When one door closes; another one opens
Last Update: Sep 1, 2017
This is essentially a goodbye letter to all of the great friends I've made here at WA in the last year. In the last week I became very involved with an Ecuadoran translating team that is certified to translate for the Ecuadoran judicial system. It's very important for all parties involved in court cases to understand the charges being brought against defendants. Especially the prosecutor and the judge. It's also important for the defense attorney. The easiest thing for my bilingual associate is to be called into court for a verbal translation. Ecuadoran law requires that a defendant be given a translator within 90 days or be released.
A difficult situation arises when US law enforcement is involved and all of their reports are in English. The United States Coast Guard is permitted to operate in Ecuadoran waters because the US has a treaty with Ecuador in regards to drug interdiction. We spent many hours translating a USCG after action report involving three detainees and 180 kg of cocaine. We were required to reproduce the military forms used by the Coast Guard and put it all into Spanish. Of course this also required the translation of acronyms from English to Spanish. We needed to provide a clear understanding for the court.
The USCG is very professional and leaves no stone unturned. I can truly say that the things I learned in my WA training were very helpful in this project. WA is very much a higher education in online work. I am just overwhelmed with work and I have ignored my own household upkeep in order to keep working with WA and the translating group. The translating income I will receive is guaranteed more or less and it will provide enough supplemental income for my needs.
I know that some of you have very high goals and I wish you success. Best regards, Bob
Recent Comments
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I will miss you Bob. I had mentioned stopping in Guayaquil when I was on Navy duty. The Ecuadorian people are fun to visit and be with May you enjoy your new journey and come back as possible!
Hi Mike. Thank you for your comment. Lots of exciting things happening here right now. I will be sure to send out some pm's with my contact info before clicking on the cancel button. By the way: our boys sank the smuggler's vessel as they considered it to be a "navigation hazard". She was dead in the water. Out of fuel. Oh, so sorry! Bob
Hi Mike. Thank you for your comment. Lots of exciting things happening here right now. I will be sure to send out some pm's with my contact info before clicking on the cancel button. By the way: our boys sank the smuggler's vessel as they considered it to be a "navigation hazard". She was dead in the water. Out of fuel. Oh, so sorry! Bob
I know you have some interest in this stuff, so I will reassure you that none of the USCG info we receive is marked "Classified".
Good evening Bob,
That sounds very interesting but obviously, time consuming. I understand one is only 1 person and one can do only so much. As these translations are so important, lives depend on their correctness I understand you want to dedicate yourself to this.
Wishing you all the best on this new chosen road.
Best regards, Taetske
Thank you, Bob, for being a great colleague here at WA, it's been a pleasure I was allowed working along side with you. I wish you all the best. Loes
It was a tough decision Loes, but I'm pushing 71 years old and I need better control as to not be overwhelmed. Bob
Thank you! I understand that this job takes a lot of your time, we all have only 24 hours a day. And you have to make choices how to fill those hours.
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I am so happy that you have found an area of interest for yourself that keeps you financially sound and busy. It is a very interesting job. I hope everything goes well for you and maybe, in the future, you come back to WA. Best wishes! ......Donna