In every line of work, there’s often a crucial profession that doesn’t receive the attention or recognition it deserves. It’s not until their absence, when we desperately need their expertise, that we truly appreciate their importance.
As I stepped off the plane at Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang, Central Java, that morning, I felt the familiar anticipation of a typical workday ahead.
My agenda was filled with visits to European government-donor-funded pilot projects. But this time, it was different: a group of foreigners from the donor government ministries and embassy would be joining us, the project team.
That’s where Mr. Parulian came in. He had been our trusty interpreter for the past three years, accompanying our missions to cities and regencies across various Indonesian provinces.
I must admit, I used to underestimate the job of an interpreter. I thought it was a simple task to convert spoken languages from one to another. But when I had to do it myself, I realized just how mistaken I was.
I’m not a language expert, a trained interpreter, or a native English speaker…
