct name. I get that all the time and I’m quite used to it. No need to punish yourself.
I think about Oy often. I felt it would be interesting to the readers to put her in the first chapter to capture their attention. Thank you for your comment.
Benjawan
Benjawan, my apologies for misspelling your name. As a punishment I’m now going to eat a bowl of cornflakes with no sugar or milk. That should teach me to pay more attention next time.
Benjamin, what a lovely story and a great teaser for your book. I can picture the scene where the two of you are sat at the back of the restaurant, a young girl and young lady locked in quiet conversation. Your story has had a great ending for yourself and I do hope Oy had one too. Let’s hope she’s swapped that Yasothon restaurant for a very grand Munich one.
Benjawan, what a great story to write, I really look forward to more teasers and of course I plan on picking up the book.
Thank you very much, Khun Vern, for your comment. It’s a small world, isn’t it?
I hope to meet with you and your wife some day. If you come to San Francisco, please drop by and visit Joy and me here.
And also thank you for supporting my new book.
Benjawan
Very nice! My wife knows one of your employees (ex-employees, Joy) that worked with you in California… and her friend is your cousin. She has kept me up to date with what you’re doing. I love this new book and will buy it at Amazon for Kindle here shortly.
Good luck to you – you are really an inspiration for many Thai girls Benjawan!