2009.05.18
17MAY09--Short Notice
Today, one of our interpreters came to me while we were at the Iraqi base, saying that he needed to talk to me. As the co-terp manager with Sergeant KC Connaughton, I have long ago grown accustom to the terp's trying to haggle for extra leave days. So I asked, "Is this about leave?" And he responded, "No, it is about something that you would never expect." He was right.
Maybe it is a cultural difference or maybe it is just human nature to try to work the system, but our time in Iraq has definitely illuminated work ethics outside the States. How in the world can someone expect to start work in the late morning, nap in the 'hot hours' of the afternoon, have liberal amounts of vacation and still expect to be successful? There are some things that peoples from different cultures will never understand about each other.
The interpreter goes by the alias Puma, and has cousins that also work as linguists, all bearing names from the cat family. Recently, he returned from an extended leave due to the death of his grandmother. And, even though he told me that our talk would not have to do with leave, I walked towards a quiet area with him expecting that he would try to con me.
Puma began saying, "Well, you know that I am the oldest son in my family and how my grandmother just died. Well, I am the man of the family and the source of financial support for my family now, and my mother has taken things so hard. And..." I interrupted him abruptly, "Puma, are you quitting?" His smile told all.
He gave us one week to get a new interpreter, but by the time we had driven back to the US base, he had decided that he was leaving that same hour. Not exactly the type of notice that we expected from the guy. Our interpreters become integrated into our team, and we trust them so completely.
As he was walking away, KC yelled out to him, "If our convoy gets attacked tomorrow, we will know who to come look for." It was good to see Puma depart laughing.
Puma after turning in his uniform. Right to Left: Bond (terp), Lieutenant Jay Alaniz, Puma (terp), Sergeant KC Connaughton, and Major Aaron Wentworth
Yes, I posted this picture just because of the facial expressions.
His name is Puma, but he wears an Adidas shirt?
just kidding!
Quite a change in giving a weeks notice to leaving the same hour. But as you said, that can be the difference in culture, and I have no idea of the situation with his family and the stress it may have on him. In the end (though we Americans don't practice it as much as we should), family trumps all, and sometimes you have to take care of Number 1 and hope everyone else understands.
You may have covered this before, and sorry if you have, but are the "terps" pulled from a central pool, or is each unit responsible for finding/hiring the ones they need?
Comment by Ed S. — May 18, 2009 @ 9:29 pm