I was in the bar of my local, the Ronda Valley Hotel, the other evening. There were seven customers and two staff.
The only Spanish-speakers were Fermin and Maria, both staff, and me!
Ronda Valley Hotel [Photo: Paul Whitelock]
Eavesdropping the conversations as non-Spanish-speaking customers placed their orders was fascinating, yet, despite the language barrier, everybody got what they wanted.
[Logo courtesy of The Council of Europe]
Time was, I would have intervened and offered my services as a translator / interpreter, but I don't do that any longer.
Why not?
Several reasons:
The hotel apparently doesn't like it
- The punters are often not grateful for the help
- Or, they are excruciatingly boring / "up themselves" / drunk!
[Photo: The Olive Press]
So, I sat there, consumed my two "tercios" (33 cl) and left.
***
A couple of nights later, it was a different matter.
The new "workaway", Hannah, from Brazil, was talking in Portuguese with three Portuguese men, who turned out to be coach drivers from Lisbon.
I had to go to the bar to order another drink, and ended up getting involved in the conversation.
I don't speak Portuguese, but with my knowledge of Spanish, I could get the gist.
Then, when they learned I was Brtitish, they switched to English, which they all spoke well.
[Photo: Mobility Friends]
Links:
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - Help me, Ronda
Working for free? Why? Er… why not? - Secret Serrania de Ronda
Working for free? Why? Er… why not? Part 2. - Eye on Spain
© Diary of a Nobody
Photos:
Council of Europe, Mobility Friends, Paul Whitelock, The Olive Press
Tags:
A1 Translations, Council of Europe, Diary of a Nobody, Eye on Spain, Fermin, Maria, Mobility Friends, non-Spanish-speaking customers, Paul Whitelock, Ronda Valley Hotel, Secret Serrania, Spanish-speakers, The Olive Press, www.help-me-ronda.com