Who is the Interpreter?
The INTERPRETER word means: translating thoughts, points, meanings and actions, but it doesn't mean translating literally!!
the interpreter is a communications bridge between the Coalition Forces and the Local Iraqis, without the interpreter they cant communicate with each other and bad things will happen cuz of the misunderstanding!!
for example, I remember we were doing security operation in a city- west of Iraq, I was with my team. we were the strikers. and there were MET team( team deals with the Iraqi Army).. the MET team leader told his interpreter to call the IA's (Iraqi Army) through the radio and telling them to stay away from that house which we were getting fire from, cuz the air will bomb it...
the interpreter didn't understand what his team leader told him, but I was there and I heard what the team leader said...so the interpreter called the IA's and told them "hey the Americans say get in the house and detain the bad guys inside the house"..
I heard him and I was like what the fuck r u tellin them???? Do u wanna kill them u stupid? he said "that what the team leader said!!" I said "call it off", then I asked the team leader what u just told him? he said "tell the IA's to be away from the house cuz the air will bomb it.." then the terp understood that he translated wrong and he almost kill IA's team by translating mistake...then he called the IA's again and told them "run far away from the house ASAP the air coming to bomb it.."
then he thanked me and started crying cuz it was gonna be a really massacre to the IA's but thanks god I heard what the team leader said and what the terp translated..
my point is, there is a really good terps and there is ok terps and there is sux.. there is terps needs terps, we call them TNT, which is stands for Terp Needs Terp..
the terp was so confused while he was translating cuz we were under fire. but his confusing almost killed the IA's!!
here I'm trying to define the interps and who r they and what r they and why they chose this job. I wont talk only about myself here but I'll talk abut other terps too..
the terps community is a mix of a lot and different classes of ppl, u can find terps from age 18 years old to 65 years and maybe more and from different life classes, like ppl used to be wealthy families or ppl poor and trying to be rich or ppl just want to live good and in peace.. u can find doctors, engineers and ppl still students and also u find ppl they haven't even graduated from high school and ppl even cant read or write Arabic or English!!..
I've never met an interpreter he really loves this job and he really wants to stay in it forever or something. they all have goals and most of the goals r two: gettin kinda good money, feeling safer at work more then at home cuz at work u know u r a target and u r ready to protect yourself but at home in any sec somebody can come and kill u..
there is a fact about terps and its we have to be LIARS so we can still survive, we cant say what is our real names, where we live exactly, what our phone# or anything can define or ID cuz the insurgents they will kill us if they know who we are and were we live. they wont only kill us, but they'll kill our families too..
some of the terps used to work for the Security Companies or the KBR or something else for the Coalition Forces...
there is bad terps, like some of them worked for the insurgents but they r few, and most of them got caught by the CF..
there is another fact, I've never heard a terp says he works to help his country, I mean I heard some of them say it, but I bet them if they really mean it...
for myself I work for the money, money and revenge from insurgents and nothing else!!
I mean I love my country, but to be honest I'm not doing it for my country..
Through terps job, the terp help a loooot of ppl, not only by translating but by talking and explaining to Americans things they think wrong about Iraq and Iraqis..
well I think that's pretty much abut WHO ARE THE INTERPRETERS? I hope its enough..
if u ppl have any question go ahead and ask me!!
Take care everybody..
Sam Iraqi Local National Terp
the interpreter is a communications bridge between the Coalition Forces and the Local Iraqis, without the interpreter they cant communicate with each other and bad things will happen cuz of the misunderstanding!!
for example, I remember we were doing security operation in a city- west of Iraq, I was with my team. we were the strikers. and there were MET team( team deals with the Iraqi Army).. the MET team leader told his interpreter to call the IA's (Iraqi Army) through the radio and telling them to stay away from that house which we were getting fire from, cuz the air will bomb it...
the interpreter didn't understand what his team leader told him, but I was there and I heard what the team leader said...so the interpreter called the IA's and told them "hey the Americans say get in the house and detain the bad guys inside the house"..
I heard him and I was like what the fuck r u tellin them???? Do u wanna kill them u stupid? he said "that what the team leader said!!" I said "call it off", then I asked the team leader what u just told him? he said "tell the IA's to be away from the house cuz the air will bomb it.." then the terp understood that he translated wrong and he almost kill IA's team by translating mistake...then he called the IA's again and told them "run far away from the house ASAP the air coming to bomb it.."
then he thanked me and started crying cuz it was gonna be a really massacre to the IA's but thanks god I heard what the team leader said and what the terp translated..
my point is, there is a really good terps and there is ok terps and there is sux.. there is terps needs terps, we call them TNT, which is stands for Terp Needs Terp..
the terp was so confused while he was translating cuz we were under fire. but his confusing almost killed the IA's!!
here I'm trying to define the interps and who r they and what r they and why they chose this job. I wont talk only about myself here but I'll talk abut other terps too..
the terps community is a mix of a lot and different classes of ppl, u can find terps from age 18 years old to 65 years and maybe more and from different life classes, like ppl used to be wealthy families or ppl poor and trying to be rich or ppl just want to live good and in peace.. u can find doctors, engineers and ppl still students and also u find ppl they haven't even graduated from high school and ppl even cant read or write Arabic or English!!..
I've never met an interpreter he really loves this job and he really wants to stay in it forever or something. they all have goals and most of the goals r two: gettin kinda good money, feeling safer at work more then at home cuz at work u know u r a target and u r ready to protect yourself but at home in any sec somebody can come and kill u..
there is a fact about terps and its we have to be LIARS so we can still survive, we cant say what is our real names, where we live exactly, what our phone# or anything can define or ID cuz the insurgents they will kill us if they know who we are and were we live. they wont only kill us, but they'll kill our families too..
some of the terps used to work for the Security Companies or the KBR or something else for the Coalition Forces...
there is bad terps, like some of them worked for the insurgents but they r few, and most of them got caught by the CF..
there is another fact, I've never heard a terp says he works to help his country, I mean I heard some of them say it, but I bet them if they really mean it...
for myself I work for the money, money and revenge from insurgents and nothing else!!
I mean I love my country, but to be honest I'm not doing it for my country..
Through terps job, the terp help a loooot of ppl, not only by translating but by talking and explaining to Americans things they think wrong about Iraq and Iraqis..
well I think that's pretty much abut WHO ARE THE INTERPRETERS? I hope its enough..
if u ppl have any question go ahead and ask me!!
Take care everybody..
Sam Iraqi Local National Terp
posted by Sam at
12:56 PM
12 Comments:
Even if you reasons for doing it are self serving, it is still great that you do such an important job.
thanx Adam for visiting my blog, as u said its self serving and im so proud for wat i've done and wat im doin no matter wat other ppl think!!
tx again..
If you get satisfaction from what you're doing, and feel you're doing the right thing, you can hardly go wrong. Solo
Solo, how u doin man?
man thanx alot for all ur comments.. u r the most person who comments in all my posts and thank u so much i appreicate it..
well Solo and everyboyd i think i wont go back to work,i think i'll quit being interp..not sure yet..
cuz my dad dont wanna me go back!! and so many other reasons prevents me from goin back..
a.w take care solo..
Hey Sam you can only do so much. I'm sure they'll miss having you around. Do me a favor and tell our troops there they have a lot of support here. I hope things continue to improve in Iraq. Good luck and whatever new direction you choose to take. I'll be looking forward to hearing what you decide. Solo
oops! Just noticed I replied to a question on your previous post and didn't sign it. I'm 52. Solo
Solo, how u doin sir? oh yea i miss them, i miss wearing the flagjacket and the helmet, they make me feel like im in microwave!!sounds crazy ha?lol..yea man i miss the humvee, MRAP and the Bradley..i miss not takin shower for days, i miss wearng my clothes for days and days without washin them!!i miss them all..
dont u worry u'll be the first one who knws my decision solo..
Solo abut ur age, u said u too old for love, but trust me im sure the love doesnt knw ages!! u can love whenever u feel the real love!!its just a hint from a Romantic Warrior lol, which is me!!
After reading your description of all the stuff you'd miss, and watching the news about the fires in California, you might consider becoming a firefighter. Sounds just like the kind of thing you might like. You just don't seem like the kind of guy that would ever be happy in an average job. Solo
Sam - I am glad to find your blog. Thank you for what you do.
I especially like your comment, "Through terps job, the terp help a loooot of ppl, not only by translating but by talking and explaining to Americans things they think wrong about Iraq and Iraqis."
If only we would have asked and you could have explained this very thing before we invaded...
hellos,
Solo, how u doin sir? Solo i decided that im goin back to work..
i convinced my dad and he agreed 50%, Amy's dad and Amy agreed 50% too..hopefully im goi back work tomorow saturday..
Erin4Iraq,yw ma'am and yw too in my blog..thats my job as human being and as iraqi, i just do my job and wat my concisions say!!..
take care everybody and tx for the comments..
Hi Sam
I'm another Iraqi who wants to work as a terp for more than one reason. I was wondering whether you could help me in finding a job in this field. I don't live in Iraq, but I think seriously of going back home. Apart from money, I want to find a job in Iraq that would allow me to stay there for some time without worrying about providing for myself. So, if you could give me tips regarding the main recruiters , I would be greatly thankful. For obvious reasons, I won't give you other than my first name cuz I too want to protect my family.
Thanx for you your insightful article
Adel
hi adel,
dear bro, its easy like a piece of cake..
u can go to the IZ to GLS company and they'll make u do several tests and if u pass, they'll assign u to a camp that u'll work for..but this proces will take a while to finish..
but i have for a better option IF u graduated from English dept. in college, there is so many civi work that u can get in the IZ or another places..
good luck bro and if u have specific q's go ahead and ask me..
here i wont give u more than my short name which is Sam..
regards..
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